Dear Walnut Heights Swim Club Members,

Waking up with frost on the roof and admiring the snow on Mt. Diablo, it tells me that it is the time for me to write this annual letter again. As we all know, this weather can change within a week in the coming months, and swim gear will be out in full force for summer 2019 before we know it. 

Thank you, Albert and Mary Hubbard

Last year, the Club Board dug out some old Club documents from the storage. Within these boxes, we found very organized meeting minutes and member lists starting the year before the club was constructed (1956). In it, we learned that our club property was actually “donated” by a couple named Albert and Mary Hubbard. Needless to say, our club might not have existed if not for their generosity. So, wherever Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard might be now, we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. I hope you would be proud to see how the community has grown and how the property is maintained and improved.

Club Financial Update

Thanks to our loyal member base and the support of the 2018 CONFERENCE CHAMPION Walnut Heights Otters swim team, our Club is financially healthy. We encountered some unexpected high cost pump / heater equipment replacements, but our safety and modernization project came in under budget due to some strong project management. The team had a strong year financially though they had a significant decrease in team membership. Bravo to president Rob on cutting expenses and to the spirit team on achieving the unachievable. Going forward we know the quality of all appliances has decreased the life expectancy, so we’ll need to be vigilant on setting up reserves in anticipation of future replacements.

To stay competitive, the Club member annual fee this year will stay at $490. If you have any concerns or questions about the Club’s financial health, please email us.

Spring Clinic

The awesome Walnut Heights Otters swim team will help the Club kick off the pool season on 3/25 with a spring swim clinic. Please go to http://www.whoswimming.comto register your kids for the spring swim clinic. Hurry, spots are limited!

Club Board Transitions

As mentioned earlier, the Swim Team president, Mr. Rob Christiansen, led the Swim Team board and did the impossible by keeping the team within budget despite a significant drop in team membership. Not only did he do that, he also led the team to take back the conference championship for the first time in 5 years. With that, he gloriously completed his service as Team President and corresponding role on the Club Board. Thank you so much, Rob!

Taking over the big role from Rob are Mr. Corey Martin and Mr. Eric Rotner. They both grew up in the Walnut Heights / Rudgear neighborhoods and are elite season swimmers. They will be co-team-presidents and will take turn sharing the Club Board role. Welcome, Corey and Eric.

App Key

As a reminder, your member key works for the “upper deadbolt” lock, NOT the handle lock. If the handle is locked, it means either the club is closed or someone locked it by accident. Email us if you think the handle is locked by mistake. If you haven’t applied for App keys, please email us and we will set you up. It is recommended to donate $5 per app key to help absorb the cost of keeping up with technology changes.

We look forward to the opening of the Club on April 27, 2019. There will be a couple of work parties for all the assigned volunteering members to get the club ready. If you are assigned and can’t make it, you can swap with other members or you can buy out your duty by paying special rate of $100 (instead of $150), otherwise a no-show penalty is $200. Like last year, we will have a big pool opening BBQ party on 5/4. For the rest of important dates, please visit http://www.walnutheightsswimclub.com/eventsor subscribe to the Club calendar at http://www.walnutheightsswimclub.com/calendar.

Yours truly,
Trace Lee
WHSC Club President