As I glanced out the dining room window this morning, I noticed the cattle laying peacefully and their breath moving upward in the crisp, cool morning. Brrr! I got a chill just looking out there. I’m not sure I am ready for this change in our atmosphere! Our dog, Holly, was snuggled down into a pile of straw near a shed. She didn’t want to come in the garage last night when I called for her at bedtime, so she spent the night outside. Guess she found a comfy spot and did just fine. For most of her life she never came into the garage at all, but the last few years she enjoys being inside. She will be 15 years old this Christmas season, so in dog years she is “getting up there”.
Those animals were on my mind when I got to the Fulda swimming pool later in the morning. As I climbed down into the water, it felt heavenly. I was glad to feel the warmth of the pool rise up around me. As we began our water aerobics and did some warm-up walking and stretching, I was thankful for this place in our little town. It is a treasure to many, young and old alike. I have been attending water aerobics for a few years now, and it is great exercise. I enjoy the benefits of the warm water, but for many who come it is true therapy for them after surgeries or injuries that have taken a toll on their bodies. It offers such relaxation and reduces stress.
It is a great place for kids too. In 1979 the indoor pool was built as part of an attachment to the Elementary School. It has eight lanes, a slide, and a diving board. Many children have had swimming lessons both during school classes and in the summer time. When I was teaching in Fulda, the elementary classes LOVED to come to the pool for a time of swimming, whether it was for lessons or just fun. High school classes use the pool also, and many have been trained to be lifeguards over the years which provides for some teen employment.
Because it is an indoor pool, it can be accessed all year around. This makes it an even bigger asset in our small community, both for the kids and adults alike. And, more than that, people come from several communities around to use the pool. Not only for swimming lessons, but in our aerobics group, The Water Lilies, more than six area communities are represented!
To maintain a temperature of approximately 87 degrees, pool blankets were installed to insulate the water. This assists the heater unit without adding more electrical use. When the pool is not covered, the humidity increases which can cause multiple problems like doors freezing shut, alarms sounding that require fire department checks, condensation that harms paint, and slippery floors.
The original pool blankets became torn and unrepairable. Recently, the School Board voted to approve the purchase of two deluxe thermal blankets at an approximate cost of $ 10,000. The Board agreed to pay for half the cost ($5000) and asked groups using the pool to lead efforts to cover the remaining cost.
The Water Lily Aerobic class has agreed to help raise funds for these blankets. This group meets three times weekly at the pool with an average of twenty participants each time. Not only do they enjoy the benefits of the warm pool, but they oftentimes patronize Fulda businesses before and after the classes. They are reaching out to area businesses and residents alike to come along side them to defray the cost for these needed blankets. These blankets are greatly needed and appreciated by all who use the pool.
If you would like to donate to this community project, please make checks payable to Fulda School ISD #505, and in the memo please write POOL BLANKETS. Donations are tax deductible and you would be supporting a place for swimming lessons, parties, lap and open swim, exercise groups, and most of all a place for our local and surrounding area residents to have fun! Thank you for considering this worthy cause.
lbeerman68@gmail.com
