“2011, What a Year” or, to parody Dr. Strangelove “How I Learned to Stop Worrying about the Heat and Love the Algae”

by Gary Beyer

What was that, anyway?  I’m talking about this last summer, Summer 2011.  100 plus temperatures for weeks, no, make that months on end.  If it wasn’t for Barton Springs, I would have spent the entire summer inside the air conditioning watching Bonanza re-runs.  Thank God (or the Goddess, or the Dharma) for Barton Springs.  Apparently everyone else felt the same way.  The attendance at Barton Springs this summer doubled as nature lovers who wanted to get outside and didn’t want to die from heat exhaustion took refuge in the cool, refreshing waters.  And poor old Barton Springs welcomed our presence in record numbers, but not without wear and tear.  The record drought has devastated the trees and grass, and reduced the spring flow to a trickle, resulting in the lowest water quality in a long time.  Still, our intrepid volunteers have fought on, sweeping record volumes of algae.  Thanks to you, we logged in over 900 hours of volunteer service to help keep the pool clean and clearer that it would have been otherwise.  Hats off  (or Namaste!)
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Many thanks, Friends.  We embraced the cool evening during this year’s Fall Social.  All enjoyed food (from Torchy’s Tacos) and the beer (from Austin Beerworks).  The crisp clear night was f as attendees huddled together in teams to spark neurons and sharpen minds, for the challenging Barton Springs Trivia Contest.

Quiz Master and Membership Director, Jesse Malone, kept three teams on point.   Though the contest was spirited, the other teams were no match for the Barton Springs Pool related knowledge of our outgoing President, Robin Cravey, and his team took the win.

Volunteer Appreciation Swim Cards went out to this year’s volunteers, Aaron Tucker, Mary Skyler, Mike and Jean Flahive. Helping clean the pool is what we do, FBSP is very grateful for all of our volunteers.

In Celebration, President Gary Beyer, offered words of appreciation as he presented outgoing president Robin Cravey with an Award of Recognition for Robin’s several years of dedicated work, planning, and service as President and Board Member of FBSP.  Robin, we look forward to hearing from you, and seeing you at the pool.  First Thursdays, there should be a broom with your name on it, maybe even a an algae net, a rail scrubber, a wheel barrow, a shovel, and of course other volunteers and friends to help.

Happy Solstice.  Good swimming to all!

Mary Y~

Fun Director, 2011

New Service Chair Thomas Schiefer, center, with Advocacy Chair Tom Weber, left, and an FBSP member

Meet our newest board member, Thomas Schiefer!  Thomas has taken over as Service Chair from dedicated board member Jonathan Beall, who is now Vice President.

Why did you join the Friends of Barton Springs Pool?

I always like to be an active participant in the community that I live in. Barton Springs being both the most special place in Austin as well as the most under attack from numerous factions makes FBSP a perfect fit for getting involved in issues I care about in the community.

What do you do during the day?

I run a not-for-profit teen radio program called Youth Spin. It is a program for teens from all over Austin who come together to make quality radio programming about music, politics, school and teen issues as a whole. We have our live show every Friday on KOOP 91.7FM at 6:00 to 7:00pm.

What does Barton Springs Pool mean to you?

Everything. Bikes rides, warm summer nights, childhood, tans, snorkeling, and Austin.

Favorite local band or artist?

Meghann Rosales…she does nail art!

Favorite moment volunteering for FBSP?0

When there were just a few of us sweeping in the water a baby snapping turtle swam by, giving us a really special show. You just do not see that when there are lots of people there.

Describe your first experience at Barton Springs Pool…

I cannot remember, but I bet it felt amazing, just like it does today.

How long have you been a member of FBSP?

I joined FBSP this summer 2011.

Besides BSP, where is your favorite hangout in Austin?

The French Legation. I love quaint things.

Favorite author?

James Baldwin, Larry McMurtry, Edward Abbey

Beer of choice?

I do not drink beer. I never liked the taste…please do not judge.

Thanks for the Memories

by Robin Cravey

Robin joins the broom line

Recently, I resigned as president of Friends of Barton Springs Pool.  This marks a turning point for me, and for FBSP.  The work goes on.

