Families Make the Club Work
CATS Volunteer Requirement
2026/27 Season
The Orillia Channel Cats are a non-profit, member- and volunteer-run organization. The time contributed by swimmers and their families helps keep programs affordable, supports our athletes and makes it possible for the club to operate successful swim meets and events.
How It Works
A credit-based volunteer program
Beginning in 2025/26, the Channel Cats will use a mandatory credit-based volunteer program. When members work together as a team, more can be accomplished while helping to reduce program costs and support the successful operation of the club.
Volunteer points are assigned to each swimmer according to their training group. The point requirement reflects the volunteer opportunities generally available to families at each level.
$1 = 1 volunteer point. A volunteer fee equal to the swimmer's required point commitment is charged at registration. Each volunteer point earned represents one credit toward that commitment.
Once the full point commitment has been completed, the volunteer fee will be refunded. Volunteer points above the required commitment do not generate additional credits or refunds.
Officials Requirement
Every family helps us run meets.
One person from each family with a swimmer in Junior Novice or above is required to take a Swim Ontario officials clinic at Level I or higher.
Why officials matter: The club urgently requires trained officials to operate meets at our home pool. Home meets are also an important source of fundraising revenue for the Channel Cats.
Points & Fees
Family volunteer commitment
The volunteer fee is intended to be revenue neutral when a family's full volunteer commitment is completed.
| Group | Required Points | Volunteer Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 400 points | $400 |
| Silver | 300 points | $300 |
| Bronze | 200 points | $200 |
| Senior Novice | 100 points | $100 |
| Junior Novice | 50 points | $50 |
| Kittens | 0 points | $0 |
Important Details
- There is no additional increase in volunteer fees if a swimmer advances to a higher training group during the season.
- Volunteer fees are paid in full at registration and refunded only upon completion of the full point commitment.
- Credits and refunds are reconciled at the end of each session. There are three sessions during the season.
Families with Multiple Swimmers
Families with more than one swimmer are responsible only for the volunteer commitment associated with the swimmer in the highest training group.
Example: A family with swimmers in Gold, Bronze and Junior Novice would have a total annual commitment of 400 points.
Families may sign up for administration and support duties as part of season registration. Opportunities to volunteer at swim meets will be communicated before each meet, and positions at CATS-hosted meets are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Families volunteering at a CATS-hosted meet must still sign in with the Meet Manager or designated officials representative before the start of their session.
CATS swimmers who are not competing at a particular meet may also earn volunteer points by helping with the organization of that meet.
Volunteer activity will be tracked through each family's online account. Families should also keep their own record of volunteer service in case a secondary submission is required.
The volunteer program is not intended to be punitive. Families facing an obstacle that makes it difficult to meet their requirement are encouraged to contact a member of the Board.
Volunteer Opportunities
Administration & Governance
Board and leadership positions provide a full family's volunteer commitment.
| Position | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
President Thea Cameron | Chairs the CATS Board of Directors and presides over Board meetings. Serves as the official CATS spokesperson and representative, liaises between the Board and Head Coach, and oversees governing and administrative activity carried out by the Board. | Full Family Commitment |
| Vice President | Fills in for the President as required. Supports club promotion and publicity, attends Board meetings and assists with administrative duties, projects, event organization and other club tasks. | Full Family Commitment |
| Treasurer Chris Brown | Creates and updates the club budget, reports regularly to the Board on club finances and works directly with the club bookkeeper on financial matters. | Full Family Commitment |
| Secretary Laura Brown | Produces and distributes minutes for Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting, maintains Board files and written material, and distributes registration information to members in August. | Full Family Commitment |
| Director Erin McBride | Attends Board meetings and assists with club administration, projects, event organization and other tasks as required. | Full Family Commitment |
| Director Mary Johnson | Attends Board meetings and assists with club administration, projects, event organization and other tasks as required. | Full Family Commitment |
Swim Meet Management & Officials
Meet Leadership & Deck Officials
CATS-hosted meets depend on trained officials. Some positions require specific Swim Ontario certification.
