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Budget Information
Want to know how we spend your membership dues? Or what the swim team payments cover? Or where
all that monopole revenue goes?
Click on the link below to see pie charts of the expenditures.
Click on the link below to see pie charts of the expenditures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click here for the PDF version
How are board members selected?
Board members are elected by the membership at the annual open meeting, usually held in April. Generally, board members are recruited by other board members. When openings occur, the existing board often discusses current members who might be willing to join the board and then assigns someone to approach the members and see if they are interested. On a rare occasion, the board has recruited a member at one of the annual meetings. The board has also tried to recruit new board members via postings in Brandywine newsletters and bills, and on our website, but we have never received any feedback from these methods. ANY pool member who would like to pursue joining the board is encouraged to let the board know of their interest (send an email to board@brandywinepool.com). We welcome all interested parties!
What compensation do board members receive?
Board members do not receive any direct compensation. However, in recognition of the amount of work required of the board members and the fact that they do not qualify to earn the maintenance rebate, they pay the Silver Barracudas annual dues rate. (The board members who already qualify for this rate receive no additional reductions.)
How do I find out what decisions the board has made?
The board posts minutes of its meetings on the website. Board meetings are generally held once a month, on the first Tuesday of the month. Since the board must approve the minutes of each meeting at the subsequent meeting, the minutes of a particular meeting are usually posted during the second week of the following month.
How does the board decide what to spend money on for future investments?
The treasurer prepares a monthly Profit and Loss statement and has it available at all board meetings. The treasurer also prepares a proposed operating budget in late winter, which is adjusted by the board and made available to all pool members in attendance at the annual spring meeting, or upon request following the annual meeting.
General maintenance or repair items are discussed at the board meetings (or via email if they are critical), and approved as necessary. When feasible, additional quotes are received prior to approval of a contractor. Improvement items and ideas for future investments are raised by board members, or by pool members via email or in discussion with individual board members, and are discussed and prioritized at board meetings. Costs for these items are estimated, and when funds are available, further investigation is conducted and plans are made.
The board maintains a level of savings (i.e., “Capital Account”) to provide for major repairs, or to handle the removal of the facility in the unlikely event that the pool should shut down. The funding for this Capital Account is provided by the monopole rent (which is also used to supplement the operating budget). The Capital Account was depleted in 2008 when we undertook an infrastructure upgrade, and is being rebuilt.
How is the swim team rep determined?
The swim team rep is generally recruited by the outgoing swim team rep from pool members who are actively engaged with the swim team. The board does not select the swim team rep. Ideally, the new swim team rep works closely with the outgoing rep during a final season in order to understand the full scope of this demanding position. Pool members should contact the current swim team rep or the board if they are interested in this position.
What compensation does the swim team rep receive?
As with board positions, the swim team rep receives no direct compensation. The rep pays the Silver Barracuda annual dues rate, and the rep’s children are permitted to swim on the team without paying the swim team fees. If the swim team rep is also a member of the board, there is no additional reduction in dues.
Isn’t there a conflict of interest if the swim team rep is also a member of the board?
This question has been raised by several members, but we’re not sure where the potential for conflict of interest comes from. The swim team rep runs the swim team, and the board runs the rest of the concerns of the pool and general membership. The swim team is generally not completely self-supporting, so the swim team budget does have to be approved by the board, and there may be certain situations where the concerns of the swim team and the concerns of the general membership may not be in harmony. In these situations the board member who is also the swim team rep abstains from voting on the issues. Regardless of whether the swim team rep is also a member of the board, the swim team rep is always encouraged to participate in board meetings so that swim team needs are not overlooked. In an ideal situation we would like to have a full complement of nine board members plus a swim team rep. In recent years it has been difficult to find the ten volunteers needed to fill these positions.
How and when are swim team coaches and stroke technicians selected?
