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As you know, team members and
Board members have participated in City Council meetings regarding
the proposed City budget proposal since April in efforts to keep
Kerry as a city employee in a paid coach staff position and to
retain funding for our assistant coaches. In private
meetings with City staff and council members, the message to us so
far has been very firm that the City no longer wants to maintain
coaches on the City payroll. This coming Tuesday the City
Council is scheduled to take final action to approve the City
budget.
The apparent decision to drop
our coaches from the City payroll has made all of us at some level
feel angry, frustrated and sad. We and the City
recognize that the decision is less about the economics of pool
cost recovery and more about the economics of reducing staff on the
City payroll.
If the City budget proposal is
approved, our current arrangement with the City will continue
through December 31 of this year. Our Team Board has
been considering what changes will be necessary as we move into
2011. We have done extensive research regarding funding models of
other Masters teams and collecting information about pool fees at
other local pools. We have reviewed various future
funding models that we believe would both provide fair compensation
for our coaches and keep membership prices affordable.
At this time our aim is to keep Clarke Memorial
Pool as our primary base for 2011. At the same time, we would
like to expand to other pools in order to grow our team membership
and dues base. (We have a great foundation, no
question!)
If the City adopts the budget
proposal the Board is confident that we can successfully own our
team and keep it whole as we move into 2011. Imagine
WCM as a newer, shinier and brighter version of the great team it
already is! Of course, we are all in this together, and some
changes will be inevitable. In the near future, we will
ask you to weigh in with your opinions regarding various pricing
models and alternative payment methods. Also, expect
that at some point an announcement for trial workouts at one
or two new facilities.
We will continue to keep team
members informed of new developments. In the meantime, if you
have any questions please feel free to ask any of the Team Board
Members.
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