Fellow Members of
Michigan Swimming,
Happy New Year!
While celebrated in ways different than before, I hope you were
able to find joy in the holiday season.
With the Michigan
Department of Health and Human Services recently
announcing that non-contact indoor sports are
permitted beginning on January 16, 2021, I wanted to provide an
update as clubs begin safely returning to the pool.
Revised Sanction and Approval
Policy
The Michigan
Swimming, Inc. COVID sanction & approval policy has been
slightly revised, updating it to version COVID-005.
Key changes are
outlined below:
-
Added temporary authorization for host clubs to collect an
additional athlete surcharge to cover COVID-19-related expenses
The relevant
documents have been updated to reflect the above changes and are
available below:
To download the Microsoft
Word templates from the SharePoint site, please click the "..."
icon in the upper right-hand corner of your screen and select
"Download".
Reminder of Requirement to Comply with
COVID-19 Restrictions
All clubs are
reminded of their obligation to be aware of and comply with all
current federal, state, and local laws, orders, guidelines, and
other administrative instruments carrying the weight of law as they
relate to public health and safety, including those related to the
COVID-19 pandemic. It is Michigan Swimming, Inc.'s absolute
expectation that each club will fulfill its obligation in any and
all activities and operations it conducts.
In the event a
club is unsure if its activities or operations are compliant, it
should contact its legal counsel for guidance; Michigan Swimming,
Inc. is unable to provide detailed advice or interpretations.
If Michigan
Swimming, Inc. is made aware of a club's failure to comply, the
Michigan Swimming, Inc. Board of Directors may take actions
including, but not limited to:
-
Revocation of all currently-issued sanctions or approvals for
future competitions
-
Temporary suspension of ability to receive additional sanctions or
approvals for future competitions
-
Imposition of monetary fines
-
Referral to the club's local health department
-
Referral to the USA Swimming National Board of Review for
violations of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct
Further, USA
Swimming has asked LSCs to remind clubs that their USA
Swimming-provided insurance may be in jeopardy should an incident
occur while a club is not fulfilling its obligations as outlined
above.
It is Michigan
Swimming, Inc.'s sincere hope and expectation that it will not have
to take any of the above actions, but it is prepared to do so to
ensure our swimming community, and the broader Michigan population,
remain healthy and safe.
Reminder of 2021 Registration
Requirement
As of January 1,
2021, all 2020 USA Swimming/Michigan Swimming, Inc. member and club
registrations have expired.
All clubs wishing
to conduct USA Swimming/Michigan Swimming, Inc.-sponsored
activities must be registered for 2021 prior to conducting those
activities.
All members
wishing to take part in USA Swimming/Michigan Swimming,
Inc-sponsored activities via a club member must be registered for
2021 and be current in all other conditions of membership prior to
engaging in those activities.
If you have any
questions related to 2021 membership, please contact Dawn Gurley,
Director of LSC Operations at
[email protected].
Conclusion
As always, I
thank you for your continued patience, dedication, and passion as
we continue to navigate these incredibly challenging times. The
ways in which our community has come together, supported one
another, and done the right things is not lost on me. This
community has made me proud in ways that are hard to express in
words.
I truly believe
that we are in the home stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic now that
vaccines are approved and being made available. Nonetheless, we
must not let our guard down. We must continue to be vigilant and
protect our community just a little while longer. I think you in
advance for continuing to do your part.
Kind
regards,
Joe
Gazzarato
Chairman of the
Board of Directors
Michigan
Swimming, Inc.