After the end of the season, the swim team rep reviews the prior season – what was great, what was not so great, and what else could be done to help the children on the team – and makes plans for what he/she sees as the best mix for coaching levels for the upcoming season (head/assistant/mini/specialty coaches). In mid-winter, the team rep advertises any coaching positions that are open and develops a proposed coaching budget for the board. (Advertisements are conducted via NVSL, as well as via local sites and to former Brandywine coaches.) The swim team rep reviews the resumes and presents a list of suggested hires and positions to the board. If necessary, the board will appoint additional people to review the resumes and make recommendations.
What are the primary goals of the swim team?
The primary goals of the Brandywine Swim Team are to build personal confidence, encourage friendship and team spirit, improve swimming skills and competency, and have fun. We strive to maintain a balance between a strictly fun experience and an opportunity for growth and learning, with enough competition to keep it interesting. In addition to these goals, Brandywine is part of the Northern Virginia Swimming League – which was “founded in 1956 to sponsor competitive swimming and diving in and among the community swimming pools in that area of Northern Virginia contiguous to the District of Columbia, and to develop in the children participating in this program – a love for the sport, advanced aquatic skills, teamwork, and the principles of good sportsmanship.”
Where can I see a list of volunteer opportunities?
Volunteer opportunities are usually posted on the Brandywine website, although they are not kept as current as we would like. (Maintaining such a list would be a good volunteer opportunity for someone!) Members are encouraged to take advantage of the volunteer opportunities – please talk to a board member if there is something specific that you would like to do to earn your volunteer rebate.
How much can I save on membership by volunteering?
Except for Silver Barracudas, people who have been pool members for at least one season are charged a refundable “maintenance fee” of $50 per membership (i.e., either per “family”, “couple” or “single”). Volunteers (age 10 and over) can earn a refund of their fee at the rate of $10/hour, up to $50. In addition, “Super Volunteers” can earn an additional $50. Super Volunteers are non-board members who contribute many additional hours or who captain a particularly involved task, as approved by the maintenance vice-president. (Silver Barracudas are people who have maintained a membership of at least 25 years. They do not pay a refundable maintenance fee with their dues.)
Board members are elected by the membership at the annual open meeting, usually held in April. Generally, board members are recruited by other board members. When openings occur, the existing board often discusses current members who might be willing to join the board and then assigns someone to approach the members and see if they are interested. On a rare occasion, the board has recruited a member at one of the annual meetings. The board has also tried to recruit new board members via postings in Brandywine newsletters and bills, and on our website, but we have never received any feedback from these methods. ANY pool member who would like to pursue joining the board is encouraged to let the board know of their interest (send an email to board@brandywinepool.com). We welcome all interested parties!
What compensation do board members receive?
Board members do not receive any direct compensation. However, in recognition of the amount of work required of the board members and the fact that they do not qualify to earn the maintenance rebate, they pay the Silver Barracudas annual dues rate. (The board members who already qualify for this rate receive no additional reductions.)
How do I find out what decisions the board has made?
The board posts minutes of its meetings on the website. Board meetings are generally held once a month, on the first Tuesday of the month. Since the board must approve the minutes of each meeting at the subsequent meeting, the minutes of a particular meeting are usually posted during the second week of the following month.
How does the board decide what to spend money on for future investments?
The treasurer prepares a monthly Profit and Loss statement and has it available at all board meetings. The treasurer also prepares a proposed operating budget in late winter, which is adjusted by the board and made available to all pool members in attendance at the annual spring meeting, or upon request following the annual meeting.
General maintenance or repair items are discussed at the board meetings (or via email if they are critical), and approved as necessary. When feasible, additional quotes are received prior to approval of a contractor. Improvement items and ideas for future investments are raised by board members, or by pool members via email or in discussion with individual board members, and are discussed and prioritized at board meetings. Costs for these items are estimated, and when funds are available, further investigation is conducted and plans are made.
