The Inverness Recreation Club (IRC), through its elected Board of Directors (Board) has adopted the following policies and points of clarification to existing IRC practices and procedures. These policies and clarifications are in addition to and not meant in any way to alter, amend or supersede any powers given to the Board through the IRC Bylaws. These rules may be changed or amended at any time by the IRC Board of Directors with notice to the membership through the IRC website. All members and guests who use the IRC facilities are subject to these rules and procedures.
COVID Safety
Reservations
Check-In and Check-Out
Membership
IRC is a private club supported exclusively by member fees. IRC does not discriminate against any person seeking membership or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or political ideology.
Membership requirements generally are set forth in the IRC Bylaws. Membership and access to IRC facilities is conditioned on agreement with the membership terms and conditions, payment of the membership fee, and abiding by all policies and procedures of IRC. Failing to follow IRC rules or procedures may result in sanctions including suspension or revocation of membership.
All members seeking to use IRC facilities must abide by the following entry procedures:
Guest passes are made available to members for an additional charge to allow members to bring occasional, non-member guests to the facility. Members seeking to bring more than ten guests to the pool at a time must schedule and pay for a party.
The following is the procedure with respect to all guests who are presented for entrance to IRC:
Guest passes may not be used by members in a way that abuses the privilege. Examples of guest pass abuse include, but are not limited to:
Members who abuse their guest privileges are subject to sanction which may include temporary suspension or revocation of membership without refund.
The following is the procedure with respect to Instances of Abuse of Guest Privileges:
All members or guests using the IRC facilities, including the pools, tennis courts, sport court, and playground area do so at their own risk. Members will be held responsible for all actions of their children and guests.Β Β
IRC is a non-smoking facility. No smoking is allowed on the IRC property, including the parking lot.
Members may bring their own food and drink to the pool. No food or drink may be consumed in the pool or within three feet of the pool. Alcohol may be consumed only by individuals over the age of 21 and only in the eating area near the picnic tables or in the clubhouse. If, in the discretion of pool management, consumption of alcoholic beverages adversely impacts safety or enjoyment of the facility by members, individuals may be asked not to consume alcoholic beverages or to leave the facility.
Glass is not permitted in the IRC facility. This includes glass containers for food and beverages. Members or guests who bring in glass items or are otherwise in possession of glass items will be asked to remove the glass from the facility. Glass may not be deposited in IRC trash or recycling receptacles. Any person or group attempting to conceal glass while in the IRC facility will be ejected from the facility. Repeated violation of this rule may result in suspension or revocation of membership.
Grills are available on a first come, first served basis for use by members, except in cases where the IRC Board has reserved the grills for use in connection with IRC-sponsored events. For the health and convenience of all members using IRC grills, members should clean the grills after each use.Β
IRC is not responsible for theft or other loss or damage to personal possessions, including electronic equipment or other belongings members bring to the pool. Individuals using electronic equipment (e.g., laptops, ipads, Kindles, ipods, phones, radios) at the facility do so at their own risk of loss or damage. Members should refrain from the use of non- waterproof electronic equipment near to the pool or in wet areas, lest the equipment be damaged or create a risk of injury to individuals using the pool.
IRC is not responsible in any way for member or guestβs personal property. Items that appear to be left unattended will be moved to the lost and found.
Table tennis or βping pongβ tables are provided by IRC for reasonable use by members at their own risk. These tables may only be used to play table tennis. Individuals may not climb or sit on the tables, and any use of the table which is outside the scope of reasonable play or which threatens, annoys, or disturbs members using the IRC facility is prohibited. Abuse of the table tennis tables or equipment as well as use of the equipment which is outside the scope of table tennis play may result in removal from the IRC facility.
IRC lifeguards and other management staff are not responsible for supervising use of the playground equipment or sport court. Parents are responsible for supervising their children when using the equipment or sport court to assure that their children have adequate physical ability and coordination to use the equipment properly. Children and adults use the equipment and sport court at their own risk.
Individuals must use reasonable care when on the pool deck. Individuals may not run, push, or engage in any other horseplay on the pool deck or in the pool. This includes, but is not limited to, fighting, carrying other individuals as part of play, throwing or pushing another into the pool, and taking βrunning startsβ before entering the pool.
