Letter from our President.

Nick Echelbarger · President

Klahaya,

Your Board of Directors and GM have been working tirelessly this off-season to get the club launched for another fabulous summer. Over the months of May and June you will see a series of major functional and cosmetic improvements around the club, including new sheds, landscaping improvements, improved tennis bleacher areas, new lane lines for meet-days, revised signage, a repainted/improved basketball court, revised trophy/award display, new non-slip mats, and countless other small touches. Procedurally we have a number of improvements to communications, lesson registration, annual member survey, new member onboarding and others.

"OK OK but…what's up with the tennis courts?!?!"

Klahaya Tennis 2026 is ON, and further updates follow from your Tennis Chair. Significant missteps were taken on the in-take of our permit and have resulted in major permitting delays. Replacing our existing fence requires a different type of permit than what the City of Edmonds originally indicated should be applied for — one that could take us up to four months to obtain. The pivot is simple; we are resurfacing the courts one last time for a safe and playable season and have scheduled the larger project for a September start.

One consequence is you will find a bit more going on around the lawn area and sheds in the May to June timeframe, as project elements not specifically tied to the tennis court permit are executed. An exciting number of facility upgrades are coming online soon.

"What happened with that Frog Emeritus thing? What is it again?"

Klahaya has a NEW user category called Frog Emeritus, adopted by our recent member vote. It provides access to adult programming, some guest usage for general pool time, reduced dues and volunteer hours, no capital assessment, and preserves a family transfer for your future planning. Each new Frog Emeritus transition opens a Full Membership spot for a new family.

This is a very exciting new program. We hope you will all carefully consider your usage pattern and whether a Frog Emeritus transition is right for you. We have a ton of young families on the waitlist eager to share the joy of a Klahaya summer and you can help them realize that dream.

"So, we have some new families?!"

We have a TON of new families this summer. Currently 35 and counting. More exciting details in the Membership update but we'll have reduced our waitlist by 10–15% by June.

We anticipate record participation in the swim team, a lot of new tennis team members and a nice uptick in lesson participation.

Onboarding these families to our culture is an incredibly important job for all of us! #1 — there are going to be a bunch of name tags at events, more than usual. Please use them! Names, faces, a friendly smile, an introduction and a handshake are all the little bits of social glue that helps our club thrive.

In order to thrive we also need a big renewal of our volunteer culture! We have already collected a staggering $34,000 of missed-volunteer-hour payments and more are coming. Unfortunately, money does not solve these problems — we need your smile and service to create the culture we all value.

The Board has been concerned about this slippage for a number of years. It is a multi-factor problem involving society, our more complicated lives, covid outfall, GM churn and others. We can and will continue to raise the penalty for missed hours (the "stick") but would much rather have everyone rally around reinvigorating our volunteer culture (the "carrot"). Pancake breakfasts, ladder cross pizza runs, dual meets that run like a Swiss watch, a sparkling facility, etc. require us all to jump in with both feet and reinvigorate our dear club.

Thank you for all your love and support for our little slice of summertime heaven. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Important Info from your Treasurer.

Carolyn Brennan · Volunteer Treasurer

Klahaya!

It's my pleasure to serve as your volunteer treasurer alongside an incredible board that is doing great work for our club. With just one child left at home after September, this felt like the perfect time for me to give back to the community that has given our family so many wonderful memories and friendships.

From the outset, I want to assure you that Klahaya is financially sound — thanks in large part to the hard work of my predecessor, Ben Copstead, and our long-standing finance team, Monica Mace and Mary Rich, who have served the club as bookkeepers for more than 15 years.

We've recently rolled out a new payroll system to better support our employees, including our fantastic and hard-working new manager, Jordan Redford. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their volunteer hours — and to those who chose to pay them off. We're also introducing a new volunteer hour tracking system, which we expect will be fully in place by the end of the summer.

The board is continually looking for ways to improve the member experience and is adopting new digital tools where they make sense. A great example is the new option to pay dues through MemberSplash via ACH transfer. Please bear with us if things feel a little bumpy at first — it will get easier. Our goal is to be fair, accurate, consistent, and efficient (FACE).

I'm looking forward to sharing next year's proposed budget at our annual meeting later this summer. I'll be around the club more often and would love to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones — please say hello!

News from the Manager.

Jordan Redford · Manager

Hello Klahaya families,

This spring I have the unique opportunity of preparing for the summer without previous seasons to lean on. It has been an eye-opening month, and I have learned so much from our members, board, and staff about the genuine warmth Klahaya fosters. To everyone who has said hello while passing by the pool: thank you for showing me the heart of the community I am now privileged to serve. My family and I are grateful for the welcome and excited about our first summer as "frogs."

