by annp | Apr 22, 2018 | News
Friends of Lopez Island Pool kicks off its Spring Giving event with GiveBIG Seattle & GiveLocal!
Your gift will help raise $1.5 million to begin construction of the swim center this fall!
FLIP’s Spring Giving combines two events. This is the last year for Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG and the first year for Lopez’s GiveLocal. GiveLocal is a collaborative event benefiting Lopez non-profits. This year give by any method you choose by – cash, check, PayPal, Stock transfer or thru this website, GiveBIGSeattle.org or LopezRocks.com! Thank you for your generosity. Your support is what makes the difference!
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Mar 11, 2018 | News
The State final capital budget, passed on March 8th, includes HALF A MILLION DOLLARS for the SJC Community Swim Center on Lopez Island. We are forever thankful for the steadfast support provided by Senator Kevin Ranker and House Representatives Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris. This could not have moved forward and passed without them. Although Governor Inslee still needs to sign it, the final budget passed unanimously in the Senate and passed the House 96-2.
A BIG thank you also goes to County Councilmen Jamie Stephens, Rick Hughes and Bill Watson. Their willingness to pursue County investment was key to showing our State representatives that the County is fully behind the project.
We also owe appreciation to our partnership organizations, advisory group members and volunteers for calling and writing to our representatives. Our partnership organizations at this time include Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Island School District, Lopez Island Academy, Lopez Island Fire and EMS, Lopez Island Physical Therapy, Lopez Island Prevention Coalition and Lopez Community Trails network.
And finally, we thank our individual donors. Whether you have donated $5,000 or $5 to the project, your support has made an impact. Today, we celebrate this wonderful news with YOU because together, we are making sure that the San Juan Islands will swim!
Swimmingly Yours,
The FLIP Board
editing by Carolyn McGown
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Feb 28, 2018 | News
A HUGE thanks to all of our wonderful Supporters! We are thrilled to report that $93,000 was raised during FLIP’s 2017 year end annual appeal! Your commitment to bringing a public SWIM CENTER to San Juan County is making a real difference. FLIP is SO grateful to each of you who have given! This will be an important year for the pool with a lot of movement to seek State and County government support. Critical fundraising needs to happen this year in order for construction to happen next year. With your help we can build a local indoor swim center with two pools. Kids will learn to swim, adults will be able to rehab with aqua therapy and the warm water with bring us all together for fitness and fun. Donations can be made via the FLIP website by clicking on the Donate button below.
Thank you! Thank you!
(editing by Carolyn McGown, Communications Team)
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Feb 1, 2018 | News
On January 23rd, FLIP’s Finance Lead, Bill LeDrew, and Government Lead, Asha Lela, made a presentation to the San Juan County Council. They explained to Council members, Jamie Stevens, Bill Watson and Rick Hughes, the importance of the County having a stake in the Swim Center in order for FLIP to receive further State funding. Senator Ranker is submitting a request for significant funding in the State supplemental budget this year. The State has declared that they will need to see San Juan County government invested in the Swim Center project before awarding significant capital.
Jamie Stephens emphasized that this is “one of the projects that is unusual in that the land and maintenance funds are already set aside, now just needing more funding for the capital.” There was a productive discussion regarding the possibilities for County investment in the swim center project. Rick Hughes shared some interesting options to consider. Council members voted YES to proceed with finding a way to become invested in this capital project. Subsequent to the meeting, Bill Watson recommended that the Swim Center be written into the Economic Development Element of the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan. Jane Fuller, FLIP’s Fundraising Chair, is working with Victoria Compton to make this happen. In addition, this enables FLIP to put an application in to the Public Facilities Financing Assistance Program.
As you can see, the FLIP Board and volunteers are working hard behind the scenes for a Swim Center for all residents and visitors of San Juan County. Lots of work is happening at all levels. Please join us in this effort by sending a donation today!
We see every child in San Juan county graduating from high school knowing how to swim. We see every family enjoying the opportunity to grow strong together in spirit, mind and body. We see every senior having local access to low-impact exercise and aqua therapy. We see a healthy community with an improved quality of life!
editing by Carolyn McGown
Communications Team volunteer
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Jan 10, 2018 | News
Did you know that only 2 counties in the whole State of Washington do not have a public pool, and that San Juan County is one of those?
