memo to fellow WPIAL coaches

 Mark Rauterkus

Sports Support Syndicate, Inc.

108 South 12th Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

WPIAL Meet, 1992

Memo @ WPIAL & PIAA Swimming

Dear Fellow Coaches,

Here are some suggestions that I’ve been considering. We all know that there are many different ways to promote fast swimming. This list of ideas is my way of sharing some thoughts with you, and I do not intend to push for any one or all of these ideas at this time. Let’s just talk about them.

1. There are too many meets and these meets take away from the more valuable training time.

2. The Home and Away competition in meets could work if there were only four teams per section.

Let’s double the number of sections in the WPIAL keeping the good local rivalries alive.

Swim Section meets on Mondays, as scheduled by the WPIAL office, and make Thursdays the day for schools to schedule meets as they so desire.

3. Benefits Single-Sex meets:

Schedule boys meets on Mondays and girls meets on Thursday, giving the other sex an opportunity to train instead of going to the meet.

As justification to allow more competitors, we could push for JV and Varsity heats in big-school sections at single-sex meets.

Big school team should consider swimming against each other on the same day with girls at one school and the boys at another with JV and Varsity heats.

Single-sex Varsity only meets would allow teams to swim together for a 80 minute warm-up/practice followed by the meet.

3. We need more championship meets. Let’s not be forced to swim all of the late-season, dual meet schedule, and instead let’s hold bigger, multi-team, seeded meets. I suggest:

WPIAL, Boys vs. Girls, Freshman Swim Off - January 2

Boys and Girls JV Section Championships - January 20

WPIAL Distance Classic with 800 Free Relay, 1000 Free, 400 IM - Feb.1

WPIAL 6-Dive Championships - Feb. 1

Boys and Girls Varsity Conference (8 schools) Championships - Feb 10

4. Coaches and officials need to be responsive to more experimentation within the meet program.

At certain meets, let’s re-design the meet program and scratch some events in favor of different event and let’s use multiple heats.

Include:

• 400 Medley Relay, 800 Free Relay

• 200 strokes, and 400 IM

• 100 IM, 25 strokes

• 1000 free with 2 swimmers per lane instead of the 500

• Freestyle only meets with multiple heats per event

(no Medley, IM, or stroke races)

• Stroke only meets with multiple heats per event

(no 50, 100, 200, 500 or free relays)

5. In swimming, it is wrong to ask swimmers to make a State Qualifying time and place in the top 7 finishers. This is not the Olympic Trials. This is not a season ending meet. Make a time standard and stick to it. We are forcing kids to swim against each other and coaches to out-think each other, when we all should be racing against the clock.

Example: One team may want to train 4 or 6 swimmers for the same event in one season. That team would be punished in the WPIALs as they would knock each other out of going to states. But, they may all be able to do the time!

Example: One swimmer wants to make finals at states and avoid the shave and taper for the WPIAL meet. A WPIAL swimmer can not simply achieve the time standard at WPIALs and go for a better performance at States. A coach can be certain that a swimmer is going to hit a certain time, but no coach can guarantee an athlete as to what his or her final place will be and if a trip to states and shaving and tapering is possible. Hence, all the WPIAL swimmers have to either rest and shave to make states or worry about the final WPIAL place. From what I’ve been told, the WPIAL swimmers who could be getting seconds swims at states, don’t make many improvements at the PIAA meet.

We should improve the time standard and send any and all swimmers who make the PIAA cut-time advance to states, regardless of place. We should make an objective, published, study of the time standards and make recommendations based on a five-year average on each event, perhaps taking the 5th place time and adjusting the time standards accordingly.

We must push for this at the state level and use all of our political clout. I would rather take less kids to states and have a firm time standard to make it to states. This is the biggest problem in WPIAL swimming today.

6. For state championships, Illinois has tremendous success holding all the events of prelims on Friday and then all of the Finals on the second day. This allows swimmers to double in events more reasonably.

I’m not sure how a 2-sex meet on one weekend would work. Holding all the Prelims for both boys and girls on the same day might make an impossible day.

Day: Evening:

Day 1: Girls Prelims + Girls Diving

Day 2: Boys Prelims + Girls Finals

Day 3: Boys Diving + Boys Finals

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks.

