[CSI Homepage] [What's New!] [Back Mailings]
Welcome to Connecticut Swimming’s 2007 Awards Banquet. Each year we come together to celebrate the athletes, coaches and volunteers of Connecticut Swimming whose exceptional accomplishments have stood out over the past year.
Our annual banquet is an important opportunity to honor every athlete in Connecticut who made the Connecticut Top 16 in either or both the 2006-2007 Short Course and 2007 Long Course seasons. We come together today to off our congratulations to all of the athletes who have achieved this distinction. This honor is the result of many hours of hard work and training. Be proud of your accomplishments and enjoy your day.
We also honor today every athlete who earned the status of Connecticut Swimming Scholar Athlete. These student-athletes have completed 10th, 11th or 12th grade and earned a minimum of a 3.5 Grade Point Average. In a sport that requires so much dedication and discipline, it is no surprise that our athletes excel in the classroom as well.
In addition to recognizing our athletes, we will also honor those individuals – coaches and volunteers – who have made special contributions to Connecticut Swimming over the past year. Unfortunately, neither time nor space will permit us to recognize all of the individuals in our swimming community who make so many important contributions to the sport of swimming in our state. I would, however, like to take a moment to mention just a few individuals:
First, I would like to ask all members of Connecticut Swimming’s Board of Directors who are in attendance with us today to please stand and be recognized. On your behalf, I would like to extend my warmest regards and deepest appreciation to these individuals who give their time and energy on behalf of Connecticut Swimming, and more importantly your children and our swimmers. Please join me in giving these volunteers a round of applause.
I would also like to make special mention of an outgoing Board member. Bill Krumm is a name familiar to all of Connecticut Swimming. The Head Coach for the Westport Y Water Rats, Bill has served in various capacities on the CSI Board over many years, most recently as our immediate past General Chair. He recently accepted a new position as the Western Zone Sports Consultant for USA Swimming, and he was scheduled to begin his new duties on November 1. I accepted his resignation from our Board with regret, thanked him on your behalf for his many years of service to Connecticut Swimming, and wished him well in his new endeavors. Please join me in thanking Bill for his time and effort on behalf of Connecticut Swimming.
Finally, on your behalf and on behalf of the Connecticut Swimming Board of Directors, I would like to publicly acknowledge Peter Boucher and Wendy Jackwin for once again coordinating this year’s annual banquet. Today’s event is a special day for everyone associated with Connecticut Swimming, and it is a tribute to their volunteerism, hard work and dedication. We therefore extend our gratitude and appreciation to both Peter and Wendy for their time and contributions to make today’s event possible.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to all of the parents, coaches, and friends of Connecticut Swimming who have volunteered countless hours in support of Connecticut Swimming throughout the year. Your efforts are appreciated, and your many contributions have made Connecticut Swimming an exceptional organization.
Connecticut Swimming is a non-profit organization with annual revenues and expenses in excess of $600,000. We are a strong, well managed, fiscally sound organization, comprised of dedicated and competent volunteers. The strength of our organization can be found in the volunteer base, and our effectiveness in the future will remain contingent upon the willingness of our many volunteers to pool their collective knowledge, skills and abilities, and work together to achieve our common mission: advancing the sport of swimming in the state of Connecticut on behalf of our athletes. Once again, I thank all of those who contribute their time and energy to Connecticut Swimming. Moreover, I encourage others to volunteer their time through involvement in Connecticut Swimming. It is my pleasure to serve as the General Chairman of the Board of Directors for Connecticut Swimming.
Once again, congratulations to everyone in attendance today, and thank you for your generosity of spirit and support.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey L Gray