The builder group Master Pools Guild has introduced a beefed-up educational slate and a new member app this year, in addition to doubling another fundraising goal for The Water Project, a charity devoted to helping provide access to water for communities in Africa.
MPG has formed an education committee, which has laid out its plans for the next two years.
"We're trying to get our members any tools they can use for learning," said Dick Covert, executive director of the Richmond, Va.-based organization.
This will include a Genesis-taught program covering various business topics and directed solely to MPG members. For the last few years, the organization has hosted two Genesis programs per year, which were open to non-MPG members.
Some of the education will take place in a new education/training room it adopted when it moved its headquarters. MPG also plans to offer monthly online courses, to help educate non-principal staffers who normally don't attend the spring or fall meetings.
Soon, the new Master Pools Guild Inc. mobile app will be the primary way to stay connected with the group. The app provides instant access to information on all members and vendors, as well as a calendar of events, information on meetings and education, resources and a selection of forums for the group. The forums are meant to provide members with an easy way to ask each other questions, and offers the ability to attach photos to illustrate a question or answer. Members can contact each other or vendors through the app. The current version 1 can be used on mobile phones, while the second version, coming in January, also will be formatted for tablets and desktops.
Once again, Master Pools embarked on a fundraising drive for The Water Project, an organization devoted to bringing water sources to African communities. And, once again, the group doubled its goal. This time, MPG sought contributions for the Africa Sand Dam Foundation, which receives support through The Water Project. Sand dams, walls made of reinforced rubble cement, are built across sandy rivers to help retain rainwater and recharge groundwater. The African Sand Dam Foundation says they can last 100 years if built properly.
MPG sought to raise $40,000, but has collected $81,000, to build dams in two communities.
