Hey Everybody-
Guess what? Our coaches positions have been eliminated by the City of Walnut Creek. This is not a joke. Of the Aquatics programs in the city, ours is the only one that operates in the black, and yet they are going to cut it.
If you could, would you shoot a brief e-mail, to the city council and let them know what a successful program this is across the country and in the world. All few hundred of us are doing what we can, but I think it's time to bring in the big guns- you.
Kerry has spent 30 years of his life building this program into what it is today, and helping many of you in the process, please help him and the program that he lives for.
The address is: mayor@walnut-creek.org
and ask them to respond to your e-mail.
Thanks,
Karen Duggan
Parents
Former Member
Mrs. Duggan,
I am sorry to hear about WCM troubles. Kerry's current position with the city is probably toast no matter what you do.
Having done a bit of lobbying at the state level, it has been my experience that politicians don't really care about feel good programs that make the community a better place. They may say they do, and even act by giving funding. Then when the issue dies down they slowly starve the program to extinction.
Politicians care about getting re-elected. In a small community a block of voters can have an effect, and you need to let your elected officials know of your feelings. Have you gone to the news? Politicians hate negative news stories about the unpopular decisions they make.
I know you don't want to get nasty, but politics is a very nasty sport. Employees like Kerry can't speak out. You can. The old saying is that to win your pol over you have four options: dirt (unethical but not uncommon), money, employee strike (probably not an option), or something that threatens their job. Community outrage works, temporarly.
A stable source of funding is what you need to look for. Sponsorships are nice, but the plug can be pulled at a moments notice. If you could force the city to allocate a portion of your members dues to go in a special fund or lockbox (to borrow from Mr. Gore) that supports WCM you would have won a huge battle. Politicians don't like to be told that they can't spend money any way they choose.
The facility that you swim at is beautiful. I can't believe that they would close it, but then again I can.
Good luck.
Mrs. Duggan,
I am sorry to hear about WCM troubles. Kerry's current position with the city is probably toast no matter what you do.
Having done a bit of lobbying at the state level, it has been my experience that politicians don't really care about feel good programs that make the community a better place. They may say they do, and even act by giving funding. Then when the issue dies down they slowly starve the program to extinction.
Politicians care about getting re-elected. In a small community a block of voters can have an effect, and you need to let your elected officials know of your feelings. Have you gone to the news? Politicians hate negative news stories about the unpopular decisions they make.
I know you don't want to get nasty, but politics is a very nasty sport. Employees like Kerry can't speak out. You can. The old saying is that to win your pol over you have four options: dirt (unethical but not uncommon), money, employee strike (probably not an option), or something that threatens their job. Community outrage works, temporarly.
A stable source of funding is what you need to look for. Sponsorships are nice, but the plug can be pulled at a moments notice. If you could force the city to allocate a portion of your members dues to go in a special fund or lockbox (to borrow from Mr. Gore) that supports WCM you would have won a huge battle. Politicians don't like to be told that they can't spend money any way they choose.
The facility that you swim at is beautiful. I can't believe that they would close it, but then again I can.
Good luck.
