Announcements

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 January 1, 2021 

Happy 2021, Queensmill!  

Your Board would like to thank you for continuing to support the QRA. 2020 turned out to be a challenging year for everyone, but through your support the summer pool season was one of the few "normal" activities we were able to do this year.  Additionally, your support allowed the continued maintenance and use of all our other facilities such as the park, basketball & volleyball courts. Without your membership and volunteer support, our season would not have been possible. 

The QRA Board is preparing for the 2021 Summer Pool Season.  We will be updating sections of this site in the coming weeks.  Membership renewals will be sent to existing QRA members in March.  We will also be accepting new memberships beginning in March.  Please stay tuned to this page for updates!  For questions about membership, please write to queensmillpool@gmail.com. 

July 1, 2020 

Dear QRA Members,

As you know, Virginia enters Phase Three of public health restrictions with new guidance for swimming pools.  We have taken into consideration the many member concerns about safety as well as the ability to expand operations at our pool.  Here is our plan to navigate the new guidelines and accommodate our membership.  

These guidelines will go into effect at our pool Friday, July 3:

• The pool will increase occupancy from 50 individuals to 75% of our total membership. This number is less than the 75% of occupancy directed by the Phase Three guidelines. However, we felt it necessary to continue to manage the risks to the membership.
• You can now come to the pool whenever you please during our normal operating hours, provided we do not exceed our occupancy limit.  Call ahead at (804) 379-0890 if you want to know whether the pool is busy.
• The pool will close from 3 - 3:30 p.m. every day for the guards to disinfect the common areas.  The pool’s operating hours will be as follows:
  • Sunday - Thursday:  11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Friday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• All members will continue to check in with the guard at the snack bar using the window right past the entrance gate.  We are implementing a new electronic check-in system for all members.
• All members will exit through the check-in gate to check-out with the guards.  Be sure to check out before exiting the pool so we can maintain total occupancy numbers.  This is a change from our current exit out of the pavilion gate.
• All adult members will be required to sign a waiver the first time they check-in to the pool.  This is the same waiver you agreed to when making a time slot reservation; since we are discontinuing the reservation system we need a hard copy on-file.
• Members under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian over the age of 18.
• Members must maintain ten feet of physical distance between other members not of the same household, both in the pool and on the pool deck.
• Members may bring guests to the pool with the normal $5 guest fee.  A QRA member must accompany all guests.  Members and guests should observe proper social distancing.  Free guest passes will be distributed to early bird members in the coming days.
• We are putting out our chairs and tables for seating.  You may also continue to bring your own seating.  We ask that all members please help by disinfecting chairs both when you arrive and when you leave using disinfecting wipes provided by the pool.  
• The existing lane lines will be removed from the pool so that the entire pool can be open for free swim.
• The baby pool will remain closed.
• Pool floats and toys are not permitted, with the exception of Coast Guard approved life vests and floaties.
• The pavilion will be open but cannot be reserved for parties.
• Any person(s) with ANY symptoms of COVID-19 that cannot be attributed to allergies or other non-communicable illness, any person with a fever or any person having had taken any medication that reduces fever in the last 24 hours, any person who has had contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who is awaiting results of a COVID-19 test may not come to the pool.
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Please know these guidelines may be subject to change as we adjust to Phase Three.   Information will be communicated later this week about July 4th weekend.  We still need 50 more member families to join the pool this season to meet our membership goal.

Thank you all for being respectful of each other at the pool and abiding by these guidelines when enjoying our pool.  We continue to count on you to enforce these guidelines with each other and our children.  As always, please provide feedback on your pool experience as well as concerns to the board.

Thank you,

QRA Board 

June 13, 2020

Updated: 6/15/2020

Greetings fellow members,

Good news today, break out your swim suits and coolers because we will be opening the pool in Phase 2 on Monday, June 15. This season will be very different from what we've experienced. Please read on to see our plan for opening.

