If you want to participate practices will be after Swim Practice at Fairmont Pool on Tuesday 9/7 and Thursday 9/9 and on Saturday at noon

Head Water Polo Coach Pat Hayes says:

‘The Quac water polo team played very well throughout the tournament and showed a lot of character in winning the Gold. We were in by far the most difficult bracket and actually came out seeded second due to a close loss to Melbourne. But the kids hung together and seemed to play better and gain in confidence with each game. The final was an excellent match between easily the two best teams, Quac and Melbourne. Everyone played very well and kept the intensity level up for the entire game. So very proud of the team for sticking to the game plan and helping and supporting each other throughout.’

‘Overall I thought the Gay Games in Cologne were a wonderful event of competition, friendship and fun. From the opening ceremony to closing ceremony everyone seemed to have a great time competing, hooking up with old friends, making new ones and exploring a different culture. Everyone seemed so happy just to be there that it was if the competition aspect was almost secondary. Each night there were numerous parties and activities that no one was wanting for something fun to do.’

Congratulations to QUAC Water Polo! we can’t wait for the stories and pictures

UAC Water Polo team going to Gay Games: (from left to right) Brent Wildo, Danny Bradley, Tyler Pool, Trina Pendleton, Michael McBride, Laura Steckbauer, Jason Olofson, Samantha Ross, Pat Hayes, Wes Heaps, Christain Hayes and Colin O'Connor. Missing from the photo are Tom Taylor and Todd Bradley

You & a partner or friend are cordially invited to attend our Cheese & QUACer’s Summer Social and Elite Membership Launch Party on Saturday, August 28th 2010 from 6p – 8p. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.

This is also QUAC’s Summer Social and the entire team is invited to come celebrate and recognize our Elite members. The party will be held at a private residence in Emigration Canyon, email quac.membership(at)gmail.com to RSVP and get the address and directions. See you there!

Cheese & QUACers

QUAC Summer Social & Elite Membership Launch Party

What is QUAC?:

• Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight swimming team invites you to join our team.  All swimmers of any skill level, even individuals who would like to learn, are welcome.  
• QUAC is a 501(c)(3) organization that depends on its volunteers, donors, and contributors to operate and function.
• All our coaches and board members are volunteers – there are no paid employees
• Provides a safe, healthy and fun environment to learn and practice aquatic sports
• Holds regular team socials outside of the pool building friendships
• Through fundraising efforts, raises money to sponsor swimmers to compete in local and national events
• Coaches provide over 1,000 volunteer hours (combined) of time to assist athletes with their technique and prepare them to compete

What do some other clubs charge members?:

• SQUID ($30/Month – does not include pool fees)
• Tsunami ($49/Month – does not include pool fees)
• WH20 ($60/Month – includes pool fees)
• Long Beach Grunions ($25/Month – includes pool fees)
• QUAC ($25/ YEAR voluntary – not required to participate – does not include pool fees)

Where do QUAC Elite Membership, membership dues & fundraising monies go?

• Operating costs such as web maintenance, software management systems for accounting, membership, membership fees, advertising and organizing events
• Ability to host and fund team socials through out the year
• Sponsor athletes to participate in competition in the form of paying entrance fees, competition fees, USMS memberships, and scholarships for additional funds to cover travel related costs

How you can help QUAC:

• Volunteer for a QUAC sponsored community service project
• Volunteer at a QUAC sponsored fundraiser
• Register as a member on the QUAC website
• Pay annual dues ($25)
• Sign up for with recurring monthly donations automatically charged to your credit card

Membership Options

QUAC Member $25 / year

Elite Memberships:

QUAC Super Member $10 / month or $120 / year

QUAC Silver Member $25 / month or $300 / year

QUAC Gold Member $50 / month or $600 / year

QUAC BFF and Platinum Member $100 / month or $1,200 / year

QUAC Corporate Sponsorship $100 / month or $1,200 / year (Premium logo placement and hyperlink on website, on team t-shirts and Ski&Swim materials; official sponsor of Ski&Swim)

QUAC Summer Social & Elite Membership Launch Party

You & a partner or friend are cordially invited to attend our Cheese & QUACer’s Elite Membership Launch Party on Saturday, August 28th 2010 from 6p – 8p.  Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.  Please join us signing up and celebrating our elite members.  The party will be held at a private residence, email quac.membership@gmail.com to RSVP and get the address.  See you there!

More photos and video can be found on our facebook page.

QUAC now offers, in addition to the Basic Membership of $25 per year, several ‘Elite Membership’ options with monthly recurring donations automatically billed to your credit card.

