MESSAGE from the DST President
(message emailed to all current DST membership 09aug2021)

Dear DST Families,

What a year it's been! I think everyone — swimmers, parents, coaches and volunteers — needs to take a minute to congratulate themselves for an incredible swim season. Although we missed out on much of the fun perks of swim club (swim meets, gathering together as a team, early morning practices, etc.), we were able to do what a lot of other community sports weren't, which was to provide space, time, and opportunity for our children to safely enjoy their sport throughout the year. I want to especially congratulate our coaching staff, led by indomitable Head Coach Leanne Sirup, for being so flexible and resilient. Along with Coach Brent, she developed our safety plans and protocols, worked tirelessly with the Aquatic Centre to guarantee as much pool time as possible for our kiddos, and made the year as fun and "normal" as possible. 

As we gear up for our next season (which we're anticipating will be a welcome return to our accustomed ways of operating), I need to share that our Club President, Amber Battie, will be stepping back from her volunteer commitment for personal reasons. In her capacity as President over the past two years, Amber has led our club through the COVID-19 crisis, and words aren't enough to express our appreciation for all that she does. Please join me in wishing Amber all the best as she conquers her next challenge — we hope to see her back next year! 

I know it's been so long since we've seen each other's faces. With recent announcements of BC's Restart Plan, the DST Board and Coaches, along with some dedicated volunteer parents, have been planning a Team Barbecue for Sunday, September 12th between 3:30 to 6:30 at Glenora Trailhead Park. This will be a great opportunity for families and swimmers from all groups, new and returning, to gather together. Our hardworking Apparel Committee will have some suits and other gear to try on and order for the upcoming season, and best of all, we'll be able to celebrate our swimmers' accomplishments at our annual awards ceremony. More details will be released closer to the time, but mark your calendars. This is one team event you won't want to miss!

Finally, if you're curious about volunteering and how you can contribute to our incredible swim team, email me at president@duncanstingrays.com and I'd be happy to connect. We've made some positive changes over the last year to create fulfilling, but not difficult, opportunities for all parents and friends of our swim club to volunteer their time and contribute.

On behalf of the DST board, my best wishes for a great summer. I look forward to seeing you on September 12th!

Leanne Schultz

Acting President