Good morning – I received the following press release announcing promising opportunities for our Aquatic Center – with the local board of directors reassuming control on January 1st, 2009. Whitewater has every reason to be proud of the Center, and support its ongoing role in our community.
Here is the full release:
November 21, 2008
The Whitewater Aquatic Center (WAC) board of directors and Mercy Health System announced today that the WAC board will resume management of the Mercy Fitness & Whitewater Aquatic Center on January 1, 2009. After a year of extensive discussions, the WAC board of directors and Mercy Health System have mutually decided to not renew the agreement that enabled Mercy to run the Center for the last 5 and a half years.
The WAC board of directors is grateful for Mercy’s involvement in the Whitewater Aquatic Center. Mercy Health System has added a beautiful fitness center that will remain part of the WAC, worked to grow the Center’s membership, been an active member of the community and kept the facility in top-notch condition.
Nonetheless, the WAC board of directors is excited for the opportunity to reassert the WAC’s place in the community by maintaining and increasing services at a time when cutbacks are the norm. The WAC board of directors is committed to its community, members and patrons, and will strive to provide a facility with the best services and programs. The WAC board of directors is already looking into new programs and partnerships that will deepen interest and broaden participation in the WAC.
The Center is to be renamed the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center. It is in great condition, both physically and financially. Its equipment is and will be constantly upgraded, its endowment is substantial and its Family Partnership Program, which has made access to the WAC affordable for hundreds of individuals and families over the years, continues to thrive.
The WAC board of directors and Mercy Health System will do everything it can to make this transition as seamless as possible. The WAC board of directors will honor all memberships and does not intend to cut services, programs or hours. Furthermore, the WAC board of directors hopes to engage the entire community as it forges a vision for the Center’s long-term potential. The WAC board of directors and Mercy Health System is here to serve its community and knows that the more knowledge and expertise we are able to rely on, the better we can do. We welcome any and all to help us build a strong future for the Center.
We anticipate that many of existing staff members will continue working for the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center, and the services will remain excellent during the transition and beyond. If you have questions, comments and suggestions, please contact Paula Malone, interim facility director, at (262) 473-4900, Thayer Coburn, WAC board President, at thayercoburn@gmail.com, or Ralph Topinka, Mercy Health System Vice President, at (608) 756-6116
Thank you,
WAC board of directors and Mercy Health System