News

Advocacy + impact

Highlights from budget advocacy, awareness building, equipment upgrades, and ongoing work.

Highlights

Work from 2025-2026 spans advocacy, awareness, operational support, and long-term organization building.

8 key updates 2025-2026 coverage $7,000 in equipment support

Recent updates

  1. Mar-May 2025

    Budget advocacy

    Initial budget advocacy

    Successful campaign for continued City of Cottage Grove funding of WDAC community programs for the 2025-26 fiscal year, engaging 250+ community members and culminating in unanimous approval by the city budget committee.

  2. Mar-Jul 2025

    Community awareness

    Awareness building

    Friends designed and sold 73 "I love my community pool" T-shirts, marched in the Bohemia Mining Days Parade, and attended Art Walks to share WDAC information and community value.

  3. Fall 2025

    WDAC operations

    Equipment upgrades

    $7,000 donated to purchase a commercial steam cleaner and wave-dampening lane lines that support both lap swimmers and competitive swimming.

  4. 2025-2026

    WDAC operations

    Staffing support

    Friends partnered to fund lifeguard training, credential renewals, and recruit timers for Cottage Grove High School competition meets.

  5. Oct 2025-Jan 2026

    Organization

    BYB nonprofit status

    Friends organized as a sponsored project of Be Your Best Cottage Grove (BYB), enabling tax-deductible donations. Agreement signed mid-January 2026.

  6. 2025-2026

    Recognition

    Bud Taylor recognition

    Friends continue to support alumni efforts to honor Coach Bud Taylor and the naming of the lap / competition pool in his legacy.

  7. Q4 2025-Q1 2026

    Community awareness

    Awareness + communication

    New logo and website launched to inform, grow membership, and support ongoing advocacy.

  8. Winter 2025-Spring 2026

    Budget advocacy

    Budget advocacy continues

    Friends continue advocacy as the city deliberates funding for FY 2026-2027, including meetings with school district and city leadership and materials for budget committee members.

  9. Mar-Apr 2026

    WDAC operations

    Staffing support

    Funded professional development attendance for WDAC supervisory and operations staff.

Photos from our community

View all photos
Friends of WDAC in Bohemia Days parade
Bohemia Days Parade Photo credit: Greg Lee
Lane lines and lap swim
Lane lines / lap swim Photo credit: Stephenie Wheeler
Deck scrubber and pool support equipment
Deck scrubber support Photo credit: courtesy of WDAC
Adult water class
Adult water class Photo credit: Joyce Settelmeyer

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