Going to the chapel. Going to get married! Chapel of love.

Wedding program.

Update

From a scan.

Mark Rauterkus

Sports Support Syndicate

1555 Sherman Ave. Suite 1650

Evanston, IL 60201

708-864-5089

August 3, 1990

Memo to Our Important Suppliers & Authors

Inside Strokes Newsletter

Dear Friends,

This summer has been a busy time, and it is getting worse before it can get

better. To begin, I'm moving the office to a new address on August 20. Here is

our new location:

Sports Support Syndicate

1739 East Carson Street

Suite 1650

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Local Number is 412-481-2497

The 1-800 number will remain the same. I don't have many other details as to

the business location until we sign a commercial lease. I do have a good

location in mind and we've got a new apartment.

The reason I'm writing now is to put the finishing touches on our first big

event for the fall, the American Swim Coaches Association World Clinic to

be held in Washington D.C. In some ways, I’m not prepared with a ton of

products. Presently many things are still on the drawing boards. However, we

do have plenty to offer at this juncture. And, we must go forward, even with

pending projects as this is the only time of the year where we can all get

together and visit while concentrating on swimming sales.

Last year was a big year for our young company. Next year will be even bigger

as we put more follow-through behind our ideas and direction we have

already started. Last year at this time I was finishing our first book, and we

needed to send 4 cases to the show via Greyhound to arrive in time for our

autograph session. We were a one-product display last year. This year we will

easil9 fill the 2 and a third booths. We have plenty of irons in the fire, and we

like that challenge.

I'm exhibiting at the clinic with a double-sized booth, and we are next to

another company, Competitive Aquatic Supply, in a single booth. We are

joining forces for the show to make a combined presence.

We would like to have you join us at the ASCA clinic in our booth for sales

activities. We will have the room to have an island table for special guests in

the booth to show their products, sign-books, visit with customers, etc.

This is an open invitation to you for your participation. I'd love to have you

there. Your presence will be important. While there, we will have the time to

get familiar with the products, the sales mission, the customer demand and

issues. For the new people, I’m looking at this as a time to get together for a

long'-term relationship.

You are invited to join us in the booth without charge. I'm paying for the

booth. However, this is a sales opportunity as well as a show and education

opportunity. We can sell right on the floor, and I encourage you to do so.

Bring products. If we sell out of the stock that your are able to bring, we can

right orders and make deliveries after the show.

While selling at the show, all the sales will go through our cash box. We will

have the customers write their checks, purchase orders and take the credit

card info to be payable to us. Then at the end of each day, or after the show

closes, we will settle the cash box situation.

With you visiting our booth, bringing your own product, paying for your

own transportation, etc. I’d like to retain only 20% of the gross sales from the

sales of your products. This also includes follow-up sales that we deliver as a

direct result of the show. You'll keep 80% of the gross.

with our new splash at this clinic, I do not feel much pressure to offer huge

show discounts on products. Small extras are good, but I don't want to hold a

fire sale on any merchandise. We can talk about price specials at the show.

Before the show, we should discuss quantities.

At this time, this same invitation is headed to these people:

Keith Bell, book author

David Salo, book author

George Grippo, Polar USA

Don Gambril, book author

Jonty Skinner, book and software author and presenter at mini-school

Paul Pallisso, Video producer

Force Fins of Bob Evans Design - pending author (other booth)

Bob Gillette, inventor, pending author

Skip Bird, author (not expected as recovering from surgery)

Larry Newell, American Red Cross, pending author/supplier (not expected)

Dennis Fosdick, Water Polo, author (other booth)

David Berkoff, pending author, (not expected)

Hobie Billingsley, pending author (not expected)

Fred Crusiger, author (not expected)

Donald Chu, author (not expected)

Jerry Colletto, author (not expected)

Dr. Jane Katz, (pending author)

Leader Sports Products (supplier)

Rob Sleamaker, (author & other exhibitor possible)

