Glen Ridge Community Pool

2006 Annual Report 

Under the guidance of the Executive Committee and Dan Mueller, Pool Manager, the Glen Ridge Community Pool had a terrific 2006 season.  The pool ended the year with 402 members, a budget in the black, a terrific swim team and great memories.  The following details the 2006 highlights in the areas of Operations, Pool House, Finance, Membership, Communication, and Programming.

OPERATIONS

We are pleased to report a very uneventful operational season.  All systems operated adequately with no breakdowns or unplanned repairs.

We replaced the chlorinator bucket at the beginning of the season with a larger one.  This resulted in a more efficient disbursement of chlorine into the pool and an overall decrease in the amount of chemical added to the water.  This resulted in eliminating the cloudy water conditions found on crowded days with high temperatures.

Additionally, the pool purchased chairs, a new entrance tent, and basketball hoop for the edge of the pool from the General Operating Fund.

Plans for next season include reseeding the north lawn to increase our lounging area.  In addition we have plans to renew our plantings and landscaping.  To maintain our planting we will be installing new hose bibs to increase irrigation to these areas.

POOL HOUSE

The GRCP submitted our new facility plans to the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in early September.  The DEP approval is necessary because the facility is to be constructed in a flood plain.  As of early November, the application had been accepted and we are in the 90 day review period. 

The new plan was presented to the Glen Ridge Historic Preservation Committee on the evening of October 4, 2006.  Architect Mark Wright provided a clear and convincing presentation that was extremely well received.  The plan was approved unanimously by the committee.

Passing these two points prepared the Pool for bid advertisements.  The plans were completed and we were able to advertise for bids with a January due date.  We hope the bid amounts will allow us to seek Borough approval at the next regularly scheduled council meeting.

This timetable will allow us to begin work as soon as the weather permits in 2007.  Before opening for next season we expect to be able to complete, at a minimum, the construction of the deck and roofing areas of the new structure.  If time and weather allow, we will continue with the lavatory and office structures.  In the event we run short of time as our opening nears, we will be able to utilize the existing office and lavatory trailers for one more season.  Please log onto the Pool Website at www.glenridgepool.com to view the Architect’s rendering of the facility and receive future updates.

FINANCIAL

During the 2006 season, the pool incurred approximately $300,583 in expenses and brought in $368,205 in income.  Income was predominantly from membership dues, although guest fees did contribute $13,819.  The GRCP submitted refunds totaling $33,650 to Founding Members who resigned during the 2005-2006 season.  See Attachment #1 for details.

MEMBERSHIP

During the 2006 Season, the following changes to the membership occurred:

• 402 memberships at the Pool at the end of the season, of which 232 are founding members
• 40 founding members resigned and had their dues reimbursed
• 11 non-founding members resigned
• 49 new members joined the pool

To encourage new members to join the pool, the following membership outreach initiatives were undertaken:

·         In February 2006, a letter was sent to all Glen Ridge residents who had purchased a home the previous year.

·         A flyer was developed and distributed to local Realtors and day care & nursery schools.  Additionally, the flyer was left at the Glen Ridge municipal building and library.

·         The Glen Ridge Pool has a table at the Glen Ridge Arts Festival to solicit new members, provide 2006 stickers for ID cards, take ID pictures and answer questions.

The Pool also participated in good neighbor programs, including:

·         The GR Rec Camp used the pool on Mondays from 9am-12pm.  This summer there were 263 campers’ visits.  

·         The Executive Committee made an agreement with the Education Station (a day care center on Washington Street) that allowed approximately 15 children ages 5-8 to visit the pool two to three times per week.  The Pool collected $5 per child per visit paid at the gate upon entry.  The Education Station supplied adequate supervision (generally 1 adult per 5 children).  The program was a great success, the children were very well behaved and enjoyed themselves and new families were introduced to the pool.

