As most of you are aware, the City of Griffin and Spalding County Board of Commissioners have been discussing several projects for the upcoming SPLOST vote in November. The Griffin Gators Swim Team uses the City Pool for our Gator season (only 2 1/2 months) and we have had for the past several years at least 130 swimmers each year from 4 - 18 years of age.

We all talk about needing a new facility but now is the time to put those words into action! We need for each of you, your family members and friends, work associates, church friends, etc to sign this petition so Commissioners will know how a new Aquatic Center will be beneficial. Not only for our swimmers but for Senior Citizens, rehabilitation patients from Spalding Regional, Griffin High and Spalding High swim teams, UGA Griffin and Southern Crescent students, faculty and staff as well as well...everybody.

Last year in March, a report came out on 11 Alive (http://www.11alive.com/news/article/284213/0/Healthy-and-unhealthy-A-tale-of-two-Georgia-counties) that Spalding County was the unhealthiest county in Metro Atlanta. It is up to us to make a positive change for Griffin Spalding County. Again, this facility will not just be for the Gators Swim Team but everyone.

Each year, we host the Griffin Gator Invitational Meet for two days in July. We average approximately 250 swimmers from 8-9 different teams. Each swimmer usually brings in at least 2 people with them so we are looking at approximately 750 people that attend our Meet over those two days. Not only do they compete but they purchase fuel, meals, some spend the night in our hotels and shop in local stores. On an average we bring into Spalding County over that one weekend $30,000. Can you imagine what we can do if we are able to host 3 - 4 Meets a year? Wow!

How many of you worried about your child(ren) who did not know how to swim? Or you were just not comfortable with them around water? An Aquatic Center could offer memberships to families, swim lessons, water aerobic classes, provide rehabilitation services for Spalding Regional Hospital, a place where GHS and SHS swim teams could practice and hold meets, offer a year round Gator swim team and finally provide a safe fun place for recreational swimming for all ages!