Rules and regulations 2012
(last revision January 2009)
- Responsibility
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Grounds
- Parking Policy
- Sanitary Conditions and Safety
- Guests and Guest Fees
Responsibility
All persons using the Pool do so at their own risk. The Club assumes no responsibility, and members, their dependents or their guests can have no claim against the Club for an accident or injury to any persons or property.
During swim hours all members entering the Club’s Pool enclosure shall register in writing on the Pool Attendance Log (Members) at the front desk. After hours police will patrol the Pool area regularly. Trespassers will be prosecuted.
The Club shall not be responsible for loss or damage of personal property. There are no checking facilities. Do not bring valuables to the Pool. Clothes may be hung in the dressing room if desired. The Club assumes no responsibility, and members, their dependents, or their guests can have no claim against the Club for property that may be brought into or left on the Club premises.
Members shall reimburse the Club for any damage done to its property by themselves, their dependents, or their guests.
The Pool Manager, Assistant Manager, or any Board member shall have the authority to close the Pool, or any facility, when in his or her opinion this is necessary in the interest of safety.
The Pool Manager or Assistant Manager shall have the authority to enforce health and safety regulations and to maintain good order. This shall include the authority to eject offenders from the Club property. Lifeguards will enforce suspensions against unruly children, which can last one day or can be extended for longer than one day with Pool Board approval.
Children who have not reached their 7th birthday must be supervised by someone age 14 or older who stays with the child at all times. Children ages 7, 8, and 9 must be supervised by someone age 14 or older who stays with the child at all times, unless:
- The parent or guardian has filled out and returned the required permission form, and
- The child has passed the 2010 tadpole test.
Members of the Board of Directors will be available for pertinent referrals. The names and telephone numbers of Board members will be posted inside the Pool gate.
Swimming
The Pool will open for the Year 2010 season on Saturday, May 29.
From Saturday, May 30, through Wednesday, June 16 the Pool will operate on the school-year schedule, as follows:
Monday – Thursday: 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 12 noon to 8:30 p.m.
From Thursday, June 17, until Monday, August 29 (the last day before Montgomery County Public Schools open for the 2008-2009 school year), the Pool will operate on the summer schedule, as follows:
Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 12 noon to 9 p.m.
The Pool will close at 6:00 on July 4.
Beginning Monday, June 14, the Pool will open from 6:30 to 8 a.m. on Monday-Friday for Early Bird Swim during the months of June and July. In August, the Pool will open from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. for Early Bird Swim. Only those aged 16 and older will be admitted for lap swimming.
When MCPS schools open in the fall on Monday, August 29, the Pool will again operate on the school-year schedule above, except that on Monday, September 1 (Labor Day), the Pool will operate from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Pool will close for the 2010 season at 6 p.m. Sunday, September 12.
Unless a special Club function is going on and a guard is on duty, no swimming is permitted outside these hours, and violators will be prosecuted.
The main Pool is intended for the use of adults and children tall enough to stand safely in the water.
The main Pool will be cleared for a 15-minute period of each hour for adult swimming only (16 years or older) beginning 15 minutes before the hour. There is no adult swim at 8:45 p.m. During this period, older children who have been using the main Pool are not to use the wading pool.
Children who are not toilet-trained must be accompanied by an adult at all times while in the main Pool and must wear diapers covered with securely fitted waterproof pants while in either the main Pool or the wading pool to avoid fouling the water. If the water is fouled, County regulations require that the Pool be closed for 30 minutes for high chlorinating.
Pool games are permitted at the discretion of the guards and Pool management so long as they do not create a disturbance or cause danger to swimmers.
Two or more lanes, as required, will be roped off for sustained lap swimming except during swim team practices or other scheduled activities. At times when the Pool is crowded, lane swimmers should circle-swim in a counter-clockwise direction.
Running on the decks is strictly prohibited.
The main Pool corner steps are for entering and leaving the Pool. No one is permitted to sit on the steps.
No diving is allowed off the sides of the main Pool, except as permitted by the Swim and/or Dive Team coaches as part of practices, meets, or lessons.
Wading Pool
Babies wearing diapers must also wear securely fitted waterproof pants while in either the main Pool or the wading pool to avoid fouling the water. It is parents’ responsibility to ensure that their children are properly toileted while they are at the Pool.
The wading pool is intended for the use of children under the age of 6 years, or those children who cannot stand safely in the main Pool.
The wading pool is not staff-supervised. The responsible adult must stay with the child within the enclosure.
Diving Area
Swimming is not permitted in the diving area while the diving board is in use. Only one person is permitted on the diving board at any time. Divers may take one bounce and shall exit the water via the ladder.
Tennis
Only members and their guests may use the tennis courts. The gates are to be kept locked whenever the courts are not in use. The hours of operation for the tennis courts are 7:00 a.m. to dusk, Monday through Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to dusk on Sunday. Noise on the tennis courts must be kept at a neighborly level.
The tennis backboard may be used only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and may be used by only one person at a time.
