Hi Porpoises!

This warm weather has us all excited to be back in the water! Only 8 days until our first practices! Here’s what you need to know for this week.

Memorial Day BBQ

The HOA-sponsored Memorial Day BBQ will be held Saturday, May 23rd, from 3-7 PM for all Park Village residents. The swim team will have a tent at the event from 4–6 PM. Coaches and board members will be available to answer questions, and families/swimmers are encouraged to stop by and say hi!

We'll send a separate email if the weather forces us to change plans.

First Practices

The first practices will be held on Tuesday, May 26th, according to the schedule posted here: https://parkvillage.swimtopia.com/practices

If you’re not sure which group your swimmer should attend, please let me know.

Mock Meet Reminder

The Mock Meet will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd. The arrival time for swimmers will be 4:45 PM. All swimmers are encouraged to attend. Team caps/shirts will be distributed, and the team photo will be taken promptly at 5 PM. We expect the meet will conclude between 7:30-8 PM. The signup deadline to participate in the Mock Meet is Friday, May 29th at 11:59 PM. Signup instructions are listed here: https://parkvillage.swimtopia.com/signup-instructions

Volunteering

Volunteer roles will open Tuesday, May 19th at 8:00 PM. These will open automatically in SwimTopia. 

We strongly encourage families to sign up early, especially if you have favorite positions from previous years. Families are welcome to volunteer more than four times, but please only sign up for positions you fully intend to work. Holding extra spots “just in case” can leave us scrambling to find enough volunteers at the end of the season.

Volunteer Signup Instructions

1. Log in to SwimTopia. 
2. Start here: https://parkvillage.swimtopia.com/swim_meets
3. Find the meet you'd like to work. Select Job Signup
4. Click Sign Up for Jobs
5. Choose your preferred volunteer position. Click the check box next to your desired job.
6. Click Save Assignments

Volunteer Requirements
The Park Village Porpoises Swim Team is a parent-run volunteer organization. It takes approximately 50 volunteers to run a successful swim meet.

Most volunteer positions require only a few minutes of training. A small number of roles require certification or attendance at a TSA clinic. These are denoted in the job descriptions.

Each family is required to earn 4 volunteer credits during the season:

• Only 1 volunteer credit may be earned at the Mock Meet
• If you have two adults available to work, you may earn more than one credit at any meet other than the mock meet by working two separate jobs.
• All jobs require your full attention. If you have small children, please arrange for another adult to supervise your child(ren) during your shift.
• Registration must be completed before you may sign up for volunteer roles

A volunteer hold fee of $280 per family is held during registration and will only be charged if volunteer requirements are not fulfilled by the end of the season. Credits may be prorated at the rate of $70 per credit.

If you are unable or unwilling to fulfill the volunteer requirement, you may opt to have the volunteer hold fee charged at the end of the season. The volunteer hold fee will be released for families who complete the minimum requirements.

Volunteer Job Descriptions
I've updated the volunteer descriptions and regrouped the roles to make signup easier to navigate.  All job descriptions can be found here: https://parkvillage.swimtopia.com/volunteer-roles-and-sign-up

Volunteering for New Families
If this is your first year on the swim team, don’t panic! Every family starts out feeling a little overwhelmed, but most jobs are much easier than they sound, and veteran parents are always happy to help. There are plenty of jobs to go around.

Help Needed for the 2026 Season

We are still looking to fill the following roles for the 2026 season. Please contact [email protected] if you’re interested in either role. Online signup is restricted for these positions.

Timing Coordinator
Operates the electronic timing system during home meets and helps ensure race times are recorded correctly. Training and support are provided, and prior swim team experience is not required. This role is ideal for someone comfortable with basic computer operations who prefers a behind-the-scenes meet role. Should be available for most home meets.

Cary City Meet Coordinator
The Cary City Meet is one of the highlights of the season for our swimmers, and this role helps make the magic happen! The Cary City Meet Coordinator organizes Park Village’s participation in the event, including selecting a team theme, coordinating decorations, attending a pre-meet coordinator meeting, and communicating important information to families before the meet. This is a fun, creative role that is ideal for someone who enjoys planning events and promoting team spirit. This position earns 4 volunteer credits and will satisfy your family’s volunteer requirement for the season. Must be available for Cary City on July 11th and the rain date of July 12th.

As always, reach out with any questions!

Thanks,
Kara