My name is Ron Lamothe and I am the coach of the North Providence Barracudas Swim Team.  We have existed for eight years.  Our swim team began as a non-competitive swim club The North Providence Pre-Competitive Swim Club.  We saw that there was a need to extend our swim program beyond its non-competitive level.  Our swimmers range from six to seventeen years of age.  The purpose of the Barracudas Swim Team is to foster proper swim technique in all four competitive swim strokes; as well as proper flip turns, proper use of starting blocks, and of course, true sportsmanship, which I call the ELM TREE winner.

For several years, our swim team remained non-competitive but that changed three years ago.  I knew that we needed more than our usual practices, so I approached Coach Harold Smith, the North Providence High School swim coach, and asked him if it would be possible to have a fun swim meet against his team.  Coach Smith gladly accepted our challenge and our yearly tradition began.  Our 2007 to 2008 swim season was a breakthrough season for our team.  The Barracudas had a desire to compete, so I began to search for other teams that would be able to fit us into their already busy schedules.  I contacted the Smithfield YMCA and asked to speak with their swim coach.  I was given Dave Cotes name, email address, and telephone number.  I called Dave in December of 2007 and explained what I wanted to do.  Dave told me that it would be possible to have our team compete in May of 2008, and that I should contact him at that time.  In early April of 2008, I once again contacted Dave and we finalized plans to hold a swim meet at the North Providence Pool and Fitness Center.  It would be wrong if I did not mention that the YMCA is very fortunate to have Coach Dave Cote in your organization.

Following our May 2008 swim meet, I asked Dave if it would be at all possible for the North Providence Barracudas to become a part of the SENECY YMCA Swim League.  Dave said that becoming part of the league might be possible under ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP, Section 4.5: Non-YMCA Membership.  During the past year, from 2008 to 2009, Coach Dave scheduled two meets that allowed us to compete against the Smithfield Dolphins.  Dave and I have also discussed the possibility of the Barracudas joining the Smithfield YMCA, but that would mean additional expenses for our teams parents.  Like the Smithfield YMCA, North Providence Barracudas must have a pool membership along with a swim team fee.  To add to our present cost, an additional pool membership and team fee is required.  At this time, considering our present economic crisis, I thought it was too much to ask of our parents.  This is my second attempt to have the North Providence Barracudas become a proud member of the SENECY YMCA Swim League.