2021 Pool Season Look-Ahead #4

Since our last major correspondence circulated to all members on May 6 (ref: Look-Ahead #3), the Commonwealth of Virginia has issued Executive Order 79, effective May 28 (the day before the Greenbriar Pool Club's opening day), which explicitly terminates Executive Order 72 that had imposed social distancing and capacity restrictions on swimming pools. This change represents a significant loosening of Covid-19 related restrictions and, as such, the Board no longer sees a need for the limitations described in the Look-Ahead #3 correspondence (e.g., headcount limitations, social distancing). However, Executive Order 79 still requires persons to wear masks in accordance with CDC guidance (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html).

The Board desires that all members feel safe attending the pool, particularly those that cannot be vaccinated. To do that, we’re adding two new pool rules for the 2021 season:

• All persons must comply with pool restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• All persons must be respectful of other persons desire for social distancing.

You will note meaningful changes from the below planned operating procedures for the Pool from those described in the May 6 correspondence. The below processes cover the Board's plans for the first two weeks of the pool operations (opening weekend of May 29 through June 11).

Required Preparation of Member Accounts: Please remember to complete the preparatory work in Member Splash (Pay your maintenance fee, list all household persons, upload their pictures, sign waivers for adults) by May 28th. This will make the check-in process go smoothly.

Pool Capacity: There will be no headcount restriction on the Pool's capacity, which is two hundred and forty-eight (248) people (as determined by the Fairfax County Fire Marshal).

Guests: Guests will not be permitted during opening weekend (Saturday-Monday). They will be permitted at other times. There will be no limits on the amount of guests permitted per membership (capacity permitting), and all guest passes must be purchased in advance using Member Splash.

Initial Pool Scheduling Blocks on First Two Weekends: Historically the pool has reached capacity opening weekend. To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to use the Pool on opening weekend, the Board has decided to proceed, for the first two weekends, with breaking the swim day on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday into two-hour scheduling blocks, with one hour and 45 minutes (1:45:00) available for swimming, and fifteen minutes (0:15:00) between blocks. This means that when the guards blow the whistle and direct users to exit the Pool, all patrons must exit the Pool. Members may re-enter if there is available capacity in the next block of time. A typical weekend day would be divided as shown below:

• 9:00-10:45 - Early block on Saturday mornings (no swim meet)

• 11:00-12:45 - Block 1

• 1:00-2:45 - Block 2

• 3:00-4:45 - Block 3

• 5:00-6:45 - Block 4

• 7:00-Close - Block 5

Adult Break: As in prior years, a 15 minute “adults-only” break will remain in place during the first hour of every block. Guards will blow the whistle at 45 minutes past every hour, and tell swimmers whether it’s an adults-only swim or the end of a scheduling block where patrons must exit the facility. The Board anticipates discontinuing the scheduling blocks concept and optional reservations (see the next topic) after June 7. These protocols may be re-introduced for busy weekends in the future such as the 4th of July or Labor Day.

Optional Reservation System: For the first two weekends, the Board will offer the members the ability to make a reservation using Member Splash, for a particular scheduling block. A person may reserve two scheduling blocks per day, no more than four days in advance. By May 25, members will receive a message with instructions on how to use the optional Member Splash reservation system. The Board anticipates suspending the scheduling blocks and optional reservations after June 7, but they may be used for busy weekends in the future such as the 4th of July or Labor Day.

Initial Pool Schedule on Weekdays: There will be no blocks of time on weekdays after Memorial Day. However, swim and dive practice may limit the use of the dive well and the main lap lanes between 3:30 and closing. We expect that the full width of the pool (all six lap lanes) will be used daily between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM to provide adequate distancing for our youngest unvaccinated swimmers. The wings and baby pool will be open during this time, and once school ends swim practice will take place in the mornings before the pool opens for general use.

Weekend Check-in Process Walk-Through: The schedule below lists the series of steps that people will use to check in and enter the pool, depending on if they have made an optional reservation or not. This will address the first session of the Saturday, and the pattern will repeat for every scheduling block.

• 8:30 or earlier - Parking lot gates open

• 8:45 - Members with a reservation may check in with the guards , and each member who wishes to check in MUST be present. Members, once they are checked in, will receive a ticket and be told that they'll be able to enter the pool through the gates on the west side of the clubhouse at 9:00. A reservation not claimed by the start of the scheduling block (9:00 AM) will be forfeited.

• 8:45 - Members without a reservation may begin to form a line to check in. One person may hold space for other people in their membership, but not for any others.

• 9:00 - The west gates will be opened. Members with a ticket can walk in through the gates, drop their ticket in a container, and use the pool.

• 9:05 - The west gates will be closed, and the check-in process will move to the main entrance, and the check-in process will begin for folks waiting in line, who will enter the pool through the locker rooms. Anyone with a reservation ticket who missed the entrance through the west gates may also enter through the main gate by dropping off their ticket and proceeding through the locker rooms. Folks may enter until the pool is at capacity, at which point they may wait for someone to leave the pool and make capacity.

• 9:45 – The guards will announce the start of the Adults-Only Break. Adults and parents/caregivers with up to two children under age 10 within arms reach may continue to use the pool.

• 10:00 – Resume normal swim.

• 10:45 - The guards will give the command to exit the facility, and all users must exit to the parking lot while the guards begin preparing the facility for the next scheduling block.

• 10:45 - Members with reservations for the 11:00 block may begin to check in and get their tickets, and those without reservations may begin forming a separate line for check-in at 11:05.

Weekday Check-in Process: Since there are no scheduling blocks nor optional reservations on weekdays, the usual process will be used. Check-in with the guard at the main pool house entrance with your membership certificate number. As long as the pool is under capacity, members and their guests will be admitted.