Individuals may run, play with balls, Frisbees, and squirt guns or similar toys only on the grassy areas of the facility. With the exception of use of the basketball hoop in the pool, such activities are not permitted on the concrete or in the pool. Individuals using squirt guns or similar toys on the grassy areas may only do so as part of consensual play and not to annoy, harass or otherwise interfere with other individualsβ enjoyment of the facility. If an individual using a squirt gun or other toy is the subject of a complaint to staff, or if in the staffβs judgment such individual is interfering with other individualsβ enjoyment of the facility, the squirt gun or other toy will be confiscated and/or the individual with the squirt gun or toy will be asked to leave the IRC facility.
Except for the specified βdog swimβ and service animals, dogs and other pets are permitted on IRC premises only in the parking area and in grassy areas outside of the fences. Owners must clean up after their pets.
Patrons may not use profanity or abusive language while in the IRC facility.
Only authorized personnel are permitted in the admission office, chemical and filter equipment rooms, and on lifeguard stands.
Skateboarding is not permitted in the IRC parking lot, tennis court, or anywhere else in the facility.
There shall be no pushing, fighting or otherwise causing of disturbance anywhere in the facility. Any individual who, in the opinion of pool management or the lifeguards, creates a disturbance, fails to follow rules or requests from lifeguards or management, or poses a risk to the health or safety of members using the facility, may be asked to leave the IRC facility.
Swim lessons may only be provided by IRCβs pool management company. This company employs IRCβs swim team coaches and others who are authorized to provide swim lessons. Swim lessons may not be provided by members or their guests who are not employed by the pool management company.
Consistent with Montgomery County regulations, a bather will be excluded from the pool where he or she:
Unsanitary acts such as spitting, urinating, and blowing nose are prohibited in the pool. The manager or lifeguards also may refuse use of the pools by any individual who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or who the manager or lifeguards otherwise believe is unable to safely use the pool.
In compliance with Maryland law, the pool area will be cleared any time that thunder is heard or lightning is seen. The pool will re-open 1β2 hour after the last occurrence of thunder or lightning. No one is permitted in the pools during thunderstorms, when lightning is visible, or when the manager or lifeguards have requested that the pool be vacated. Weather updates will be made onΒ TwitterΒ @invernessrecΒ which can also be found on our Twitter feed on the main landing page of this website.
The wading pool is restricted to children under six. The wading pool is not supervised by the lifeguard staff. Children in the wading pool must be supervised by an individual at least 15 years of age and within arms-reach at all times.
Individuals may enter the pool only in proper bathing attire. Shorts and other attire not designed for swimming may not be worn in the pool, except for adults attending to children in the wading pool. Individuals must be barefooted when entering the main pool. Water shoes only are permitted in the wading pool.
For the health of everyone using the pool, children who are not fully toilet trained must wear BOTH a tightly fitted swim diaper and separate tightly fitted plastic pants before entering any pool. Children who are not fully toilet trained may only use the wading pool and (if accompanied by an adult within armβs reach) the shallow end of the main pool.
Children who cannot swim 25 meters may not be in any part of the pool in which they are not tall enough to stand on the bottom unless they are accompanied by an adult (age 15 or over) who remains within armβs reach. IRC lifeguards and pool management reserve the right to ask children to limit swimming to specified areas or not enter the water if such children appear to be in distress or unable to safely swim.
Only individuals (no matter what age) who are able to swim 25 meters are permitted in the diving well. IRC lifeguards and management reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the diving well who appears to be unable to safely swim at that depth. In addition, individuals who use the diving boards must observe the following rules:
Lap lanes are to be used exclusively for swimming laps. Individuals who are not swimming laps should not enter or cross the lap lanes.
Rest periods will be announced each hour by the pool staff. During this period, all children under the age of 15 must be completely out of the main pool. Except for swim lessons given by an IRC swim instructor, only individuals who are age 15 or older may be in the pool during adult swim. Children under the age of 15 should not sit on the edge of the pool with their feet in the water or sit on the steps to the pool during adult swim.
No dunking (holding another personβs head under water), βchickenβ fighting, water fighting, unnecessary splashing, acrobatics, towel snapping, wrestling, sitting on shoulders, pushing people into the pool and other unsafe acts as determined by the lifeguards are permitted. IRC lifeguards and management may remove at any time any individual who engages in behavior that is unsafe or threatens the safety or enjoyment of others using the pool.
