We recently connected with Janet Vermillion Moos and have shared our conversation below.
Janet, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
In Plano, Texas, nestled in the heart of the one of the original neighborhoods, exists the world’s very first Texas-shaped pool. It opened in 1961 and was a private, exclusive swim club for almost 50 years. Yet, by 2007, The Texas Pool had fallen out of present memory and was in danger of being lost forever. I was among a handful of volunteers determined to save it. For the next several years we barely kept the pool afloat. I began to conceptualize ways of saving The Texas Pool that didn’t involve digging out the deep end each season.
My vision for saving The Texas Pool included the establishment of a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preservation and to community outreach. I believed that The Texas Pool was a historic site that belonged to the public, that everyone should have an opportunity to “swim across Texas.” Although the existing board of directors did not fully share my preservation dreams, I took a chance and dove in.
In 2012 I established the Texas Pool Foundation, and it became a 501(c)3 nonprofit. For a number of years, the existing Texas Pool board and the Texas Pool Foundation existed side-by-side. I recruited to both boards civic-minded volunteers who shared my passion. In 2017, I had enough support to bring everything under the Texas Pool Foundation. Today, as a nonprofit historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Texas Pool is eligible for grants, donations, and community support that will essentially save it for future generations.
We are, each of us, called to make a positive difference in our community. Across traditions, sacred scripture instructs us to let go of fear. When we open ourselves up to the endless possibilities that exist, there is always an element of risk, and a greater opportunity for success. Gifted hockey star Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Take the shot and change the world!
Janet, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a Registered Nurse and Founder of the Texas Pool Foundation. My diverse background includes Parkland’s Trauma ICU, childbirth education/labor support, and nurse writing. I homeschooled my 5 daughters and live in The Texas Pool neighborhood. Working with The Texas Pool, I’ve had an opportunity to get my feet wet from the Panhandle to Galveston in a variety of rolls from marketing to CEO. Folks can purchase a summer membership, or swim for the day. Bartering and community service hours are also considered for membership. We host parties and special events. The Texas Pool is a community gathering place and is mermaid friendly! The facility sports a Little Free Pantry and Library, a community bulletin board, award winning butterfly garden, Cherokee Nation certified artist Texas Gulf Coast murals, diving board, slides, cabanas, picnic areas, BBQs and more. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we hope to be a City of Plano Heritage Landmark soon. We want everyone to have a chance to #SwimAcrossTexas!
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
I come from a long line of healthcare professionals. My 3 greats grandfather was a doctor in Virginia. I have his medical saddlebags and MD license from the 1800’s. My grandfather was also doctor, and my grandmother was a nurse. I grew up asking questions about surgical instruments and science, exploring the natural world. Although I did not take a direct path into medicine, when I became a Registered Nurse, I fulfilled a sort of familial destiny. It is what I am proudest of, and I have been blessed to be able to use my medical experience and knowledge in a multifaceted way to help others. My work with the Texas Pool Foundation is an extension of this medical vocation of caring. Community is at the heart of life’s journey. We are all connected in the spirit of life!
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Our beliefs shape our existence. In believing that the impossible can be accomplished, the training, knowledge, connections, and pathway to success suddenly become possible, and nothing is impossible. A positive moral compass illuminates the path forward in both business and in one’s personal life. Gratitude is an essential component of achievement. There is so much to be thankful for, so much that is beautiful and miraculous in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TexasPool.org
- Instagram: the_texas_pool
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texaspool
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-vermillion-moos-r-n-a67b808b/
- Twitter: @janetvmoos
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/TexasPoolPod