To The Village Trustees,

Watching, listening or hearing of the events of the board meeting yesterday was extremely sad and disappointing to us. It was frustrating to see no representation from or consideration for the engaged and involved members, employees, and families that have made The Shorewood Hills Pool the community it is for the past 15+ years. Did you all know that about 75% of your membership every year are non-residents? Do you know the average years of membership for your members? Do you know that most of your employees have been members since they were little kids and dreamed about the day they could grow up and work at Shorewood?

We don’t join every year because Shorewood is the cheapest (It is not), we don’t join every year because it’s the most convenient (it is not, many members live much closer to other pools),. We don’t apply to work here because of the pay (the hourly wage is very low compared to other employers), we don’t swim here because our swim and dive team is the most competitive (it is not, many of us are year round swimmers and could get more intense summer training at other pools),.

WE join, WE swim, WE dive, WE grow up here, WE stay as members year after year, WE apply to work here and coach here because of one thing. The Shorewood pool family that WE the members and the employees have created!

Are you all members of the pool? How many days a summer do you spend at the pool? How many of you have your children swimming, diving or working here? How many of you help and work events at the pool and are engaged as members and help grow this community and membership each year?

One major point missed from the board meeting was that if any guard is not comfortable with the training they do not have to work as a guard. Almost all of the guards have guarded at Shorewood or guarded for other places, this is not a group of non-certified and untrained staff. Any member who is uncomfortable with the reopening is not required to join either.

Another consideration not mentioned was that the best case scenario for pool opening would be July 1, we could very well be in phase 2 by that time and phase 3 by the end of the summer. No matter what phase we are in we understand and are fine with the restrictions.

We know this summer will look and feel very different, and only because it is Shorewood are we willing to pay our membership dues and join and go to work knowing it will not be the same.

This decision not to open will cause a loss in membership! With every other pool opening and most of us not residing in Shorewood we have options. Every other pool is putting in the time, work and training to make this possible for their members and employees.

We are frustrated and dismayed that the board appears to have made this determination without enough information or input from important constituents.This seems illogical and non-inclusive for such a big decision.

What we are asking is to be heard and allow a plan to be put in place and be presented, and at that time make an informed decision.

Respectfully,

Your members, your lifeguards, your coaches, your staff, your swimmers, your divers and your families that keep this running and the community It is every year.