Lodge Hours Recommendation? Part 4
This is the fourth and final in a series reporting on the issues brought up at the Communications Committee Meeting held on September 28, 2010.
The Board authorized extended summer hours on a trial basis. Staff was directed to keep track of usage and report back to the Board. To that end, staff tracked the number of people who signed in to use the Lodge this summer. The following numbers do not account for groups using the lodge (why not? That is when the most people are there!).
Average Sign Ins (not for group activity – just individuals):
- 5-6 PM =3.4
- 6-7 PM =2.8
- 7-8 PM = 2.8
- 8-9 PM =0.3
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday routinely have groups who stay late in the evening.
The Lodge is “often virtually” empty after 6PM on Sunday
Based on the above information, the staff/communication committee came up with a Recommended schedule below:
Divide the year into tow seasons coinciding with the pool-heating schedule
Summer season hours:
Monday – Friday = 7 AM – 9 PM
Saturday and Sunday = 8AM –9PM
Winter season hours
Monday – Friday 7 Am – 9PM
Saturday 8 AM – 9 PM
Sunday 8 am – 5 PM
This is a step forward to have a objective data and ask the residents what they would like before making a “permanent” change.
There was a question if staff tracked early morning hour usage, the answer was no. Then a question if any groups used the Lodge early Saturday and Sunday morning or could the lodge open at 9:00 AM on the weekend and add an hour to the nights of heavy usage.
The walking group begins early morning (but they don’t use the Lodge except to meet and sign in which they could do on the return trip). The courts also get play early Mornings. Gosh, how about $100.00 key pad lock on the outside court gate so residents could use the court when they want or in cooler early morning or evening hours? Just suggestions.
It is important that all existing groups be accommodated and the extended hours should be given to ”Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday which routinely have groups who stay late in the evening.”
The Saturday and Thursday night card players (which often number 20 or more) are usually ‘kicked out” before games are completed.
There were some notes written on the “hour recommendation sheet” displayed on the overhead projector. But by the end of the meeting, many people were still confused on exactly what hours the committee was going to recommend to the Board. The ones originally displayed at the top of this post and included in our handout packets or will the notes on the meeting be considered?
Will the committee go back to staff with the feedback from the group to discuss changes before going to the Board?
Who is making the decision on the recommendation?
Again, the hours are a big step forward, but it still felt like there was a lack of data and creativity in setting the hours and numerous unanswered questions.
Maybe one of the members of the Communication Committee could help us here and state which hours are actually going to be recommended to the Board?
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Maybe you could reserve the room on Saturdays & Thursdays until 10 p.m. since it has been rented the past two Friday nights until at least 10 p.m. for parties. There's no charge for residents using is there?
■5-6 PM =3.4
■6-7 PM =2.8
■7-8 PM = 2.8
■8-9 PM =0.3
These numbers are totally skewed if the groups are not being counted. Why do we bother to have sign-in sheets if no one looks at the numbers or passes them along to anyone???
Joyce B.
The way that I understood it is that they didn't post the "counts" of groups that used the lodge, but they lumped them all together in the statement that "Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday routinely have groups who stay late in the evening." Therefore, there would be no reason to shorten the evening hours Monday through Saturday. As far as I'm concerned, that would be off the table, and they didn't suggest closing early on those evenings. The only suggestion that I see that's different from the current hours is that on Sunday only during the Winter months only, when the pool is not heated, the lodge would close on at 5:00 pm instead of 9 pm. It looks to me that everything else stays the same.
Personally, I can live with that.
I think you are right Linda, I am grateful for the extra hour in the schedule. I think the issue is having everyone sign in and then not using the data to make decisions. The statement that upset a lot of people was "It is not a matter of money, there is money in the budget, it is a matter of quality of life for staff people" Who is the customer, staff or the residents?
Meanwhile groups of residents are kicked out at 9:00PM, and private parties go to 10:00. It doesn't make sense.
It is great there is improvement, but I think it is important to continue to improve as we prepare to take over management of the Association. That includes using all the data. If it is not going to be used don't collect it.
If we are talking about official groups wanting to stay late, why can't the leader of the group be responsible for locking up the clubhouse after the group is finished with their activities? If minor clean up like putting chairs away is not done, it can be done in the morning by the morning crew.
I also like the lock box idea for the tennis courts, if somebody wants to play outside of the official times they can be given the code. What exactly can you do to a tennis court that somebody has to watch you play?
good points Kathy!
I think the "Lock Box" idea is great...for using the pool, spa & tennis courts and costs should be researched. Much rather have that than the Message thingy...whatever it is. Waste of money! We're late morning, late night people. When it gets dark that's when I get antsy!
As to the Walking Group, why can't a seperate sign up sheet be used like the other groups? Doors locked, leave it on the front bench until you get back or fold it up and put it in your pocket.
Seems like everything just gets sooooo complicated, when it's so simple!
When decisions are made in vacuum common sense seems to take a back seat. There are so many good ideas and simple solutions.
Now if we just solicit and listen to the needs of homeowners before 'rules' are made, the entire community would.
The Communication committee is a great start. but people need to know the protocol for bringing something to them. I heard they meet weekly. When and Where?
Sure, the walking group could sign in afterward, or not at all, but why should it be necessary to open the lodge late on Saturday? I didn't see any stats on the lodge use in the mornings, so we don't know how Saturday morning use compares to weekday mornings. What about the Bocce players? Should they wait until 9:01 am to sign in, get equipment, and get set up?
Good point - many good points! We've pretty much run this off into the ditch. IMO it should never have been a topic without accurate information in the first place.