[Editor’s Note: In the following email to members of the Edge Swim Team, founder/coach Patrick Moran bids farewell following the City Council’s termination of an agreement with the swimmers last month.]
For those new to The Edge, all the hub-bub over a swim team and some lanes must seem silly. I’d never believe it if I hadn’t experienced it firsthand. You’d have to live “on the Edge” awhile to get it. It took an awful lot, by many, many community volunteers just to exist for seven years in the unwelcoming Culver City environment, much less expand and thrive as we did. Imagine what The Edge would have become in a community whose leaders honestly welcome evolving business concepts and true ethnic/socio-economic diversity.
Five years ago this coming April, a boy-crazed ball of laughing energy named Nicole joined The Edge, under then Head Coach Patrick. Through her, Cindy and I met, flirted and eventually fell in love on that pool deck. Many of our early dates began at 7 a.m., carrying equipment into a meet and surrounded by many of you reading this now.
Over the years, we came to see The Edge, literally, as our second child. Time and energy devoted to that child was often shifted from, or shared with, Nicole. I can say with honesty that, like all parents, we made many sacrifices no one will ever see. And we regret none of them. In fact, while far from perfect and with each of us loaded with shortcomings, we stand behind every decision made on Edge’s behalf. Even now, we both see this as having been a fantastic journey.
At the time of Edge’s Culver City "death,” it was the strongest it had ever been and almost ready for exponential-expansion. Perhaps that is why, over the last several days, our home has been dealing with a sense of grief and loss akin to the violent and unjust murder of a loved one. Coming out the other side, we now realize that while we will miss many of you and we retain wonderful memories of that now-gone community, Edge Swim & Polo Club was a business.
It was a thriving business, in part because of the rare formula to match a for-profit system with a sincere and active commitment to improve children’s lives. We turned our dream into reality. And we succeeded in bringing something special to many children and families who needed it. This all happened despite organized and focused political efforts, over many years, to stop us.
As our Family leaves your community, we wish the “Plunge-Parents” and all former Edge Swim & Polo members the very best. A rising parent-leader recently said to me that “the true victory for us all is that the principles we embraced and practiced under the Edge banner will continue to grow and to thrive.” I wholeheartedly agree. As we have always said, and it shall remain in our hearts: Once Edge, Always Edge.
Sincerely,
Patrick, Cindy & Nicole