Screening: All pool users will be asked to verify that they do not have a fever, COVID symptoms, or exposure to COVID in the prior 14 days.

Private Parties: No private parties will be allowed during the first two weeks of June. The Board will review and revise this decision as we monitor usage during the first two weeks.

Snack Bar: It is unlikely that the Snack Bar will open this season, due to the long lead time required to hire and train workers. The Board will look at alternatives for this season, such as vending machines and food trucks.

Special Activities: There are no special activities planned for the first two weeks. However, with the relaxation of restrictions, the Board anticipates special activities during the season, and can use volunteers. Please contact Bethany (bethany@greenbriar.org) if you are interested. The Board will revise these operating conditions in response to the lessons we learn and changes in the limitations placed on us by the State and/or Fairfax County, and will notify members promptly on any changes.

Thank you for your attention to this important message, and we look forward to a successful season. Should you have issues accessing Member Splash to set up your account, you may contact the Pool Administrator at pool@greenbriar.org or call (703) 378-4421.

Regards,
The Greenbriar Pool Club Board of Directors

2021 Season Look-Ahead #3

The Board has given much consideration to operating the Pool for the 2021 season in a manner that allows maximum access to the pool while also ensuring the Pool can comply with the various state and local COVID-19 social distancing, headcount capacity limitations, and sanitation requirements. For convenience we have provided a short bullet point list directly below that summarizes what the operating status of the Pool will be this summer. A longer version with additional details was e-mailed to all members and renters earlier today. While the Board continues to discuss processes with NV Pools (the Club’s management company) and watch out for changes (and it is the Board's hope, continued easing) of COVID-19 restrictions on aquatic facilities by the Commonwealth of Virginia (State) and Fairfax County (County), below is the Board's current plan for how things will look this summer:

• The Pool will be open on a first-come-first-serve basis subject to a headcount limitation required of the Pool by the State;

• An optional reservation system will be available to members who would like to secure a spot in advance;

• Social distancing and other required COVID-19 sanitation measures will be implemented as required by the State and County; it will be imperative that all members make every effort to comply with these rules to ensure the Pool remains a safe and healthy environment for our membership;

• The Pool day will be broken up into 3-4 blocks of time every day (this depends if it is an extended day or not) on a predictable, fixed-schedule with short intervals in between those blocks to allow for sanitation and also to ensure equitable access to the Pool (members will need to vacate the Pool in between blocks but may get back in line immediately for the next block of time);

• In an attempt to ensure greater availability of the Pool due to the above-described headcount limitations, the Board has secured with NV Pools the right to extend Pool hours on certain days of the week;

• Guests will be permitted after opening weekend on a 2 guest max per day subject to available headcount capacity;

• The baby pool, playgrounds, and grills will be available for use as in past years, subject to social distancing requirements (so effectively, on a first-come-first-serve basis) - should this become a problem, the Pool Board may have to reassess the availability of these amenities;

• The snack bar will be closed for the 2021 season; and

• Swim and dive teams will open for the 2021 season.

The Board has thought long and hard about the above opening procedures. As noted above, the Board is hopeful that continued easing of COVID-19 restrictions by the State and County may be implemented over the course of the 2021 season, in which case the Board may elect to modify the above operating procedures. 
As mentioned in earlier correspondence, the Board will continue to provide updates to the membership over e-mail regarding the operating status of the Pool, changes to plans, and other pertinent information as it is available. Specifically, we intend to publish an update within the next two weeks elaborating on some of the details still needing to be firmed up (such as the specific schedule for the year, and specific headcount limitations).

Regards,
The Greenbriar Pool Club Board of Directors

Action Requested - Pre-Season Account Checklist

The start of the 2021 Greenbriar Pool Club (Pool) season is just a few weeks away. As noted further below, later this week we will be sending you a detailed e-mail with additional information regarding how the Pool will be opening to ensure equitable access to the pool while also ensuring compliance with COVID-19 social distancing and headcount capacity restrictions. Please stand by to receive that correspondence.

The Pool Board requests your help in ensuring a smooth start to the season by coming to the pool prepared with an up-to-date Member Splash account. Please log into Member Splash and complete this checklist. You can access your account by clicking here: https://greenbriar.org/member-login . Thank you for your attention to this important component of preparing for the 2021 season.

Pre-Season Account Checklist:

• Add all members in your household to your account.* (Click the + sign next to MEMBERS to add a family member. Please refer to the definition of "family unit" posted at the top of the page in Member Splash.)

• Upload a picture for each person on your account.* (Click the camera icon next to the name.)

• Sign the Pool Assumption of Risk and Liability Waiver. (The Board has implemented a waiver as part of our response to COVID, and it has been recently added to Member Splash and awaits your digital signature. These waivers are comparable to those used by other regional area aquatic facilities. All adults are required to sign the waiver in order to use the pool facility; there will be no exceptions. A signed waiver covers any children listed on the account and guests.)

• Update your emergency contact. (This should be someone the pool can call if no adult member of your household can be reached. It should be someone close by, perhaps a local friend or a neighbor.)

*The ability for members to add family members and upload pictures will be removed at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 28, 2021. Failure to set up these aspects of your account will result in delayed access to the pool. For assistance prior to opening weekend, please email (pool@greenbriar.org) or call (703-378-4421) our administrator. We are happy to assist you with your account set up.

Upcoming Opening Plan Communications

As noted above, we know the Pool membership is anxious to hear details about the 2021 Pool season opening plan. Check your inbox later this week for Look Ahead email #3, followed by frequent email updates through the month of May leading up to opening weekend. The Board of Directors has worked hard to make this Pool season a success while also ensuring safe but equitable access to the Pool, and we appreciate your patience as we work through the logistics of opening with required COVID restrictions.