Currently the Phase 2 guidelines that affect us from the Governor of Virginia are as follows:

• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools may be open for lap swimming, diving, exercise, and instruction only. 
• Occupancy cannot exceed 50 people.
• Lap swimming must be limited to three persons per lane with ten feet of physical distance per swimmer. 
• Diving areas must be limited to three persons per diving area with ten feet of physical distance per diver. 
• Swimming instruction and water exercise classes must be limited to allow all participants to maintain ten feet of physical distance at all times unless necessary to protect the physical safety of the participant.
• Seating may be provided on pool decks with at least ten feet of spacing between persons who are not members of the same household. 
• All seating (including lifeguard stations) must be cleaned and disinfected between uses. 
• Employees working in customer-facing areas are required to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth, such as using CDC Use of Cloth Face Coverings guidance. Lifeguards responding to distressed swimmers are exempt from this requirement. 
• Provide hand sanitizing stations, including at the entrance/exit and where shared equipment is utilized. 
• Facilities should screen patrons for COVID-19 symptoms prior to admission to the facility. Patrons should be asked if they are currently experiencing fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) or a sense of having a fever, a new cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition, new shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another health condition, new chills that cannot be attributed to another health condition, a new sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition, or new muscle aches that cannot be attributed to another health condition or specific activity (such as physical exercise). Anyone experiencing symptoms should not be permitted in the facility. Screenings should be conducted in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.
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Here is our plan to accommodate these guidelines.

1. Opening

• We will welcome 50 members at a time into the facility. The lifeguards will enforce lane restrictions but not social distancing in the pool or on the deck. Members will be responsible for following the social distancing guidelines.
• The pool will be configured into 3 lap lanes and a free exercise area. Each lane can accommodate up to 3 swimmers of the same family. The free exercise area can accommodate individual or group exercises while maintaining social distancing recommendations.
• The shallow area will be considered a "swim lane", allowing 3 swimmers at a time.
• The diving well will be open for diving board use only. Members are expected to observe social distancing while in line.
• The baby pool will be closed.
• The deck will be set-up for use in accordance with the social distancing guidelines. For sanitation and safety, we ask that members bring their own chairs.
• Due to sanitation and safety, we can't permit kids to leave the pool for the park, volleyball, etc and return to the pool.
• The water fountain will not be available.
• The bathrooms will be open, sanitary products will be increased. Hand sanitizer will be available. The bathrooms will be cleaned between each timeslot.
• The Snack Bar will be open. Hot food will not be available, the microwave will not be available. To minimize interactions, we will not accept cash for individual transactions. All transactions must be on a Snack Card. Snack Card value will increase to $10. The guards will be masked while working the snackbar.
• Pool floats and toys are not permitted at this time, with the exception of Coast Guard approved life vests and floaties. 
• To assist with ensuring everyone complies with the social distancing guidelines, we are changing the age requirements for Phase 2. Members under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian over the age of 18. 

2. Reservation system

• We will use an online platform to allow members to reserve 90 minute time slots. You can reserve 1 time slot per day.
• All active members will receive an account so that you can reserve a timeslot online.  If you are a paid member and unable to sign up online, you can also request a time slot reservation by emailing queensmillpool@gmail.com.  
• Sign-up will be available 24hrs prior. So the sign up on the 15th will open at 11am on the 14th.
• You will only be able to sign-up your family. 
• Each member of your party needs to be named on the reservation.
• We are asking that you arrive 5-10 minutes early for your time slot. Lifeguards will check in members according to the reservation lists.
• ALL MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME SLOT MUST BE LISTED ON THE RESERVATIONS.
• If you have not arrived within 15 minutes of your start time your slots will be vacated and “walk-ins” will be allowed.
• There will be a 30 minute cleaning period between shifts, wherein the lifeguards will sanitize tables, chairs, bathrooms , etc.
• Due to the occupancy restrictions in Phase 2, we cannot accommodate guests during this phase. For those of you who received guest passes for early sign up, we expect to be able to use them in Phase 3.
• Pool closures for weather, dookie, or other reasons will be posted on the QRA Facebook page.
• This is in line with other pools in the area and we feel we are putting our best foot forward. As we learn what works and what doesn't, we can adjust and tweak these guidelines.

3. Entrance/Exit/Screening

• We will only enter the facility through the front gate.
• As previously mentioned, re-entry will not be permitted. 
• Members will exit through the Pavillion gate.
• When you sign up for a timeslot you will be asked to confirm you are not experiencing COVID19 symptoms. We ask any members who feel under the weather, for any reason, to stay home.
• When you sign up for a timeslot you will also be asked to acknowledge the inherent risks associated with COVID19.

