Club offering discounts to police, firefighters, teachers
BUTLER TWP., Montgomery County - As a child growing up in the1960s, Peter Zelnick loved the lazy summer days he spent at FairValley Country Club Pool at 5975 Brantford Road in Butler Twp.
Today, he serves on the board of directors for the privately ownedorganization and is determined to see the club thrive in the face ofchanging demographics and lifestyles.
'Four or five local pools have recently failed,' he said. 'And Idon't want to see that happen to Fair Valley.'
The current board of directors is up to the challenge and hasrecruited several local business professionals to help in theireffort to increase membership and revitalize the club.
Zelnick attributes declining club membership to changes such astechnology.
'People are less active and spending more time in front oftelevisions and computers,' he said. 'Another issue is that morehomes have two working parents. There may be no one at home to bringkids to the pool in the summer.'
Still, he points out that membership in the club can be enjoyed inthe evenings and on the weekends.
'I have a very stressful job and I'm busy all day. But when I meetmy family at the pool in the evening, by the time I get down thepath, just looking up at all those trees, I'm relaxed,' Zelnick said.
He said the wooded 10-acre grounds has always been a uniquefeature of the property.
'Even on a crowded day, families can find someplace quiet andprivate,' Zelnick said.
He and the other board members aren't waiting for the pool andgrounds to sell itself. They are addressing the issues of membershipand coming up with some innovative ideas to recruit new members.Motivated by the response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, theboard decided to reward police officers and firefighters by offeringdiscounted memberships to the club. Teachers, who are 'also on thefront lines every day,' Zelnick said, may also receive this discount.
The board is sending out a message of health and wellness withhopes that today's families will respond.
'We're all working at higher rates these days. The idea is tospend more family time and get some exercise,' Zelnick said.
The club also boasts a swim team of 40 to 50 members that is partof the Greater Dayton Swim Association.
But if swimming isn't your cup of tea, there are basketball andtennis courts, a playground, shuffleboard courts, horseshoes andminiature golf.
The tennis courts (with lights for night games) are open year-round and the club recently formed a reciprocal relationship withDayton Center Courts.
Adult and family social events are also offered throughout thesummer season.
And this summer, for the first time, the club will sponsor a bike-a-thon in memory of Ritter Collett, a board director and DaytonDaily News sports editor emeritus who passed away in September.
The board is also recruiting local businesses to promote healthand wellness to its employees through the club.
Employees of participating businesses will receive a discountedmembership. Zelnick said the board has addressed the needs of its 200member families by recently updating the pool-house and concessionarea. More facility improvements are planned when the club reachesits goal of 300 member families.
In addition to membership fees, the club generates revenue byselling stock. Zelnick said there are about 200 stock optionsavailable.
'This capital will enable us to make improvements that people wantand those who buy stock will receive 25 percent off theirmembership,' he said. `The beauty of our pool is we offer a flat ratefor families, regardless of size. It's truly a pool for today'sfamilies.'
There are also separate membership rates for swim team members,couples and singles.
For more information on Fair Valley membership, visit the pool'sWeb site at www.fairvalley.org, call 898-3895, or send an e-mail toinfo@fairvalley.org.
