Anyone have recent info/feedback about the Hiller Swim Club or Montclair Swim Club? The most recent archived posts are out of date... thanks! Ellen

The emergencies, including an airway obstruction in an adult and the near drowning were handled well by other club members. If you have kids, you need to watch them like a hawk, which is important in any water situation, but especially when there is not back up. Also, during the summer hot days, the seven lap swimming lanes are often invaded by kids who are not managed/ supervised well by their parents or the pool staff. Non-lap swimmers are supposed to stay in the rec area. I actually injured my neck a few years ago when a kid jumped on me while I was swimming in a lap lane. I call it the summer anarchy. Other details: There is a funky hot tub, decent work out room, and a cold, musty locker room. Also the owner gets very nasty if you dare make a suggestion, like heating the locker room in the winter. In general, the club works very well for me. I gave up on being warm in the locker room and I avoid the owner. I watch out for kids on the hot day, and intervene myself if they are jumping into lanes. You can come visit and take a look. Try to come when Milan is there, he is a great staff person. Daily Swimmer

I am a parent with two children, a homeowner in Montclair with my partner. We have lived here for years, participate in local schools and sports clubs with the kids, and are lucky to have rewarding careers and excellent credit. This becomes relevant shortly...

The manager told me that if I bought the membership my partner/the kids' dad could not come to the Montclair Swim Club because we were not married. Not without me, not with me, but simply could not come at all. When I explained that we lived together in the same home and he was dad, he replied that we were not a family because we were not married. I suggested that my partner could pay a fee or in some other way join the kids; the manager pointed at the application and said loudly ''you are not a family.'' He said that they required a marriage certificate. (The swim club family information actually had a place for date and place of marriage.)

My daughter really wanted to swim all summer, so I filled out the application anyway with just me and my kids on it. Two days later I received a rejection letter two lines long and returned check, with no reason.

The woman who was trying to sell her membership to me was very upset at being unable to transfer her membership. She was present during my conversation with the manager and believed, as I do, that it was my ''unmarried'' status that caused us to be rejected. She called the manager twice, who said that she didn't know the whole story and then implied that there were mysterious financial reasons for the insant denial (a crock).

Since then, I learned from her and others that the management is unresponsive and difficult to deal with generally. When I looked at other facilities, they were more up to date, with a less concrete, boxed-in look, better gym facilities for the adults, and better food. I found a better place anyway.

Still, I was shaken and upset at what happened in my own neighborhood. While it need not affect your own decision, please know that this unpleasant, bizarre experience happened at the Montclair Swim club. It still bothers me a year later that I didn't do anything about it. (Esp. because I work at a senior level in the City of Oakland -- but this is a private swim club.)

More than my two cents. Appalled

Is anyone a member of Montclair Swim Club who can give me some basic feedback? We are thinking about joining and would like to know how you like it there. I need somewhere to lap swim for exercise and I want a place to take my kids to swim during the summer. Is the children's pool kept warm enough? Is the staff friendly and helpful? Are children in the pool generally well- behaved and is the place kept up? (I know the lockerooms date back to the 40's). Besides this, it would be conveniently located for us but am interested to have any positive or negative feedback before we plunk down $1,500 to join. Thanks. anon