Sincerely Yours,

Mark Rauterkus, President

Two article in the Plum Hi-Lites about swimming. Victory over OSU and Student profile

Plum High School - some time from the girls varsity dual meets

Medley Relay, 1:55.4

200 free, Karen V = 2:00.4, Karin P = 2:00.3, Katie 2:01.5, Susan 2:02.0

50 = Erika = 26.2

100 free, 55.5 = Karen V

100 fly, 1:03.1 = Katie

500, 5:28, 5:30, 5:38

IM, 2:15, 2:17

Breast, 1:11., 1:17

Back, 1:01.3, 1:08

- - -
This was a note sent to a friend. I was the first year as the head boys and girls coach.

Having a great time as the new varsity coach for the Plum Mustangs

Mark Rauterkus

Sports Support Syndicate, Inc.

108 South 12th Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

January 28, 1992

Plum High School

Athletic Director

Dear Mr. Robert Terlinski,

I'm having a great time, in this my first year, as the coach of the Plum High School Swim Team. I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with the students and get back into the day-to-day activities of sports.

Now I'm doing some thinking about next year and the long-term future. I'd like to explore the possibilities of some day moving into a full-time position with the school district. Would you be willing to entertain some ideas and proposals from myself regarding the creation of a new position within the district?

I see a number of different ways in which I could be of value to Plum besides being a swim coach. I'd like to work with you as Athletic Director and Mr. Klaus. Together we could dream up a couple of ideas, come to some agreements among ourselves and then pitch a proposal or two to the administrators and eventually the board.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks for the consideration.

Sincerely Yours,

Mark Rauterkus

Possible Positions:

Natatorium CEO

Athletic Development Director

Executive Director of the Plum Press

Chairperson of the District Wide Pull Your Own Weight Activities

Regional Swimming Coordinator

Sponsor of Publications (Yearbook/Newspaper/Wellness Newsletter)

Teacher of:

Swimming Classes

Journalism

Applied Reading and Writing

Collegiate Recruiting

Resource and Coach for Other Sporting Activities

Conditioning Coach

 

February 5, 1992

Plum High School

Athletic Director

Dear Mr. Robert Terlinski,

Here is the first draft of some ideas that I had in mind for us to share and discuss. You said it is always wise to listen, and I agree. So I'd like to start with these six ideas and get a picture from you as to what you think might work, and what might not work. These ideas are a first step, and I'm quite open to making changes based on your feelings and advice.

At first, I'm going to offer a wide range of ideas. There are too many here for one person to accomplish, but we might be able to build a position with points from a few of the different plans. They are in no order with regard to importance.

Iíve named each idea with a title for easier discussion. They include:

ï Natatorium CEO

ï Founder and Executive Director of the Plum Press

ï Chairperson of the Pull Your Own Weight Activities

ï Founder and Director of the Regional Swimming Team

ï Resource Coach for Plum's Sports Teams

ï Teacher

Furthermore, I realize at some point I'll need to further sell my ideas to others and even outline my philosophy of teaching. I'm prepared to do what ever is necessary in our discussion so that I may present a viable proposal to the district.

Natatorium CEO

Job Description:

Program and administer all after school activities at the swimming pool.

Design and manage the budget for programs.

Hire all staff.

Coordinate payroll, time sheets, and getting all pay materials from the employees to the school district accounting office.

Hold a forum for community input and evaluation regarding the programs.

Coordinate usage of the pool with outside groups.

In the summer months, either manage or hire a manager to operate the poolís programs.

Goals

Increase utilization of the natatorium by the community with the involvement in meaningful programs such as:

Learn to swim, family swim, water safety, masters swimming, fitness swimming, rehab exercise, and alternative activities such as water polo, diving, scuba, underwater hockey, birthday parties.

Mission

To upgrade the aquatic educational opportunities in periods beyond the school day by sponsoring creative programs and enrolling active, dues paying participants supporting such programs.

Needs

Classroom availability.

Weight room availability

Qualified instructor payroll

Marketing and promotions budget

Class supplies and storage for pool area usage

Founder and Executive Director of the ìPlum Pressî

Job Description

Design and seek approval of a business plan for the formation, funding and operation of the Plum Press.

As the formation of the Plum Press becomes a reality, the founder would become Executive Director.

