May 22, 2014 Board Picnic on Pool Property, inviting new ideas and possibilities.
Present were Linda Barton, President; Robin Bergstrom, VP; Lori Taylor, Treasurer; Micki Ryan, Secretary; guests Asha Lela, Paul Henricksen, Larry Eppenbach, Sarah Eppenbach, Bill Clemens.
Hi, Swimmers,
Please see the poster (below) for information regarding our Lopez Swim Days in May. This is our third annual trip for the Lopez Elementary School children to the Fidalgo Pool in Anacortes.
We know how important it is for children to be “water safe” and these trips do a lot to mature their skills for safety and enjoyment of the water. If you would like to go along on this fun trip, you have two options:
For your information, there is reduced price lap swim from noon until our Lopez School time at 1:00PM. Perfect for getting in your own swim!! There is NO cost to you for the day unless you go early to swim.
For those of us who have been before, it is fulfilling and worthwhile as well as fun!! The children are SO enthusiastic and appreciative.
Any questions? Call Robin Bergstrom at 468-2253.
Summer Saturdays at the Lopez Farmer’s Market FLIP booth are always busy! Local residents and tourists alike are very supportive of FLIP’s efforts to bring an aquatic center to the island. Many purchase FLIP t-shirts and donate money to help in the drive to pay for the center.
All of the varied groups that would use the pool visit the FLIP booth: seniors, children, local and visiting athletes, EMT personnel, kayakers looking to hone their safety skills, and everyone who loves to swim. The wonderful display answers many questions and encourages ideas from people who would benefit from an aquatic center.
The Lopez community’s support for the aquatic center is strong and positive.
In 2013, the Friends of Lopez Island Pool hired Capital Campaign Planning Consultant Brent Hafele to prepare a funding feasibility study from interviews with islanders familiar with guiding large community projects. The results of this study were emphatic: everyone on Lopez would like a pool to swim in, but everyone also felt the funding climate on Lopez has stalled due to slow economic recovery and other local factors urging potential donors to be cautious.
Since 2008, FLIP has worked steadily on completing the background work for a year-round pool facility, depending on the generosity and enthusiasm of Lopez Islanders. Because of you we now have a substantial audience of supporters, donated Center Road property, architectural and technical plans, indoor and outdoor pool zoning, water, legacy gifts for a facility maintenance endowment, and a nearly completed checklist of behind-the scenes pre-construction tasks.
We are poised to launch into construction planning and action, phase 4 of our 5-phase plan, when the funding climate improves. What’s phase 5? SWIM!
FLIP has now entered a “quiet period” of project fundraising. Entering a quiet period means that rather than continuing to seek funds specifically for construction at this time, we will focus on pre-construction tasks and our all-important learn-to-swim programs for the island’s children.
We will continue to develop the building site by completing affordable pre-construction tasks while we remain watchful for solid economic recovery. We will definitely continue program activities by providing water safety and swimming experiences for island children. Every dollar your give all year long supports FLIP’s swim education programs toward our goal to see that every person on Lopez feels safe in the water.
Please visit our website, www.lopezislandpool.org for the latest information.
Beginning in May, 2012, FLIP started a tradition of taking the Lopez elementary school kids to Fidalgo Pool for a day of swimming. Kids who don’t normally get the chance to swim love the opportunity – but this event most importantly shows the need for our Lopez kids to be safe in the water. Most children are not able to pass the swim test and need to stay in life vests in the shallow water. It is so important to touch the lives of our kids with a fun day – but most important is the need to teach our kids to swim!
