By Micki Ryan

Special to the Islands’ Weekly

Good things are happening for the Friends of Lopez Island Pool and it’s time to share.

FLIP is seeking ways to reduce costs of pool construction while retaining two complementary indoor Myrtha pools.

Swimmers will have a choice of a smaller, warmer, easy access water therapy and learning pool in addition to the standard 25-yard, multi-use pool. We have interviewed a Mrytha pool construction company who can cut building costs in half by using pre-fabricated panel construction.

FLIP needs Building Project Committee members with construction project experience to help sift the pros and cons of this approach, and to find ways to place our Lopez contactors and subcontractors on the job.

We will soon launch a major capital campaign for construction, kicked off by a matching foundation grant, and need the expertise of one who has “been there and back” with construction management.

We have received the in-kind construction phase contributions of John Sorenson for land at the island center, Jeremiah Johnson for future excavation, Tom Pal for future painting, Ted Richey for water consultation, and Bob Parrish for surveying. With contributions from the community, foundations and visitors paying all fees as we go, FLIP is already more than midway through the final phase of project planning.

In nation news, the biannual USA Swimming Association “Build a Pool Conference” will be held in Seattle Oct. 14-16, 2011 together with the World Aquatic Conference.

FLIP volunteers will gather information and obtain a professional review of our pool strategy.

This is your chance to join FLIP in this final planning stage. FLIP will pay conference registration fees.

Contact Robin Bergstrom at 468-2253 by September 15, if you can join us there and bring our mantra to many ears: Lopez Will Swim!

You can also join us every Sunday afternoon at the MacKaye Harbor Boat Launch, where brave and enthusiastic wetsuit swimmers gather to support Lopez Pool fundraising.

Five new swimmers and sponsors this summer include Rita O’Boyle, Gene Helfman, Allan Dougherty, Jean Peterson and Michael Peterson, and also two young granddaughters of old-hand Swimmers of the Salish Sea.

For more info call 468-2253, visit the website www.lopezislandpool.org or email questions and comments to lopezislandpool@gmail.com.