<strong>Military Base Pools</strong>

[caption id="attachment_444" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Solar systems like the one Gerry Kilgore installed at Moody AFB (which is used for training) are approved by the Federal Government. However, bases with purely recreational pools can use their own discretionary &quot;slush funds&quot; to pay for solar systems."]<a href="http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Indoor_Pool_MDY_AFB_0021.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-444" title="Moody AFB" src="http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Indoor_Pool_MDY_AFB_0021-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

With the successes that some of you have been having with military pools, we wondered why do we rarely see Government invitations to bid solar pool heating systems on military bases? What we found after considerable digging was quite interesting - unless a pool is used for tactical training on base, it is managed under each of the military services Morale, Welfare &amp; Recreation departments (MWR). For the Army &amp; Navy, it is MWR. For the Air Force, it is Air Force Services. For the Marines, it is Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS).

Virtually all improvements to military pools are paid for with non-appropriated funds (NAF). This is money that is generated by each base from MWR fees earned by the base for services they provide. NAF contracts do not show up in the usual Government invitation to bid schedules because the money paid out is from “non appropriated funds”. This means that a decision to go solar is made by the base and not by the federal Government.

<a href="http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/2007-dealer-meeting-shirt.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-446" title="Uncle Sun Wants You..." src="http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/2007-dealer-meeting-shirt-179x300.jpg" alt="" width="179" height="300" /></a>While we were digging, we managed to put together a pretty <strong>comprehensive list of over 100 military bases</strong> that have pools and contact information. In some cases, we were able to find out if these pools were indoor or outdoor and if they are already heated. Give Molly a call if you would like a list of the bases in your area.

<strong>Aquatherm Joins the World Waterpark Association</strong>

Aquatherm is excited to announce that we have joined the World Waterpark Association. Admittedly, we were encouraged by the interest in <a title="TheSolsticeOnline.com - Camp Loyaltown" href="http://thesolsticeonline.com/2011/08/11/gold-medal-installation-ahrc-summer-camp-installs-solar-pool-heater/" target="_blank">Camp Loyaltown</a> featured in the last issue of the Solstice. There are approximately 1000 members of the WWA and these include waterpark owners / operators, park designers and developers.

With our new membership comes the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the waterpark industry by exhibiting at the World Waterpark Show in New Orleans, October 5<sup>th</sup> &amp; 6<sup>th</sup>. We plan to learn all there is to know and hopefully generate plenty of leads for you in the process.

If you want to get a head start, <strong>we already have a listing of the top 100 parks with contact information</strong>. Give Molly a call if you would like a list of the parks in your area. To learn more about the WWA, visit <a href="http://www.waterparks.org/">www.waterparks.org</a>.

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