We use the word community often, but at Klahaya, it is more than just a word. The Klahaya community is built through shared traditions, such as the first plunge of the season, the scent of a new can of tennis balls, or an otter pop earned from a flawless belly flop. These defining moments of the Klahaya experience range from the discipline of early morning laps to the familiar encouraging voices of our coaches.

That same sense of belonging is what fuels our staff as we prepare for the 2026 opening. The staff is eager and excited for the season ahead. I've been inspired by the genuine heart these young leaders are already pouring into their roles and the clear love they have for Klahaya and the Frog Community.

Over the past six weeks, it has been motivating and exciting to work with our Board of Directors. They are a dedicated group of volunteers with a remarkable ability to balance immediate club needs with a long-term vision. Just like our staff, they share a genuine love for this club, and I am thrilled to get to work with them as we build a new set of memories.

Volunteer hours.

Three categories. One Klahaya.

There are 3 exciting categories of volunteer hours.

Members are responsible for logging their volunteer hours via the website.

General Information.

Rules and Expectations

• Club hours will be furnished to members and posted on our website at klahaya.net.
• During open pool hours, two certified lifeguards will be on duty at all times.
• All members and guests must have a signed liability waiver on file before entering the club. Children (including guests) must have a parent- or guardian-signed waiver.
• Persons using the Club do so at their own risk. The Club will not be held responsible for any accident or injury in connection with such use.
• The Club will not be held responsible for the loss of personal property.
• No abusive language is allowed.
• Alcohol and tobacco products are not permitted on the premises.
• Costs of damaged Club property will be charged to the responsible member, their guests, or anyone on their accounts.
• No cell phone use and absolutely no video recording in the restrooms/changing areas.

More Club Policies and Rules can be found at klahaya.net/about/rulesregulations

Pool safety policies

General Safety Rules

• Walk on the pool deck.
• No wrestling, pushing or dunking.
• Toys are allowed in the pool at staff discretion.
• No food is allowed on the pool deck. Food is allowed on the terraces only.
• Non-alcoholic beverages in non-glass containers are allowed on the pool deck and terraces.
• Children under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult who remains on the pool deck unless the child has passed a basic pool test and is at least 8 years old.

Guest Policy & Pool Rentals.

How guests, parties, and rentals work.

Guest policies

• Guests bring great joy to Klahaya.
• A guest is any non-member who sets foot on Klahaya property for any activity including — but not limited to — swimming, tennis, supervision of children, sunbathing, picnicking, basketball, etc.
• Members as defined in the bylaws are: All residents of a household who live in that household, and family members, limited to the following: Adult(s) who purchased the membership, and person(s) who reside with and are living as members of the household, including children of any age; and adult children under the age of twenty-six (26), regardless of where they live.
• All guests must be accompanied by a member and will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to entrance to the club. Guests under the age of 18 will be required to have a parent or guardian complete the form on their behalf in advance. Forms will be made available online for advance completion.
• Members are responsible for the actions of their guests and will be assessed a guest fee per guest at the time of the visit.

Pool rental policies

• A group consists of at least 1 member and their guests.
• Groups that include 5–9 guests (and any number of members) must make a courtesy call to the club to use the pool.
• Groups that include 10 or more guests (and any number of members) must arrange in advance to rent the pool during hours that the pool is closed.
• All members and their guests must leave the property by 10 p.m. This is a courtesy to ensure good relations with our neighbors. Please clean up after your party and your guests!
• The tennis courts are not open to pool rental guests.
• As a courtesy to our neighbors, please refrain from playing music.
• If members are planning a multi-family BBQ and swim party, they must contact the manager before the activity to see if a pool rental will be required.
• School parties are limited to one class of up to 35 children.
• ALL guests at the pool must complete a liability waiver before entering the property. Guests who are 18 years of age or under must have a waiver completed by a parent or guardian.

Membership Update.

Kelly Jain · Membership

We've had a lot of movement in membership this year! Nineteen families stepped away from Klahaya, opening the door for 19 new families to join. We made 38 offers in that first round, with about half declined, most often due to kids aging out of pool use, moving, or joining another club in the area. We welcomed back several former child members, who are returning with their own families to make some new memories.

We also introduced our new Emeritus Frog program for families who want to stay connected while phasing out of youth programming and full pool and tennis use. Fourteen excited members opted in, allowing us to welcome an additional 15 new families. In this round, we made 32 offers, again with about a 50% acceptance rate.

In total, we've cleared around 70 spots off the waitlist (with a few offers still pending!) and are excited to welcome 35 new families this season.