Plum Press Definition

The Plum Press would be a new department or a non-profit subsidiary within the school district.

The Plum Press would have its own operational budget that would allow for revenues, expenses, some speculative investments, capital investments, inventory, part-time salary, etc., etc.

The Plum Press would be a commercial, enterprise, operated by a school district appointed executive director that creates an educational setting for the students and allows for the development, display, distribution and marketplace involvement of in-house products.

Mission

The Plum Press would be a cutting-edge, private/public cooperative venture that would operate 12 months of the year that would have the following benefits:

Teach students how to work-place setting

Provide hands on experiences of the marketplace in

Projects in mind for the Plum Press include:

Periodicals:

The Sports Reader

A quarterly, book review magazine with a fun, sports, recreation and fitness focus.

The Sports Chronicle

A quarterly magazine of newspaper article reprints from around the nation related to sports-specific topics.

The Golden Cog Award Program

An awards program for authors, editors, publishers, illustrators for accomplishment in publishing sports and fitness materials.

Book Series:

A is for Athlete

This series of multi-lingual, sports-specific, alphabet books would teach languages and sports and culture. The series would feature one book for each Olympic Sport and each book would feature six or more different languages. 

First Things First

This series of sport-specific books would teach a 9th grader how to consider trying out, joining, playing and conditioning him or herself for a scholastic sports team. The series would have a book on each sport offered in the high school setting.

Sports Math

This series of workbooks would feature questions and answers about math as it relates to sports and recreation. The series would get more difficult with regard to the sports in discussion as well as the math skills needed to solve the problems.

Patrick Rabbit - Literacy Comic Books

This series of comic books feature Patrick Rabbit of the literacy advocate group, Cartoonist Across the World. We will write the stories, sell the ads, build a program of distribution and contract with the creative talent.

Notes on ________

This series of more technical, how-to books are written, by and large, by proficient student-athletes in conjunction with expert, internationally famous coaches. Each book will be on one sporting activity. For example, we can get Olympic Swim Coach, Don Gambril, to coordinate the text for the book, Notes on Swimming.

Lifting in the 5th Dimension

This is one book that looks at peak performance and it utilizes weight lifting as the medium of expression. However, we can re-write this book over and over again making it apply to all sorts of activities, from marching in the band to playing on the volleyball team. 

Talking with the Golf God

This book, like Lifting in the 5th Dimension, is written for a specific gameóthe game of golf. However, the sports psychology, visualization, and other self-help messages of this book can be taken out of the context of golf, and re-written for other activities. This would be a fantastic project for high school students to complete.



Special Events

Pull Your Own Weight

Speaker's Tour

Student Readings

Radio Public Service Announcements

Halloween - Now that is Scary.

Goals

Needs

ï Chairperson of the ìPull Your Own Weightî Activities

ï Founder and Director of the Regional Swimming Team

ï Resource Coach for Plumís Sports Teams

ï Teacher

Keep It Simple Plan of Action for Mark Rauterkus Joining the Plum School District

Mark would like to explore the possibilities of becoming a full-time employee of Plum School District.

Mark suggests the creation of new, 12-month position within the school district.

The new position with have two major responsibilities with titles to be called:

Natatorium CEO and 

Executive Director of the Plum Press

As Natatorium CEO, Mark will take responsibility of the development and administration of all aspects of the Natatorium programing beyond the normal school day, including summers. 

As Executive Director of the Plum Press, Mark would lead a new department within the district as a non-profit subsidiary. The Plum Press would have its own operational budget allowing for revenues, expenses, speculative investments, capital investments, inventory, part-time salaries, office space, etc., etc.

Just as some universities sponsor their own University Presses, such as the University of Pittsburgh Press, so will Plum High School have its own commercial, incubator, laboratory, enterprise, operated by a school district appointed executive director. 

The Plum Press will create a new educational setting for the students and allows for the development, display, distribution and marketplace involvement of in-house products and services.

The Plum Press could be a cutting-edge, private/public partnership, that would inject a tremendous amount of energy, and zeal for reading, writing, fitness and sport into the student body and community at large.

The Plum Press would do wonders for literacy, personal fitness, creative thinking, self-esteem, and the Plum Press would offer real-world application of class-room knowledge for the students.

