Dear Pool Supporter,                                                   October 2023

 

As 2023 starts to wind down, we wanted to send you an update on your community pool.  We have lots of good news to share, so please review the Fall Update sheet.

 

Highlights for 2023 include celebrating our 25th anniversary with a sold-out dinner and auction in June at the Charlevoix Yacht Club Event Hall. This major fundraiser provided about half of our annual fundraising goal. In August we hosted a community BBQ put on by the Charlevoix Lions Club. Both events engaged people in the surrounding area to learn more about our mission as a vital resource for all our community members including local residents, vacation homeowners, and visitors. 

 

Your pool helps many people in our communities. In an area with many lakes and boating activities, we are committed to teaching local children to swim and be safe around water. Students from schools in Charlevoix, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Ellsworth, and Petoskey take group swim lessons and water safety classes at our facility. The pool also helps seniors increase mobility and stability by providing an indoor, non-weight-bearing place to exercise. Many working adults and retirees use the pool for lap swimming to stay fit. The Aqua Ex classes provide fitness and serve as a hub of social activity. Special events like the Aqua Egg Hunt and Spooky Swim bring families together in a safe, indoor environment where they have fun together and relax.  

 

Our largest challenge continues to be filling essential staffing positions for office, coaching and front desk staff, as well as lifeguards.  When summer ends, we lose many employees as students head back to school.  Our recruiting for these positions is ongoing.  

 

Can we count on your support to help fund your community pool in 2024?

 

Annually, approximately 36% of our operational funds are from donations, grants, and fundraisers while approximately 20% of our revenue comes from user fees. Municipal tax revenues fill in the remaining part of our operational funding. As a community resource for everyone – all ages, all backgrounds, all income levels – we can keep our visit fees low with community support and tax revenues. For more details on our financials and programs, download our 2022 Annual Report  or stop at the pool to pick up a copy. A 2023 Annual Report will be published in February 2024.  

 

Please support the pool with a donation to our end-of-year Annual Appeal. You may send us a check in the envelope enclosed, call the pool to make a credit card donation at 231-547-0982, or make a donation  at Make a Donation.

 

Thank you, in advance, for your donation. Please stay safe and well.

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Diane Herder, Board President