Monthly Archives: May 2021

Sunday Night Update

Important Schedule/Funfangle Updates:

  • Current Schedule

To view our current schedule (which ends May 30th) go to: May 24th-May 30th Schedule)

  • New Schedules

The schedule for Memorial day (May 31st) will be open for reservations on Monday, May 24th at 10:00am: May 31st/Memorial Day schedule

The schedule for June 1st-June 18th will be open for reservation on Tuesday, May 25th at 6:30am: June 1st-18th schedule Starting June 1st, we will be adding Early Morning Lap Swim to the mix, 6-6:55am, Monday through Friday. Also beginning on June 1st, 8 & Under and 9-10 swim practice will be up and running so we will be adjusting the age limit of the Open Lap Swim to ages 14 and up

  • Important Notes about scheduling restrictions:

A “quirk” of the reservation system we are using is how we can input the schedule. We had to create separate “activities” for the May 15th-30th, May 31st, and June 1st-18th schedules. Because of this “quirk” there will be a period of time (May 23rd-May 31st) where you will be able to reserve more than one of each activity, however we ask that you self-monitor and only have one reservation per swim type just as if the system restrictions were in place (i.e., 1 adult lap swim, 1 open lap swim, and 1 open family swim). (This does not include “day of” swims). After June 1st, the system will revert back to allowing 1 swim per swim type to be reserved, so we will be operating on the honor system for a while.

You will also note when you go to the reservations page you will see the Adult Lap swim, Open Lap swim and Open family swim listed 3 times. The date will be included in the title for the Memorial day and June 1st-18th schedules. (see example below)
 

If any issues come up, please contact me. The funfangle team has been very quick to respond and fix issues as they arise!

You can reach me at wwlessoncoordinator@gmail.com or (252) 628-9620.

We will also continue to update our FAQs page: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WxmaUTRBUSsOtTA_4OpiJhd0zqIOvFPbv06gCFxfg7w/edit?usp=sharing

— 

Julie Lockhart
Swim Reservations & Swim Lessons Coordinator
Wedgwood Swim Pool
(252) 628-9620

Another Update!

I want to continue to thank you for your patience as we navigate the start to this season. We have seen unprecedented demand for lap swimming and I wanted to let you know that we’ve been working to add additional Adult Lap Swims into the schedule. I want to give big shout out to the staff for their flexibility in making this happen.
 
Additional swims should start to show up tonight (Thursday, May 20th) in Funfangle.
 
We’re doing our best, but even with these additions we know we may not be able to meet the demand.
 

Raab
 


It’s that time of year to order your gear!
 
Want to get yourself some new Wedgwood apparel? The gear order is now open and can be accessed via this website. The order deadline is June 6th.
 

https://djsports.com/teams/wedgwood

Wednesday May 19th Update

Five days in and here is the first of what will probably be many updates over the next several weeks. 

First off, the reservation system did have a few glitches and we continue to find little things here and there that need some tweaking. Julie has provided some more details at the bottom of this communication regarding the reservation system.

To those of you trying to get a reservation it is pretty obvious that we have way more demand than availability for lap swimming, and in the short term that really won’t be changing a whole bunch. As we get closer to June, we should be able to add some more opportunity for Adult Lap Swimming. We will continue to look at the numbers and make adjustments where and when we are able.

  • Be aware and share.

With the demand for pool usage so high, especially with regard to lap swimming, we have noticed several of our adult members utilize a portion of the Open Family Swim area as a defacto lap swim. There are certain days and times where that probably won’t be much of an issue, however, please keep in mind that beyond the 3 lap lanes for reservations, the pool during the Family Swim time is intended for families to use, as well as for those adults that don’t necessarily want to swim laps but would otherwise like to enjoy floating or treading water. Please do your best to be aware and share that space.

  • Not going to make it? Cancel your swim(s)!

Something we can all do to help with ensuring we get the most out of every swimming opportunity is to remember to cancel your swim(s). We’ve had some no-shows over the last few days where people did not cancel and we’ve also had some last-minute drops that went unfilled as well. I know 100% is a long shot but I’d really like to see every swim filled, and it’s way easier for people to fill those if they have some advanced notice.

  • Everyone needs a reservation, yes everyone.

Like before COVID times, when you came into the  facility you signed everyone in whether they were swimming or not. This year that needs to be the same. Everyone coming in needs to have a reservation as we really need to know what our real numbers are so that as we move ahead and look at the data, we can make our best-informed decisions. Lastly, we need you to stick to that reservation time as well, so when your reservation time is over you will need to exit the facility.

  • Showering, to soap or not to soap?

With our current shower situation, I’d like to remind everyone that a rinsing shower after swimming is most likely going to be what we all need to be doing for a while. I know there will be situations where you will want to soap up after you are done swimming, but please be cognizant that we have just 3 showers for everyone. We encourage you to take a more thorough shower at home. 

