http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/04/29/downtown-ywca-closing/ <em>City Paper</em> Writers on News, Politics, the Media, the Arts, and More Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:22:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/04/29/downtown-ywca-closing/#comment-155258 Dave Sat, 24 May 2008 02:49:31 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/04/29/downtown-ywca-closing/#comment-155258 This closing was abrupt and as a member I received no notice. I went to swim this past week, and found the place locked up, with not even a note on the door. I had to make several calls before I could even locate someone to let me in to retrieve the contents of my rented locker. This is a tragedy because this was the only decent lap pool within roughly a 25 block radius that was part of a fitness center the public could join. The YWCA has handled this very poorly from a customer relations standpoint. I am very disappointed. This closing was abrupt and as a member I received no notice. I went to swim this past week, and found the place locked up, with not even a note on the door. I had to make several calls before I could even locate someone to let me in to retrieve the contents of my rented locker. This is a tragedy because this was the only decent lap pool within roughly a 25 block radius that was part of a fitness center the public could join. The YWCA has handled this very poorly from a customer relations standpoint. I am very disappointed.

]]> http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/04/29/downtown-ywca-closing/#comment-148348 Sarah Tue, 06 May 2008 13:59:04 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/04/29/downtown-ywca-closing/#comment-148348 I was a member of this YWCA for about a year and a half. The first sign of distress was in mid-2006 when they announced that the aquatic center would close because they couldn't afford to maintain the pool. I terminated my membership after the task force and board imposed a rate increase that sent my monthly membership fee from $30/month to $65/month! They explained it was the only way to keep the pool open. I wonder if they could have stayed open if they just closed the pool but maintained the fitness center like they originally planned. I was a member of this YWCA for about a year and a half. The first sign of distress was in mid-2006 when they announced that the aquatic center would close because they couldn’t afford to maintain the pool. I terminated my membership after the task force and board imposed a rate increase that sent my monthly membership fee from $30/month to $65/month! They explained it was the only way to keep the pool open. I wonder if they could have stayed open if they just closed the pool but maintained the fitness center like they originally planned.

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