4. Guidelines and member relations

• We have been talking to other pools, SCMG, and among members to develop this plan. We think it's a good plan but it is adaptable, we will change and adapt as needed.
• SCMG guards while on property and on stand are not expected to police social distancing or enforce universal social distancing guidelines. Yet we will do what we can to encourage everyone to follow the guidelines put in place. Our members are responsible for adhering to the distancing guidelines.
• Please familiarize yourself with the Phase II guidelines for pools. https://www.virginia.gov/coronavirus/forwardvirginia/
• Communication is key. Once we get into opening, please constructively share what you feel is working, what isn't, and how you might be able to help.
• We are excited to finally kick off this season and look forward to enjoying the pool as much as we can.

We need at least 60 more members in order to support operations at our pool this season.  We need your support, so please consider the following:

• We are eliminating the late payment fee for 2020.
• To make it easier to join in these uncertain times, we are allowing a 50% payment by June 30, 50% payment by August 1. If you are interested in this option, please email Mike Talley at talleymw@gmail.com.  
• We are also committed to credit back your membership for days the Pool hasn’t been open due to COVID19 restrictions.
• Unfortunately with the combination of occupancy restrictions distancing guidelines, we may have to limit the number of memberships this year. We will be making this decision as information becomes available and will communicate it as quickly as possible.

Remember, when you join your neighborhood QRA you are not only getting access to the best community pool in Chesterfield County, but you are also helping to maintain and improve the park, volleyball court & field, basketball courts, and the winter sledding hill. All of these amenities, managed solely by the QRA, make Queensmill a highly desirable location within the county with consistently strong property values.

Thank you,

QRA Board

 May 15, 2020

Thank you for your patience and support during these uncertain times. We hope this email finds you safe and sound.

As everyone is aware,  the Governor has released guidelines for Phase 1 of his reopening plan. This includes a provision for outdoor pools to open for lap swimming, within specific guidelines.

We have spoken with other pools in the area to gauge other facilities' responses. While good discussions ensued, we learned that each pool varied in their approach.

We are preparing to open in a future Phase that will best serve our members and will not open for Phase 1. We reached this decision by balancing member health & safety, logistics, and cost with the benefits of a very limited opening in Phase 1.

If you have questions or comments on this decision please contact us via email.

As we prepare for Phase 2, we are continuing to address ways to accommodate sanitation, limited group size, social distancing,  and low-touch hot dog nights.

We appreciate all of you who have paid dues.  A reminder that membership dues to join the pool are due June 1.

Thank you again for your patience and support,

The QRA board

 April 13, 2020

Greetings QRA members,
We have a lot of information to share about the upcoming pool season. First and foremost, we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this period of social distancing.
Our top priority continues to be our members safety and serving our community. As everyone is aware, the Governor's stay at home order is in effect until June 10. Our pool management company is moving forward to prepare their pools for opening Memorial Day weekend. However, the reality is that no one knows when will be able to enjoy our pool season. We agree that it will be better to be in a position to open quickly once the ban is lifted, rather than in a reactionary position once the ban is lifted.
We need to collect membership dues. We have operational costs that are constant whether the pool opens or not, such as grounds maintenance, pool set-up and maintenance, equipment repair, etc., which we need to fund. We also recognize that this is an extraordinary situation.  What does that mean for you? Well, a couple of things....

1. We are extending the early bird deal to April 30. Dues paid on or before April 30 will receive 5 free guest passes.
2. We are extending the regular payment period to May 30. The late payment fee will not be in effect until June 1.
3. We are eliminating the refundable volunteer fee. We ask everyone to remember that this pool runs on volunteers, anything you can do to help out is not only appreciated but necessary. We will be offering some volunteer opportunities, please help out to keep us going.
4. We are working with our pool management company on a plan to adjust our costs if the season is delayed, and any savings will be returned to our members in the form of a check at the end of the season or credit on next years dues (your choice).  

We'd like to thank the members who have already paid their dues for the summer.  We are planning to make the most out of our 2020 pool season, we just aren't sure what that looks like yet. As we continue to address this evolving situation, we continue to need your support and will commit to providing updates as they arise. So please send your membership dues as soon as you can.