I could tell you stories about your first part. It can be bad because there are a lot of crappy parents out there.
What I've found in all my years is that the struggle to keep and attract members stems from the too high of expectations new members have of what a pool offers. We have heard time and time again how people expect a country club type level pool for what they feel they pay for. They need all the amenities and it needs to be fancy and gorgeous. Well, there are pools that offer that but expect to pay $1000s to just join and then pay over $800 every year. Most small pools like mine try to balance out keeping costs low to attract people and doing what we can to make the pool appealing. The prob is we are an old pool. And what do people want in a pool? Is it the pool or you need a great toilet to shit in? I go to swim, not complain about the parking lot looking rough. If I have a place to set my cooler with beer I'm not supposed to have and chill with my kids then I'm happy.