ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVE

Election, Job Description, and Responsibilities

(Approved at CSI Board of Directors Meeting 01/21/97)

As stated in the Connecticut Swimming By-Laws, the responsibility of Elections comes under the Administrative Division’s jurisdiction. Therefore, the election of the Athlete Representative shall be overseen by the Administrative Division.

Election Procedures:

· The election of the Athletes’ Representative shall be conducted annually during CSI’s short course senior swimming championship, or other regularly scheduled meet designated by the Board of Directors.

· At the time of election, the Athlete Representative candidate must (a) be an athlete member in good standing; (b) be at least sixteen years of age by the end of the calendar year of election and at least a sophomore in high school; (c) be currently competing, or have competed during the three (3) immediately preceding years, in the program of swimming conducted by CSI or another LSC; (d) reside in the territory or in the contiguous territory of another LSC and expect to reside therein throughout at least the first half of the term.

· The outgoing Senior Athlete Representative and the current Junior Athlete Representative will organize the implementation of the actual election which will be overseen by a member of the current Nominating Committee and the Senior Chairman. These individuals will make up the Athlete Representative Election Board.

· Candidates shall be required to submit a nomination form indicating their interest in the position and submit it to the Senior Chairman, c/o Connecticut Swimming, no later than 5 days before the elections. This form will be available to the swimmers attending the meet where the elections will be held.

· Upon receipt of the nomination form , CSI will forward to candidate’s parents, a letter outlining the responsibilities and obligations of the Athlete Representative.

· There will be meeting of applicants on the Friday of senior championships for the purpose of discussing election procedures and the responsibilities of the position.

· CSI swimmers attending the “election” meet and who are at least 13 years of age will be allowed to cast one (1) vote for the next Junior Athletes’ Representative and the vote will be placed in a sealed receptacle. A list of competing swimmers will be provided by the Connecticut Swimming Inc. Office. Once a swimmer has voted, the name will be initialed on the list. A swimmer may be asked for verification of identity if the Election Board deems it necessary.

· Votes will be counted by the Election Board and the Athlete Representative elected shall be determined by a majority of the Athlete members in good standing, present and voting. The winner will be announced at the Finals session on the last day of competition.

· The Junior Athlete Representative will take office after the May House of Delegates meeting. A mentor will be assigned to the Athlete Representative after the meeting.

Responsibilities:

· The Athlete Representative shall serve a two-year term on the Connecticut Swimming Inc. Board of Directors as a liaison between the athletes who are members of CSI and the Board of Directors and House of Delegates.

· The Senior Athlete Representative shall chair the Athletes’ Committee.

· The Senior Athlete Representative shall have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Athletes’ Committee which shall be responsible for and undertake activities (a) delegated to it by the Board of Directors or the General Chairman or (b) undertaken by the committee as being in the best interests of the Athlete Members, CSI, USA Swimming and the sport of swimming.

· The Athlete Representative must attend House of Delegates, Board of Directors and Program Development meetings.

· The Athlete Representative should make herself/himself available for any CSI-sponsored camps/workshops.

· The Athlete Representative may be eligible to attend the USA Swimming Annual Convention held each fall provided he/she meets the following requirements: 75% attendance of CSI Board of Directors meetings, or a combination of Board meetings and CSI-sponsored camps/workshops equivalent to the minimum attendance requirement of CSI delegates/representatives to the USA Swimming National Convention.