Membership fees cover only about 50% of expenses for the Trent Swim Club. The remaining 50% has to be made up with fundraising ventures. Fundraising is necessary to keep registration fees as low as possible.

Each family has a fundraising commitment based on the level of the swimmer(s) that can be met by using one of the club's fundraising activities or by some other individual means. The fundraising activities are Cheese, Bingo, and the Annual TSC Gala.

The fundraising amount required by each family is determined by the finance committee on a yearly basis. For example this year (2009-2010), each family above AG2 is responsible for raising $600 per year. This is broken down into two earning periods - September to December ($300) and - January to June ($300).

In January, you will receive a notice from the Fundraising Chairperson with your current total amount raised. At this point, if your total falls below the required amount, you will be required to submit the difference by cheque. If your balance is equal to the amount, then no additional funds will be required. Amounts exceeding the required amount will be credited to the next earning period. Balances will be totalled again in June and you will be required to balance your account again at this point. Should you have earned in excess of your fundraising quota, at the end of the year, 75% of the excess funds will go towards your meet fees account for the following swim season. Fundraising excesses are non refundable. The more money you raise, using the fundraising programs, the fewer out of pocket expenses you will incur.

You do not have to participate in fundraising, however each family is responsible for the fundraising commitment - this means you must pay the club the difference between what you have earned in fundraising and your families fundraising commitment.

There are several programs the club runs to help meet your fundraising commitment.

 CHEESE

• Empire Cheese is ordered on a 4 week schedule
• The Club receives a 30% discount for the bulk order which is applied directly to your fundraising commitment. For example, if you order $100 worth of cheese, then you will earn $30 towards your fundraising commitment.
• Orders can be e-mailed to the Cheese co-ordinator, or using the online form from the website
• Payment must be made at the time of pick-up. Cheques should be made payable to Trent Swim Club. To aid in the often cumbersome task of financially balancing the cheese orders we ask that all orders be paid by cheque and not cash.
• The estimated order and pick up dates are listed. You will also receive an e mail notification when an order date is approaching.  Please ensure that you are available to pick your order up on the assigned dates.

Order Dates

• Notice of order and pick up dates with be e mailed to all members.

BINGO

Bingo is our Club's primary fundraising activity and makes up an enormous part of our operating budget. Its' success is crucial in maintaining our fiscal fitness. The TSC occupies the Saturday 'matinee' slot (11:30 - 3:30 pm) at Kawartha Club Bingo on Clonsilla Avenue. Kawartha Club Bingo is one of five pilot projects in the province offering electronic bingo. Major renovations to the building and to staffing have changed our role. Two TSC parents are required at each of our allotted sessions. It is IMPERATIVE that you are at the bingo hall. The hall has adopted a 'three strikes your out' policy. Losing the bingo revenue would increase each swimmers fees by approximately $800.00 per year.

• The penalty for a missed bingo is $250.00.
• At the beginning of September you decide how many Bingos you would like to work. Bingos are valued at $125 each. We need two families for each Bingo and each family would receive a $125 fundraising credit. No family double ups allowed - it creates too great a risk that no one shows up.
• A bingo schedule will be distributed in late September. This will be in hard copy and distributed in each mailbox. The schedule will also be available on our website. Each family will work approximately 2 bingos over the course of the year.
• Families who want to work additional bingos their fundraising obligations would be able to do so if there were Bingos available and would receive meet account credits in the same manner as other fundraising projects (25% to the club, 75% to your meet account)
• Trading of bingo dates is permissible. Individuals are responsible for finding their replacement and informing the bingo captains of BOTH dates, the change. If a traded bingo is missed, the charge will be against the family assigned to work that date.
• You must inform your bingo captain PRIOR to 11:00 am on the day of bingo if you have had an emergency that makes it impossible for you to attend. Failure to do so will result in a $250.00 charge.
• If your child resigns from the TSC after December 15, you are still responsible for your bingo dates during that quarter.