Any author from Human Kinetics Publishers

Dr. Ernie Maglischo, (author for autograph visit)

Brent Rutemiller (author)

Dennis Pursley (author)

Pete Leighton, Athletes' Outlet (sales source)

Dr. Jan Pans, (author)

Lou Sharp, (Software author) Swim Logic

Dr. Leon Revien, Visual Skills Inc. (video producer/author)

Mary T. Meagher, author

Zoomers, pending author

Randall Eli Radic, author

Delphis Foundation, (other booth) video producers

High Peaks from Lake Placid (sales agent & catalog distribution site)

Melissa Rinker, Circle City Swimwear (sales agent in other booth)

The above list is long and includes plenty of people who are working on

plenty of different "intelligent products." However, I'm not expecting a

majority of the people to attend the clinic. You might find yourself on that list

and know that there is no way that you are going to possibly be there. That is

ok with me, but I wanted to let everyone know that you are most welcome.

Those with pending project, this will be a time where we can do some

investigation, research, testing of our ideas. You might want to come for a

discovery session. However, you might want to come only after the product is

completed. Also, those with their own agenda, I invite you to stop by the

booth, and we can establish a schedule, for a short visit. We would like you to

autograph copies of your books for our customers. That would be a great

reason to make a quite appearance.

Another major campaign is about to be finalized in the next few months

concerning our literacy project. We are about to publish a literacy/comic book

that will be a givea-way item. We are working with Cartoonist Across

America and a few advertisers that have expressed an interest. We have also

made connections with Barbara Bush, but at this time, the details are still

pending. We might have more exact news at the clinic.

With the literacy project, we will publish 50,000 books that explain swimming

at a baselevel interest with a character called Patrick Rabbit, the Greatest

Athlete in the Universe. Our slogan is "Read! Exercise Your Mind." We hope

to deliver 50 free copies of the book to each coach at the ASCA Clinic for

distribution to people in the coach's home community. Coaches should be

able to sign-up for delivery at our booth.

There is a series of definite campaigns that will be available by the ASCA

clinic, and this is our co-op catalog publishing project with swim specific

merchants. (."ompetitive Aquatic Supply of Huntington Beach and Ohio and

High Peaks of Lake Placid, New York will be distributing 15,000 copies of a 16

page book catalog to their customers this fall. Having merchants take such a

special interest in a dedicated book catalog is a first in our industry. I am very

excited about the sales potential of this type of marketing tool We are going

to be selling books like never before.

This co-publishing of a 16-page book catalog is the largest of our progressive

marketing activities, but other smaller advances have been realized

throughout the year. This includes: products available for evaluation and

display for company catalogs and trade shows from T.J.'s, World Wide

Aquatics, Kast-a-way, ISHOF, Swimmers Edge, ASC A, Swimming World,

At}aetes' Outlet, The Victor, Triathlon Today Magazine, and many other

sports shops from London to Japan and Australia. It has been a busy year, and

the energy level is still growing.

I'm open to all of your ideas, new product plans, and involvement. I'll try to

work with everyone by assisting them get access to the ASC A trade exhibit

hall with the Swimming Support Syndicate if you call in advance and let me

know you'll be attending.

The show details:

Sincerely yours,

Mark Rauterkus

I Dig Volleyball

Inside Strokes

Rejection from The White House (and it would be overturned)

Adventures Unlimited

Back in the day, a partnership with Adventures Unlimited and SSS had us doing sales and programs that were far ahead of what Amazon was doing.

Adventures Unlimited was a sports and travel bookstore in Long Beach. We placed a Macintosh computer on the sales counter there and had sales calls, mail-order letters, inventory, and other functions go straight there.

Omar - Swimming World

PR seeks titles

Letter to The White House and First Lady, Barbara Bush

Mark Rauterkus

Sports Support Syndicate

1555 Sherman Ave. Suite 1650

Evanston, IL 60201

708-864-5089

April 2, 1990

The Office of the First Lady

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC

Dear Mrs. Bush,

We are planning on publishing a (not-for-profit) comic book that deals

directly with Family Literacy and Swimming, two of your interests. We

would like your help.

