Dear LFSC Member,

On behalf of the pool Board, I look forward to welcoming you to attend the Little Falls Swimming Club Annual Meeting to be held Wednesday, January 27, from 7:30pm-9:30pm via Zoom.

As we did for the past two years, LFSC members will vote electronically for the pool Board candidates and the pool season dues, which will not increase for the 2021 season. There are no proposed changes to the Bylaws under consideration at this time. Online voting will open January 13 and will remain open until Noon on January 27.

Additional information can be found on the website (Equity Members must be logged in to view and vote). Contact Admin@LittleFallsSwimmingClub.com if you need assistance.

2020 Pool Season Recap

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, “It was the best of seasons, it was the worst of seasons.” While we mourned the loss of a full season, an array of vibrant in-person social gatherings, and a competitive swim and dive season, we were so very fortunate to be able to make use of the club safely amidst a global pandemic.

I want to thank each and every one of you for helping us to enjoy a safe, joy-filled, and community enhancing season. This was an exceedingly difficult year and required countless hours of unexpected work and engagement on the part of our fearless Board. This hardworking, dedicated group of community servants has gone above and beyond the call of duty this season. It’s been my distinct honor to work with them. If you see them around the neighborhood (and can recognize them with their masks on), please take time to thank them personally.

Tremendous thanks are also in order to Linda Karson, our dedicated and hard-working pool administrator, along with Bethesda Aquatics’ Chuck Montrie, Teri Tomlin, our pool operators and managers, and our lifeguards  – all of whom had to quickly adopt new and often changing protocols.

There is so much to lift up and celebrate about this most unusual club season, and we were remarkably productive despite the challenges we faced as a Board and community. Among our many accomplishments, we:

• Completed the women’s bathhouse renovation
• Installed solar panels on the roof with an estimated energy bill savings of $1,000/year
• Developed and implemented a reservation system to ensure safe and equitable access to the pool
• Delivered a full array of swim and dive programs for kids of all ages and levels, along with the usual water aerobics class for adults
• Resurfaced and added pickle ball lines to the tennis courts, replaced the privacy screen on court #3, and removed tree limbs overhanging the courts
• Commissioned a survey of the alley to ensure clear passage of emergency vehicles and the chlorine truck
• Repaired the faulty pool pump, pool bridge, and bridge guard rail
• Arranged for several food trucks to offer meals for purchase to members and surrounding neighbors, supporting local business
• Held three socially distanced movie nights for youth of various ages
• Earned a favorable audit finding that the club’s accounts are in order

After a successful and extremely productive (if unusual) season, we bid farewell to some very hardworking Board members. I know that you will all join me in thanking Steve Volkers, Andrea Kiernan, Tony Higgins, and Geoff Egnal for their tremendous efforts in making the club run smoothly. Steve has served as both treasurer and membership chair, two of the most demanding Board positions, and was an architect and lead operator of our new reservation system. Andrea teamed with Steve on membership and had a key role in navigating membership challenges associated with the COVID-curtailed season. Tony has ensured that our buildings and grounds are in pristine shape, including securing and vetting multiple builds to obtain the best value for the club’s money. And Geoff has served as treasurer, keeping our balance sheets up to date and ensuring our books are in order.

So many other community members have dedicated their time, energy, and expertise over the past season. Thank you to our Nominating Committee chairs John Crupi and Claire Slabaugh. In addition, Maurine Beasley, Peter Dunkleberger, Kenny Elias, Andy Gefen, Lara Goldmark, Paul Salfi, and Janell Schweickert volunteered their time to on our audit committee.

It has been my absolute delight and pleasure to work with the entire LFSC Board. David Cutitta, our stalwart tennis advocate, has accepted a nomination to run for another term. In addition, Julian Kim (assistant treasurer and swim and dive liaison), Maren Matal (Board secretary), Cynthia Morton (operations and community liaison chair), Cathy Stocker (vice president, communications chair, and social co-chair), Chris Terry (social co-chair), and yours truly will remain on the Board.

No doubt I’ve left off some names inadvertently – it truly takes a village to run a swimming club as exceptional as Little Falls, particularly during a pandemic! Thanks to all of you for taking part in making the club the safe, fun, and inviting community that it is.

Please remember to vote, and we look forward to seeing you via Zoom on Wednesday, January 27.

Sincerely,

Nancy La Vigne
LFSC Board President