The American Red Cross imposed a price increase across the board on all of their programs ranging from babysitting classes to swim lessons. This price increase was implemented nationwide in July 2011, but places such as the municipalities of Tampa Bay cannot afford the increase.
“We need to recoup from the loss incurred because of the economy,” said Jose Bueno, the liaison from the Red Cross who serves Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
Places such as the City of St. Petersburg are in an uproar over this. One of the most important things they looked at was the swimming lessons. The city teaches the most swimming lessons in the area, and it was a large concern.
Swimming instructors are required to complete a course record for every class they teach. The record contains the students’ information and the number of kids in each class. This form is then given to the Red Cross and a record is kept of all the registered participants. In years past, the Red Cross offered swimming instruction for free. Now, there is a $5 charge for every participant.
They do not receive anything from the course record documents. There used to be a grant the numbers went to, but not anymore. However, they are searching.
“This summer we taught 4,733,” said Anita Westmoreland, the recreation supervisor in the Parks and Recreation Department. “With the fee, that is $23,665 we have to pay. There is no budget for it.”
The Red Cross claims that the extra money they receive for these courses will go into the research that is done in order to update their programs. They believe that since the learning materials for all of the courses offered are free to download online, it is a good exchange.
The fiscal year for Pinellas and Hillsborough counties began on October 1, so when the new updates rolled out this summer, everyone was already in the middle of the fiscal year. Most of the cities did not have a budget for their swimming lesson programs set aside. Even budgets for 2012 were already been set up before the rollouts; no one was prepared for what happened.
“In reality, $5 is not a lot,” Bueno said.
The Red Cross is willing to try to negotiate with the individual municipalities with the eventual goal being that they will pay the full $5. They did agree, however, to forgo the fee for the 2011 fiscal year.
“We would never exclude anyone because of not being able to afford (the prices),” Bueno said.
“It is not fair on our part because the budget for this year and the following are already set,” said Keith Tickner, an aquatics supervisor from Seminole.
Suzanne Greenfield is an aquatics supervisor from St. Pete Beach. She is a big advocate of the Red Cross, but believes they went about all of this the wrong way, and that it should have been more gradual.
With the negotiations, many of the municipalities are thinking similar thoughts.
“A stepping scale with moderate increases towards the new prices through the next two years,” said Amy Ashlock, an aquatics supervisor from Pinellas Park.
The municipalities are looking into other options. They do not want to have to increase the prices of their swim lessons in order to accomplish what the Red Cross is looking for. They hope to set up their own version of swimming lessons and not have to be a part of any organization.
“Linda, another supervisor, is looking into the state requirements about swim lessons,” Westmoreland said.
In Broward County, Swim Central teaches about 30,000 swimmers a year. They are not part of any type of organization for their swimming lessons, but their instructors are trained.
“We have to do what is cost effective,” Tickner said.
“We want to make sure the (swim lesson) program is available in another 10-20 years,” Bueno said.
This story was originally written for the USF St. Petersburg Neighborhood News Bureau. To read more of the Bureau’s stories, please visit http://www.nnbnews.com/.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
St. Pete Tennis Center offers after-school program to kids
After-school programs are important in all communities, but most do not have a focus except as a place for kids to be until their parents pick them up. St. Petersburg has one of the only public tennis facilities in the Tampa Bay area. It is also home to one of the only affordable children’s tennis after-school programs.
Established in 2001, the St. Pete Tennis Center hosts a program called Courier’s Kids. Famed tennis player Jim Courier funds the program in order to “teach tennis and life skills to neighborhood children.” Courier and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) partnered with the center to create a haven for children and the community to enjoy a good game of tennis.
It began with about 10 children. Three months later, more than 100 kids were signed up. Now, there are over 300 kids in the program. The program runs Monday through Friday, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
They offer beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. The program is about $8 per day, and with this comes instruction from three or more coaches, racquets, the children’s ability to play against kids their own ages in matches, and a free USTA membership for first-time applicants.
Unfortunately, buses do not make stops at the Tennis Center; parents have to bring their kids to the center in order to participate. Kids can arrive right after school, but if they show up before practice starts, homework time is mandatory. The coaches, General Manager Jackie Keller and parents who stay offer their help in giving the kids homework assistance.
Mrs. Wang is a teacher in the Marine Biology department at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She wanted to make sure her kids had good physical and mental health. Tennis was the sport she chose for them because there will always be another opponent of the same skill to play with, or it can even be played alone. She wanted her kids to be a part of team sports and gain an understanding of teamwork. Tennis gives them good communication skills that are used frequently in school. She takes her two children to the center after school; both started as novices but quickly took to the sport.
“They love the game from the heart,” Wang said. “I do not expect my children to be superstars.”
With the renovation of the Tennis Center, and the partnership, the kids are now using clay tennis courts. Clay courts are used in national tournaments and not something generally seen in a public area. The kids who play on these courts are taught how to take care of them properly. At the end of every practice, the kids sweep the courts and brush the lines.
