OPENING Week's Events at OPP (3/23-3/29)

3/23 - Pool Cleanup (10 AM -1 PM)

3/24 - Opening Day

 (9 AM-8 PM)

- Pancake Breakfast 10 AM -12 Noon

- New Member Orientation 12 Noon - 1 PM

* Please review calendar for lap times and the swim team website for swim clinic days/times

The Newsletter for Park Pool: Last Week of March 2024 Edition

We're exactly 2 days away from the pool opening, so we want to get everyone some critical details about the pool and the plans moving forward with this newsletter.  Please be sure to read below so you're 100% clear on the specifics.  Especially if you're hoping to brave what looks like a chilly weekend to come celebrate the return of OPP!

Oh, and don't forget to check out our new bathing suit dryers that were installed recently in both the men's and women's rooms!!!

Though the timing might change a bit based on weather, our group still plans to hold our annual pool clean-up event on Saturday.  This will allow us to get the pool up and running before the big opening day.  From 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, we will be offering up free coffee, donuts, pastries, tasty beverages AND hot pizza for anyone willing to help us clean up the facilities.  Note: we will update everyone if the timing for this event changes due to the weather.

On Sunday, March 24th, the doors open at 9 AM.  Chef Dave will then be hosting our opening day breakfast from 10 AM to 12 PM (Noon).  The meal will include pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit.  It is $10 for all children under the age of 10, and $12 for all other members.

This event will be followed by the new member orientation at noon, and open swimming--if you feel like swimming when it's 55 degrees outside.

Coaches' Corner

Swim team activities get underway this week.  Be sure to check out our Spring Clinics information if you haven't registered yet.  Or, contact the pool manager if you have questions.

Want more big news?  Well, we've got it! We're currently in the process of revitalizing an old component of these newsletters from several years back.  Since newsletters will now be coming out weekly, our goal is to add updates in this "Coaches' Corner" section that detail the weekly plans for practices.  This section will also cover big swim team events that are on the horizon, both for the sake of swim team families and non-swim team families alike.   Be sure to check this section out in future weeks so you don't miss out on what's happening with our stingrays.

ALSO!  We have swim team event dates now set.  Please see below for the big ones:

Time Trials: 5/19

8 and Under Overnight: 6/13

Late Night Swim Party (13+): 6/25

Late Night Swim Party (9-12): 6/27

Stingray Ball: 7/11

Karaoke Night: 7/16

Movie Night (9+): 7/25

Membership Update

Annual membership dues were supposed to be submitted no later than February 1st.  Any outstanding dues will be assessed a $100 late fee if not received by our opening day on Sunday, 3/24.  For all new members, please contact our membership team at membership@orindaparkpool.org if you have any questions about your new membership or fees that you need to pay.

The Orinda waitlist is nearly empty now!  We still have a sizeable non-Orinda waitlist that we're working to get down, but we were able to add a large number of new families to OPP from our neighboring cities this year.  That means we'll have a lot of new people to get to meet at the pool!  It also means that we can start spreading the word to other families, friends, and neighbors that they should get themselves on our waitlist for next year.  If you know of someone that's interested, please have them sign up on our waitlist or contact us at membership@orindaparkpool.org.

Thank you for reading!

Spring Schedule (3/25 to 5/5)

(Please Reference the Calendar on the OPP Website for the Swim Team Schedule)

Getting to Know Your Park Coaches and Board

In this week's newsletter, we meet a very popular member of the Stingray family, Coach Quinn Cavalli.  If you've been to the pool regularly, you've likely seen her shouting out directions (kindly) and dancing to her music (less kindly) as she teaches our Stingrays of all ages.  Well, now's your chance to get to know some more about Coach Quinn the person.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Oakland, Ca

Q: Did you swim when you were young, and if so, what teams did you swim for?

A: Yes! I swam for Bishop O'Dowd high school and also at Oregon State University, a D1 college.

Q: Did you play any other sports or have any other activities that you did a lot as a child?

A: I loved playing soccer and surfing with my brother,

Q: How long have you been coaching at OPP?

A: I think this is 11 years. It feels like it has been home forever, It is like being surrounded by family.

Q: What is one of your best memories that you have from coaching at OPP?

A: Having a Brad joke every year and the prank Wars with some of the swimmer/coaches. We taped 100 rubber duckies all over Peter Klem's car, filled Will Layton's car with confetti made out of his school photo from 6th grade and saran-wrapped Sam Vanzuthem's car at the OMPA party. ALSO, the league, and anytime someone learns how to dive. The daily laughter is priceless.

A: I am the Assistant Athletic Director at Northeastern University-Oakland Campus. I am also the collegiate club swim coach.

Q: What do you do in your spare time these days?

A: My spare time is usually spent running on the trails looking for snakes, and taking naps whenever possible.

Q: Do you have any family members/friends/pets that you want to give a shout out to?  Maybe provide a photo of them that we can put up in the newsletter?

A: Well I can't play favorites but my son Eli has been a camp counselor at OPP for a few years and it was great to have him around. Brad feels like having my favorite brother in town everyday, and Erin fulfills my need to sing and dance badly on deck. Our dog Kali is always a willing running partner. I could go on and on. 

Q: What is one accomplishment that you have achieved in your past--or recently--that nobody in the pool knows about?

A: I am a pretty open book and I think everyone knows everything but I did run a 50k race once and I am looking for a 50 miler in the future.

If you have any questions or comments for us, please reach out to us at news@orindaparkpool.org.