QUAC Elite Membership Levels

QUAC Super Member $10/month

QUAC Silver Member $25/month

QUAC Gold Member $50/month

QUAC BFF and Platinum Member $100/month

Combined yearly donations of $120, $300, $600 and $1,200 will give you Super, Silver, Gold or BFF/Platinum membership level status respectively.

To become an ‘QUAC Elite Member’ please register online and choose from the available membership options, or contact Raul at quac.membership(at)gmail.com.

As a registered 501(c)(3) organization, all donations can be tax deductible. You will be supporting your team and getting a tax break!

Last weekend, the Denver based SQUID swim team hosted the Colorado SQUID Summer Gold Rush swim meet and Whitewater rafting event. I attended, along with fellow QUACers Jon Jepsen, Delaney Pedersen, Thad Applegate, Sterling Fuhriman and Milan Jendrisek.

We arrived to the opening social and were welcomed by the SQUID team.  They had a fine spread of food and drinks available to us at no charge, with a jazz band playing in the background.  It was held at a beautiful park and was a fantastically  planned event.  It turned out to be a lovely evening filled with laughter and good company!

The swim meet was mine and Sterling’s first.  When I began with QUAC I was certain I would not compete.  But over time, with great coaching and encouragement from my coaches and teammates I decided to give it a shot.  It was the first time I competed in anything in my entire life and it was an amazing experience!  I swam a 50 free and a 50 back.  I came in first in my heat on freestyle and was welcomed and cheered on by my teammates and swimmers from SQUID.  Overall, I was not first nor last so I would say it was a success and something I will definitely do again and encourage others to take on!  My fellow teammates were awesome, we were a team, cheered and supported each other through the whole experience and had a great time doing it!

We also attended lunch, hosted dinners (that were super delicious) a desert after-party and dancing at another club in town.  The next day some of us chose to go on a river rafting trip with the SQUIDers.  It was incredible!  I was scared to death for the first hour.  Jon, Milan & David Smith of SQUID were on my raft.  I think I screamed at least a third of the time on the river, which was pretty funny to everyone else on the raft.  It was exhilarating, funny, fun, and I would definitely to it again!

Later that day SQUID hosted a closing dinner and planned for all who wanted to attend a free concert in a local park.  Again, the food and drinks were provided for us and the spread was very tasty!

Overall, it was an amazing experience.  SQUID welcomed us, had everything planned and took care of us.  They were really fun to hang out with and get to know.  It is a definite must do!  I will compete again and look forward to the next out of town event!  It was also really great to understand and experience what it means to be a team competing and supporting each other.  I have gained a greater understanding of the meaning of a team and a deeper appreciation of QUAC and what we make possible for people!  I love QUAC and am ever grateful for how it has changed my life.  I have also developed friendships with individuals who I love and make my life better.  Thanks QUAC!

LaRiesse

LaRiesse, Jonny and Milan from QUAC, and David Smith from SQUID whitewater rafting during the 2010 Summer Gold Rush meet near Denver

Come get your car washed, have some lunch and support the athletes that will represent us in this international event.

QUAC will be proudly represented by 14 Water Polo players and one swimmer. A lot of work and fundraising efforts were committed to supporting these athletes, although due to cost of the trip most of the expenses are paid by the participants themselves.  We are thrilled by these QUAC members dedication to their sport and our team, and we will be cheering for them from home! Especially impressive was the ability of the QUAC Water Polo team to get so many players to attend this competition; hats off to QUAC POLO!

Next year, IGLA 2011 will be hosted by West Hollywood Aquatics in Honolulu, Hawaii in July 2011. Airfare will be cheaper than to Europe so start thinking about it!

QUAC will be part of Team Utah, which includes many athletes and different sports.

QUAC Water Polo:

Trina Pendleton, Samantha Ross, Laura Steckbauer, Pat Hayes, Christian Hayes, Danny Bradley, Todd Bradley, Wes Heaps, Tom Taylor, Jason Olofson, Tyler Pool, Brent Weldon, Colin O’Connor, Michael McBride

QUAC Swimmer: Val Mansfield (GO VAL!!)

QUAC Water Polo team going to Gay Games: (from left to right) Brent Wildo, Danny Bradley, Tyler Pool, Trina Pendleton, Michael McBride, Laura Steckbauer, Jason Olofson, Samantha Ross, Pat Hayes, Wes Heaps, Christain Hayes and Colin O'Connor. Missing from the photo are Tom Taylor and Todd Bradley

So no more excuses that it’s too hot or that everything fun this summer costs money and come get your slide on courtesy of QUAC & SimplySocial. See you there shades, sandals , & all.