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
Karen, you are doing what needs to be done. Echoing Kirk Nelson, Seattle is considering closing some or ALL it's public pools. PNA LMSC is organizing with others to save the pools. However, we'll need to look at alternative scenarios. Our King County let go/boarded up all its pools 5 years ago except Federal Way. 5 are now operated by non profits. The latest, Evergreen is being operated by a USA swimming team and the coach and board are reaching out to masters, water polo, vets and the community to fill the pool and bring in revenue...breaking even instead of losing money which the County was doing.
You may want to suggest options: 1) WCM rents the pool at a fixed rate and the team hires coaches, collects dues/fees and guarantees the City the money from the use time. or 2) if the entire facility is at risk of closure, put together a non profit board, hire staff and run the pool yourselves...or through a USA swimming team. USA swimming is seeing the writing on the wall for operating city pools and is training their clubs to take over management.
Sounds like you got their attention, though. Good job. I just recommend you keep options in your pocket. The municipal financial scene is not getting better any time soon.
Sarah
Karen, you are doing what needs to be done. Echoing Kirk Nelson, Seattle is considering closing some or ALL it's public pools. PNA LMSC is organizing with others to save the pools. However, we'll need to look at alternative scenarios. Our King County let go/boarded up all its pools 5 years ago except Federal Way. 5 are now operated by non profits. The latest, Evergreen is being operated by a USA swimming team and the coach and board are reaching out to masters, water polo, vets and the community to fill the pool and bring in revenue...breaking even instead of losing money which the County was doing.
You may want to suggest options: 1) WCM rents the pool at a fixed rate and the team hires coaches, collects dues/fees and guarantees the City the money from the use time. or 2) if the entire facility is at risk of closure, put together a non profit board, hire staff and run the pool yourselves...or through a USA swimming team. USA swimming is seeing the writing on the wall for operating city pools and is training their clubs to take over management.
Sounds like you got their attention, though. Good job. I just recommend you keep options in your pocket. The municipal financial scene is not getting better any time soon.
Sarah