I feel that the Plum Press could have a positive impact on every student that goes through this high school and for every citizen in the district. Within ten years, I feel that the Plum Press could have touched every adult in the county in a positive manner. Furthermore, I feel certain that the Plum Press can be operated in fiscally responsible nature that would make it a source of new revenues within five years. 

The Plum Press would not be created for the sole purpose of turning a profit, but within a few years, the revenue from the activities of the Plum Press could fund many exciting experiences, from computer labs to guest speakers. In due time, the operations of the Plum Press could certainly pay for all the costs of the overhead, including the executive directorís salary. 

School and Employment Operational Considerations:

The Executive Director of the Plum Press would teach two classes per semester, 6th period and 7th period, to be called Applied Reading and Writing.

This elective, one-semester course would be open for 10 to 15 upperclass students who have earned high-honors English grades.

Applied Reading and Writing would be held in a classroom next to the office and store-room of the Plum Press. Hopefully, this room could be made available near the print-shop, perhaps room B6? This classroom and storeroom would also need to be the Executive Director's office throughout the day. It will need to be equipped with 4 to 10 computers, a couple of phone lines and other, special equipment.

As teacher, the Executive Director would report to the school principal.

The Natatorium CEO will hold many pre-school activities for students and staff. Among those activities will be the creation of new club, the Plum Guards. The Natatorium CEO should be assigned Home Room responsibilities and have the Plum Guards as students in that Home Room throughout the entire school year. 

The Natatorium CEO should also teach one course in the first period in the first semester to be called, Advanced Aquatics Exercise and Instruction. This class should serve as a PE requirement for the students who enroll.  The class should be restricted to swimmers who have already passed the PE swimming class. A classroom and part of the swimming pool should be available for the class meeting. It might be possible that the regular swimming class and the Advanced Aquatics could be held in the pool in first period if both classes are kept to a small number of enrollment.

As far as the coaching is concerned, Mark would intend to continue to serve as the head swimming coach for the boys and girls teams. No significant changes other than hosting a couple of large meets each season, are in-store for the swim teams and the coach should report to the athletic director.

With the Plum Press and the activities revolving around fun activities, like athletics and sports and such, the Executive Director would like to be considered a "Resource Coach" for all athletic teams in the school.

Pitt host OSU in swimming and we're with a front row seat

Mark Rauterkus

Sports Support Syndicate, Inc.

108 South 12th Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

January 18, 1992

Plum Swimmers

Dear Swimmers, Divers and Friends,

The meet is at Univ. of Pittsburgh Trees Hall, across the street from the field house and slightly further up the hill from the stadium and more to the crest of the hill and to the left as you look up the hill. Enter the front doors of the Physical Education facility - 2 story white building - and go to the left. 

The meet at Pitt with Ohio State and Penn State starts at 1:00. We will all sit together. PSU is going to be shaved. There will be diving. Meet will end about 3:15 or so, depending upon diving delays. The OSU coach will speak to our group at the conclusion of the meet in the stands. 

After our talk in the stands following the meet, we will head to my address, listed above, on the South Side. Go down the hill to Forbes Ave. which is a large, multi-lane, one way street headed to downtown. Head to downtown and take the first bridge across the Mon River. Turn Left to cross the bridge. At the end of the bridge, turn right onto Carson Street. Head to Station Square. Drive down Carson Street past the business district. The cross streets are numbered. Watch for 12th Street

Turn Left onto 12th Street. Go two blocks and our place is on the corner of Bradish and 12th, #108, a grey wooden building with large windows in front with old Cats Paw heel decals, as it used to be a shoe repair shop.

Bring money to buy pizza, as we will get Dominos. I'll have lemon aid. We will build our new meet program with desktop publishing. Each person writing something about him or herself. By 6:30 or 7:00, everyone must be gone.

We can't go ice skating at Schenley as it is closed on Saturday due to cold weather. There is ice skating at 21st street on the South Side but it does not start until 8:00 pm. You are on your own getting to and from everywhere. Some people will be leaving after the meet and others will leave after a short visit to my place.

Thanks.

Sincerely Yours,

SPORTS SUPPORT SYNDICATE, INC.

Mark Rauterkus, President

A Ph.D. student in Iran wrote

Back of page:

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. 

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.