About US

Bylaws

The Donner bylaws are the operational guidelines for the club, and include information  about membership, voting rights, board, code of conduct, etc.

revised 2005

Mission
 

It is the mission of the Donner Swim Club to provide the greater Columbus community with the opportunity to participate in a formal, structured swimming program designed to meet the needs of children.

Philosophy
 

We believe that our age group competitive swimming program offers a lifetime experience for our youth. Competitive swimming can be learned and enjoyed by those with little or no ability as well as those who are of Olympic caliper. The value gained from this experience is more than just swimming efficiency.
 

We believe a disciplined and enjoyable environment is the key factor for the success of our program; that success begins with our youth at an early age and challenges all who participate to follow a continuous developmental program from the novice level through age group and on to the national level.
 

We believe swimming is more than stroke efficiency and gaining endurance. Swimming is a "whole life" discipline that becomes characteristic of one's personality. A few of the benefits are lifelong fitness, self-discipline, responsibility, citizenship, athletic integrity, and personal relationships with others.
 

We believe in attempting to meet the needs of every swimmer from novice level all the way up to the Olympic level. We feel each swimmer is important and has the freedom to choose their own level of proficiency.

History

Donner pool opened July 4, 1948.  One swim meet was held that year. The Superintendent of Parks and Recreation then began a program of swimming instruction.

Subsequently, the swim team was formed for two reasons:first it gave the swimmers in the classes incentive to swim well enough to be on the team, and second to give the girls and boys an opportunity to participate in a competitive sport.

There was a need for the right kind of competition, but there were few comparable teams at that time.  Donner swam against Riviera and the Indianapolia Athletic Club.  Soon after Donner Pool was built, neighboring cities began building pools.  Through Donner's effort, the South Central Swimming Conference was formed.  Bloomington, Seymour, and Washington were among the first conference members along with Donner Swim Club.

With all the activity on the part of the swimmers, a need arose for a parent organization.  The first parent meeting was probably held in preparation to entertain the Lakeside team.  This was in return for the hospitality shown when the Columbus team was in Louisville.

The first regular meeting at which minutes were kept was December 5, 1953.  The purpose of the parent organization at this time was to assist with the transportation, run meets and to provide awards.  Among the many accomplishments of the Parents Club was the ability to run meets efficiently.  The State Age Group meet was held here in 1959.

Another project with which the Parents Club had become closely associated with was the Exchange Club Meet-- the first such meet held at Donner pool in 1952.

By September of 1965 Donner Swim Club became an incorporated organization.

As a direct result of the swimming program sponsored by Parks and Recreation Department, the high school's swimming team grew and developed.  Donner swimmers have since made names for themselves in both high school and collegiate swimming for many years.