KROC: Swim and let swim

Regarding the letter to the editor from Robert Kobrick, "SWIM: Community missing from Kroc."

I'd like to present another perspective. First of all, I want to make it clear I am not an employee, just a regular member of Kroc.

I, and several other members, have noticed many problems that occur when the "swim meet mommies and daddies" show up for a meet. Generally speaking, they are loud, rude and disrespectful. I'll give you some specific examples:

1. My experiences in the "mezzanine area" differ greatly from Mr. Kobrick's. When I arrive in the morning for my workout on a swim meet day, I find at least 509 parents and kids clogging up the entire entrance area around the front door. I have to practically force my way through saying "Excuse me" at least five or six times in order to get to the check-in desk.

2. During the last meet, I observed a carload of mommy and kids park in the "62 and older reserved" parking area and commented to her that she didn't look 62 years old to me. Her response was, "Oh, I'm here for the swim meet." I believe part of the problem is the "I'm special" attitude.

3. There has been a problem with the swim meet people exiting the upstairs viewing area and congregating on the walk/jog track on the upper level and when asked to move, they act hostile and put out (there are other things occurring at the center other than a swim meet!).

4. There have been continuing problems with "swim meet" kids (probably brothers and sisters of meet participants) using the weight lifting and cardio equipment. There are age requirements and restrictions on the use of this equipment (not to mention liability/lawsuit problems) but it appears that some of the mommies and on the use of this equipment daddies set their kids loose to run wild over the whole facility.

As far as the problem with "NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK"... In my experience, I have never found a high school gym, college gym, city recreation gym, or nay other private gym or similar type facility that allows outside food or drink. I could just see if Kroc did allow it, you would have giant coolers being carted into the facility on swim meet days.

In conclusion, I'd just like to commend the staff at the Kroc Center. I've noticed that with every swim meet, the situation has improved because the staff has taken steps to control the out of control behavior of some of the participants. They've been very responsive to the complaints and observations of ALL the people that use the facility. I believe BOTH Ray and Joan Kroc would be very proud of both the facility and the great staff that works to keep the operation running smoothly for ALL the people that use the center.

Additionally, if Mr. Kobrick is so turned off by his experience at the fabulous Kroc Center, maybe he can convince the swim association to find another place to hold their meets since "it is (such) a sad day for Coeur d'Alene."

N. KEITH BUCKNER

Coeur d'Alene