 


 

MASK UPDATE

What about masks?  Well, it’s been interesting over the last week with regard to all the news that’s been circulating about masks. I feel that our initial assessment made a lot of sense. Having had a few more days to evaluate the situation we are comfortable with making an adjustment to our previously published policy. Starting tomorrow, Thursday, May 20th: 

  •     Regardless of vaccination status, everyone over the age of 5, unless medically directed to do otherwise, will continue to wear a mask while inside, checking in, leaving, or using the locker rooms.
  •     Fully vaccinated individuals will no longer need to wear a mask when outside on the pool deck, on the grass, using the outdoor showers or in the pool. 
  •     All swim team participants, regardless of their vaccination status, will continue to wear a mask both inside the building and outside on the pool deck.

Please continue to maintain your social distance between yourself and others regardless of your vaccination status and be aware that many in our community are not yet eligible for their vaccinations. 

Thank you for your continued cooperation with this policy and all of the other things we’ve been throwing your way thus far this season!

Raab

FUNFANGLE UPDATE

Thank you all for your patience and flexibility as we have been figuring out our new reservation system. 

7 day period for reservation restrictions- Important Update

There was an issue with the “rolling reservations” that has now been resolved! However, this means that there is no longer a “Monday-Sunday” week. Instead, in a 7 day period you can always have 1 reservation per “activity” (ie, you can have 1 adult lap swim, 1 open lap swim, and 1 open family swim in a 7 day period). As soon as you have used a reservation, you can make another one. 

This was our original intent, but there were some issues getting it set up, and we apologize for the confusion that this has caused. The 7 day period is NO longer based on a Monday-Sunday week, insted it is a rolling 7 day period and is always forward looking.  For example: You could reserve an adult lap swim at 2:30pm on Monday. Once that lap swim is over (at 3:30pm on Monday) then you could make a reservation for an adult lap swim on tuesday. Then, after your tuesday adult lap swim is over, you could sign up for an adult lap swim on thursday, ect. 

Day of swims: Now that the rolling reservations are set up, the “day of” swims are be working as well. The way the “day of” swims work is that 8 hours prior to a swim, the “1 swim per week” restriction is lifted. For example, if you have a reservation for an open family swim on Wednesday (your 1 swim per week), and then on Tuesday at 9am you see that there is space in the 2pm family swim, you could sign up for that swim as well. 

An important note about “day of” swims. Making a reservation during the 8 hour exemption period does apply to your quota (your 1 swim per 7 day period). For example, if you make a reservation at 9am Monday for a 1pm Monday adult lap swim, then you won’t be able to book another adult lap swim until the 1pm session is over.

If any issues come up, please contact me. The funfangle team has been very quick to respond and fix issues as they arise!

You can reach me at wwlessoncoordinator@gmail.com or (252) 628-9620.

 

We will also continue to update our FAQs page: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WxmaUTRBUSsOtTA_4OpiJhd0zqIOvFPbv06gCFxfg7w/edit?usp=sharing

Julie Lockhart
Swim Reservations & Swim Lessons Coordinator
Wedgwood Swim Pool
(252) 628-9620

3 Lap Lanes Available?

I need to clarify something with regard the 3 lap lanes available during Open Swim. I guess it was a clear as mud, but here’s an explanation. While formulating this schedule I put that in as a placeholder, a reminder if you will that we would have 3 lap lanes during that time. The Open Laps are those lanes so in order to reserve one of those lanes during an Open Swim you must sign up for the Open Laps. Sorry about the confusion.  More information and answers to questions will be coming out in the weekly email tomorrow.

Welcome Back

Well, it’s been a very long strange off-season and I know we are all ready to move on and start getting back to as normal as we possibly can. This season is looking like another unusual one for sure and as the COVID metrics and guidelines change we’ll just have to be open and ready to adjust as necessary. I do believe there is some light at the end of this tunnel for sure, but how soon that will play out here at the pool is yet to be determined.

I have good news in that my management team is back. Chris Matsumoto, Julie Lockhart, and Sara Berhrens are on board and have been working hard over the past several months in preparation for the season ahead. Pool operations during these times is a different beast, and I’m grateful for all of the time they’ve already put in toward getting this season underway. So, without further ado…

As you might have guessed, we will again have a reservation system in play, but we’ve moved on from Omnify, and will be using a service called Funfangle. This new service addresses some of the big issues we’d been having. We’ve been testing Funfangle for a while now and have found that it’s both more flexible and easier for both administration and for the user. We’re wrapping up the final touches on it and we’re hopeful that you also find it to be an overall better experience.

To start with, this season each family member will get 1 swim per “activity” per week. The activities are open swim, adult lap swim and open lap swim. This means that you could reserve 1 open swim, 1 adult lap swim (if you are 16 and up) and 1 open lap swim in the reservation system all at one time.

One big change with Funfangle is that we will have it set up to have a rolling reservation restriction. So, for example, if a member can have 1 reservation per 7-day period for each activity, and books an open swim on Sunday, once the open swim on Sunday is past, they could book Wednesday. Put another way, once an individual has used a reservation, it no longer counts toward their limit.