Did you know that 91% of our Lopez elementary students could not pass a Red Cross swim competency test putting them at a significantly higher risk of drowning. The Red Cross considers the national average of competency at 39% to be a crisis. On Lopez the average is less than 9%.
Lopez has only one public lake and it is too dangerous to swim in because of thick weeds. As we all know we have had recent drownings there. Our island children are not learning how to swim because there is no safe place to learn life lasting skills.
Did you know that the longer we can remain physically active as we age, the longer we will live enjoyable and productive lives? For those whose body can no longer tolerate high impact exercise, there are few options.
And yes, I am sure you know that water supported rehabilitation and therapy for injuries and chronic pain must be done off island.
A local public swim center will help solve all these problems and more. It will be a place for regular water exercise, for community connection with others, for lessons and recreation, for rehabilitation, a warm and healthy place to be inside during the rain and cold, and for fun!
The facility includes a 4 lane, 25 yard main pool and a warm shallow entry learn-to-swim and therapy pool – both with salt water, a bath house with lockers, a lobby area and a small meeting/party room. The pool can be built in two phases depending on funding— the first phase would be uncovered and the second enclosed. The covered pool will have natural daylighting through the KalWall roof as well as a bank of opening doors on one side. It will be a state of the art, permanent structure that will last many, many years.
As you know the gifted pool land is in the center of the island just off Center Road and will as well be accessible from the school through an off road trail.
The swim center will be operated by the non-profit, 501c3 Friends of Lopez Island Pool. It will be a public pool open to all, including residents from throughout the county and of course to tourists. There will be many fee options to ensure that the pool will be affordable and sustainable as well as inclusive of all users.
The FLIP Board has received a generous legacy gift of $510,250 for a maintenance reserve fund. In order to ensure sustainability of the pool this fund will provide a back up for any unforeseen repairs or emergency demands.
There has been a lot of momentum in 2017. The Board of Directors has engaged local architects, appointed new members to the Board, finished county permits for the land, widened Pool Lane to the required two lanes, partnered with local social services non-profits, held steady presence at the County’s Farmer Markets, consulted with fund raising professionals, reached out to state and county legislators, taken legal possession of the land, redesigned the bath house. In-kind donations have been received for many of these tasks.
FLIP is now at a critical stage. In order to have the pool up and running by the Summer of 2019 we need to have substantial funds in place by fall 2018. Myrtha Pools, an international company, will begin construction of our pools in the winter months. These state of art pools will then be brought to us via the ferry 9 months after ordered. These are stainless steel pools with integrated plumping, vinyl surface and with soft flooring. These pools require much less maintenance, are easy to install, are salt water tolerant, and beautiful to swim in. The bath house will be locally constructed with great attention to being user friendly.
So we are asking you in the community to be especially generous this year in helping all this to happen. It is a BIG project and a great opportunity. The Board is pursuing grants, county and state help but the main portion of funds need to come from the community. We have raised to date, 1.2 million dollars towards the estimated $5 million project cost. We have received a $500,000 challenge gift, so your dollars will be matched and doubled in worth. This is all a stretch for everyone— but the results will be a swim center that will serve us years into the future- bringing greater health, water safety and community to the people of San Juan County
We know that that FLIP has over 1000 supporters in the community. Thank you very much. NOW, let’s make a splash and change lives and build a swim center that will be a long-lasting positive change, improving lives for generations. Together we can do it.
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Dec 28, 2017 | News
Happy Holidays to each of you! A BIG thank you to our wonderful supporters who have responded to our year end mailer with generous donations! Be sure to check out this week’s newspaper article in the Islands’ Weekly which outlines many of the problems our community currently faces…and the solutions that a community swim center will provide!
The article also outlines the superb progress made in 2017, only some of which is visible as you drive by Pool Lane! The FLIP Board, the Advisory Group, the project architects and general contractor continue to work hard behind the scenes to ensure that the “GO” button can be hit, the moment our funding goals are reached!
To meet the goal of opening the swim center in summer of 2019, we must have funds in hand in early 2018 to pay some of our vendors before they will contract with us.
Please consider a gift at this critical time. When we all give meaningfully, we will continue to accomplish things other communities only dream about.
Thanks to you…Lopez will swim!
With deep appreciation from the Friends of Lopez Island Pool (FLIP)
Robin Bergstrom, President
Editing by Carolyn McGown
