Fund-Raising and Volunteer Info

Fund-Raising and Volunteer Info

Casino Volunteer Requirement

Mako Water Polo Club is a registered non-profit organization and is able to subscribe to Alberta Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis (AGLC) Charitable Gaming Program.  Participation in this program provides the club with a significant portion of its revenue used to operate the club.  This allows the club to fund essential costs necessary to operate during the season and ensures that athlete registration fees remain affordable to its participating athletes. 

The Mako Water Polo Club is awarded a Casino date approximately every 24 months.  The dates are for two consecutive days and consist both a day and evening shifts.  Each shift requires approximately 15 volunteers. 

For the 2024 - 2025, there is no casino fund raiser for the Mako Water Polo Club.  The next casino is expected to occur in November of 2025 and will be part of the 2025 - 2026 mandatory fund raising requirements.

General Casino Volunteer Policy (For informational purposes and will be subject to review and update for the 2025 - 2026 season).

• For each athlete participating in the season, families are required to volunteer at a minimum of one shift per registered athlete (two enrolled athletes would require two shifts). Note, depending upon enrolment numbers, there may be a requirement to complete additional casino shifts.
• A Casino Bond Cheque of $500 (or as determined by the board) per registered athlete (not per family) is required. Collection of the bond will be with a signed post-dated cheque dated to the date of the casino in the amount of $500 per registered athlete payable to the Mako Water Polo Club.  
• Upon completion of the casino event, if the required casino duties have not been fulfilled, the Casino Bond Cheque will be cashed.  The Casino Bond Cheque will only be cashed if the member/athlete does not attend or fill their required shift(s).  Any Casino Bond Cheque that are cashed due to non-fulfillment of requirements, will be deposited into the club’s bank account and used towards the operating costs of the club.
• The Casino Bond Cheque is due at the time of registration and must be paid prior to the first practice of the season.  In the event the Casino Bond Cheque is not received by the first practice, registration will be considered incomplete and the athlete will not be allowed in the water until the cheque is received.  
• Should a Casino Bond Cheque amount be returned NSF, a $50 fee will be assessed.  Should this occur, the athlete(s) will not be able to participate in club activities until all amounts owing have been paid in full.  
• As part of your registration to the Mako Water Polo Club, parents / guardians agree to the following: 

As a parent / guardian of a member of The Mako Water Polo Club, I confirm that I am obligated to provide a Casino Bond Cheque for each athlete I register as part of the registration process.  I understand, and agree, that the Casino Bond Cheque I submitted will be cashed in the event I do not meet the casino commitment for the season. I understand that the Casino Bond Cheque of $500 per athlete is required to be submitted at the time of registration and is due no later the first practice to activate my athlete’s registration.

• Casino event shifts will be posted once available and will be on a first come first serve basis.
• Parents / guardians are responsible for finding their own eligible replacement such as a family friend or grandparent if they are unable to attend their assigned shifts
• Extenuating circumstances may exist. If the member is unable to complete their required casino shift requirements due to extenuating circumstances outside of their control and feel that additional consideration is warranted (scheduling conflicts or other existing obligations is insufficient), please submit a request for review in writing to the Board of Directors for special consideration.  Any exemptions will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.  

Other Fund Raising Requirements

Additional club raising initiatives outside of the biennial casino also help to fund essential costs necessary to operate during the season and ensures that athlete registration fees remain affordable to its participating athletes. 

Other fund-raising initiatives is outside of and in addition to the casino and volunteer requirements.  Examples of fund-raising initiatives may include bottle drives, swimathons, 50/50 draws, food, merchandise, or gift card sales, sponsorship solicitation, donations (non-charitable), and other initiatives.

The Mako Water Polo Club expects all participants to participate in its fund-raising initiatives.

A $100 Fund Raising Bond Cheque is due at the time of registration and must be paid prior to the first practice of the season.   In the event the Fund Raising Bond Cheque is not received by the first practice, registration will be considered incomplete and the athlete will not be allowed in the water until the cheque is received.  

Volunteer Requirements

The Mako Water Polo Club is a volunteer based organization.  It is a relatively small organization, however, it does need parent volunteers for various roles both formally and informally.  Generally, the overall needs of the club are relatively small.  At this time, the Mako Water Polo Club does not have a mandatory volunteer hour commitment or corresponding volunteer bond requirements for its participants.  However, Mako Water Polo Club does expect parents to step up and support the club and provide assistance when it is requested.  Should requests for assistance go unfulfilled, the Mako Water Polo Club reserves the right to implement a volunteer requirement and corresponding Volunteer Bond Cheque of $250 per athlete.  Upon issuance of Volunteer Bond Cheque requirement, athletes will not be permitted to participate until such time as the Volunteer Bond Cheque has been received.