1992, Olympic year and volleyball was big

Plum Hosts Central / Oakland Catholic in a swim meet on a Monday

Mark Rauterkus

Sports Support Syndicate, Inc.

108 South 12th Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Head Swim Coach for Plum High School Boys & Girls Teams

December 9, 1991

Sports Department

Dear Friends in the Media,

Here are the results of a swim meet held at Plum High School pool on this date. This might make for good copy in an article as the team, before the meet, at the urging of their new, first year coach, voted to discipline themselves by swimming all the races in the meet as exhibition. The athletes competed in the water but did not score points, which is feasible in the swimming meet.

The team took this punishment upon themselves by a team vote moments before the meet began as they all did not show up for a weekend practice. The only points scored in the meet for the Plum H.S. team are a result of the diving.

This was not a sectional meet. Both teams have a record of 0-2, as both the boys and girls teams lost on Friday at Penn Hills in the season opener.

Mark Rauterkus, the team's new head coach said, "I'm proud of the swimmers for taking responsibility for their actions and putting a loss in the record books in a meet we easily should have won. However, I am a bit disappointed that the team is lacking in the determination and commitment to show up for scheduled practices, even if the practices are held on the weekend. However, I am sure that we will have a great season working together.î

Thanks.

Sincerely Yours,

Mark Rauterkus, President

SPORTS SUPPORT SYNDICATE, INC.

Head Coach ,Plum High School SwimmingThe results are to follow:

Girls Meet

Plum High School = 13

Oakland Catholic High School = 137

Medley Relay

Plum 2:07.85 (E. VanTassel, Durray, E. VanTassel, B. Potchatko)

Oakland 2:08.54 (Duncan, Murello, Shepherd, Mansen)

200 Free

Plum 2:02.75 K. Painter *

Plum 2:04.88 OíNeil *

Oakland 2:13.11 Tassone

200 IM

Plum 2:15.8 K. VanTassel *

Plum 2:21.4 Beatty *

Oakland 2:25.81 Duncan

50 Free

Plum 28.59 Walsh

Oakland 29.35 Seethaler 

Oakland 30.20 Poland

Diving

Plum 131.4 S. McMullen

Plum 124.35 Farrel

Plum 116.44 Williams

100 Fly

Plum 1:03.89 OíNeil *

Plum 1:04.21 Painter *

Oakland 1:10.48 Pillan

100 Free

Plum 56.60 E. VanTassel *

Plum 58.30 Beatty

Oakland 1:10.05 Kuhn

500 Free

Oakland 6:00.33 Hollan

Oakland 6:23.84 More

Oakland 6:44.28 Tassone

200 Free Relay

Plum 1:50.73 (Painter, Beatty, Potchatko, Hook)

Plum 1:52.06 (K. VanTassel, Duray, Miller, E. VanTassel)

Oakland 1:59.08 (Seethaeer, Pillar, Fragvogel, Ascamo)

Plum 2:17.27 (Burkhart, Walsh, Woods, Weaver)

100 Back

Plum 1:03.47 K. VanTassel

Plum 1:14.46 N. Hook

Oakland 1:15.91 Poland

100 Breast

Oakland 1:15.81 Duncan

Plum 1:17.59 Cerchiaro

Oakland 1:21.23 Hanson

400 Free Relay

Plum 4:07.33 (OíNeil, Beatty, Painter, Potchatko)

Oakland 4:18.42 (Tassone, Freytag, Kunn, Mconolly)

Oakland 4:42.58 (Hollan, Pillar, More, Shepherd)

Boys Meet 

Plum High School = 6

Central Catholic = 131

Medley Relay

Plum 1:53.6 (Wozniak, Wallace, OíNeil, Rumbaugh)

Central 1:56.00 (Heantger, Mihole, Balsley, Fryrag)

Plum 2:06.68 (Hedeen, Miller, Halloren, Heintzinge)

200 Free

Plum 1:52.01 Rumbaugh*

Central 2:20.18 Kasper

Plum 2:23.38 Messina

200 IM

Plum 2:06.65 OíNeil*

Plum 2:26.25 Hedeen

Central 2:28.36 Henninge

50 Free

Central 24.12 Scamardi

Plum 26.41 Wozniak

Plum 26.95 Heintzinger

Diving

Plum A. Izzo

100 Fly

Plum 53.30 Rumbaugh*

Central 1:00.10 Balsley

Central 1:12.32 Grogan

100 Free

Plum 53.71 OíNeil

Plum 1:02.00 Heintzinger

Plum 1:06.26 Miller

500 Free

Plum 6:06.16 Wallace

Plum 6:35.01 Halloran

Central 6;48.86 Kasper

200 Free Relay

Plum 1:49.35 (Heintzinger, Messina, Halloran, Hedeen)

Central 1:52.00 (Tishworth, Biricocchi, Cassey, Erytas)

Central 1:58.26 (Brinzar, Grime, Viccaro, Resan)

