Dear Jamie Phelan,

It has come to our attention that there are several issues with your participation on the Mills Branch/Woodstream Marlins swim team that we need to discuss with you.  Due to the large number of complaints, we feel that immediate action is called for.

The first problem is your insistence on talking to the coaches at meets.  I must reiterate that the coaches are very busy at meets and do not have the leisure to talk with parents.  Their main concern must be with the swimmers, not us.  If there is something that is not urgent, please communicate by email.  If it is urgent, any of several board members who are not too occupied when we are at a meet can probably handle your question just fine.

Second, there is the problem of habitual tardiness.  You are frequently late in picking up your children from activities.  Recently they were left waiting at the pool in the dark after the pool party had ended, until you came by.  Board members felt compelled to stay with them until they were picked up, delaying their own return home. 

You have signed up to be desk parent at practices, but have been late getting to your post.  As a result, during the past two weeks, other parents have checked in the swimmers you were not there to supervise.  Since a large part of a desk parent's job is checking in swimmers for a particular age group, these other parents have essentially been doing most of your work for you.  We do not feel that it is fair that you should receive the volunteer points for a job that someone else did.  The board has therefore voted to revoke the four points you would have earned for this job.  You will need to make those points up during the remainder of the season.  We feel there is still enough time for you to earn the points you need to avoid having your volunteer check cashed.  If there is some problem or obligation that forces you to be late for these practices, perhaps you should find another volunteer job.

Third, the chronic lateness has also affected your swimmers' arrival at meets.  They have consistently showed up late and had to be added back into the meet roster at the last minute.  This makes extra work for our data entry people and constantly threatens to delay the start of the meet.  Since this has happened so frequently we must give you this notice:  Your swimmers must check in on time to all remaining meets, both home and away.  If they do not, they will be scratched from that meet AND NOT ADDED BACK IN, EVEN IF THEY REPORT IN LATER.  None of us want your children to have to leave the meet disappointed at not being allowed to swim.  Please make sure they are checked in on time.

Your family has been on our swim team for several years now, so we know you understand the importance of cooperation, consideration, and punctuality.  Thank you for taking steps to insure that these problems are corrected.

Sincerely,

MBW Marlins Board of Directors