The board maintains a level of savings (i.e., “Capital Account”) to provide for major repairs, or to handle the removal of the facility in the unlikely event that the pool should shut down. The funding for this Capital Account is provided by the monopole rent (which is also used to supplement the operating budget). The Capital Account was depleted in 2008 when we undertook an infrastructure upgrade, and is being rebuilt.
How is the swim team rep determined?
The swim team rep is generally recruited by the outgoing swim team rep from pool members who are actively engaged with the swim team. The board does not select the swim team rep. Ideally, the new swim team rep works closely with the outgoing rep during a final season in order to understand the full scope of this demanding position. Pool members should contact the current swim team rep or the board if they are interested in this position.
What compensation does the swim team rep receive?
As with board positions, the swim team rep receives no direct compensation. The rep pays the Silver Barracuda annual dues rate, and the rep’s children are permitted to swim on the team without paying the swim team fees. If the swim team rep is also a member of the board, there is no additional reduction in dues.
Isn’t there a conflict of interest if the swim team rep is also a member of the board?
This question has been raised by several members, but we’re not sure where the potential for conflict of interest comes from. The swim team rep runs the swim team, and the board runs the rest of the concerns of the pool and general membership. The swim team is generally not completely self-supporting, so the swim team budget does have to be approved by the board, and there may be certain situations where the concerns of the swim team and the concerns of the general membership may not be in harmony. In these situations the board member who is also the swim team rep abstains from voting on the issues. Regardless of whether the swim team rep is also a member of the board, the swim team rep is always encouraged to participate in board meetings so that swim team needs are not overlooked. In an ideal situation we would like to have a full complement of nine board members plus a swim team rep. In recent years it has been difficult to find the ten volunteers needed to fill these positions.
How and when are swim team coaches and stroke technicians selected?
After the end of the season, the swim team rep reviews the prior season – what was great, what was not so great, and what else could be done to help the children on the team – and makes plans for what he/she sees as the best mix for coaching levels for the upcoming season (head/assistant/mini/specialty coaches). In mid-winter, the team rep advertises any coaching positions that are open and develops a proposed coaching budget for the board. (Advertisements are conducted via NVSL, as well as via local sites and to former Brandywine coaches.) The swim team rep reviews the resumes and presents a list of suggested hires and positions to the board. If necessary, the board will appoint additional people to review the resumes and make recommendations.
What are the primary goals of the swim team?
The primary goals of the Brandywine Swim Team are to build personal confidence, encourage friendship and team spirit, improve swimming skills and competency, and have fun. We strive to maintain a balance between a strictly fun experience and an opportunity for growth and learning, with enough competition to keep it interesting. In addition to these goals, Brandywine is part of the Northern Virginia Swimming League – which was “founded in 1956 to sponsor competitive swimming and diving in and among the community swimming pools in that area of Northern Virginia contiguous to the District of Columbia, and to develop in the children participating in this program – a love for the sport, advanced aquatic skills, teamwork, and the principles of good sportsmanship.”
Where can I see a list of volunteer opportunities?
Volunteer opportunities are usually posted on the Brandywine website, although they are not kept as current as we would like. (Maintaining such a list would be a good volunteer opportunity for someone!) Members are encouraged to take advantage of the volunteer opportunities – please talk to a board member if there is something specific that you would like to do to earn your volunteer rebate.
How much can I save on membership by volunteering?
Except for Silver Barracudas, people who have been pool members for at least one season are charged a refundable “maintenance fee” of $50 per membership (i.e., either per “family”, “couple” or “single”). Volunteers (age 10 and over) can earn a refund of their fee at the rate of $10/hour, up to $50. In addition, “Super Volunteers” can earn an additional $50. Super Volunteers are non-board members who contribute many additional hours or who captain a particularly involved task, as approved by the maintenance vice-president. (Silver Barracudas are people who have maintained a membership of at least 25 years. They do not pay a refundable maintenance fee with their dues.)
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