With Funfangle, the restrictions on creating new reservations will be lifted to allow for “day of” swims exactly 8 hours prior to each swim. For example, an open lap swim at 6am on Tuesday would be available as a “day of” reservation on Monday at 10pm.

Julie will once again be spearheading our reservation system and has created some instructions of how to get your account set up as well as a video link of how to do that. She’s created a FAQ sheet as well where hopefully any further questions you may have will be addressed. We will continue to update the FAQs document.

Please see details toward the end of this email on how to get started, and for more information.

Besides a reservation system again, what will be the same and what will be different? We are trying to get to a point as close to the past as we can without sacrificing anyone’s health and safety. Entering and exiting the facility will be different than last year and a bit closer to normal. The front entry to the pool will be demarcated with entry and exit lanes. No more passing through the gate. You will check in at the office upon your arrival.

Will I have to wear a mask? Although the CDC has issued new guidelines for mask wearing and vaccination, we will be following the guidelines from the state for swimming facilities, and depending on what phase we are in will determine whether or not masks will need to be worn all the time or not. For now, plan on wearing a mask, and when you are coming to check in and/or moving around the pool deck, bathrooms, etc.

What will the swim schedule look like? Is it going to be like last year? We’ve worked hard to come up with a schedule as close to what a normal summer schedule would be, but it’s still not normal. One thing that will be different than last year is that we have staggered things a bit better manage the flow of people in and out of the facility. We think this will also be helpful as we move towards lesser restrictive phasing. Please see the schedule at the end of this email for what to expect for the first part of the season.

Will there be reserved sections of the pool like last season? We will be sharing space this season. Lap lanes will be open for 2 swimmers per lane, and open swim time will be much more like a normal year, where you will be able to move around, but you will also be responsible for monitoring your own distancing between yourselves and other households. The only exception to this will be the walking lanes and those will only be available during Adult Lap Swim times with only one person per lane.

What about Early Morning Lap Swim? It’s coming, but as of yet we do not have a start date, however it is anticipated to start in mid-June.

What about Aerobics? At this time, we are not expecting to have water aerobics, but again as the summer progresses perhaps we will be in a place where this will be possible.

Will the locker rooms and showers inside be available? The guidelines are pretty strict, and our locker rooms although not small, don’t allow for adequate distancing. This is especially true in the showers. Like last year, plan on having access to the locker rooms only for use of the restroom facilities, and anticipate using the outdoor showers. In addition, plan to arrive at your swims with your swim gear already on, and then head out the door that was as well. As restrictions become looser, this could change later in the season and like many other things, we will revisit.

What about guests? We want our members to have as much access to the facility as possible, so with a limited number of swimming slots available we will not be allowing guests at this time. As the summer progresses, we hope to revisit this.

Pool parties and Rentals? At this time these will remain on hold. We will revisit this as the summer progresses.

Lessons? At this time our plan is to offer swimming lessons, although our lessons will be greatly modified from what they were in the past. We will be sending and posting more information about lessons very soon.

Will the grass area, BBQ’s and picnic tables be available? Capacity of the entire club will be limited based on the guidelines of the phase we are in at the time. We don’t see this happening in phase 2 at all but hopefully as things improve, we will be able to make these accommodations.

Basket Ball Hoop and Ping Pong? Unfortunately, both of these will be unavailable. Like so many other things we will be re-evaluating these activities as summer progresses.

I know this is a lot of information at once but thank you in advance for reading ahead and I’m looking forward to once again seeing you at the pool!


Raab


FUNFANGLE/RESERVATIONS:
We are excited to introduce a new Wedgwood reservation system for summer 2021! The new system is called “funfangle” and we hope it will be more user friendly and make the reservation process easier and more effective for everyone! I have included instructions below on how to set up your account with Funfangle. Please note, reservations WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE until Saturday May 8th at 11:30am. Reservations open 7 days prior to a swim, and the swims for Wedgwood Pool’s opening day on May 15th, will begin appearing on May 8th.  We wanted to get you the account set up information in advance so you will be ready to go when reservations open!
If you have any questions or issues with setting up your account or any other questions, contact the reservation coordinator:
Julie Lockhart
wwlessoncoordinator@gmail.com 
(252) 628 – 9620
To set up your account with Wedgwood Funfangle:
Email the wwlessoncoordinator address and Julie will send you a link for registration. (This is a private link for WW members only). Use the email for the primary account holder email to set up your account (you will use this email to log in to the account).
Follow the instructions to set up your account: WW Funfangle user guide.pdf

I have also created a step-by-step video explaining how to set up your account, add family members, and make and cancel reservations:
WW Funfangle video user guide

For information about how Funfangle is different than Omnify, reservation restrictions, and other frequently asked questions go to: FAQs WW Funfangle We will continue to update this document as questions arise.


POOL SCHEDULE:

Here is what our schedule will likely look like through June 18th.