My company is working with the nonprofit, literacy group, Cartoonists

Across America, (Phil Yeh and Mary Beth Roberts). Phil is illustrating the

book using their slogan, “Read! Exercise Your Mind!" and the character,

Patrick Rabbit, the Greatest Athlete in the Universe.

Could you write a short introduction for the book? 

We want to put your words and photo on the book’s inside front cover. Enclosed is a copy of

the story line for your review, and I’m enclosing a recent edition of one of

Phil Yeh’s other books with Patrick Rabbit.

The book’s introduction will be at the Swim Coaches World Clinic in

Washington D.C. from September 5 to 8, 1990. Could you plan to attend the

clinic for an hour so we can hold a brief autograph session? We would like

some of the coaches to get autographed copies of the book.

One thousand swim coaches from around the USA and a hundred or

so from other countries attend the ASCA World Clinic each year. We will

give every coach at the clinic 50 free copies of this book. The coaches will

distribute the books in their communities to promote literacy and swimming.

The book is intended for children (age 6-12) and their parents. The

comic book format is ideal for new readers. The book’s story will entertain

and teach how to join a swim team, swimming jargon, and conquering the

personal fear of getting started in a strange activity.

Sincerely yours,

Mark Rauterkus 

Seeking other publishers

Triathlete and Bycling Magainze

Didn't work out. 

Triathlon Today ad

to Magazine publishers

Foreword

This proposal contains numerous sections, details and reasoning in an attempt to accomplish a wide range of objectives. This document serves as a sales pitch that establishes a need for our services, as well as a business plan. We expect an individual account to generate revenues anywhere within the range of $14,000 to $200,000 in the first year. With those amounts of money, one expects thorough planning and documentation.

Another factor that extends the length, depth and scope of this proposal is our creative flexibility and desire to customize solutions with the various magazine publishers. It is easy to be rigid, but we prefer to keep "Support" at the center of our name.

The give-and-take process takes added energy. We are committed to hard work. But not at the expense of productivity.

Efficiency is necessary as our company faces tremendous growth this fall. Interacting with your publication is an important step for our future. We are running ahead with proposals headed to: New Orleans SportsLife, Windy City Sports, Armature Athlete, Competitor, The Master Skier, a swim coaches Newsletter, and Triathlon Today.

As we reach this period of expansion, we've studied our past, the concerns of our associates and customer reaction. With the evaluation, we have generated a new strategic philosophy.

We decided to offer your company a choice between two types of payment structures. Our traditional outline and reasoning is enclosed, along with a new type of agreement reasoning. This binder contains two different approaches to fiscal management.

Our present agreement policy is in section IV. Summary: All expenses are paid before the magazine publisher and Sports Support Syndicate split the remaining profits 50/50.

Our newly designed policy is in section VI. Summary: Magazine publishers get between 10 to 25 percent of the gross revenues right off the top. Then the Sports Support Syndicate pays all operational expenses and generates profits for itself with the remainder of the funds.

The newly designed policy is streamlined in operation and in negotiations. We will not have to wade through accounting ledgers and expose the magazine publishers to the normal delays with the sales and expense cycles. This option is preferable, if you agree.

Let's first clarify the question, "How to handle business activity?" Then we can get involved in the question of, "How to split profits?"

Section III asks you a series of questions that will establish an understanding for our course of action and respective job descriptions in this endeavor.

Section IV is the Proposal Outline and Reasoning.

Section V presents a sample contract.

Section VI is a question and answer section -- The TEST!

Section VII are few example ads.

Proposal failed to The Finals

Plan in PDF

PINN's first public action with Mark Rauterkus, David Dunn and Kelly Ware to Tom Cox and Tom Murphy for Citiparks and Youth Technology

SSS plan to the IL Governor's Council on Health & Fitness

Failed plan.

