2013: The email

Time to cut to the chase.  As we have for the past half-dozen or so years, we once again signed the son up for Swim Team in September.  As in the past, practices were set to be 7-9 or 7-9:15.  The son doesn't go all that often now that he's in high school, especially as he Captains a fall sport, but he tried to get there once or twice a week.  He met, and liked the new coach hired for the West Pool, Sam.  He swam at the Starter Meet.  He swam at the Turkey meet, both of these are Y Meets and if he wants to go to Y Nats again (doubtful -- it's still in Greensboro), you do have to have a certain amount of Y-sanctioned meets.

Just before the Turkey meet, as the High School Girls started to come back, the West pool was getting full.  I suspect that there are never more YMCA Members in the pool as right after the Girls' High School Season (mid-November) and right after the Boys' High School Season (late-February).  You can easily have 60+ YMCA Members in the pool at a time!  From a pool usage standpoint, that seems to me to be very efficient.

On Monday this week, we received the following bombshell of an email:  (Note:  No, those letters had not been received by the time I got the email, but they did arrive Monday night).  Check out when they want High School swimmers to start practice:  5:15 AM!!  A driver on CDL cannot drive before 5 AM. 

This email truly did come out of the blue.  There has always been tension between the Swim Team and the Y about pool time.  But let's remember that swim team members are also Y Members.   When the pool is full of YDC Swim Team members, it is also full of YMCA Members.

News Title:	New Practice Schedule and Locations
News Date:	11/25/2013
Description:	Greetings,            By now everyone should have received a few letters from the YMCA of Dane County. This email is to give a bit more details on the changes that will be coming to the YMCA and in particular the swim team.           The YMCA is looking to create a pool schedule that is more diverse with programs, open swim and adult lap swim. This is part of their new strategy to keep the YMCA of Dane County a great option for children, teens, adults and families. With the new pool schedule more members will be able to enjoy the pool facilities during the popular primetime hours of 4:00pm- 8:00pm. The YMCA of Dane County has asked the swim team to make a few changes to our schedule with the new pool strategy in mind.             There is currently a pool that is not being used for swim team out at the Northeast YMCA in Sun Prairie. We will have a few groups from the East YMCA heading to Sun Prairie for practices. This will free up some space at the East YMCA which will be filled by a few West YMCA groups. Coaches will be moving with their groups as best they can.             The new schedule and locations are listed below. We will give every effort to make accommodations for families who have swimmers at multiple locations at the same time. We understand the timing of this change is not ideal. That being said, these practice changes will be going into effect on December 9th, 2013. Hopefully this is enough time to arrange car pools and make changes to your schedules.             Thank you all in advance for what we know will be a trying few weeks for the swim team. This is a situation that we are confident we can handle as a strong organization built on the fundamentals of the YMCA; Caring, Honestly, Respect and Responsibility. Here is our chance to show the YMCA of Dane County that we can be a part of their solution to build a stronger membership base.   West White Group-     Monday @ West 6:30-7:30                                     Wednesday @ West 6:30-7:30   West Red Group-        Monday @ East 4-5pm                                     Wednesday @ East 4-5pm                                      Friday @ East 4-5pm                                     West Blue Group-       Monday @ East 5-6pm                                     Wednesday @ East 4-5:30pm                                     Friday @ East 4-5:30pm                                                                        West Bronze Group-   Monday @ West 3:45-5:30pm                                     Tuesday Time Change: No Practice                                    Wednesday @ West 3:45-5:30pm                                     Thursday Time Change @ West 3:45-5:30pm                                     Friday @ West 3:45-5:30pm   West Silver Group-     Monday @ West 3:45-5:30pm                                     Tuesday @ West 3:45-5:30pm                                     Wednesday @ West 3:45-5:30pm                                     Thursday @ West 3:45-5:30pm                                     Friday @ West 3:45-5:30pm   West Gold Group-       Monday @ West 7:00-9:00pm                                     Tuesday @ West 7:00-9:15pm                                     Wednesday @ West 7:00-9:00pm                                     Thursday @ West 7:00-9:15pm                                     Friday @ West 5:00-6:30pm                                                                         West High School -      Monday Time Change: 5:15am – 7:00 am @ West YMCA                                     Tuesday Time Change: 5:15am – 7:00 am @ West YMCA Wednesday Time Change: 5:15am- 7:00am @West YMCA                                     Thursday Time Change: 5:15am- 7:00am @West YMCA                                     Friday Time Change: 5:15am- 7:00am @West YMCA                                                                         East White Group -      Monday @ East 5:15-6pm                                     Tuesday @ East 4:00-4:45pm                                     Wednesday @ Northeast 4-5pm                                     East Red Group-          Monday @ Northeast 4-5pm                                     Wednesday @ Northeast 4-5pm                                     Thursday @ East 5-6pm                                     East Blue Group-          Monday @ Northeast 5-6pm                                     Wednesday @ East 4-5pm                                     Thursday @ East 4-5pm                                     East Bronze Group -     Monday @ East 4-5:15pm                                     Tuesday @ East 4-6pm                                     Wednesday @ Northeast 5-6:30pm                                     Thursday @ East 4-5pm                                     Friday @ Northeast 4-5pm   East Silver Group -       Monday @ East 4-5pm                                     Tuesday @ East 4-6pm                                     Wednesday @ East 4-6pm                                     Thursday @ East 4-6pm                                     Friday @ Northeast 4-5:30pm   East Gold Group-         Monday @ East 7:15-9:15pm                                     Tuesday @ Lafollette 6:30-8:30pm                                     Wednesday @ East 5:30-7:30pm                                     Thursday @ Lafollette 6:30-8:30pm                                     Friday Time Change: 5:45am – 6:45am @ East YMCA   East High School-         Monday @ East 7:15-9:15pm                                     Tuesday @ Lafollette 6:30-8:30pm                                     Wednesday @ East 5:30pm- 7:30pm                                     Thursday @ Lafollette 6:30pm – 8:30pm                                     Friday Time Change: 5:45am-6:45am @ East YMCA