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CNN Reports Swim Club Subpeonaed by Human Relations Commission

by Karen Hatter | July 13, 2009 at 09:14 am

317 views | 24 Recommendations | 7 comments

Bernice Duesler, wife of embattled Valley Swim Club president John Duesler, has stated that, on the advice of counsel, the swim club has been directed to attempt to get together with the camps whose memberships had been suspended by the swim club. The club has stated safety concerns motivated the club's actions.

CNN is reporting that according to e mails it has obtained, provisions were being made to hire additional lifeguards during the time the day camp memberships were revoked, in an effort to accommodate the expected increase of children expected to be in attendance at the pool.

The only camp that has been named in relation to cancelled memberships has been the Creative Steps Day Camp.

The Valley Swim Club has offered to restore memberships to the Creative Steps Day Camp and the other camps. It has not been determined if the offer will be accepted by Creative Steps or the other day camps.

As a result of reports of racial statements overheard by some of the children of the Creative Steps Day Camp, who were attending a swim session on June 29, 2009 at the Valley Swim Club and the subsequent revocation of the membership and barring of the day camp, an investigation of the incident has been called for by Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter and will be conducted by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

Alethea Wright, director of Creative Steps Day Camp, has expressed her concerns regarding returning the children to the swim club, inquiring if the individuals who made those remarks remain at the club.

The day camp is composed of Latino and African American children, from kindergaten age to seventh grade.

Click here to read the CNN article.

Also at NowPublic :

Amid a Maelstrom, Swim Club Reaches out to Creative Steps Camp

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albertacowpoke

at 10:43 on July 13th, 2009

Maybe this is a step in the right direction, although it took very public ridicule to get to this point. Hopefully this can be settled to everyone's satisfaction. In the interest of harmony I sure hope so.

Karen Hatter

at 15:28 on July 13th, 2009

Philly.com is reporting several children from Creative Steps Day Camp stated, as they boarded a bus to another facility, they don't want to return to Valley Swim Club, with one child saying he didn't want to be " .... treated the same."

Tina Kells

at 15:31 on July 13th, 2009

"The only camp that has been named in relation to cancelled memberships has been the Creative Steps Day Camp."

A second camp was identified three days ago (AP Report):

A second day camp whose children were turned away by a Philadelphia-area swim club later accused of racism says its group was treated well.

Joanne Rosenthal of the Storybook Children's Center in northeast Philadelphia said Friday she believed The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley when it says her group was turned away because of crowding.

Another camp, Creative Steps, had arranged for 65 mostly black and Hispanic children to swim there. Director Alethea Wright says some children reported hearing racial comments and the camp's money was refunded a few days later.

The club says it couldn't accommodate so many children.

Rosenthal says at least half her group of about 25 were minorities.

Karen Hatter

at 20:48 on July 13th, 2009

The CNN article that is referred to and linked here lists only the Creative Steps Day Camp, by name, for reinstatement of its membership.

caj1

at 17:05 on July 13th, 2009

Karen, Thanks for your continuing coverage of this story. How it turns out is important.

duo

at 06:25 on July 14th, 2009

Thank you, Karen. I am glad the Creative Steps camp has another pool to go to already. I don't think I would feel secure about my child going around all of that WATER with people who left their sheets in the locker room.

As you may recall, I posted your news article at Care2 News Network, where it was Front Page for days. Many members who are mostly Caucasians spoke out about this issue, and signed the petition for appropriate action. I hope that the white children and the black children take a look at their comments and KNOW that not all people feel the way the director and some Valley Swim Club members feel about diversity. I believe most people recognize that prejudice is counterproductive, and beside that, it is wrong. Here is the link to Care2 members' input: http://www.care2.com/news/member/513396753/1189694

Good news that this is being addressed. It just occurred to me that the grown-ups in this situation are having to be disciplined like little kids. Often parents and teachers have to remind children - "Y'all be good now. Play nice. Don't be inconsiderate. Try to get along." It is a shame that the Human Relations Commission has to remind Valley Swim Club of something they should have learned in kindergarten.

Mary