May 26, 2021 Update
Hello CCH Pool Members,
Effective May 28th, CCH will be modifying our COVID Operating Rules to align with the changes being made in Virginia. Capacity limits, COVID screening, pool time reservations, and social distancing will not be required by our members and guests. However, we ask that you be respectful of other members who may feel the need to be more cautious with COVID prevention measures, including the need to social distance or wearing masks. A full list of the updated pool rules will be posted to the CCH website in the next 24 hours.
As our pool community transitions into the new rules, we will continue to take the following preventative steps to ensure the safety of all members:
The Board encourages members to wear a mask when entering the main bath house. This is for the protection and safety of our lifeguards and younger members who may not be vaccinated.
Hand sanitizer stations will still be available on deck.
Sanitizing wipes will be available at the guard station for members to use on the pool furniture. If a member is uncomfortable using the pool furniture, they are allowed to bring their own lawn chairs.
Pool staff will continue to clean high touch areas every two hours.
Members must use the new sign-in process at the front desk. Besides allowing only active members into the pool, this process is also to ensure we know who to contact if there is an issue with COVID.
No floats will be permitted in the pool at this time.
The Board is also adding back some operating pool hours this summer due to stronger than anticipated membership registration. Starting June 18th, we plan to add back 5 hours each weekend (Friday to Sunday) until August 1st. For each of these days we will close one hour later at 9:00 pm. On Sundays, we will open 2 hours early at 10:00 am when many of our families with young children are ready to swim.
As a reminder, the pool will be closed Mondays to Thursdays before June 11th, and after August 23rd, with the exceptions of the pool being opened from 12:00 to 8:00 on Memorial Day and Labor Day. For a full schedule of pool hours, please refer to the CCH Website.
The board will continue to monitor pool operations and makes changes as needed.
Membership Update
In preparation for opening weekend, we are asking all members to make sure they have updated their Membersplash account.
1. Please make sure that all household members are listed in the account. Members not listed in the account WILL NOT be able to check in to the pool.
2. Please make sure that you have uploaded a photo for everyone in your family. This can most easily be done by logging in to Membersplash on your phone or iPad. https://countryclubhills.membersplash.com. Under Account Details, click Edit next to the name of the member. The click on "Click to Upload Image". You can choose a photo from your photo library, or click "take photo or video" and use the camera to take a photo. You can then rotate it, or zoom in or out as needed. If you don't have photos uploaded, the desk attendants will be taking them at the pool, but this will significantly slow the check in process. If you have difficulty uploading a photo, please email membership@cchpool.com for assistance.
We are excited to be opening this weekend, and we look forward to seeing you pool side soon!
Sincerely,
Your CCH Board
Joe Budzynski, President
Rebecca Bohrer, Treasurer
Eileen Davidovich, Secretary
Deana McNeely, Membership, Swim Team Rep
James Carroll, Member at Large
Carol Ann Fratangelo, Member at Large
Mark McNeely, Operations/Webmaster/IT
Joel Pascual, Member at Large
Katie Lynch, Member at Large
May 1, 2021 Update
Dear CCH Membership:
The deadline to pay your membership dues to avoid late fees is being extended one week to May 8, 2021. The Board has been working on finalizing the operating procedures to start the year and will be sharing them with the membership by Monday, May 3rd. We know some members want to better understand how we will operate before making any financial decision.
Clean-up Day is Saturday May 8th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We are identifying various tasks and projects that the members can do to help minimize our pool costs and to get CCH ready for opening day. All you need to do is come by between 10:00 and 2:00 and be ready to work. We have a special request for anyone who has a pick-up truck and would be willing to meet at the pool at 8:00 AM to go get free mulch at the Fairfax Transfer station, please contact Joe at President@cchpool.com
An Open House for potential new members is being scheduled for the first week of June. This will allow individuals to see the pool when it is open. If you know of anyone who is looking to join a pool, please have them reach out to our Membership Coordinator at membership@cchpool.com. Members who refer new members get a $25 referral credit!
Social Events are back! The Board is eager to provide opportunities for the membership to reconnect, all while socially distancing. Please mark your calendars for the following social events:
· Salsa Dancing and The Roaming Coyote Food Truck – The Old Lee Hill Civic Association is offering Salsa Lessons and dancing on Saturday, May 22nd from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on the CCH tennis courts, with the Roaming Coyote arriving at 5:00. Please register at https://forms.gle/uyTHSmH7WPUrmPtC9. This even will be free for CCH Pool Members, but sign up is required.
· Swim Team BBQ fundraiser – Come out on Sunday May 23rd for dinner to support our swim team and have some fantastic bar-b-que, cooked by one of our members. This event will be open to all community members, and will be dine-in at the pool or take-out. Please save the date and keep an eye out for more details!
· President’s Wine and Cheese – On Saturday, June 5th, the Board will be hosting this event on the tennis courts from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with a food truck scheduled at 5:00 PM. A member has donated some wine, and we ask attendees to consider bringing wine for themselves and possibly some to share. The Board is working on safe snacks. Come out to meet your Board and reconnect with old friends.
