WCM really needs your help

If I were the mayor I'd definitely be asking why the city is paying the salary and benefits for the coach of a private organization. Shouldn't that organization being paying the coach's salary? Anyway, putting myself in the mayor's shoes that's what I'd be asking. Logical point - except that if she's been a long time employee the position has morphed into its current form - how much is she a city employee and how much is the WCM coach - is the city's payment for her services commensurate with her city work at the pool (maybe the WCW $$ are a supplement to her city paid work). However, maybe if she retires from the city, she can collect her pension and still be the WCM coach - as a retiree she can still get health benefits through the city (generally a higher premium amount). The city doesn't fund her position, the WCM continues to pay her as their coach and the pool fees (now she's not on the city clock) - maybe WCW pays the difference between her pension and her current pay, or the net cost of the health care cost. The City saves, maybe they can still pay to keep the assistant coaches around.

Kerry O'Brien is a man, by the way. Yeah, those are good questions. Maybe Karen knows if Kerry's job description is simply "coach" or if he's something like aquatics director for this pool or for the city. I certainly hope WCM can keep Kerry however this is accomplished. No question he's done a lot for the sport of masters swimming!

Kirk- WCM is a non-profit organization that the City has agreed to help subsidize (through hiring the coaches as employees of the city). All of the money for our dues goes to coaches salaries. It's always been to the city's benefit, as Kerry has attracted so many swimmers to the pool. I know if it weren't for him I'd be doing laps on my own, and it wouldn't be daily! Thanks swimmj- it is much appreciated. BTW, that $112,500/year was Masters only. Keep in mind, that when the pool is set up SCY (about 9 months of the year) we have about 25 lanes and they are packed with lap swimmers. I would venture a guess that the City takes in about $800/day (conservatively) for lap swimming and masters swimming combined. Again, conservatively, that's $200,000/year. Plus, during the summer you get school groups and people who just want to come and splash around. Clarke Pool is always voted Best Pool in the 'Best of the Bay Area' polls.

I know Kerry has more duties than just coach, I don't know what else they include. I know there is an aquatics director and a pool mgr. Anyway, I'd still like to encourage people to write to the city and share with them how impressive the program is that Kerry built. Who better than fellow masters swimmers? Thanks! mayor@walnut-creek.org

It's always been to the city's benefit, as Kerry has attracted so many swimmers to the pool. I'm sure you're right. Hopefully all the WCM swimmers can convince the mayor this!

Thanks Heather. I really appreciate it. :angel: OK, here's the scoop as I know it. The City of WC pays most of Kerry's salary, and half of the asst. coaches salaries (which aren't very big- I think all 3 of them don't even make up 1 FT coach). Kerry is a FT employee w/benefits. Our team, through our dues, which are about $250/year (I think- it's no more than $300 for sure), pays the rest of Kerry's salary, and half of the asst. coaches. These funds have been eliminated by the city. We will most certainly have to pick up the difference as a team. Our concern is that Kerry has 30 years in with the City and full medical. We can't pick that up. Furthermore the city is asking us to use the Aquabear model where we rent the pool for x$/month. The Aquabears do not make the city money with this pool fee ($24,000/yr), and they don't make the city money at all. On the other hand, WCM, in addition to our dues, pays a splash fee $4.50, every time we swim. We bring in over $150,000 to the city every year! That more than pays for our coaches. Our board is looking at several options: 1) save our current situation- this pool is in a perfect central location (that's why we all swim in the same pool!) 2) moving to a new location, so no more WC anything (fine with us)- there aren't any other pools centrally located- probably lose people (not the goal of USMS) 3) trying to raise funds to build our own facility- that would take corporate sponsorship and that's a whole other can of worms. I am all for #3. I think that we could do it. It would probably take 5 years but I think we could. We could have as many meets as we wanted, etc... Anyway, please e-mail and let our city council know what an amazing team Kerry has created. Believe me we've been singing his praises, but they expect that from his swimmers. They'd be hard pressed not to listen to other swimmers from across the country, or even the border (hint hint): mayor@walnut-creek.org Please, it will take you 3 minutes max, and if takes longer than that, I'll buy you a beer. :chug: How about: Approach the city of WC together with Aquabears, and offer to take over the ownership and operation of the pool. Kerry is no longer a city employee, but if it's done right he and the clubs can do very well for themselves. IMHO, the biggest weaknesses for cities that operate pools is their high overhead (yes, city employees with salaries and benefits cost a lot) and poor facility programming. USA-S has great resources in this regard. I believe the city of Colorado Springs is now outsourcing ownership and operation of its pools.

Karen - Looks like you gathered some great info and suggestions here today. Walnut Creek is a strong swimming community. I lived and swam there many years and I know this is true. Hopefully they will rally for WCM as well. Don't assume all USMS Committee Chairs read the forum. You might want to reach out to any and all of them and ask for their letters too. You KNOW the USMS Coaches will support Kerry. He has been a mentor and support to so many of us. It has never mattered whether you were a new or an experienced coach. He always has time to offer a good word. Some of you may not know, but there is actually a USMS Award named after Kerry O'Brien honoring grass-roots coaches who contribute to the sport. The Kerry O'Brien Award This is pretty significant to create an award named after someone who is actually still alive and kicking a** as a masters swim coach!

Karen, While going to the mayor is great, I'd recommend you try to figure out the infrastructure of the government between the mayor and the pool staff to determine who you have to influence. In our city, we have: Pool staff Parks & Recreation staff Parks & Recreation board (people are elected here and generally volunteer positions) City Council Mayor At least in our locality, each of the parties above needs far more attention (and, thankfully, has far more access) of a lobbying effort than the mayor him/herself.

Hello Karen, Just to let you know I sent an e-mail to the Mayor. I hope it helps:)

My house has sent 3 separate letters in the last week. Each time we sent one, we BCCd Kerry so he could see what we wrote. Kerry's e-mail is: swim4wc@netscape.net