Posted on 07/09/2009 9:10:48 PM PDT by traumer
The waters were still and the gates locked at the Valley Swim Club Thursday. Board members decided to close the private Huntington Valley, Pa. club for the day as it combats accusations of racism for booting 65 mostly minority day campers from its grounds without explanation late last month.
Creative Steps Day Camp paid The Valley Swim Club more than $1900 for one day of swimming a week, but after the first day, the money was quickly refunded and the campers were told not to return. Several campers said they heard pool members making racial remarks during their time inside the club.
Tempers further flared after the club's president John Duesler issued a statement Tuesday saying "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club."
Club members, who were at the pool on the day of the incident, came forward Thursday to defend the organization.
"This has nothing to do with race," member Lori Slowinski said. "I paid my money for a private swim club…if they're gonna have it out to camps, then I want my money back."
Jim Flynn went right to the club president after the kids took the plunge into the pool. "I was the first person to talk to the president, because the pool was overcrowded," said Flynn. "As members we have nothing to hide. There's good people here."
He believes the club's closure for fear of protests is wrong. "I do not condone the club being closed today and I will not condone it."
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcphiladelphia.com ...
Anyone seen my BabeRuth bar?
Kind of dumb letting a camp send in a bunch of kids without consulting the members first.
Maybe it means nothing, but I notice that two of the three black guys in the news story photo are wearing Obama sweat shirts.
Coincidence? Or part of a deliberate set-up so they could cry racism?
Cue theme from “Jaws”!
I feel a Denny’s-type lawsuit coming on...
|
Too hot to touch...
“Tempers further flared after the club’s president John Duesler issued a statement Tuesday saying “There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.””
Whether this was a racial issue or not, that was a very unfortunate choice of words. This guy has to be wishing that he hadn’t said that.
You don’t pay an annual membership to a private swim club to be inundated by rowdy, undisciplined kids who could care less about your comfort and enjoyment.
It was a boneheaded move by the club itself, to do this. And, to magnify the boneheadedness, the club president makes some stupid gaffe about “changing the complexion of the club.” Duh.
I bet they’re strapped for money due to declining membership, when it’s all said and done. That’s the only thing that explains their even taking the risk of turning a private club into the equivalent of a public pool for $1,900.00 a month.
Having to settle some sort of discrimination suit will put them completely under.
The foyer of a Cracker Barrel I was in a few weeks back had a sign on the wall along the lines of “we welcome people of every race to enjoy a meal..blah, blah..”
It was a day camp. That’s a lot of money for one day a week. At ten bucks a head it’s 190 youths running amok.
I’d be asking for my money back, too, if I were a member of this club. I’ve managed a large resort pool complex before, summer job in college, and we always dreaded a large influx of kids. These were kids from well-off families who could afford to own a place in the mountains and live there for the summer, and they ruined the water quality. Had to shock the pool nightly to keep any sort of water clarity. The little fiends pee in the water no matter how well they’re raised, and if they’re not you get worse than that.
People in apartment complexes, paying pool fees, suddenly
had to endure unruly kids from the local city youth clubs.
The Apartment managements were legally coerced, the tenants
were outraged, and pools closed due to tenants canceling
their pool subscriptions.
END OF STORY.
Now it moves further west into PA. JJ61
I believe the idea is - it is a private pool, open to paying members. They join because they don’t want to go to a crowded public pool full of rowdy kids. I can’t say as I blame them.
The club making a deal with this day camp to bring campers in was a pretty dumb idea. They didn’t consult with their paying members, just jumped in (so to speak). Club members unhappy - I don’t blame them.
It was 1900 for the remainder of the season, once a week, until the end of August.
This sounds analogous to a local situation I read of recently. I could not find the link but will keep looking.
Some buildings downtown were converted into condominiums. There was some stipulation that along with the condos there had to be included some "low-income" apartments as well. The result was that the "renters" shared the public space with the "owners" and brought their "lifestyle" with them--loudness, rowdiness, hanging out in the lobby at all hours, disruptive behavior, etc. The "owners" began to wonder why they'd shelled out all that money for a pricey condo to live in "apartment" conditions.
I can't say I blame them for being disappointed, either.
“...I’ve managed a large resort pool complex before, summer job in college, and we always dreaded a large influx of kids. These were kids from well-off families who could afford to own a place in the mountains and live there for the summer, and they ruined the water quality. Had to shock the pool nightly to keep any sort of water clarity. The little fiends pee in the water no matter how well they’re raised, and if they’re not you get worse than that...”
I won’t get in a public pool or a hot tub anymore. I’ve seen first hand what normal people do to the water. Not to mention dysfunctional yoots. The hot tubs always seem to attract queers and their partners.
Water is for bathing and fishing...
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