Grounds
No radios or tape or cd player or ipods shall be permitted on the property owned by the Club, except those used with headphones.
There shall be no food or beverages consumed within the Pool area, except for plastic infant bottles within the wading pool enclosure and except during Club-sponsored functions. No glass containers of any kind will be permitted.
No alcoholic beverages are permitted on property owned by the Club, except during Club-sponsored adult functions, when the Club may serve beer and wine.
Any member of the Club or his guest who, in the opinion of the Pool Manager or Assistant Manager, is intoxicated or disorderly will be asked to leave the Club premises and will be subject to such penalty as the Board of Directors imposes.
No pets of any kind will be permitted on the grounds belonging to the Club at any time. This includes areas outside the Pool enclosure. This restriction is mandated by the County Health Department, and for health reasons, will be strictly enforced. Pursuant to the Club’s bylaws, the pool manager may suspend an offender’s privilege of using Club facilities for a period not to exceed 24 hours. The full Board may suspend offenders as necessary.
Members are asked to recognize that the shrubbery, parking area and grounds are all part of the Club property. Please take care not to injure, deface or litter the grounds.
Parking Policy
We encourage members to walk or bike to the pool grounds. The Club operates as a special exception under the zoning laws of Montgomery County. As a condition of approval of the Club, the Board of Appeals has imposed restrictions upon the use of the nearby streets for parking of cars by Club members in the use of the Club’s facilities. It is against the law to violate these restrictions, subjecting the Club to the risk of severe penalties. The Club will strictly enforce these restrictions and a member’s violation will result in sanctions in accordance with the enforcement procedures set forth below.
There is no parking permitted on Glen Cove Parkway, Allan Terrace, Baltimore Avenue, and Little Falls Drive in order to use the Club’s facilities. This parking restriction is in effect at all times, including during swim meets and Club social events.
Club members and their guests may park in the Westbrook Elementary School parking lot. Member’s guests are bound by this parking policy, and penalties may be imposed on a member whose guest has violated this condition.
Parking on the other streets by Club members in order to use the Club’s facilities is permitted only during the following events and only when the Club’s parking lot and the Westbrook Elementary School parking lot are both full. Little Falls members must park in the Westbrook Elementary School parking lot during swim meets until that lot is full, leaving the swim club parking lot for visitors, with two exceptions: (i) swim club members whose vehicles display a handicapped tag or license plate may park in the Little Falls lot; and (ii) if vehicles are needed to transport equipment necessary for swim meets, up to five vehicles belonging to swim club members may be parked in the Little Falls lot for that purpose.
1. Swim meets (A and B meets)
2. Swim and Dive Team Banquet
3. Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day picnics
4. Evening dinner socials sponsored by the Club (two – three times per season)
Parking Enforcement Procedures
License plate numbers:
On the annual dues invoice sent out each spring, the member will be asked to list the makes and license plate numbers of all of the member’s cars. The pool administrator will keep these numbers in the database.
Determination of parking violations:
The pool administrator shall compile a list of all license plate numbers of members, organized in alphabetical or numerical order and identifying those license plates that belong to members who live on Baltimore Avenue, Glen Cove Parkway or Allan Terrace within two blocks of the swim club. Staff will check the license plates of vehicles that are observed parked on those three streets against the list and for each vehicle that matches a number of the list, staff shall write down the date, time, license plate number, and make and location of the car. The pool administrator shall take this list of suspected violators and check whether the member or anyone from the member’s household checked into the pool or the tennis courts on that date. If so, that will be considered a parking violation.
License plates will be checked at least once each day during the pool season, at various times each day, (i) on Baltimore Avenue between Glen Cove Parkway and Montgomery Avenue; (ii) on both blocks of Glen Cove Parkway; and (iii) on the portion of Allan Terrace adjacent to and opposite the elementary school playground and playing fields. Checks shall be timed in accordance with staff work shifts and break times to ensure that safety is not compromised when a staffer leaves the pool area.
The pool administrator shall maintain a log of license plate checks providing the date, the time and the signature or initials of the person who conducted the check.
Sanctions:
1st violation in a season: Warning letter sent which states the date and time of the suspected violation and consequences for subsequent violations.
2nd violation in a season: 3-day suspension of pool privileges for all licensed drivers of the household. Notification made by call from Board President.
3rd violation in a season: 2-week suspension of pool privileges for all licensed drivers of the household. Notification made by letter and call from Board President.
4th violation in a season: Suspension of pool privileges for the remainder of the season for all members of the household. Notification made by letter and call from Board President.
Appeals:
Pool member who has been cited for a violation may appeal to the pool Board with information showing that there was no violation. The Board may, by 2/3 majority, vote to expunge the violation notice from the member’s record if it there is a sufficient demonstration that there was no violation.
Sanitary Conditions and Safety
Members must recognize that situations will arise that cannot be specifically covered by these rules. Therefore, courtesy and consideration for others are emphasized as essential for good Pool citizenship. Disabled members should feel free to seek assistance, if needed, from the pool staff in accessing the pool.