I launched FBSP almost six years ago to rescue the pool from neglect.  Devoting all my spare time and a good part of my work week to the pool was not in my personal plans, but I saw the need and I answered.  While sometimes frustrating, the work was tremendously enjoyable.  I made a lot of friends, learned a lot about the pool, got in the water a lot, and met with interesting people in some of the finest beer joints in town.

I took a sabbatical from FBSP in 2008 to run for office.  That was even more intense.  Steve Barnick served as president during that period, and he is now my ideal for what an ex-president of FBSP should be.

My personal pattern, through the years, has been to move from thought to action, thought to action.  The past six years have given me a pretty strong dose of action, and I’m more than ready for some contemplation.  Besides, my family is more than ready for me to give them some of the attention they deserve.

A friend once asked me how long I would stay as president, and I said: until FBSP is strong enough that I can set it free.  It’s time.  The Friends is well-established.

Our board is filled with strong and effective leaders who know how to get things done.  We have built up a strong tradition of stewardship and voluntarism.  We’ve developed a profound understanding of the springs and the pool.  I look forward to watching the board take the organization to the next level.

The Master Plan projects continue their slow progress, and while many may give their input, the Friends bring a consistency, preparedness, and positive can-do attitude that keeps things moving.   When some can see only problems, the Friends keep our calm and our eye on the goal.  We have a vision bright and clear.

The birth of FBSP in 2006

The work is important.  Those who came before us harnessed this wonder of nature for our enjoyment.  Yet it is a dynamic place.  Nature is powerful, and our puny man-made structures require constant maintenance.  Moreover, the facilities surrounding this place ought to be of a beauty to complement the natural inspiration.

It’s up to us to carry on the work.  Each of us can do our part.  Our part is not just to enjoy this wonderful place.  We can’t simply be heirs of the past.  We must also be benefactors of the future.

For most of the past six years, I’ve done my part as well as I could.  Now, I’m stepping aside.  Other members of the board are stepping up, and others are moving up to the board.  I’m proud to see that.  We always need new energy.  To those of you who hear the call, please answer.
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Board Member Maria Weber, former board members Chas Larios and Steve Barnick, and supporter Gerardo Larios enjoy the 2010 Fall Social

Swimmers – mark your calendars!  The Second Annual FBSP Fall Social will take place on Thursday, November 3rd at Torchy’s Taco Trailer on S. 1st Street!  Last year was the first year of this fun event where we celebrate YOU, our hardworking volunteers, and all the hours and blood, sweat and tears you’ve donated over the past year to make Barton Springs Pool the best it can be.  The party last year was a smashing success, and we want this year’s to be even better!

The event will take place from 6-9 pm, and will include all manner of fun activities, such as:

• Social hour with fellow volunteers and lovers of the pool,
• Appetizers and soft drinks donated by sponsor Torchy’s Tacos,
• Free libations from Austin Beerworks,
• Presentation by the FBSP President,
• Awards for outstanding volunteers, and
• a Barton Springs Pool trivia pub quiz, with awards!

So please come on out, bring the family, and let us THANK YOU for all you’ve done!  We hope to see you there!

Council Cleans the Pool Day 2011 was a huge success thanks to all of our volunteers, the E corp from American Youthworks, our sponsors, city staff and city councilmembers!  We had over 90 volunteers sign in for a total of over 300 hours of pool cleaning bliss.  Many, many volunteers stayed for 4, 6 and even 8 hour shifts!  Fully motivated with lots of coffee and breakfast tacos, it was definitely the most successful morning we have every seen on the Zen-pushbrooming conga line.  We swept through six full passes before noon and the pool shallow end was so clean, I was worried we might not have anything left for all the afternoon volunteers to do!  Few from the morning crew wanted to return to their real jobs as they were so impressed with the immediate sparkling impact they could see from the work they had already done in the morning.

Alas, a slight breeze picked up around lunchtime, breaking away masses of algae from other areas of the pool and threatened to spoil the fruits of our morning’s labours.  And then the afternoon algae calvary arrived, fueled by pizza, lots and lots of pizza.  The algae, of course, didn’t stand a chance.
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