“We have to start kids younger on clay. If you don’t, they are going to be afraid of it. It’s absolutely essential that you learn to slide and glide on clay at an early age. And you have to understand that you’re going to need more defense(s) out there. You’re always going to have to make an extra shot,” Courier said.
It has been 10 years since tennis professional Shikha Singh joined the St. Pete Tennis Center. Before the kids get out of school, he teaches adults, who to make up the bulk of the funding for the center. He also sends progress reports to Courier, who visits the center regularly.
“This is a very unique place with a little bit of everything,” Singh said.
Singh, coaches and parents find tournaments and matches for the kids to play in when the coaches think they are ready. During times when there are major tournaments in the area, Singh trains a few of his players to be ball kids. It is similar to a batboy for baseball. There is extensive training for the ball kid job, ensuring the children are safe and professional.
“This is a place where kids can come and be safe,” Keller said. “We just hope the ripple effect occurs.”
For more information about the program, go to the St. Pete Tennis Center or visit http://www.sptcfirstserve.org.
This story was originally written for the USF St. Petersburg Neighborhood News Bureau. To read more of the Bureau’s stories, please visit http://www.nnbnews.com/.
Established in 2001, the St. Pete Tennis Center hosts a program called Courier’s Kids. Famed tennis player Jim Courier funds the program in order to “teach tennis and life skills to neighborhood children.” Courier and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) partnered with the center to create a haven for children and the community to enjoy a good game of tennis.
It began with about 10 children. Three months later, more than 100 kids were signed up. Now, there are over 300 kids in the program. The program runs Monday through Friday, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
They offer beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. The program is about $8 per day, and with this comes instruction from three or more coaches, racquets, the children’s ability to play against kids their own ages in matches, and a free USTA membership for first-time applicants.
Unfortunately, buses do not make stops at the Tennis Center; parents have to bring their kids to the center in order to participate. Kids can arrive right after school, but if they show up before practice starts, homework time is mandatory. The coaches, General Manager Jackie Keller and parents who stay offer their help in giving the kids homework assistance.
Mrs. Wang is a teacher in the Marine Biology department at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She wanted to make sure her kids had good physical and mental health. Tennis was the sport she chose for them because there will always be another opponent of the same skill to play with, or it can even be played alone. She wanted her kids to be a part of team sports and gain an understanding of teamwork. Tennis gives them good communication skills that are used frequently in school. She takes her two children to the center after school; both started as novices but quickly took to the sport.
“They love the game from the heart,” Wang said. “I do not expect my children to be superstars.”
With the renovation of the Tennis Center, and the partnership, the kids are now using clay tennis courts. Clay courts are used in national tournaments and not something generally seen in a public area. The kids who play on these courts are taught how to take care of them properly. At the end of every practice, the kids sweep the courts and brush the lines.
“We have to start kids younger on clay. If you don’t, they are going to be afraid of it. It’s absolutely essential that you learn to slide and glide on clay at an early age. And you have to understand that you’re going to need more defense(s) out there. You’re always going to have to make an extra shot,” Courier said.
It has been 10 years since tennis professional Shikha Singh joined the St. Pete Tennis Center. Before the kids get out of school, he teaches adults, who to make up the bulk of the funding for the center. He also sends progress reports to Courier, who visits the center regularly.
“This is a very unique place with a little bit of everything,” Singh said.
Singh, coaches and parents find tournaments and matches for the kids to play in when the coaches think they are ready. During times when there are major tournaments in the area, Singh trains a few of his players to be ball kids. It is similar to a batboy for baseball. There is extensive training for the ball kid job, ensuring the children are safe and professional.
“This is a place where kids can come and be safe,” Keller said. “We just hope the ripple effect occurs.”
For more information about the program, go to the St. Pete Tennis Center or visit http://www.sptcfirstserve.org.
This story was originally written for the USF St. Petersburg Neighborhood News Bureau. To read more of the Bureau’s stories, please visit http://www.nnbnews.com/.
St. Petersburg residents need Advantage Membership Card
Residents who wish to participate in any parks and recreation program run by the City of St. Petersburg need to have an Advantage Membership Card. Residents can buy one at any local community center.
The Advantage Membership Card used to be called a Resident Card, explained an employee from the Frank W. Pierce Community Park. The card started around the same time Mayor Baker was in office in 2001. Since then, the card has changed its name.
The card also allows for small discounts at certain stores, such as 10 percent off at the Village Inn restaurant and one free admission to Sunken Gardens. The city is hoping to expand the discounts available to their members, but city officials are still working on it. There is a full list of what is now available online at http://stpete.org.
The card allows free access to things such as the open gym, where people can go play basketball without worrying about basketball leagues interfering. It allows people to participate in classes at the centers, join a sports league, and attend after school and summer programs.