All bathers must take soap showers before entering the Pool. This is a Montgomery County Regulation and must be complied with.
No member shall knowingly enter the Pool, or permit a child or guest to do so, while such persons are suffering from contagious diseases, such as athlete’s foot or colds, or while suffering from open wounds or sores. No bandages or band-aids may be worn in the Pool.
Running and hazardous, noisy, or objectionable games are prohibited.
To keep the area clean, it is recommended that no one in street shoes be on the swimming Pool apron for an extended period of time.
Street clothes or modifications (such as cutoffs) will not be permitted as swimming wear.
No smoking will be allowed on pool property. Additionally, pool users and employees are strictly prohibited from smoking in the alley abutting the swim club, or on private property abutting the alley (Condition imposed by the Montgomery County Board of Appeals, June 8, 2005.)
Masks, snorkels and swim fins will be permitted only at the discretion of the Pool manager.
Noodles and similar flotation toys are not permitted during regular swimming hours in the Pool. Water wings, life rings, and flotation devices (including flotation devices sewn into bathing suits) are safety hazards and will not be allowed in the main Pool, except as approved safety devices for disabled swimmers. Non-swimmers must not swim unaccompanied beyond their capabilities.
Lost-and-found articles not claimed within one week will be donated to a charity.
Guests and Guest Fees
Number of Guests: Each shareholder family is limited to 15 guest visits during a two-week period. (Paid monthly houseguests are not included in the 15-guest limit). During August, a member may invite 20 guests per two-week period. Any member who would like to bring 10 or more guests to the Club on a single occasion must give the Pool management seven days notice. If such notice is not given, or if the Pool management determines that the request will result in crowded conditions based on the time of day, day of the week, or number of other scheduled guests, the group may be turned away.
Fees—Daily Guests: The guest fee is $2.50 per person on weekdays or $5.00 per person on weekends and holidays. The fee is charged on all adult guests and on guest children over the age of 3 years. Guest fees must be paid with a guest card, which must be purchased by check. The Club will bill members $25 dollars to cover the cost of each check returned for insufficient funds. No cash will be accepted. The cost of a guest card is $25. Members may purchase guest cards at the Pool desk. For the convenience of members and to limit unauthorized use of guest cards, all cards will be kept at the front desk.
End-of-Season Guests are NOT permitted to purchase guest passes or register guests at the pool.
Senior Guest Pass Holders: A senior guest pass is available to members who are 60 years of age or older, who choose inactive status, and desire a limited-use pass for the Pool. The 60 Plus Guest Pass will authorize the member and his or her family (subject to the same household and residence restrictions as apply to other members) to use the Pool 10 times during the Year 2010 season, during hours when the pool is open to all swimmers. Early-bird swim and morning aerobics classes are available without restriction to members electing the Senior Guest Pass. Unlike a regular guest, a 60 Plus Guest Pass holder need not be accompanied by an Active or Associate Member, and may bring his or her own guests to the Pool by purchasing a regular guest pass. These guests must be signed into the pool by either the 60 Plus Guest Pass holder or a current member of the pool. To facilitate operation of the 60 Plus Guest Pass option, those choosing it are asked to sign in at the pool on a special form.
Houseguests: The houseguest fee is $30 per person for a 30-day period or $90 for the season. Payment may be made by check but the Club will charge $25 for any check returned for insufficient funds. Houseguests will be permitted upon the approval by the Membership Chairperson. To apply, the Member, Associate or End of Season Guest must provide the name, address, and relationship of the houseguest and the intended length of stay on the annual invoice, or in a written communication (letter or email) addressed to the Membership Chair. Persons who reside with a member but are not related to the member, such as exchange students or live-in domestic help, will be regarded as houseguests and not as members of the shareholder’s family. (They may, of course, swim on a daily-guest basis if that is more economical.)
Admission Procedure: Daily guests will be admitted only when accompanied by a bona fide member in good standing. The member shall register each guest in writing on the Pool Attendance Log (Guests). The gate attendant will cross out the appropriate fee on the guest card. The guest is then free to use the Club for the remainder of that day.
Members wishing to bring guests to the pool will identify themselves and their guests to Pool staff, who will keep members’ guest cards. Guest cards issued before 2010 will be kept by the pool staff when they are first presented for use in 2010.
The sponsoring member must accompany houseguests the first time they come to the Pool and register with the gate attendant. Any active member with the right to purchase guest cards may, by written authorization provided to the gate attendant, authorize specific family members currently on the wait list to use the Pool as daily guests under the guest card pass without having to accompany those family members to the Pool, after accompanying them on the initial visit. Members are responsible for the conduct of their guests. To avoid embarrassment, it is suggested that members acquaint their guest with Club rules ahead of time.
No charge accounts will be allowed for guest privileges. However, one guest pass may be issued to a member on credit, with payment due as soon as possible after the pass is issued. A $5.00 surcharge will apply to the pass issued on credit, and no additional passes will be issued to that member’s family until the money owed the Club is paid in full.