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March 2017 News & Updates
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Check out the newsletter, give feedback, and remember to use the website as a resource, too.
Happy Spring! Summer is not far away...
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Your volunteer board is busy getting ready for another great season, and we appreciate all of your input over the past months.
Barclay Downs had fewer families choose to resign this year when compared to recent historical trends. Only 21 families decided to relinquish their membership, compared to 28 in 2016 and 37 in 2015. We believe that while many families may "age out" of the Club facilities on a regular basis, some may decide to maintain their membership for a variety of reasons including the relatively low annual cost, emotional attachment, and the prospect of future use with grandchildren. All of this is positive and helps to make our Club strong.
As you are aware, the Board has had many discussions about what it thinks is an over-reliance on new member initiation fees to meet the operating needs of the Club. This year's increase in annual dues almost offset the reduction in new members' intiation fees, and the Club was able to absorb the remaining $3,500 in its annual operating budget. However, the larger issue is that the Club would continue to have no wherewithal to handle a major capital outlay since borrowing is at a maximum and we are not producing excess cash. Therefore, in March, the Board voted unanimously to increase membership by 10 families as was approved after the special meeting in January. The board will use these 10 families' initiation fees to establish a new, capital reserve fund in the amount of $35,000. All annual dues will go toward the operating budget and continue to decrease the Club's reliance on future initiation fees. Additionally, this nominal increase allows all resident waitlist families to be invited as members plus several non-resident waitlist families to join.
New members will be announced soon.
What improvements can you look for this spring and summer?
- Pressure washing, wood and column repair, repainting of all pool facilities ($11,900)
- A pool that retains its water level. We sprang some leaks around lights, skimmers, etc. They had to be fixed, and we are pleased that no concrete removal was required, or we might have needed to dip into the new capital reserve fund. ($5,000)
- A new diving board ($6,000)
- An outdoor ping pong table ($600)
- A ball machine for the tennis players ($1,750)
- Removal of dead bushes in the landscaping
- Currently exploring and addressing: additional shade structures, tree trimming, roofing of the pool pavilion, snack bar efficiency and quality improvements
- A couple of "talk to the Board" nights this summer. The idea is to have Board members gather at the pool in the adult pavilion area on a couple of Friday evenings to give members an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how the Club operates. We will advertise those times as we get closer to the summer.
Stay tuned, thanks again for your interest and involvement, and let us know if you have any questions.
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It's time to
sign up for the party and get your sitter! May 6 from 7-11pm is our annual, summer kick-off party to welcome our new members and to kick off the summer season. Plan to eat dinner by the pool; food will be provided from Midwood Smokehouse. And, yes, the Bad Daddies are booked to play, so bring your dancing shoes.
Registration is open now!
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The pool will open before we know it on
May 13, and our returning pool manager, Bob Blumenstetter, is finishing up the hiring process. In particular, if your child is interested in lifeguarding this summer and is college-aged, please have him or her touch base with Bob to see if there is still a need. Bob's contact information is on the attached application.
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Interested in sponsoring the Barclay Downs Waterdogs and being featured on this year's swim t-shirt? Click
here to download sponsor information.
Swim team registration opens online at
bdswimclub.com on April 3 and runs through
May 1. We are excited to welcome new coaches Kristina Bond and Alecia Davis. For those planning on participating, we will have a pre-season, swimsuit fitting at Barclay Downs in the tennis office area on Sunday, March 26 from 4:30 - 6:30pm. This is the only local fitting and will be held rain or shine. Credit cards only, please.
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Spring tennis is underway for both kids and adults, and summer camp registration is available. Get in touch with our tennis director, John Williams. Join in the fun!
Spring Lessons and Cinics
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