·         The Pool hosted the Glen Ridge School’s 6^th Grade Graduation Party for the second year in a row.

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

In 2006, the Glen Ridge Community Pool offered the following program and events

·         Swim Team– The GRCP Swim Team held daily practices in July and hosted two home meets. 

·         Free Group Swim Lessons – Clinics were offered Tuesday through Friday mornings. 

·         Private Swim Lessons – 30 Minute private swim lessons were available as the life guards’ schedules permitted.  The cost of the lessons was $20 per 30 minutes.

·         Pool Family BBQ – The Pool hosted its first Family BBQ on Memorial Day Weekend.  Others planned for Fourth of July and Labor Day were cancelled due to inclement weather. 

·         Teen Night – A wildly successful Teen Night was hosted August 4^th.

·          Family Pizza Night – Two Family Pizza Nights were planned but cancelled due to inclement weather.

·         Weekly Activities – This year the pool offered daily activities from Tuesday through Friday for one hour in the afternoons.  Activities included Simon Says, Charades, Guestures, Arts & Crafts and Bingo.

·         Birthday Parties – A number of members held birthday parties for their children at the pool this summer.

COMMUNICATIONS

·         Invoices were mailed to members in February 2006, followed by a reminder email in March.

·         Newsletters were sent via email in March, May and December.

·         The Rules & Regulations were mailed to all members in May.

·         The pool installed a donated bulletin board where we posted the monthly calendar, flyers and swim team information.

·         The pool’s website (www.glenridgepool.com) was updated regularly with revised hours and information.

·         The pool hosted a Q&A for members at the pool on August 21^st.

·         The pool sent emails on 6/15 & 8/14 –Pool Hours, 6/29 4^th of July BBQ, 7/18 Pool Closing due to fecal matter, 8/4 Teen Night, 8/18 Summer Q&A Session and 5/26, 7/7, 7/11, 7/14, 7/17 Swim Team and Home meets.

·         The Executive Committee met on February 27^th,  March 21^st, April 18^th,  May 10^th , May 31^st,  June 27^th,  August 9^th  October 3^rd, November 7th, and December 19, 2006.  The 2006 Annual Meeting was held on January 9, 2006.  Minutes to all meetings are on file at the pool. 

·         The Pool has been able to obtain active email addresses for all but 24 pool families through mailing and phone call requests. Email is the primary cost effective means of communication for the pool and we hope to approach 100% participation in 2007.

GLEN RIDGE COMMUNITY POOL TRUSTEES AND BOARD MEMBERS 2006

TRUSTEES                                                                             Term   Expires

·         Rick Mason, President Executive Committee      January 2007

·         Sara Woodruff                                                  January 2007

·         Kate Potters                                                     January 2008

·         Julia Roberts                                                     January 2009

·         Sharon Casey (Annual Alternate #1)*                January 2007* Alternate – 1 year Term

·         Don Zichelli (Annual Alternate #2)*                   January 2007* Alternate – 1 year Term

Town Appointees

• Carl Bergmanson (Mayor), Elizabeth Brewster, Peter Hughes,Myles Sachs, Linda Seyffarth

Beginning January 1, 2005, the Town took over management of all back office functions of the pool, including accounting, payroll, purchasing, etc.  The Pool pays an annual fee for this service.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee members are appointed by the Trustees for a two year term, with a two consecutive term limit.    The Executive Committee volunteers are responsible for and provide oversight for the overall management (including fiscal and administrative) of the Glen Ridge Community Pool.

EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE                                   TITLES                                               Term Expires

Rick Mason                              President (Ad hoc Construction)             January 2007

Tom Centanni                           Vice President, Operations Chairperson  January 2008

Paul Weissenberger                   Treasurer, Finance Chairperson              January 2007

Sarah Githens                            Membership Chairperson                       January 2008    

Kathy Weissenberger                Communications Chairperson                 January 2008

Sharon Casey                            Programming Chairperson                      January 2007