Communications Update.

Justin Farris · Communications Director

Hey all — excited to join the board this year and help with all things communication, technology, and more to support our staff and member families all summer long.

Email troubles?

A handful of members have told us they're not receiving our emails. If that's you (or a member you know), drop a note to [email protected] so we can sort it out. We're rolling out an improved email system this summer, so keep an eye on your inbox.

The in-season Member Portal is live!

Head over to members.klahaya.net and sign in with the email you normally use with Klahaya. On there you can find:

• 🐸  Volunteer opportunities and log your hours
• 🏊  Sign up for lessons for later sessions (Session 1 signups happen in person on opening day)
• 🎾  Manage team signups, and swim team opt-outs
• 🍦  Access your digital popsicle punch card
• 🥬  and more to come!

If you have any trouble, or suggestions on how we can make things better, please let me know!

Follow along on socials

• Instagram: @klahayaswimtennis
• Facebook group: "Klahaya Swim & Tennis Club Members"

Annual Member Survey

This year we're launching an annual member survey. Our goal is to learn from our members what is going well, what needs improvement, and where the board, our staff, and the club broadly should invest. You can access the survey here and look for reminders in your inbox and at the club over the coming month.

See you poolside soon!

Swim Team.

Tom Schutte & Rachel Reiber · Head Coaches

Get ready to create more core memories during the 2026 Klahaya Swim Season! We're excited to welcome a wave of new Frogs to the Frog Nation and can't wait to meet new faces and reconnect with our returning families.

Every year, we rally around a theme that shapes our team culture — and I'm excited to announce this season's theme: "Greatness Happens Here! LTZGO!"

Okay…can you feel that energy?! Good — because we're just getting started!

Key logistics for your radar

Our swim season kicks off before the club opens on Monday, May 11th and runs for 12 weeks. The season is split into two six-week sessions. The first half of the season is when kids are in school, practices are held in the evenings from 5:30–8:00 PM (grouped by age). The second half continues once school is out and we transition to morning practices from 7:30–11:00 AM.

As coaches, we're here to build more than just strong swimmers — we're here to build confident, strong kids. Of course, we focus on developing swim skills, but it's about so much more than that. We aim to create unforgettable fun, build a strong and supportive community, and teach life skills like discipline, teamwork, and perseverance along the way. We welcome all skill levels and love meeting every swimmer where they are, helping them grow in and out of the water while developing a lifelong love for the sport.

And now for the fun part… 🎉

Your 2026 summer coaching team

We've got another stellar coaching lineup this summer, and we can't wait for you to meet them! We're coming in strong with two head coaches, two assistant coaches, and two incredible volunteer coaches.

A few final notes

1. If you need to still register, all of the details plus our summer swim schedule can be found on the swim team page here.
2. It is important to emphasize that HALF of our summer swim season happens when school is still in session. Practice attendance directly relates to skill development and comfortability for kids. Our team will be strong if kids learn skills and get into shape long before our meets begin in late June. I know it is a busy time so let us know how we can help fit it all in! If anyone needs a makeup practice at 6 AM with Coach Tom, say the word!
3. Suits and Caps — more to come on this in the coming days. Stay tuned for details on how to purchase through our website.

Swim Director Update.

Vanessa Stedman · Swim Director

We are looking forward to a great season with frogs of all ages enjoying our beautiful pool from mornings to night.

Coach Tom, Coach Rachel and the entire staff are ready for the 2026 swim team season! Frogs will begin diving in May 11th. Be sure to register for the team as soon as possible at this link: 2026 Swim Team Registration — Klahaya Swim & Tennis Club.

Frogs of all levels are welcome to join the team but will need to be able to pass the swim test to join the team.

Swim lessons

Session 1: June 22 – July 2 · Session 2: July 6 – July 16 · Session 3: July 13 – July 23 · Session 4: TBD. Class descriptions and schedule can be found on the website.

Registration for Session 1 will be held on Opening Day, May 16 in person at Klahaya. Further details will follow.

Private lessons are also available with our swim instructors for $35 for ½ hour, or with the swim team coaches for $50 for ½ hour. To schedule contact manager Jordan at [email protected].

Water polo

We are looking forward to another great water polo season this year in August! We welcome once again Water Polo Head Coach Max Maier. This year we are excited to explore offering a new age group for our growing Frogs with a possible U14 team! Please stay tuned for more information.

Swim meet officials

We are looking to add to the roles of swimming meet stroke and turn officials and would love to have you join! With just a little training you can learn more about swimming, have fun, and fill need here at Klahaya (and other swim clubs!) with volunteer hours. We will have a training in June — time TBD.

