Frank Rossetti

With humility, running for the Woodcrest Recreation Association board

Luckily I moved into the Woodcrest area about 11 years ago and have finally found a place I can call home. Donna, my wife of 16 years, and I have three children: Frankie, 14; Isabella, 8; and Angela, 6.

And in another fortunate event, we joined the Woodcrest Recreation Association about eight years ago.

Thankfully, summer hasn’t been the same since.

I am running for the board of the WRA this year and have listed a few past experiences that will help me be an effective asset as a member of this board.

I have held key management positions (Vice President of Sales and General Manager) for national wholesale corporations in the home furnishings and wall décor industries. I have also been involved in retail management. Also, I have owned and operated both retail and wholesale businesses.

Additionally, my first career was as a sports writer and desk editor for several daily newspapers.

From my past I can draw on different business models, on profit and loss accountability and on corporate marketing and survival tactics learned and developed along the way. 

My sole focus as a board member is to be solution and results oriented.

It is obvious we, as a collective group, have to continue to focus on membership, keeping and growing the base, to remain the premier club in South Jersey.

New member drive proposals and other ideas I would like to explore on the board are as follows:

• Develop an advanced advertising campaign to increase membership
• Propose a new member one-year special (waive or delay some fee or give a discount)
• Propose an old member come-back special (similar to above)
• Explore a merger with another pool association
• Sell to existing members guest coupon books before season at discount
• Help the swim and dive teams grow and be as strong as they can be (without question great pool associations have great swim and dive programs that form its base).
• Promote and sell one-week or one-month vacation packages as a trial membership to prospective new members who are unsure of making an annual commitment
• Promote and sell middle of season trial packages for new potential members
• Explore the WRA taking the snack bar under its control for its profit potential.
• Find a way to make voting something everyone can participate in to get a true representation of its membership (absentee or in person)
• Explore ways to reduce the debt load by refinancing existing loans
• Explore our options in selling off lot next to tennis courts
• Develop an on-site advertising program that generates revenue (targeting area tennis, swimming, soccer, grocery stores, drug stores, eateries offering specials or discounts to members).
• Put more recreation programs for adults into the WRA that give the parents something to do: An adult swim meet; tennis challenge ladders in singles and doubles;  a volleyball tournament or challenge ladder; a 3 v 3 basketball tournament or challenge ladder.
• Explore the idea of expanding WRA’s recreation offerings that make better use of the grounds: a golf practice net area; an area with exercise equipment.

Over the years I have enjoyed relationships with current and past board members who have made significant contributions to the well-being of the association: Russ Weitz, David Shevrin, Gregory Young and John Doyle.  I have listened to their concerns and I have discussed WRA ideas and issues with them and with other members, Lance Stopek and Steve Merch,  running for positions this year. Also I have paid attention to the concerns and issues discussed by members. I would do my best to work with all past, present and future members of the board and with all of our members to make the WRA the best of the best in pool associations.

I would sincerely appreciate a vote and thank you for your support.

Frank Rossetti