| Position | Description | Points | Official Level Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club Officials Chair Nicole Stewart | Registers officials and liaises with Swim Ontario, organizes training sessions, supports administrative duties at club-hosted meets and tracks CATS official volunteer hours at away meets. | Full Family Commitment | Level 2 |
Club Officials Administrator Aimee Lococo | Assists the Club Officials Chair with administrative tasks related to club officials. | 300 points | — |
| Meet Manager Samantha Black | Organizes and runs CATS-hosted swim meets. Coordinates meet management, obtains Swim Ontario sanctions for time trials, ensures sufficient officials and participates with the Head Coach and Board in the Swim Ontario meet bidding process. | Full Family Commitment | Level 2 – Meet Manager |
| Electronic Timing Coordinator | Responsible for operation of the electronic timing system. | 75 points per session | — |
| Referee | The Referee is in charge of the conduct of the swimming competition during the session. | 100 points per session | Level 3 and Referee Clinic |
| Starter | Ensures a fair start for all swimmers and may also be asked to judge turns and relays at the start end of the pool. | 100 points per session | Level 2 – Starter |
| Stroke & Turn Judges | Judges of Stroke and Judges of Turn ensure swimmers follow the rules for each stroke and turn. | 75 points per session | Level 2 – Strokes and Turns |
| Chief Finish Judge | Responsible for determining the official placing and results of a race. | 75 points per session | Level 2 – Chief Finish Judge |
| Chief Timer | Maintains a constant check on the accuracy and efficiency of all timekeepers. | 75 points per session | Level 2 – Chief Timekeeper |
| Clerk of Course | Assists with meet administration and acts as a liaison between meet organizers, coaches and officials. | 75 points per session | Level 2 – Clerk of Course |
Swim Meet Management & Officials
Meet Support Roles
There are plenty of ways to help at a meet, including positions that require little or no previous officiating experience.
| Position | Description | Points | Official Level Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timer | Confirms the swimmer's name, lane and heat information, accurately operates the stopwatch and records finish times. Timers do not cheer for swimmers while performing this role. | 50 points per session | Level 1 |
| Marshalls | Organize swimmers by event, heat and lane before races. | 50 points per session | None |
| Safety Marshalls | Ensure warm-up and intermission pool regulations are followed. | 50 points per session | Level 1 – Safety Marshall |
| Runners | Collect heat sheets and assist with distribution of food items. | 25 points per session | None |
| Meet Set-Up | Assists meet management with set-up tasks before the meet. | 25 points | None |
| Meet Take-Down / Clean-Up | Assists meet management with take-down and clean-up tasks after the meet. | 25 points | None |
| Meet Food & Beverage Coordinator | Organizes food and beverages for officials and coaches. | 100 points | None |
Away meets count too. To encourage officials to gain experience, volunteer points are also available for officiating at away meets. Keep a record of every session volunteered and the position worked, and report this information to Club Officials Chair Nicole Stewart.
Volunteer Opportunities
Fundraising
Fundraising volunteers help generate the revenue that supports club programs and keeps costs manageable for Channel Cats families.
| Position | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship | Secure a corporate sponsor and receive volunteer points based on the sponsorship level. | 200 points per Platinum sponsor 100 points per Gold sponsor 50 points per Silver sponsor 25 points per Bronze sponsor |
| Poinsettia Sales Assistant | Assists the Fundraising Chair with advertising and coordinating the poinsettia sale, provides information to members and helps distribute purchases. | 50 points |
| Silent Auction Assistant | Assists the Fundraising Chair, collects and sets up auction items and creates sales sheets. This volunteer must also be available to set up and work at the silent auction during the awards banquet. | 100 points |
| Tag Day Assistant | Assists the Fundraising Chair in organizing and running Tag Day. The volunteer must be available to assist throughout the day. | 75 points |
| General Helpers List | Volunteers are contacted by event coordinators when help is needed for club projects and events. | 25–50 points per task |
We're in This Together
Every contribution helps.
The volunteer program exists so that families can share the work required to operate a strong, sustainable swim club. If circumstances make it difficult for your family to meet its commitment, please contact a member of the CATS Board to discuss your situation.