Toys and Floatation Devices
Parents are responsible for assuring that their children engage in safe diving practices and that the water in which they dive is suitably deep for diving. Diving is permitted only in the deep end of the pool, in depths 5 feet or greater.
Parents are responsible for assuring that their children are adequately supervised under all circumstances while using the IRC facility. IRC and pool management staff recommend that no child be left alone or unsupervised at the pool for any amount of time or for any reason. IRC and pool management staff do not in any way monitor or otherwise assume any risk for children using the facility without proper supervision. If it is discovered that a child is using the facility without proper supervision by an adult or person of suitable age and discretion, the child may be removed from the facility at the pool managementβs discretion.
Pool Access by Kids Age 12+
If it is discovered that an adult has left a child under the age of 10 without proper supervision at the IRC facilities, the child will be removed from the pool deck area and will not be permitted to use the facilities until such time as a parent or other responsible adult returns and resumes supervision of the child. This includes the time period after the conclusion of swim team practice. If a child under the age of 12 is left at the IRC facility without proper adult supervision, the member will receive a warning from pool management. Repeated warnings for failure to supervise may result in suspension or revocation of membership.
Any child (even if over the age of 12) who, in the judgment of the lifeguards or pool management, threatens the safety or comfort of him/herself or other IRC members using the facility, may be asked to leave the premises.
The IRC is a community facility that is operated for the use and enjoyment of its members. If, in the judgment of the lifeguards, a member or a memberβs child, employee or guest engages in conduct that is abusive to the facility, such as acts of vandalism, jeopardizes the enjoyment of the facility for other members, or threatens the safety and comfort of him/herself or of other members, the offending individual may be removed from the facility. Egregious or repeated violations of this policy may result in suspension or revocation of membership.
IRC staff members, including lifeguards and the pool manager, are employed by a management company engaged by the IRC Board of Directors. If a member has concerns with the conduct of any IRC staff member, the member is encouraged to report his or her concerns to the IRC Board.
However, IRC strives to be an inclusive community that provides a safe, comfortable environment for members, guests, and employees. To that end, members and their guests may not engage in behavior that is deemed abusive to staff. Such behavior includes arguing over enforcement of IRC rules, yelling, threats, insults and any conduct that causes fear for personal safety.
Members and their guests are on notice that photos and video recordings of children and adults are made throughout the IRC summer swim season and that such photos and video recordings may be posted on the IRC website, used as part of the IRC swim banquet, or otherwise made available on social media in connection with IRC swim activities. All photographs and recordings made must observe generally accepted standards of decency, including:
Individuals who do not wish to have their image captured in photo or video recording and used as described above must opt out via a written statement addressed to the IRC Board. Note that the IRC Board will make every reasonable effort to ensure that photo images and video recordings of a member who opts out will not be posted on the website or used as part of swim team activities. However, the opt out is not available for large group, crowd, or general scene photos and recordings. Moreover, IRC is not responsible for photos or video recordings taken by other members or guests for their own use.
Members must schedule parties at the pool through the pool manager. Please see the pool manager for further information on scheduling a party.
The Clubhouse may be made available for member parties only in the event a previously scheduled outdoor party is rained out and only upon prior payment of a refundable $200 deposit in addition to the $100 non-refundable party fee. The deposit will be refunded if immediately after the party, the party host cleans and restores the Clubhouse and furnishings to the condition in which they were prior to the party.Β Β Any Clubhouse use for private parties under the above conditions is conditional on the availability of the clubhouse, since the area is a shared resource for swim meet and tennis summer camper activities.
Tables may be reserved for parties or other gatherings on a first come, first served basis and are only guaranteed with a non-refundable reservation fee. Only pool members in good standing, with fully-paid membership, may reserve a table. Table reservations may only be accepted by the pool board coordinator, pool manager, or assistant manager.
An adult IRC member hosting must be in attendance for the entire event.
Limits on parties may be imposed on a given day or time to prevent hindrance of the use of pool facilities by the membership.Β For example, table reservations will not be allowed on Wednesday home B-meet events when during the swim season.Β Similarly, hosting a party on a βhigh useβ demand day may be restricted by pool management.Β
Members can refer their friends! If members refer friends who are new to IRC (have never been a member) and they join for a full season, the referring member will receive $100 credited back to their original form of payment. The referring member must be a current member. Valid on full season memberships only. New member must indicate referral at time of registration.
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