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
I still don't get this. I'm confused that you are so up in arms, but don't seem to know what's going on. You say that you KNOW that the program runs in the black, yet you don't know your team membership numbers, your team dues amounts, nor your team or facility overhead. Without actual facts it's hard to make a cogent argument to the city. "Kerry's a great guy" and "Walnut Creek Masters is awesome" isn't going to cut it. If you have actual data we could use PLEASE share it! BTW, how do you not know what your team dues are?
Think of it this way. If you have approx 440 members and they are willing to pay approx $1000 each per year you are CRAZY not to rent space and have the team pay Kerry! You could rent all the pool space you could want for less than $150k a year. That would leave $250k for coaching salaries and benefits. How is this not a self sustaining business? Kerry should take over the program and begin making $200k a year including benefits! Separate yourselves from the fiscal headache that is (and will continue to be) the city of Walnut Creek! If you stay with the city they are only going to want more and more money and leave you with less and less control.
Also, you will want to tone down the rhetoric and vitriol against the city and the city manager. Calling him an A$$#@LE on a public website, and mentioning people's kids, doesn't do anyone any good. I would expect them to get wind of this discourse and not be too happy about it. You're going to end up sending poor Kerry into an ethics investigation due to taking money from a private group to do city work. This is seriously frowned upon! Remember, you can catch more flies with honey....
I still don't get this. I'm confused that you are so up in arms, but don't seem to know what's going on. You say that you KNOW that the program runs in the black, yet you don't know your team membership numbers, your team dues amounts, nor your team or facility overhead. Without actual facts it's hard to make a cogent argument to the city. "Kerry's a great guy" and "Walnut Creek Masters is awesome" isn't going to cut it. If you have actual data we could use PLEASE share it! BTW, how do you not know what your team dues are?
Think of it this way. If you have approx 440 members and they are willing to pay approx $1000 each per year you are CRAZY not to rent space and have the team pay Kerry! You could rent all the pool space you could want for less than $150k a year. That would leave $250k for coaching salaries and benefits. How is this not a self sustaining business? Kerry should take over the program and begin making $200k a year including benefits! Separate yourselves from the fiscal headache that is (and will continue to be) the city of Walnut Creek! If you stay with the city they are only going to want more and more money and leave you with less and less control.
Also, you will want to tone down the rhetoric and vitriol against the city and the city manager. Calling him an A$$#@LE on a public website, and mentioning people's kids, doesn't do anyone any good. I would expect them to get wind of this discourse and not be too happy about it. You're going to end up sending poor Kerry into an ethics investigation due to taking money from a private group to do city work. This is seriously frowned upon! Remember, you can catch more flies with honey....
