Professional Pool Operators of America: A growing organization serves public-pool operators worldwide
There are lots of aquatics groups. This one isn't.
This group was conceived and carefully structured to serve those who are really in the pits (the pump pits and surge pits, that is) the functioning operator of that big, costly, complicated and busy public swimming pool or waterpark. The Professional Pool Operators of America, known simply as PPOA, is uniquely dedicated to improving the lot of the one who maintains the structure, the hardware and the water that makes it all happen.
The PPOA is looking optimistically towards its ninth year of service to these invisible public servants, now expanding to Canada, Europe, Australia, Nova Scotia, Central America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. A not-for-profit group, it was founded late in 1993 by Kent Williams, a well-known US writer and consultant in this industry. He and a cadre of able assistants established the group's goals: the conspicuous recognition, acknowledgment, training and refinement of the operators of institutional and public aquatic facilities throughout the Americas (and now the developed world). The PPOA's aim is to elevate and legitimize its members and the profession as a whole by creating a unique, professional distinction for the occupation of operating and managing public pools.
The PPOA has now grown adequately to become a voice in the industry, and its governing body has begun to work with state health departments and other regulatory groups – including NSPI and the American National Standards Institute – as well as the various national training organizations. These alignments have been created in order to further develop and standardize reasonable requirements for certification, licensing or other pre-entry recognition into the field of public pool operation. Improving and standardizing health-department codes has also become part of the PPOA's service agenda as the need for uniform health, operational, and safety standards has become more and more obvious – and a necessary application of this profession.
At the opening of the new century the PPOA has over 1500 members, each meeting the enrollment requirement to be certified as a graduate of a recognized pool-operator curriculum, an instructor therein, or a pool-assigned environmental health specialist. The long-standing National Swimming Pool Institute's Certified Pool Operator® and more recent National Recreation and Park Association's Aquatic Facility Operator® are the two most popular certification programs in the US, having produced together over 70,000 certified graduates. A quarter of these "operators" are management, recreation and aquatic personnel who have aquatic organizations to serve them at every turn. Nearly a hundred are operator trainers – professional educators who are as dedicated to the occupation as is the PPOA. About three dozen health-department officials belong, most of whom have completed one of the certification courses. The rest of the membership is comprised of bona-fide technicians and maintenance managers, having had, until now, few if any affiliations available to them for continuing education, support, and, identity.
Certainly the most visible and popular benefit received upon joining is the Pumproom Press, a quarterly newsletter published for active members which includes technical articles, information regarding pool courses and advanced training, networking for job opportunities, a computer bulletin board, safety information, member contributions, humor and more. Water chemistry and related technical writings show up as primary features in each issue, with broad-based, open-minded and technically sound discussions. The Pumproom Press scrupulously avoids commercialism or bias in its content. An Internet home page further expands accessibility and exposure. A new publication, the Pumproom Press Extra, is mailed at irregular intervals to cover special or timely issues of interest to all members, active or not.
The PPOA is designed and operated not for profit, with nonprofit incorporation pending. It maintains a strict non-commercial agenda. The group encourages free exchange of ideas, methods and techniques, training opportunities, and technical reference sources. All avenues of self-improvement and information are exploited in order to establish and maintain the highest standards of skill in the service and profession of public pool operation.
Advanced schooling is encouraged (and sometimes offered), with recognition given to those members who complete an approved curriculum above the respective entry-level requirements.
Simply stated, the PPOA intends to improve the quality and the image of public swimming-pool operators.
The PPOA functions simply and effectively. Once qualified, an operator is enrolled for life. All members are maintained as permanent lifetime, data-base-listed enrollees (registrants). Active status, however, is required to keep the newsletter in a member's mailbox, as well as to maintain voting rights, information mailings, and other unspecified privileges. An advanced course in pool operation may be offered regionally throughout the country, available to registered members (active and inactive) only.
The initial domestic fee to enroll in PPOA is currently $75. Outside the US, it is $90 (international money order in US funds). After the first year, the annual cost of renewal – to maintain active status – is now $25 or $30/US overseas. This fee is required in order to cover the expense of the Pumproom Press. Failure to renew active status does not affect membership, however; once registered a member remains enrolled, still receiving some member- or industry-related mailings but not the newsletter. Back issues (about 26) of the Pumproom Press are made available to members for $60, or $50 if purchased at the time of initial registration. For more information, visit the Membership Page.
A Corporate Membership program has recently been developed for $250 per year. Interested pool-related companies should write or call for details. For more information, visit the Benevolent Benefactors and Corporate Sponsorship Page.
For information about the Professional Pool Operators of America, the charter, sample newsletters or application material, call the California office at 916 663-1265 or the membership office at 916 686-5125. You can either fax your application to 916-663-2030, send an email message to kent@ppoa.org, or write to:
Professional Pool Operators of America
PO Box 164
Newcastle, CA 95658 |
Kappel Named President of the Executive Board