· Movie Night will be Saturday, June 26th (Movie TBD). To accommodate the maximum number of members, we are planning to hold the movie night either in the lower grass area (outside of the pool fence) or on the tennis courts if the grass is too wet.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions!
Sincerely,
Your CCH Board
Joe Budzynski, President
Rebecca Bohrer, Treasurer
Eileen Davidovich, Secretary
Deana McNeely, Membership, Swim Team Rep
James Carroll, Member at Large
Carol Ann Fratangelo, Member at Large
Mark McNeely, Operations/Webmaster/IT
Joel Pascual, Member at Large
Katie Lynch, Member at Large
2/27/2021 UPDATE
First, we hope you are safe and healthy during these unprecedented times. As all aspects of life have been impacted over the last year, CCH is no different. Your CCH Board continues to navigate a very challenging operating environment due to COVID. We have been working since the pool closed in September to be ready to open this summer and have developed the plan below. Our community’s safety has been, and always will be, our first priority and we will continue to follow all Virginia state COVID guidelines for swimming pool operations. We want to thank all of you who have continued to support CCH and value the pool’s role as a hub in our community.
Last year, we were required to operate with a modified operating schedule and limited capacity in order to follow all Virginia safety guidelines. Many members understandably chose to go inactive for the 2020 season due to the uncertainty and personal financial situations. As a result, CCH absorbed the difference between lower membership revenue and the contracted expenditures, forcing us to dip into the pool’s financial reserves.
As we start to look forward to warmer days at the pool, we know many members are eager to return to the pool safely. The current board is working to balance the needs of the members with financial responsibility to the pool. To that end, we are doing everything possible to keep membership rates reasonable in 2021 while providing as many operating hours as possible.
We have successfully selected a new pool management company that will allow CCH to better control our largest cost. This new contract is structured to provide more financial flexibility based on membership revenues in 2021. We had to make hard decisions to cut operating hours initially, until we get a better understanding of how members will come back. The base contract will allow us to operate on a reduced schedule, with the option to increase hours as membership revenues allow. The initial contracted hours will include weekends only while school is in session after Memorial Day and the weeks leading up to Labor Day, and operating hours of 12-8 daily while school is out. We will have more clarity on our ability to add operating hours back in early May, once we know how many active memberships are paid. All other operating costs are being held to a minimum.
In addition to these challenges, Virginia has increased its minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $9.50 per hour, a 31% increase in 2021. We expect to see annual wage increases over the next five years as the state is targeting a $15.00 per hour minimum wage. Pool management companies are passing on these labor cost increases to every pool in the Northern Virginia region. As a result of all of these factors, we have made the difficult decision to increase pool dues by 20% in 2021. This percentage increase is based on the pre-COVID membership rates. We have looked at multiple alternatives and find this is the best balance between preserving membership value and financial solvency. These plans will balance CCH’s short and long term future.
In 2020, the Pool Board issued credits for those members who paid the “pre-COVID” rates prior to the rates being discounted. We intend to honor these credits, but are asking that you consider donating these credits to help with our operating expenses in 2021. Note that the credits issued in 2020 can only be used for active membership costs in 2021 (i.e. not for inactive fees for 2021) and will expire on September 30, 2021. To donate, do not select the 2020 credit when you register for the 2021 season.
This year, we will be managing our memberships in a different and a more efficient way. We will be using MemberSplash, a web-based membership management system, to streamline how members register, make payments and reserve pool time (if needed). New in 2021, members will (finally) be able to pay their dues online via credit cards. You will be receiving a personalized email invitation to register for an account at MemberSplash and pay your 2021 dues in the coming days.
Finally, we know people will have a lot of questions about the 2021 swim season, the proposed rate structure, operating hours, etc. The CCH Board will be holding two Town Hall Zoom Meetings to better explain the challenges we are facing and to answer questions about how the pool will operate in 2021. These Zoom calls will be at on Sunday, March 7th and Wednesday, March 10th, both starting at 7:00 pm. Please use the following link to join the Town Hall meetings.
We understand this is a lot of information to digest and we are proposing many changes. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and understanding. Your CCH Board continues to work hard to ensure the pool and tennis community will have a fun and safe 2021.
Joe Budzynski, President
John Brobst, Vice President
Rebecca Bohrer, Treasurer
Eileen Davidovich, Secretary
Deana McNeely, Membership, Swim Team Rep
James Carroll, Member at Large
Carol Ann Fratangelo, Member at Large
Mark McNeely, Operations/Webmaster/IT
2/21/2021 UPDATE
LOOKING FORWARD to a great season in 2021!
the 2021 Dues will be PUBLISHED SOON!
This year, CCH will be managing our memberships in a different and a more efficient way. We will be using MemberSplash, a web-based membership management system, to streamline how members register, make payments and reserve pool time (if needed). New in 2021, members will (finally) be able to pay their dues online via credit card. You will be receiving a personalized email invitation to register for an account at MemberSplash and pay your 2021 dues. A full communication detailing these changes and the dues schedule will be coming soon!