To: City Officials, Parks & Recreation Department, and Community Supporters

Subject: Formal Support for Establishing an Independent Club Swim Team and Ceasing Unfair Targeting

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
We, the undersigned swimmers, parents, coaches, and community supporters, hereby petition for the official recognition, facility access, and support for the formation of an independent club swim team (South West Indiana Marlins / SWIM).

Over past seasons, our athletes, parents, and coaching staff have experienced ongoing harassment, undue scrutiny, and restrictive actions driven by an outside competing team. Despite our full compliance with facility guidelines and our proactive steps to operate independently, our families and volunteers have been subjected to continuous complaints designed to suppress our team's growth and limit competitive opportunities for local youth.

SUMMARY OF GRIEVANCES AND UNFAIR TARGETING
We are bringing forward the following actions and retaliatory complaints to highlight the unfair pressures placed upon our swimmers and coaching staff:

Pressuring Municipal & Facility Leadership:
External parties directly petitioned the Mayor’s Office to force a comprehensive review of all swim activities at the Deaconess Aquatic Center (DAC), attempting to disrupt our practice times and access.
Misrepresentation of Communications:
Text messages and private communications were altered and taken out of context to manufacture false narratives, specifically depicting our group as a "club team disguised as a rec team."
Harassment Over Team Branding & Identity:
Repeated complaints were filed against our athletes and supporters for wearing Marlins team T-shirts, wearing Marlins swim caps, listing "Marlins" on Meet Mobile, and maintaining a Marlins Facebook page that only contained positive, inspirational posts for athletes. Complaining about the actual DAC website only posting about the DAC team and not GREAT.
Restriction of Parent Choice & Monopolization of Swimmers:
GREAT is actively denying parents and athletes the freedom of choice by forcing all local swimmers onto either the GREAT or DAC team options rather than allowing families to choose the competitive program, coaches, and team environment that best fits their children's needs.
Digital & Administrative Isolation:
To remain completely transparent and avoid using YMCA resources, private funds were used to purchase independent SportsEngine software so no meet entries, administration, or communications used YMCA infrastructure or email accounts. Despite this, administrative effort—including simply organizing a meet schedule—was targeted as unauthorized "team activity."
Restrictions on Coaching Staff:
Complaints were lodged accusing YMCA employees of attending club meets.
Arbitrary Attire & Equipment Rules:
Staff and athletes were forbidden from wearing DAC attire at club meets, placing unfair burdens on families and coaches who serve the facility in multiple capacities.
Unfounded Poaching Claims:
False accusations of "poaching" swimmers were leveled against our organizers, generating unnecessary concern among city officials that an independent club would harm local city summer leagues, rather than enhance aquatic opportunities for all kids in the community.
Failure to Adhere to Administrative & Safety Protocols:
Concerns raised by families regarding athlete conduct and safety were repeatedly left unaddressed by prior management, forcing parents to seek external governing oversight and establish an independent environment committed to strict compliance with national safety standards.
PETITION DEMANDS
By signing below, we call upon local leadership and facility management to:

Protect Parent & Athlete Choice: Ensure that parents retain full autonomy to enroll their children in whichever swim team or club program best aligns with their goals.
Recognize & Support the New Team: Formally allow the DAC Team to become a Club Team, or to operate, practice, and represent our region as the Southwest Indiana Marlins in competitive USA Swimming sanctioned events.
Ensure Equal Access: Grant fair and transparent pool space allocations at public aquatic facilities without bias or interference from competing entities.
Cease Targeted Harassment: Ensure that parents, coaches, and athletes are free to wear team apparel, communicate via private software, and organize schedules without arbitrary restrictions or retaliatory complaints.