By Heather Ruenz
Editor
In addition to operational changes the Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center has gained additional support recently.
The 5-year agreement between the City of Whitewater and the Whitewater Unified School District earlier this year transferred operation of the facility beginning on July 1.
“Current members and users of the facility will see very little in operational changes during the transition. A significant effort will be made to increase the programming offerings at the facility to better serve the community needs in aquatics and fitness,” Matt Amundson, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, said.
Members of the Friends group said discussions about forming such a group began more than a year ago.
“We started noticing some cosmetic type things that can use upgrading or replacing and also want to help with promotion of the facility,” David Yochum said. One example given was to possibly purchase new towels for the center.
While they want to support the center, group members said it’s important people understand the current state of the facility.
“The WAC is doing well – they’re not in the red, they’re not closing. This group formed because everybody needs a friend and we’re that friend to the WAC,” Kasey Reed, vice chair for the group, said.
In addition to gaining members, the group also has a goal to increase money and participation in the Family Partnership Fund, a program with financial requirements that allows local families to gain membership to the center at reduced rates based on income.
“The Family Partnership Fund is supported by a lot of individuals and businesses in town. It’s a great program,” Yochum said.
Brienne Diebolt-Brown, program director of the Whitewater Community Foundation – which has agreed to partner with the Friends of the WAC group for the Family Partnership Fund – said teaming up with the Friends group is in line with the foundation’s history and goals.
“The Whitewater Community Foundation has a history of providing young organizations with an opportunity to do community good. At least 40 percent of the children in Whitewater qualify for free and reduced lunches,” Diebolt-Brown said. “When we were approached to help the friends of the Aquatic Center in their efforts to update the facilities and make it more affordable for these families, we couldn’t resist.”
“We are excited about the development of the Friends group and working with this passionate group to ensure that the Whitewater Aquatic Center meets the needs and expectations of the community,” Amundson said.
Marjorie Stoneman, secretary for the group, said the city “will be busy running the operations and so we feel honored to be able to help out with our Friends’ group. And in addition to members we’re also looking for ideas for the WAC.”
“Whitewater is such a special town. There is such a rich understanding here that we are all doing our best and that we need to come together as a community to make great things happen,” Diebolt-Brown said. “We all know that exercise all year long helps create healthy and happy children who learn better and become smarter and more thoughtful citizens. We are so proud to be a part of this project.”
Outgoing director Paula Malone, who began at the WAC in December 2001, said the goals and purpose of the center haven’t changed despite a few rough patches along the way.
“Look at these names on the wall of the people who made this facility happen. This is a community facility – a nice, safe place to play and workout. That’s what all of these people envisioned,” she said, pointing to names on the walls of donors that helped get the WAC built.
“This is one of the biggest success stories in Whitewater. We have families that have been coming here since it was built and we have staff that began working here in high school and continued on through college,” Malone said.
Malone said the facility also gets a lot of school groups. When school ended recently, for example, she said about 2,000 people came through the WAC in a two-week period.
“It takes a lot of people to make it successful but it has been and will continue to be. It’s a mission that’s constantly evolving. We’re here for the people on these walls whose mission was to get people in here, something that is still happening daily,” Malone, who retired July 1, said.
Debbie Oas, the new aquatic and fitness programmer of the WAC, said the facility is “very nice. Few places offer the aquatics that we have here. It’s also a family facility where a lot of gyms are limited to adults.”
Oas’ background includes a role with the Geneva Lakes YMCA and she has extensive experience in fitness-related programming. She began her employment on April 4.
There is currently a founding member option available for the Friends group for $100 with a deadline of Aug. 31. To become a Friend that is not a founding member, the annual rates are $10, individual; $25 couple/family.
For more information or to join the group, send an email to friendsofwac@gmail.com or send membership donations to Friends of the Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center, P.O. Box 509, Whitewater, WI 53190.
