pool info needed

I too, went to the swim meet and found they had between 320-350 swimmers on Saturday. There were swimmers from Rockway Swim team, Goulds, Hialeah Gardens and various other clubs ie Neptune, etc. The estimate was roughly 750 people if you count the parent and friends. Apparently all were volunteers, so the costs were minimal. It was great seeing all the kids swimming, as its probably THE healthiest sport around. It was NOT financially healthy for the residents of MS tho, as we took a proverbial bath. We do not need to make a huge profit, BUT we shouldnt take a big loss either. We should AT LEAST cover our expenses. What revenue did we take in? Did it cover our expenses? If not, why not? Being a fundraiser for a private swim team should NOT mean we should NOT cover our expenses! Not at THIS meet, or the rest of the year by keeping the pool open for team practice. At the very LEAST we should break even. WHY arent we breaking even? Also a LOT of recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the garbage-apprently because Mr Gorland is not really concerned with recycling and never told the staff to fill up the available, almost-empty bins in front of the gym. There were easily 20 bags of garbage thrown away yesterday. 80% of garbage is normally recyclable- was that just an oversight? or a total lack of concern about recycling? There are several meets in Broward and Palm Beach that recycle, why not us? When will City officials become aware of the environment and the effects of recycling? EVER?

Festival

Intended or not, there were some wounded feelings on the part of some Festival Committee members about the Editorial in today's Gazette. Organizing and making the Festival happen every year is a BIG job and members donate hundreds of hours in some cases. Its a LOT of work and members may not be feeling fully appreciated by the community and a little sensitive to any possible criticism. I have always seen the Festival as a community service, a time to get together with your friends and neighbors and socialize, catch up with whats happening in their lives, and vice versa. The fact that they may donate small sums of money to deserving local charities is a bonus for our community. Those who want to return to the River theme with rides, etc, had better be ready to pay 5k for insurance upfront, and also pay for the two waterborne police officers to be present the entire time the events are being held. In the past it was just too expensive, but, if there are those in the community who want it AND are willing to pay for that, go for it! There are spirited debates about different issues but nothing that you wouldn't expect with a group of strong personalities that care about the Festival and the community strongly. There are some that are very protective of the Festival and don't want somebody on the outside, who doesn't know all the issues involved, telling them what should be done, but NOT pitching in to help get it done. Walk the walk. We hope that the Festival Forum is successful and that lots of volunteers show up and donate their services, and ideas, especially the younger people who are the future of the Festival, and the world. We are open to the discussion of new ideas and the absorption of new energies, but we are VERY careful about those changes from experience, as we are interested in making the Festival as fun, safe, and satisfying as possible for EVERYONE. We are united, and committed, to wanting it to be the best Festival possible. We just need some like-minded help making that happen.

Festival needs volunteers

The Festival has become a MS tradtion over the years and it would be a shame to see it die now. Calvert started it in the 70s and it has been a source of community pride, enjoyment, and participation for years. Its a time to gather and socialize with our friends and neighbors and an oppurtunity for the family to have some healthy fun together. It needs new blood to pass the torch to, but will settle for ANY blood at the Lions Club, Wed, at 7pm, to avoid the disbanding of the Festival Committee and the death of a tradition.

Festival needs volunteers

There is NO doubt that the Festival needs new blood. Where are our younger leaders? Its not hard to TALK about change, etc. But where are the ones to WALK that walk; help those changes happen? Talk is cheap. Action talks, BS walks. 5The Festival is a great oppurtunity for the community to get together and socialize once a year. It is a perpetual Reunion, with people coming in from out of town and out of state to attend and touch base with their MS friends and memories. It would be a shame to let it die. The Festival torch and tradition needs to be passed on to the next generation. I disagree about last years Festival as I thought it went as well as any other and better than most. I thoroughly enjoyed it as there are 6 or 7 people I get to see that I dont see at any other time of the year, so its a Rolling (Rock?) Reunion for me. Events on the water may interest the younger people and, if so, and the insurance could be reasonably found to cover it, it may be possible. But not without help.