Posted by Susan Hammond

PAST CONNECTIONS TO POOL

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville recently contributed $500 in support of the Village of Westfield Recreation Department’s pool program for youth at its Welch Field Pool, which was opened to the public on August 13, 1967. The Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club was the original lead organization that encouraged the Westfield Village Board officials to accept its swimming pool proposal, and it raised about $50,000 during the 1960’s towards construction costs.
 
Andrew Webster, Westfield Recreation Department Director, accepted this Rotary club’s $500 donation and came to its June 19 meeting to thank the group and to speak about the pool and various aspects of the Westfield Welch Field Summer Program.  Webster stated, “The Village of Westfield Recreation Department is one of only three in Chautauqua County, with the other two being in Dunkirk and Jamestown, more urban settings. As far as I know, our Welch Field Pool is the only public outdoor pool in the county. Last year, the pool celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville played the major role in establishing the pool. We are very grateful for this Rotary club’s support and its $500 contribution.”
 
He continued, “About 75% of our summer recreation activities involve the pool program. Annually we need at least $3,000 in donations to help offset associated costs, such as the four to five lifeguards, pool chemicals and minor expenses. We offer 100 open swims during the summer, and both youth and adult programs. The donation from your Rotary club will help us to continue to offer free swimming for youth under the age of 18, including swim lessons and swim team opportunities.”
 
Though the pool program is the most popular, Webster noted that the Westfield Recreation Department also offers field activities and a drama program. There are numerous outdoor activities, indoor games, field trips, arts and crafts sessions, special events, a skate park, free movies in Moore Park and Welch Field, special events and a bike tour. There are youth, adult and family programs.
 
After Webster concluded his presentation to the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville, he had an opportunity to meet and briefly speak with Steve Elliott, the only current club member who remembers this organization’s campaign to establish the Welch Field Pool.  Elliott, who has been a continuous member of Rotary since 1960, said, “Members of our Rotary club worked really hard to have this public pool become a reality. We had a lot of fundraisers, such as chicken barbecues, to raise the thousands of dollars that were needed.”  Pictured is Steve Elliot (left) with Andrew Webster.
 
In the 1960’s this Rotary club led a campaign to generate support of its pool proposal and it then raised about $50,000. Other groups and individuals helped to raise another $25,000 to build the pool. On May 9, 1967, a ground-breaking ceremony for the pool was held. The pool and a bathhouse were open to the public on August 13, 1967. Thanks to an anonymous individual, the girls’ locker room of the bathhouse was recently renovated.  The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville is proud of its history with the Welch Field Pool.
 

COMMUNITY SERVANT SCHOLARS

During the month of June, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville proudly presented eight local high school graduating seniors each with $300 scholarship awards for a total of $2,400. Two recipients from each of four local schools were selected by school district officials. Throughout their high school careers, the award recipients were often involved in many community and school volunteer service activities. Some of the seniors had been named as Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club’s “Scholars of the Month” during this past school year. Four Westfield-Mayville Rotarians were guest presenters of the awards at the schools’ various special events.
 
The four school districts, their respective senior award recipients, and the Rotarians who presented the awards were as follows:
 
Chautauqua Lake Central School: Evan Blakeslee and Quinton Fredrick – presented on June 5 by Dan Smith, Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club Youth Services Chair; 
 
Brocton Central School: Jennifer Potter and Timothy Skinner – presented on June 12 by Janese Berkhouse, Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club 2017-1018 President;
 
Sherman Central School: Michaela Barringer and Jared Gleason – presented on June 12 by Mary Swanson, Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club 2018-2019 President; and,
 
Westfield Academy and Central School: Anne-Catherine Schaaf and James Wolfe – presented on June 22 by Barbara Fay, Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club Member.