Volleyball Monthly efforts

logo for Volleyball Support Syndicate

Example full page magazine ad for right side for selling books and VHS video tapes. 

From CP

My address, then living in a house with Pete Leighton, 2920 Cedar Ave, Long Beach, 90806.

SUN computer job offer

Swimming Support Syndicate

Workout Handler Software by Mark Rauterkus

From 1989 or so.

Documentation used at Long Beach swim meet.

Mark R = Speaker for National Coaching Institute in Canada

Letters stamped for Dec 29, 1988. Fax faded paper from later date. 

Wet Vest

Glennmcwaters.com
Newsletter from Summer 1988, Vol 1, No. 1.

Sprint Salo Practice Companion - read me file

Sports Support Syndicate

1555 Sherman Ave. Suite 1650

Evanston, IL 60201

708-864-5089

SprintSalo Practice Companion

The workouts contained in the book, and on the water-proof practice cards are © 1990 by David C. Salo.

The text files on this computer disk are for use with a Macintosh™ Computer. Start the computer as normal. A system folder is required. Then start your word processing software. Then open the text file from within your normal word processing software. Any word processing software will will with this text document, such as Microsoft Word, MacWrite, Word Perfect, Works, Write Now, etc.

The swim practices text file are too large to work with the Teach Text software.

After you have opened the swim practices, you can change them, build a practice diary, insert your interval times, or do anything you want for you practice organization. Swim Coaches with different ability levels might want to structure practices will more or less rest intervals and shorter or longer yardage depending upon the participants swimming and fitness abilities.

IBM PC & DOS Computer Users

If you do not have a Macintosh computer, and would like to have the workout text file, you can return this disk to the Sports Support Syndicate, and a 5.25" 360 K disk with the workouts will be sent to you at no charge. You must return the original disk. 

The IBM disk will not have the Workout Handler & Master Plan Demo as these programs are restricted to the Macintosh platform at this time.

Warranty

There are not warranties, implied or stated for these software text files. We have attempted to keep the prices at rock bottom levels and have made the software text files as a bonus with your purchase of the Practice Companion. We will attempt to answer your questions and help you with your problems, but we can not promise any level of support. Thanks for your understanding. 

The Workout Handler and Master Plan Demo

The Workout Handler and Master Plan software is a Macintosh program and can not be operated on a DOS computer. In the next year, developments in the computer industry are expected that will allow this type of software to be operated on an IBM type of machine if it is operating with the OS2 operating system. Please contact the Sports Support Syndicate to learn of the latest developments are release versions and dates.

At the time of this release, the Workout Handler and Master Plan Software is under development. The expected release date is Fall, 1990. The Workout Handler and Master Plan software works with HyperCard, and this program will be updated in the spring or summer of 1990. Our release date for our programs depends upon the HyperCard software.

The Workout Handler and Master plan software programs are written for swimmers and coaches and help plan, organize and evaluate swimming practices.

David C. Salo has evaluated the Workout Handler program, and it is not something that he would use in his practice settings. David does not categorize practices according to Aerobic levels as other coaches are doing. 

The Workout Handler and Master Plan program is not related to the SprintSalo approach. It is another product, written by other authors, and sold by the same company.

The Workout Handler and Master Plan do not instruct the user as to what should be done, and what should not be done. The software is a tool for organization of ideas and practices. The user has to come up with the ideas, create the plans and then the computer software plugs those plans into a schedule and calendar format.

If you would like free Demo copy of the Workout Handler and Master Plan software, please return this original disk to the Sports Support Syndicate after September 1, 1990 and we will send you the demo.

When you send this disk back to the Sports Support Syndicate, make sure that a copy of the files are saved on another disk. Make a back-up copy of the disk, and then send the original as proof of ownership.

The suggested retail price for the Workout Handler and Master Plan software is expected to be $50.00. A deluxe version with full documentation, blank planning sheets, text book, date book past the year 2000 and multiple disk utilities will cost $100.00. 

ASCA Letter & certification