100 Back

Plum 1:03.46 Wozniak

Plum 1:08.61 Hedeen

Central 1:15.65 Scollion

100 Breast

Plum 1:14.40 Wallace

Central 1:18.39 Mihok

Plum 1:18.70 Miller

400 Free Relay

Plum 3:48.44 (OíNeil, Wallace, Wozniak, Rumbaugh)

Central 4:18.19 (Henniger, Kasper, Frytag, Scamardi)

Central 4:29.63 (Marks, Carson, Viccaro, Reagan)

To Plum AD

Mark Rauterkus

New Position:

Head Swim Coach at Plum High School

November 18, 1991

Athletic Director

Memo regarding Meet Schedule for Swim Team

Dear Bob Terlinski,

Looking over the schedule for the swimming and diving team this year, I must say that we are far too busy. The maximum number of competitions for the team is 20, as stated by WPIAL and/or PIAA rules. Plum is going to swim in 21 meets is you count WPIALs and States as two different events. This exceeds the number of allowed meets.

First, I want to confirm with you that we are not in a rule violation with this number of meets. If we are, I want to get one or some of the exhibition meets cancelled. A copy of our schedule is attached.

Secondly, next season I am not in favor of scheduling any exhibition meets. How do these meets get put on the schedule?

Third, in place of the exhibition meets and dual meets, I think Plum should host a couple of larger, championship meets that are more similar to the types of meets that the swimmers will face at the end of the season.

• We should host an early season or Christmas season relay meet with 12 teams.

• We should host a Freshman/Sophomore championship within our Section.

• We should host a Varsity sectional meet within our section.

Not only would these larger meet experiences be more valuable than the dual meets, but I could host these in a manner that could increase our revenue for the program.

I would like to make improvements to the Plum Swimming program, and hosting better, larger and more competitive meets is the first step that should be taken. These meets will be a source for additional income for the program as well.

We have a good facility, capable community assistance, a motivated team, new leadership, and an area in the WPIAL that is ripe for fresh ideas. If I can get a good start on next year’s schedule in the month of December, then we can guarantee its success. As you know, major changes to the competition schedule takes time to sell the ideas to others as well as organize internally.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks.

Sincerely Yours,

Mark Rauterkus

Other letter

November 18, 1991

Athletic Director

Memo regarding Diving

Dear Bob Terlinski,

We are still without a diving coach. What is being done?

May I suggest that we announce the opening in the Sunday Sports section of the Pittsburgh Press.

Can we do anything to get the staff in the building considering the opening as a one-year assignment? I could ease some of their fears and help them. If any interested teacher wanted to meet with me, I could show them what type of assistance I could use.

If a diving coach is not found in the next week or so, I’d like to ask to be placed as Head Swim and Diving Coach as I am doing both jobs now. The diving is an extra set of responsibilities and will take me many extra hours each week.

Finally, if possible, we might want to talk about getting some of the money for the diving coach, if one is not found, to be redirected to expert diving instruction for the students on a clinic basis at special times throughout the season. For example, our divers could travel to Pitt on their own and take some clinics. But, there will be fees involved. perhaps we could split the fees with the athletes 50/50.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely Yours,

Mark Rauterkus

Too Busy with a high school swim season

Mark Rauterkus 108 South 12th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 New Position: Head Swim Coach at Plum High School November 18, 1991 Athletic Director Memo regarding Meet Schedule for Swim Team Dear Bob Terlinski, Looking over the schedule for the swimming and diving team this year, I must say that we are far too busy. The maximum number of competitions for the team is 20, as stated by WPIAL and/or PIAA rules. Plum is going to swim in 21 meets if you count WPIALs and States as two different events. This exceeds the number of allowed meets. First, I want to confirm with you that we are not in a rule violation with this number of meets. If we are, I want to get one or some of the exhibition meets cancelled. A copy of our schedule is attached. Secondly, next season I am not in favor of scheduling any exhibition meets. How do these meets get put on the schedule? Third, in place of the exhibition meets and dual meets, I think Plum should host a couple of larger, championship meets that are more similar to the types of meets that the swimmers will face at the end of the season. - We should host an early season or Christmas season relay meet with 12 teams. - We should host a Freshman/Sophomore championship within our Section. - We should host a Varsity sectional meet within our section. Not only would these larger meet experiences be more valuable than the dual meets, but I could host these in a manner that could increase our revenue for the program. I would like to make improvements to the Plum Swimming program, and hosting better, larger and more competitive meets is the first step that should be taken. These meets will be a source for additional income for the program as well. We have a good facility, capable community assistance, a motivated team, new leadership, and an area in the WPIAL that is ripe for fresh ideas. If I can get a good start on next yearís schedule in the month of December, then we can guarantee its success. As you know, major changes to the competition schedule takes time to sell the ideas to others as well as organize internally. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks. Sincerely Yours, Mark Rauterkus New Position: Head Swim Coach at Plum High School November 18, 1991 Athletic Director Memo regarding Diving Dear Bob Terlinski, We are still without a diving coach. What is being done? May I suggest that we announce the opening in the Sunday Sports section of the Pittsburgh Press. Can we do anything to get the staff in the building considering the opening as a one-year assignment? I could ease some of their fears and help them. If any interested teacher wanted to meet with me, I could show them what type of assistance I could use. If a diving coach is not found in the next week or so, Iíd like to ask to be placed as Head Swim and Diving Coach as I am doing both jobs now. The diving is an extra set of responsibilities and will take me many extra hours each week. Finally, if possible, we might want to talk about getting some of the money for the diving coach, if one is not found, to be redirected to expert diving instruction for the students on a clinic basis at special times throughout the season. For example, our divers could travel to Pitt on their own and take some clinics. But, there will be fees involved. perhaps we could split the fees with the athletes 50/50. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely Yours, Mark Rauterkus

