A Community that Loves Swimming
Des Moines Swimming Federation coaches guide athletes in swimming fast and building a love of the sport. You don’t have to get in the pool to be on the team, though. The larger DSMF community creates the environment for kids to be their best.
A parent-run, 501(c)(3) organization, DMSF families support the coaches in running the team. Parent volunteers serve on the DMSF Board, officiate and host meets, and organize team fun. Most of all, they cheer on every athlete wearing DMSF blue and gold.
DMSF Board
DMSF is managed by a volunteer parent board of directors, who help manage team operations, staffing and programming. Directors are elected to a two year term by the general membership at the DMSF annual member meeting in October. The Board is supported by the numerous committee members and others who volunteer for the team. The board generally meets monthly. All board meetings are announced ahead of time and are open to the general membership.
Board President: Stacey Artikov
DMSF Committees
Grants/Fundraising/Sponsorship Committee
Coordinates fundraising programs for the club, which has included dining out with a cause, lane sponsorships at meets, AmazonSmile, etc. The vision for this committee is to secure grant funding (especially for outreach programs we offer like free lessons for Wilke House), secure meet sponsors, lane sponsors, team sponsors, and to coordinate at least two large fundraising campaigns per year- a year end fundraising campaign and Swim-A-Thon.
Board Sponsor:
Committee Chair:
Committee Members: Matt McDevitt, Jolene Edgington, Jeremy Thompson
Major Events:
Swim A Thon
This is the team's major fundraiser, typically held in the spring at the start of long-course season.
Swim A Thon Committee Members: Sarah Lepert, Kodiane Jernberg
Grants: Gary & Lora Brons
Marketing Committee
Coordinates advertising and promotion for the club year around. This will include advertisements for try outs, backpack program ads for the club in general, promoting team events, highlighting swimmer achievements and posting ads for new coaches. This committee will also include the arrangements with vendors for DMSF apparel and other logo items. This committee will work with Elsmore Swim Shop and other vendors to plan multiple apparel opportunities.
Board Sponsor:
Committee Chair: Sarah Lepert
Committee Members: Bridget Drendel, Betsy McKibbon
Meet Management Committee
Coordinates DMSF-hosted meets to ensure the best experience possible for athletes and their families by recruiting volunteers, organizing meet activities, planning apparel vendor participation and more. Bids Meets (typically due in February for an April vote by the House of Delegates).
Board Sponsor: Stacey Artikov
Committee Chair: Stacey Artikov
Committee Member: Meredith Otis, Alissa Smith
Hospitality & Concessions Committee
Oversees hospitality and concessions by soliciting donations and coordinating food for coaches & officials during DMSF-hosted meets.
Board Sponsor: Sally Weiland
Committee Chair: Alissa Smith
Committee Member: Meredith Otis, Kim Powell, Marcia Treichel, Suzy LeGrant, Sally Weiland
Membership and Volunteerism Committee
Coordinates tryout events at least two times per year. This committee will work throughout the year to plan for events that increase membership. This includes coordinating two or more try out events prior to each season (short and long course seasons), as well as developing “bring a friend to practice” and “two week free trial” events.
- Fall & Summer Swim Try Outs
- Set dates, secure location, plan the staffing, develop and circulate advertising- Fall tryouts are usually held in August and Summer tryouts are usually held in March.
Board Sponsor: Stuart Wilson
Committee Chair: Open
Committee Members: Jeremy Weiland, Sally Weiland
Lessons and Alternative Programs Committee
Plans and coordinates private and community lessons throughout the year, but primarily for the summer season.
The following are a number of lessons/alternative programs that can be offered. The tasks include working closely with the Head Coach and Head Age Group Coach to develop the timeline and programming for lessons, work with facilities to reserve the pools, outreach to Wilke House and Summer Camps/Daycares as well as others to coordinate larger opportunities for lessons programs, planning for training senior athletes and others who want to work as lessons instructors, working with the coaches to ensure the times for the community lessons coordinates with gold/platinum practice, and working with the marketing committee to advertise the lessons, and working with the team manager to ensure all insurances and certifications are obtained in advance.
Board Sponsor: Stacey Artikov
Committee Chair: Stacey Artikov
Committee Members: Katie McGhee, Stephanie Flora, Lindsey Ludwig, Lily Voynov
Team Travel Committee
This committee establishes background check and form requirements for each team travel event; advertises for and selects chaperones for team travel; schedules a team travel zoom with all travelers, their parents, the coaches and chaperones to review the agenda and rules prior to each team travel; books hotels, rental cars and food venues; Sends out and collect waivers/consents/background checks prior to all team travel; arranges meals and snacks for team travel group; handles all questions and issues related to team travel.
Board Sponsor:
Committee Chair: Danna Pins
Social Committee
Makes DMSF a fun experience for athletes through social events like team dinners and holiday celebrations.
Board Sponsor:
Committee Chair: Alissa Smith
Committee Members: Danna Pins, Tina Fisher, Meredith Otis, Alissa Smith, Kris Powell, Jennifer Grimes, Ashley Thoreson, Mandy Dahlen, Meggan Guns
Sign up for specific events
here.
Technology Committee
Help with set up and troubleshooting of technology during our hosted meets. Evaluate new equipment needs and purchases for the team.
Board Sponsor: Stacey Artikov
Committee Chair: Russ Mintle
Committee Members: Dave Lacey, Steve Bormann, Russ Mintle
Vision Committee
Looks forward to anticipate and adapt to changes in the swim community and within the team, such as pool space, building a new pool, staffing and more.
Board Sponsor: Stacey Artikov
Committee Chair: Alissa Smith
Committee Members: Jeremy Pins, Jeff Fisher, Matt McDevitt, Josh Otis, Stacey Artikov, Ashley Thoreson
