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Aquatics Director Brendan McElroy fired 2 weeks after new Wilson pool opens
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Anonymous
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conitued.. The gun charge that you speak about one of our coaches is also incorrect.. charges were dropped and esponsged.. translation(wrongly accused).. this same coach is NOT on the payroll of the booster club(wrong again)...he worked out of teh love that he has for the swimmers(translations for free).. he was successful past the background check of USA Swimming(this year/09) he has all his certifications.. his training resulting in saving the life of a swimmer this year..if he had not been there the resulting outcome could have been worse. ask his mom who is so grateful
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Anonymous
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booster club budget was created by DPR Head coach and reviewed by DPR staff(Dir Chief of staff Phipps, Aqautics Dir Harold Houston) last year before the season started.. All of this was reviewed in an open parent meeting three(3) times during the season.
The booster club works as a partner with the city not an independent club |
Anonymous
Unfortunately, he was dealing with an inexperienced boss who is doing her best to please the mayor's agenda. McElroy is a trained and experienced economist (graduate of UVA) and, in addition, is a nationally-recognized swim coach who has numerous contacts in the world of elite swimming. IMHO a dynamic combination. Clarke E. Ray hired him with the charge of building a top-notch, competitive, swim team for the nation's capitol. That's what he had in the works before he was fired. Any additional details about the DC Wave Parent Booster club and the DC government's auditing process should be directed to the director's office at dpr headquarters. |
Anonymous
Glad to hear you say that he did pass a background check, eventually, given that he was working with youth while he was accused and heading to court. I guess he just didn't run fast enough to avoid having the charge pinned on him. Also, glad to hear that he wasn't paid with the club's monies. I sure would want to sign my child up to swim on this team. |
Anonymous
This is that coach who was on the DC government's payroll until he was let go because he couldn't pass a mandatory background check. Turns out he had a gun charge. Though he was let go by the city he continued to coach the kids at Rumsey pool even though he was removed from the building by police during a team practice. If the city stopped paying him to coach these kids, you're saying that he did it for free after he was barred from entering the building? Weren't there lifeguards, other coaches, and swimmers around when this swimmer almost drowned? If not, there is a definite safety issue that needs to be addressed regarding this team. |
Anonymous
Then justify what the expenses really were in '08-9. A $300 membership fee charged, from that amount there was a mandatory $67 USA swimming fee. The swimsuits were donated and swimmers had to pay for their own training kits. Of the $300 membership fees charged, a couple of pizza parties were paid for and the end of the year banquet with cheap trophies & ribbons came out of team funds. Also paid for was a portion of hotel fees for roughly 20 swimmers at an away meet. There were over 100 swimmers registered last season, you took in about 30k just from membership fees? Raised additional funds from fund raising, concession profits, received a $5k donation. Mr. Phipps & Houston evidentally didn't know how to add and subtract. DC doesn't receive a penny from the $300 membership fee charged. More than half of the members on this team are from MD and VA and do not pay for the use of our pool lanes or maintenance fees. Practices are at least 5 days per week, 2 xs per day at 2/3 different pools. What a rip off of city resources. Buyer beware! |
Anonymous
| There were other lifeguards/staff around but he was quick and attentive to the swimmer..and he is also trained with all appropriate certifications...swimmers are not certified to do what this individual did to save the swimmers life.. just be thankful that he was trained . he was attentive and reacted swiftly.. other trained staff(lifeguards and coaches) assisted too but it was his heroics that certainly bare recognition..again you are mis-informed.. |
Anonymous
| The city at the begining of year of the 08/09 season tried to handle the $300 registration. due to the cites payment invoices challenges(RECWARE) it was quickly realized that is not designed to handle the competive swim teams check/payment demands. the city once again turned back to the booster club for its assitance... fyi: if the money goes into the cities "one fund" it will never been seen again. all the invoicing payment processes could not be done in timely manner if at all. Therefore the swim team would not be registered. nor the individual swimmers.. fyi:non dc res do not mind paying an extra fee.. all dpr has to do is ask. |
Anonymous
To solve this mess, DPR is interviewing for a team manager to handle scheduling and the accounting needs of meet fees. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous People!