“It helps keep track of the local residents who use the parks and recreation programs,” said Alexis Shuder, public information specialist.
Each member in the family must have an Advantage Membership Card in order to participate in anything from afterschool care to playing sports to going to the pool. Residents only have to pay $15 per year, but non-residents who which to participate in any of these programs must pay $125. At the time of purchase, citizens must show two forms of ID that prove they are City of St. Petersburg residents. For example, one can use his or her driver’s license and a property tax statement to prove residency.
“A non-resident is anyone who does not pay taxes to the city of St. Petersburg,” Shuder said. It is not as easy as the address on a person’s license. “My license says my zip code is in the Gulfport area, but in fact, my house is on the borderline.”
Even if a person owns a business in St. Petersburg, that person is not a resident of the city of St. Petersburg.
“I go to school in St. Pete, but my license address considers me a non-resident,” said William Nicks, a student at University South Florida of St. Petersburg. “I wanted to take a class at a community park, but wasn’t going to pay $125 on top of the fee for the class.”
St. Petersburg resident Ashley Molino feels similarly. “I don’t mind paying the extra $15. I know that it is going to a good cause, keeping the parks up to date and safe for the kids,” she said. She lives in an apartment in St. Petersburg, and goes to the gym to play basketball with her friends at Frank W. Pierce Community Park. However, she was put off by the amount of the non-resident rate.
If non-resident citizens want to participate in a program badly enough, the price is something they will have to deal with. The extra fee goes to the upkeep of community park facilities.
The Parks and Recreation Department is running a program for the children who reside in St. Petersburg. “Read for Rec” is a program where children must read 10 books. Their reward is a free Advantage Membership Card. Children must go their local library to sign up. If they already have a card, the one earned from reading will be prorated for the following year.
The Advantage Membership Card is a way for the city to bring in extra income in order to make sure the residents are provided with nice places to play and have fun. The city wants make sure the equipment provided is in good shape and are able to meet the demands of their residents.
This story was originally written for the USF St. Petersburg Neighborhood News Bureau. To read more of the Bureau’s stories, please visit http://www.nnbnews.com/.
The Advantage Membership Card used to be called a Resident Card, explained an employee from the Frank W. Pierce Community Park. The card started around the same time Mayor Baker was in office in 2001. Since then, the card has changed its name.
The card also allows for small discounts at certain stores, such as 10 percent off at the Village Inn restaurant and one free admission to Sunken Gardens. The city is hoping to expand the discounts available to their members, but city officials are still working on it. There is a full list of what is now available online at http://stpete.org.
The card allows free access to things such as the open gym, where people can go play basketball without worrying about basketball leagues interfering. It allows people to participate in classes at the centers, join a sports league, and attend after school and summer programs.
“It helps keep track of the local residents who use the parks and recreation programs,” said Alexis Shuder, public information specialist.
Each member in the family must have an Advantage Membership Card in order to participate in anything from afterschool care to playing sports to going to the pool. Residents only have to pay $15 per year, but non-residents who which to participate in any of these programs must pay $125. At the time of purchase, citizens must show two forms of ID that prove they are City of St. Petersburg residents. For example, one can use his or her driver’s license and a property tax statement to prove residency.
“A non-resident is anyone who does not pay taxes to the city of St. Petersburg,” Shuder said. It is not as easy as the address on a person’s license. “My license says my zip code is in the Gulfport area, but in fact, my house is on the borderline.”
Even if a person owns a business in St. Petersburg, that person is not a resident of the city of St. Petersburg.
“I go to school in St. Pete, but my license address considers me a non-resident,” said William Nicks, a student at University South Florida of St. Petersburg. “I wanted to take a class at a community park, but wasn’t going to pay $125 on top of the fee for the class.”
St. Petersburg resident Ashley Molino feels similarly. “I don’t mind paying the extra $15. I know that it is going to a good cause, keeping the parks up to date and safe for the kids,” she said. She lives in an apartment in St. Petersburg, and goes to the gym to play basketball with her friends at Frank W. Pierce Community Park. However, she was put off by the amount of the non-resident rate.
If non-resident citizens want to participate in a program badly enough, the price is something they will have to deal with. The extra fee goes to the upkeep of community park facilities.
The Parks and Recreation Department is running a program for the children who reside in St. Petersburg. “Read for Rec” is a program where children must read 10 books. Their reward is a free Advantage Membership Card. Children must go their local library to sign up. If they already have a card, the one earned from reading will be prorated for the following year.
The Advantage Membership Card is a way for the city to bring in extra income in order to make sure the residents are provided with nice places to play and have fun. The city wants make sure the equipment provided is in good shape and are able to meet the demands of their residents.
This story was originally written for the USF St. Petersburg Neighborhood News Bureau. To read more of the Bureau’s stories, please visit http://www.nnbnews.com/.
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