To Competition Team Parents,

Welcome to the Gleason's Gypsy Booster Club! Our members belong to one of the three competition teams at Gleason's – Boys Gymnastics Team, Girls Gymnastics Team, or Tramp and Tumbling Team. When an athlete advances to the level of Competition Team, his/her parent(s)/guardian automatically becomes part of the Booster Club. There is currently no annual fee to belong.

There are three main financial aspects to a competition team:

1. Individual athlete training tuition paid monthly by you directly to Gleason's.

2. Individual athlete's meet fees, and USAG and state registration fees paid annually by you to Gleason's.

3. Coaches' travel expenses to attend and coach meets paid annually by you to the Gypsy Booster Club and used for reimbursement to the coaches for actual expenses incurred. It is a wonderful achievement for team members to qualify for these competitions. Because it is an honor, expenses for these meets are charged to all team members and are paid for through the booster club dues.

The main purpose of the Gypsy Booster Club is to prepare and approve a budget of the coaches' estimated expenses for each team using the information provided by the coaches. Once the annual dues are set, the Booster Club is responsible for collecting these funds. Money needs to be available to pay the coaches as the meets are completed. Therefore, the booster fee is collected prior to the beginning of the season. If your annual dues are not paid in full prior to the start of the competition season, your child may not be allowed to compete until the amount has been paid. Your payment should be put in the black locked mailbox next to the Gypsy Booster Club bulletin board in the hallway by the birthday room. Payment is made as follows:

•  Pay by check made out to Gypsy Booster Club for the total amount due by October 15 th .

•  Pay by check made out to Gypsy Booster Club in two installments due on October 15 th and November 15 th .

•  If this is not possible, please discuss options with your Sports Representative.

•  If you were an active member of the booster club last year, any existing funds will be applied as a credit to your account.

The second purpose of the Booster Club is to provide a tax-free opportunity for the members to fundraise to pay allowable expenses like meet fees, competition uniforms and the athlete's own travel expenses. Sometimes your child may be entered for a meet but not compete due to injury or other circumstances. They may still be charged the entry fee unless the host club grants a refund. Meet fees will appear on your account statement from Gleason's.

The Booster Club offers many possibilities for fund-raising. Some of these may include selling Bakers Square pie coupons, selling Butter Braids, working concessions at Gleason's host meets, Used Leotard sale, wreath/poinsettia sale in the fall or plant sale in the spring. New fundraising ideas are always welcome. Please give your ideas to our Vice President. Fund-raising opportunities will be explained at booster club parent meetings or by email. Flyers about them may also be put in your child's gym mailbox. Any fund-raising you do will be credited to your child's booster club account. You may then fill out a member request form to pay for the allowed expenses on your Gleason's bill. Your request may also be put in the black locked mailbox.

Your child's account statement will be sent out periodically. When you receive a statement, please review it carefully for any errors or discrepancies. Please call the treasurer with any questions or concerns you may have.

All the members of the Gypsy Booster Club benefit when you become involved. You can have a direct impact on the decisions that will affect your athlete by:

1. Communicating with your team level representative

2. Participating in booster club fundraisers

3. Becoming an active member by volunteering

We encourage you to get involved and participate in your son and/or daughter's competitive career and continue to help make Gleason's the best-supported competition teams in the state.