Polar - Makers of the original heart rate monitors

Danish Volleyball

Pull Your Own Weight -- theme at the trade show for the book insustry

Date unsure. NYC at the Javits Convention Center. Went to a NY Yankees game with Brian Holding of HKP. Got snapshots of folks on the pull up bar I had made for the event. 

Exercise for Men Only and the special edition of a book, P Y O W

Booth at the ABA in NYC - featuring volleyball, sportscourt, pull your own weight bar, and the first catalog

The ABA was the world's largest book event for the publishing industry. 
Not too sure of the date.

Efforts on the book, Cadre* Collection

 Sports Support Syndicate

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Orders:

Voice:

Fax:

February 5, 1991

Dear Coach,

Thank you. The Cadre* Collection is now fully printed and ready for sale and distribution. We believe it is an exciting and important edition; that is why we are excited about The Cadre* Collection! As you can see from the 3 enclosed copies, it is a great book. And your chapter has helped contribute to its success.

In addition to the 3 copies, which are yours to keep, we have enclosed a few other items pertaining to publicity. We are keeping it as absolutely painless as possible for you, and your assistance will be invaluable to the success of the book. Also enclosed are:

- 4 Press Releases

- an advisory letter for return to us

- a Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope (SASE)

- internal correspondence

The Press Releases are intended for the local media of your choice. We recommend any four of the following: Local Newspaper, Local TV Station, Local Radio Station, College Newspaper, College Radio Station, Athletic Information Department and Hometown Newspaper. Should you require more Press Releases, we will be happy to forward more to you.

The Advisory Letter is for return to the Sports Support Syndicate. Once you have chosen the media, please note their addresses and phone numbers so that we may follow-up to ensure that the proper personnel are making use of the information. You may return the Advisory letter to us in the SASE.

Some individuals may wish to make use of the internal correspondence to advise any colleagues or staff of your participation in the publication of The Cadre* Collection. You may photocopy it directly onto your letterhead, if you so choose.

Once again, thank you very much for your contribution to this excellent edition. We're proud to have been a part ofThe Cadre* Collection, the USVBA and yourself.

Sincerely,

Sports Support Syndicate

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Press Release

For immediate release

Orders:

Voice:

Fax:

February 10, 1991

The United States Volleyball Association and the Sports Support Syndicate are proud to announce the anticipated release of The Cadre* Collection, an astounding collection of articles written by the elite of the

The Sports Support Syndicate has published a variety of titles by respected experts in the fields of, Swimming and Aquatics, Conditioning and Volleyball. More titles will be issued in 1991. The distribution side of the company handles a diverse number of titles and subjects.

For information or a catalog, please call 412- or1-800-.

Biz background with SSS

Sports Support Syndicate

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Press Release

For immediate release

Orders:

Business:

FAX #:

January 11, 1991

Sports Support Syndicate imports home grown talent

The Sports Support Syndicate, an editing, publishing and distributing company for sports oriented books founded by Chairman and President Mark Rauterkus, recently named Chick Agnew to the positions of Vice-President and Secretary. Both Rauterkus and Agnew are natives, and alumni, of Penn Hills.

Rauterkus founded the Sports Support Syndicate in Evanston. IL in 1989, and moved to Pennsylvania in 1990, and is returning to the Pittsburgh area to establish its headquarters on the South Side. His background includes coaching and administering swim teams on both on a collegiate and club level, editorial work for Swimming World Magazine, computer sales, writing and professional photography.

"Although there is a tremendous amount of vanity publications in the overall industry, the Sports Support Syndicate was founded on the belief that there is always a market, and need, for intelligently handled products - specifically for sports. Thus our motto is "Intelligence Products & Progressive Publishing."

Agnew, a published writer in his own right, joins SSS as a career change from the hospitality industry, including a position as Front Office Manager for the opening of the Vista International Hotel in Pittsburgh in 1986. "I'm intrigued by the aspect of joining a growing company in its grass roots stage. I believe that my business background, combined with my writing interests, can help the Sports Support Syndicate in some very significant ways."

The Sports Support Syndicate has published a variety of titles by respected experts in the fields of, Swimming and Aquatics, Conditioning and Volleyball. More titles will be issued in 1991. The distribution side of the company handles a diverse number of titles and subjects.

For information or a catalog, please call 412- or 1-800-.

From the ship for a Triathlete

Fan mail from Japan, Fukuoka -- to Evanston

Can't be sure of the date.
The stamp image looks like a yellow moth / butterfly thing with a smile. 

Groom and mother - Mark & Audrey

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