Seriously...this COULD be close to my last email of the season. No promises, though. I'm gonna make it long just for funsies.

Last year we had ZERO NEW PEOPLE volunteer to serve on the Gators Board. It was a bit disheartening, to be honest. THIS YEAR WE HAVE FIVE! Super amazing. So guess what? We are keeping all five as members at large...but...we still need you to vote to keep it official (link at the end....so you read). 

Why, praytell, are we embarking on the 2025 swim season with nine Gators Board members? Because we have learned that we need to keep involving and training people so no one is stuck in their position for ten years (unless they want to be). Because hopefully in 2026 a few of these fine people will slide into an officer role on the Board and make space for MORE new members at large to step up to the plate. From the bottom of our Gator hearts, we say THANK YOU to these five fine folks (say that five times). 

I would also like to thank Lora Long for throwing her name in the hat to take on the job of overseeing ribbons next year! We do still need another person for this role, for scoring (with yours truly) and to help oversee events. Please reach out and let us know if this interests you. 

One final thing...and you better still be reading. 

You may have noticed two names missing from the 2025 ballot. 

First, our previous FANTASTIC meet director, Rob  Boller. Rob handed this role over to Mike Bermudez this year and has been slowly transitioing out of his responsibilities. Rob has been on the Gators Board for like two thousand years and this email template would not let me list all the things he has done for this team. He was an instant favorite of mine when I joined the board three years ago and we are so sad to see him go, but so thankful for all his time served. WE WILL MISS YOU...enjoy your Monday evenings in the summer, you've earned them. 

And...our SWEET, AMAZING, WONDERFUL, EFFING AWESOME Rachel Sleeth will be handing over the torch of concessions / Gators Board member next year. While we know she will always bleed green and support the team in her own amazing ways, she leaves big shoes to fill. She has been the levelheaded to our crazy and she is the behind the scenes concessions QUEEN and merch guru.  So, when you see her this weekend at the meet or the banquet, please THANK HER for her dedication to this team. 

AND ONE FINAL FINAL request....

GO SIGN UP AND FILL THE OPEN SPOTS FOR THE MEET TOMORROW. K!? THANKS. We still need some first and second session. If I have to pluck you from the crowd day of we both aren't gonna be happy. 

Alright, here's the link: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz9OH3wt...

GO GATORS!