The service hour policy

• Each family has a commitment of 20 hours of service work for the team per calendar year. 
• 10 of these hours must be hands-on service hours (meets/other Metro events).
• If a family chooses, they may pay $500 in lieu of this service commitment.

Viewing service hour balance

To view your service hour balance, go to My Account>$ My Invoice/Payment and then select the Service Hours tab. A history of credited hours is shown as well as the balance if you scroll to the right.

Service hour policy facts

Prorated service hours

Service hours are prorated for new families based on the month they join the team.

• Families joining in January through March have a 20-hour per year commitment.
• Families joining in April through May have a 15-hour commitment.
• Families joining in June and July have a 10-hour commitment.
• Families joining in August and September have a 5-hour commitment.
• Families joining in October through December have no service hour commitment. 

Missing Service Hours Fee 

If you are short hours, you will be charged $500 at the end of the year. The full amount will be charged, regardless of the number of hours you still owe. For example, if you owe 1 hour or 15, it will still be $500.

Returning Members / Leave of Absence

If you are only active for a portion of the calendar year due to medical leave or other reason, your hour commitment will be based on when you joined the team. If you leave the team and come back during the same calendar year, any remaining hours due when you left the team will still be owed when you return; your hours will not be prorated based on your rejoin date. Additionally, if you leave in one year but still owe hours, but come back less than six months later in a new year, your account will be assessed the $500 fee. 

Important service hour guidelines

• Hours are based on a full calendar year, January through December. Hours are reset in January each year.
• Hours are per family, not per swimmer. If you have more than one swimmer, the hours are still the same.
• Hours can be earned by all family members who meet the age requirement for the service. For example, parents, siblings, grandparents can time at any meet and earn hours.
• You cannot donate your hours to another family or work for another family.
• Hours earned can only go toward your service hour commitment for the current calendar year. They do not carry over to the next year.
• If you work a job such as at the Metro Store or Apex chaperone, you only get credit for the hours you served.
• Officers, Chairpersons, and Metro Officials automatically get full service hour credit for the year IF they complete their job as expected. 
• When signing up for meets, end times are estimates. They can be earlier or later, depending on how the meet is running. Service hours are based on the actual time worked, not the estimated time.
• If you are late to work your position at the meet, the Meet Director reserves the right to replace you in order to start the meet on time. An attempt will be made to allow you to serve in some capacity, but late arrivals do not guarantee a postion to work at the meet.
• If you work at a USA Swimming, non-Metro meet, you must follow the guidelines listed at the end of this document to earn the hours.
• Spectators are welcome to check at the volunteer desk at each Metro-hosted meet to see if any volunteer opportunties arise / need to be immediately filled.

No Show Penalty

Metro wants all families to have the opportunity to fulfill their service hours. This can be hindered by those who sign up for multiple volunteer spots, then do not show up to work the event. If you are registered to work a volunteer position for service hours, you are expected to fulfill that spot. Metro employs a 2-strike system. If two positions are left vacant by a volunteer, even if these positions are at the same time, same meet, or two separate meets in the calendar year, that family will no longer be allowed to sign up for more than one position per MEET.

We understand emergencies occur. Valid emergencies will not be penalized with a strike. If you are unable to work a position, and to possibly avoid a strike, you must email the Service Hour Coordinator, metrovp@metro-aquatics.org, at least one hour BEFORE the starting time of your volunteer position, so that an alternate volunteer may be found. Metro reserves the right to penalize anyone who vacates their position for frequent emergencies. Emailing the Service Hour Coordinator does not guarantee a penalty will not be imposed. 

How to Earn Service Hours

1.  Serve on the Metro Officers Board or Volunteer to be a Metro Chair person

These roles are opened in October and voted on by the Board at the end of the year.  These positions will earn their entire 20 service hours at the end of the next calendar year if completed in full.  Preference is given to those who have completed all of their service hours prior to the voting process.

2.  Donating to our Hospitality Fund Raisers

Metro caters the hospitality meals for meets for the coaches and meet officials.  There will be a job sign-up sheet for the budget needed to buy supplies for the meet.  Each donation will earn 1 hour. Each account will be limited to 2 hour donations per meet, and a maximum of 4 hours for the year.  Each account is responsible for determining their own eligibility, as no refunds will be given.  Any donation above the 4 hour limit will be considered a donation and earn no hours.

3.  Donating to our Charity Fundraisers

Benefitting local charities, such as Samaritan Inn McKinney and Allen Community Outreach

Each account can donate as many times as they like, but will only receive a maximum of 3 hours per event, for a total of 6 hours for the entire year.  

4.  Working hands on, usually at meets

It is required that 10 of the 20 hours MUST be worked at meets or in a hands-on role specifically approved by the Volunteer Coordinator.

Families who join the team later in the year may still earn up to 4 hours for hospitality donations and 6 hours for charity fundraisers; the remainder of their hours must be earned through hands-on opportunities.

Opportunities

The following opportunities are available:

• Officer Positions (automatic 20 hours when complete full year)
• Chair Positions (automatic 20 hours when complete full year)
• Hospitality Dollar Drives held throughout the year - 2 hours per event, max of 4 hours per year
• Metro novice and regular meets held regularly throughout the year
• Samaritan Inn McKinney fundraiser - 3 hours maximum
• American Long Course Meet - July 
• Allen Community Outreach Food Drive - 3 hours maximum
• Metro Store (working the store at a scheduled time every week) - contact Sarah Mitchell at fearlessswimsupplies@gmail.com to check for limited availability of positions
• Volunteering at any USA Swimming meet, even if not hosted by Metro (see below for reporting requirements) 
• Completing SafeSport training - 1 hour per parent completing the Parent Training, 1 hour per Metro swimmer age 13 and up completing the Athlete Training. Max of 4 hours per family for SafeSport.
• Officiating: We are always looking for individuals to be officials at our swim meets. Earn service hours and truly make this a family sport. If interested, contact Jane Maxvill at jemcruiser@hotmail.com

Non-Metro Hosted Events

• If you work a non-Metro hosted event, email the Vice President and Service Hour Coordinator at metrovp@metro-aquatics.org.
• Credit will only be awarded for non-high school, North Texas LSC USA Swimming events or USA Swimming events with swimmers competing as Metro swimmers.  
• Email with:
  • the name on your account
  • the person who worked the position
  • the position worked
  • the actual hours worked
  • a photo of the sign in sheet with your name listed, a picture of your badge, timers’ sheet, or any other photo proof of position is required
• Metro reserves the right to verify your hours with the hosting meet organizer.  
• Any dishonesty in reporting of hours will result in the reversal of the hours reported, and a limitation on the account to only work Metro sponsored events.