In this world, there are always choices. MAKE A CHOICE! Spend as much money as you want wherever you want to. There are many swim clubs in the DC Metropolitan area of VA, DC, and MD. If you choose not to pay the registration fee of $300 - great! Because you can go somewhere else and conform to whatever payment they ask for. Obviously, the DCPR competitive swim team has prospered in the past and it will continue to do so whether Mr. McElroy is with them or not. THINK ABOUT IT... the DC Wave swim team has been in existence for many years. Mr. McElroy has been with the team for less than a year... This team will go on! The Booster Club has enabled the team to effectively compete and travel to compete. Parents that are truly aware of the competitive swimming dynamics are lining up to pay $300 so their kids can be a part of a great team. They will fill up the slots! Without this whining, without the complaining, and they'll be happy to receive the items and excellent training that their kids require. I offer some advice - be very brave! Think for yourselves! Compare the prices! Stop listening to folks that don't know anything and don't offer facts that cannot be substantiated. Better yet - go to the source! Ask the Booster Club board the questions that you want answered. Ask the DPR the questions that you have and then believe the truth. Just because lies and rumors are passed around loudly, publicly, and anonymously, doesn't mean they hold a shred of truth. |
Anonymous
If folks are just lining up for the opportunity to join your savvy, competitive, swim team you wouldn't be on here yelping for people to think for themselves. This so called booster club that you glorify in the very near future will be supervised by DPR. Your $300 fee is really a non issue. DC tax payers should not have to fund a swim "club" in which the majority of its members are from PG County and VA and are using our pools, facilities, staff, and transportation expenses free of charge. Maybe you should think about this: the new DPR admin will help its new aquatics program flourish. Perhaps, you should start making arrangements to go to one of those other swim clubs in your own county, anonymous person. |
Anonymous
| Well, registration is going fine at the pools, I've seen the parents walking in with their checks. THAT is a fact! I know, I know, you think you know what's happening and you're listening to the wrong person and thinking that you are right. It's o.k.! You still have a choice... But you really should take my advice and talk to the Booster Club and find out the history of this situation. I will shed some light, though.. The DC Booster Club came about because of the fact that DC would not provide for its competitive swim team. It had nothing to do with the team's losses or successes, but what the city could provide using their funding options. Since I am a DC resident, I do know the history of my city. I also want what is best for the team as a whole. The Booster Club is a partner with DPR. From your message, it seems that you can't understand all of the other messages that were put out there, like how DC's funding methods will not allow for adequate payment for swim fees on time, etc. This whole situation should be about what is good for the children that are swimming. What the city, the swim team, and the Booster Club needs is willing and positive parents that are working for the good of the children that are involved. They need unselfish people that aren't only looking for one man that they think is superman, but instead need concerned parents that want to help in the transition from great to even greater. It seems like there are some new and innovative folks in the Aquatics administration now and that is good and positive. That is what's really needed. The tone of your message was just...nasty and negative. I hope you have some brighter days and can make good decisions once you learn the truth. |
Anonymous
| If Brendan is such a world wide excellent coach...why does he only have one swimmer to show for it? According to USA Swimming Rankings!!! The proof is in the pudding? TPDC won Divisionals with the high point scores of the boys 13-14 girls 11-12, 15-18 and 8 and unders. Boys 15-18 assisted in the win...of course.. but please don't forget about the stars that shined along side; whom Brendan NEVER COACHED!!!!! Oh! and by the way these Black History Meets and Black Heritage Meets are not even competitive meets! Are they even nationally ranked (laugh). They are a mere joke to the real swimmers and perhaps one attends just to get good times for more accredited meets. Black People step outside the box and stop thinking so "local". Opps! that's because you don't recognize real competitive swimming.....Are colleges really going to ask what's your fastest yd time in the summer league or Black History Meet? lol WOW |