Open Board 2026 Results

Forest Hills Swim Club 2026 Open Member Meeting Summary

The Forest Hills Swim Club held its 2026 Open Member Meeting on August 16 providing members with updates on club operations, construction projects, financial health, membership growth, swim and dive team performance, future capital improvements, bylaw proposals, and board nominations.

The meeting opened with a discussion about the broader challenges facing community swim clubs. Members were thanked for their participation and patience. The Board also encourages members to view FHSC as a shared community asset that requires ongoing membership growth, investment, fundraising and volunteer support to remain strong for future generations.

Board President Phil Von Hertsenberg reported on what he described as a season of construction. Major projects faced challenges from winter weather, a wet spring, a cave-in, timeline delays, dirt and sod issues and a failed gate inspection. The diving board project has been approved by the state, with inspections underway and final inspections and payments still pending. Future facility projects under consideration include equipment replacement, drainage improvements around the deep end, grass restoration, expansion into the hillside area, parking lot expansion, additional concrete repairs, and new permanent shelters.

The board highlighted successful member engagement activities throughout the summer, including Kids Carnival, Teen Night, Movie Nights, Adult social gatherings and hosting Swim Championships.

The fundraising team thanked members for their support through raffle ticket purchases and banner sponsorships and introduced the idea of a future FHSC rummage sale as an additional fundraising opportunity.

Membership Remains Strong

Membership remains at capacity, with the club reporting 325 Family Memberships, 72 Single/Couple Memberships, and 97 families on the waitlist. These numbers reflect strong demand for club membership and continued interest from families seeking to join FHSC. Treasurer Melissa Hellmann reviewed the club’s financial performance, including capital assessment revenues, membership dues, overall revenue, expenses, and net income. The board reported that the club’s financial position has improved significantly and stated that the organization would have no difficulty obtaining future financing for additional capital improvements if needed.

Successful Swim and Dive Seasons

The swim and dive programs had another strong year. The swim team hosted the 2026 Seven Hills Swim Championships, generated nearly $7,000 through championship-related concessions, merchandise and event activities, and grew to 149 swimmers, up from 137 in 2025. All swim coaches returned for the season, and multiple high-point award winners and club records were recognized. The dive team finished second at Dive Championships, missing first place by only two points. The dive program grew to 47 divers, up significantly from the previous year, all coaches returned, and multiple athletes earned league championship recognition and high-point awards.

Looking Ahead

The board emphasized that FHSC remains financially stable, fully subscribed, and supported by a strong waitlist. Future priorities include completing current construction projects, pursuing additional facility enhancements, growing membership engagement, expanding fundraising opportunities, and exploring earlier opening hours on some days next season. Members were encouraged to continue supporting the club through volunteerism, participation, and investment in the long-term success of Forest Hills Swim Club.

Bylaw Proposal and Board Member Results

Proposal #1: Membership Classification Language (Article 6)

This proposal passed unanimously:

Approve: 80

Disapprove: 0

Abstain: 0

Proposal #2: Absentee Voting (Article 3, Section 2 and Article 8, Section 4)

This proposal did not pass:

Approve: 21

Disapprove: 57

Abstain: 2

Members voted to fill two open board positions. Following the membership vote, the two candidates receiving the highest totals were Jason Kiefer and Tina Arvizu. Thank you to all those who expressed interest in serving on the board. Laura Caprino, Amanda Matern, Jake Turner and Eric Vise.