Tennis Updates.

Donna Madath, Tennis Director · Steve Kauffman, Pro

Hi everyone — summer is almost here. Who's ready to play some tennis?!

We are almost ready…

Like all of you, we were hoping to kick off summer on brand-new courts. Unfortunately, the remodel has been delayed while the City works through permit issues related to our fences. Apparently, the fences are causing quite a racket. The good news: tennis is still ON this summer, and we're proving that tennis programs, much like frogs, are surprisingly adaptable.

Tennis Team registration is now open on the website at klahaya.net. Please sign up promptly so we can plan lessons, teams, and schedules.

A few tennis parent notes for summer

Please send your players with stiff sneakers (not squishy running shoes or Crocs) to help protect ankles and avoid rolled ankles during quick movement on court. Clothes with pockets are also surprisingly important in tennis — players become attached to having somewhere to stash a tennis ball. And finally: sunscreen + water bottles every day, please. Hydrated frogs are faster frogs.

Dates for your calendar

• Pre-season hits for returning team members will be held June 1, 3, 5, 9, and 11, from 3:30–5:30 PM.
• Team tryouts will be June 12 and June 19 after school. New players should be able to rally, keep score, and serve. That's it. We'll help if your young Frog is not quite there yet. Age 10+ (ish). Come out and give it a shot!
• Lessons begin June 22. Sessions: Session 1: June 22 – July 3 · Session 2: July 6 – July 17 · Session 3: July 20 – July 31.
• June 26 at 10:00 AM — Season Kickoff & Sorting Racquet, where new players are placed onto their WTT teams. Think Harry Potter… but the hat is a racquet and nobody goes to Slytherin.
• WTT matches will again be on Fridays.
• North End Junior Tennis League (NEJTL), by invitation only, will again be on Wednesdays.
• July 11 at 8:30 AM — Ladder Cross, our legendary all-day event where the strongest players pair with the most novice. It's always one of the best days of summer.
• July 31 — Klahaya Cup, our WTT season closer with bragging rights on the line.
• August 6: Tennis Baseball at 1:45 PM · McDonald's Run at 3:45 PM · Banquet and Senior Speeches at 5:30 PM. Parents: bring tissues and a lawn chair.

Adult tennis is back, of course.

Learn to Play, Cardio Tennis, Doubles, and individual or group lessons will all return. Watch the website for that information as well.

Steve is back as your pro and, yes, the rumor is true: curling champion. Donna is back as your volunteer tennis director and a brand-new empty nester.

Returning coaches include Audrey Mitchell, Emily Lin, Emma Nelson, Luke Madath, Mari Brittle, Peter Kosten, and Rylie Gettmann.

New this year are Drew Johnson, Eli Agol, Joe Menanno, Joe Mitchell, and Kate Marquart.

All of these coaches grew up at Klahaya and are now helping lead the next generation. The circle of life is a tennis ball.

Rain policy is simple

• If it rains, we cancel.
• If the courts are wet, we cancel.

Wet courts are slippery and unsafe, and heavy balls don't bounce well. Rain also ruins tennis balls — and tennis balls are expensive.

If the forecast looks questionable, check WhatsApp.

When in doubt, check WhatsApp.

Volunteer hours reminder

It's going to be a great season. We can't wait to see everyone back on the courts.

Go Frogs.

— Steve & Donna

Activities.

Heather Mandoli Alschuler · Activities Director

Get ready — Klahaya's 2026 season is almost here, and it's shaping up to be one of our best yet! We've packed the calendar with a mix of can't-miss favorites and exciting new events, all designed to bring our community together in fun, memorable ways.

From laid-back gatherings to high-energy celebrations, there's truly something for everyone. Whether you're a longtime member or new to the club, we hope this year's lineup inspires you to jump in, try something new, and make the most of summer at Klahaya.

Want to be part of magic? We'd love your help! Our events are powered by amazing volunteers — sign up on the Klahaya website or reach out to [email protected] to get involved.

We can't wait to see you there!

2026 Activity Calendar

All dates and times are subject to change. Please check the website to confirm details prior to the event.

Additional activities

• Glitter tattoos during all home swim meets
• Flops for Pops — date TBA
• KLA Moms' Night Out — date TBA

Please reach out to Heather at [email protected] with any questions or comments.

Board of Directors — Join Us!

All Klahaya Board positions are volunteer (no free guest passes or reduced fees).

We love our Club and work hard to ensure that it is enjoyed by many. Positions open every year, and we invite you to join us! As always, we appreciate your feedback — reach us at: