Summer Projects
Summertime is when major capital improvement projects begin. The West Center complex will host a lot of activity in the coming months. The Artisans’ Shop expansion will begin a week after this newsletter is published. The new Metal Arts building (at the north end of the shuffleboard courts) is in the bidding process with a goal of starting construction in May. The Lapidary and Silversmithing expansion that will allow for the West Center and Desert Hills shops to consolidate will start at the end of the summer, but the Project Management team has a lot of behind-the-scenes work to do before the work can begin. At Desert Hills, the lobby restrooms and locker rooms will be renovated. The floor of the kiln room in the Ceramics Shop will be strengthened to support an additional kiln. While the locker room work is underway, a significant upgrade to the pool equipment will occur. Changing economic conditions mean bids on nearly all projects are coming in higher than expected. To ensure funding for recreation facility enhancements, the planned West Center lobby conversion to consolidate customer service and member services has been put on hold.
Summertime is also the season of GVR’s annual Maintenance Repair and Replacement (MRR) blitz. This work includes asphalt repair and sealing (six projects), painting (four projects), roofing (nine projects), pool deck repairs and
furniture refreshes (eight projects), pool equipment upgrades (five projects), pool and spa resurfacing (three projects), HVAC replacements (ten projects), flooring updates (two projects), annual flooring maintenance (all 176,000 sf), backflow replacement (three projects), and replacing furniture in several locations.
Staff work hard to minimize service disruptions when work is being completed. We re-route traffic, confine closures to the smallest space possible, and coordinate work so that multiple jobs can be completed during a single closure. Nevertheless, three centers scheduled for work in the coming months will require inconvenient closures. The lobby restrooms at Desert Hills will close in early April. Portable potties will be provided near the main entrance from the parking lot. This project is expected to take about a month. Then the projects downstairs at Desert Hills will close the pool for at least four weeks starting sometime in late May or June. The locker rooms will not reopen until October or November. We are working on providing alternate routes to the fitness, poker, and boxing rooms during this time. To ensure as many pools remain as available as possible through the heat of summer, the Santa Rita Springs pool closure (for pool and deck resurfacing) will be scheduled for September. At Las
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CONTACT US — 520-625-3440
Operational matters hotline@gvrec.org
Board policy matters board@gvrec.org
Customer Service 520-625-0288
RECREATION SERVICES
The following centers are open daily from 5:30am–9pm
MAJOR CENTERS
Canoa Hills
Canoa Ranch
Desert Hills
East Center
Las Campanas
Santa Rita Springs West Center
3660 S Camino del Sol
5750 S Turquoise Mtn Dr
2980 S Camino del Sol
7 S Abrego Dr
565 W Belltower Dr 921 W Via Rio Fuerte 1111 S GVR Dr
(520) 631-7151
(520) 631-0761
(520) 631-8060
(520) 631-8072
(520) 631-7068
(520) 631-8092
(520) 631-7909
Center Operations Assistants (Yellow Shirts) 520-343-2440
SATELLITE CENTERS 520-549-9733
Abrego North Abrego South
Casa Paloma I
Casa Paloma II
Continental Vistas
Madera Vista
Del Sol Clubhouse, 3355 S Camino del Sol, 6am–9pm Pickleball Center, 2612 S Camino de la Canoa, 6am–dusk
APRIL BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING
Wednesday, April 9, 12–1pm, West Center Room 2/Zoom
BOARD OF DIRECTORS WORK SESSION
Wednesday, April 16, 2–4pm, West Center Room 2/Zoom
FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 22, 1:30–3pm, West Center Room 2/Zoom
INVESTMENTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 23, 9–10:30am, West Center Room 2/Zoom
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, April 23, 2–4pm, West Center Auditorium 2/Zoom
Any change in meeting status will be announced on the GVR website calendar.
BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
In a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 19, the Board of Directors took the following actions:
• The Board approved the recommendation from the Fiscal Affairs Committee to a include a change for the 2026 ballot bylaws Article VII, Section 4 to require that checks greater than $10,000 be signed by one officer and the Chief Executive Officer
• The Board approved the request from San Ignacio Villas amendment to the HOA—CC&R: Article VIII, section 8.10 and authorize the CEO to sign the amendment.
1601 N Abrego Dr 1655 S Abrego Dr
400 W Circulo del Paladin
330 N Calle de las Banderolas
906 W Camino Guarina
440 S Camino del Portillo
GVR BOARD
GVR
BOARD OFFICERS
President: Kathi Bachelor
Vice President: Candy English
Secretary: April Hasson Hillard
Treasurer: Nellie Johnson
Assistant Secretary: Bart Hillyer
Assistant Treasurer: Steve Reynolds
DIRECTORS
Dave Barker
Barbara Blake Marge Garneau
Bev Lawless Lanny Smith
GVR BOARD COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Board of Directors Special Meeting on April 9 determines the GVR Board Committee Chairs.
Email: board@gvrec.org
Can’t attend a meeting in person?
Scan this QR code for ZOOM meetings.
Did You Know?
You can play three bingo games in April
Stop in for bingo on Mondays, win some cash, and help a couple of good causes.
The GVR Foundation hosts bingo games on April 7 and 21. All proceeds go to the Member Assistance Program (MAP) which helps GVR members in financial need pay their annual dues so they can stay active and connected with their community.
The Lions Club hosts a bingo game on the fourth Monday of the month to support their vision assistance program for children, Sight for Kids. The next game is Monday, April 28.
Doors for all games open at 3pm, game sales start at 3:45, and bingo starts at 5pm. All games are at the West Center Auditorium, 1111 South GVR Drive.
Letter from the President
Members, my two-year term as Board President has come to an end, so please welcome Kathi Bachelor as your new GVR Board President. I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude for the support and collaboration I’ve received from all corners of our organization. It has been a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated Board Directors, committee members, Scott Somers, and the GVR staff.
In 2024, we continued to grow and thrive together. With 13,872 households and 22,335 members, our community remains a vibrant and active one. We saw 65 events throughout the year, supported by 116 volunteers, and 7,836 people enrolled in GVR classes. Our 26 pools and spas were enjoyed by many, and our centers continue to serve as the heart of the community with over 176,000 square feet of space across 57 acres.
Looking ahead to 2025, we have exciting goals, and I’m confident that GVR will continue to be a place where neighbors come together, share experiences, and build lasting connections.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this journey, and I look forward to what the future holds for GVR.
Warmly,
Marge Garneau Outgoing GVR
Board President
Cardio Drumming with Annette Mesa
Looking for a fun way to get moving? Join Annette Mesa for Cardio Drumming—a full-body workout that combines music, movement, and drumsticks. GVR’s CEO Scott Somers joined the class and says, “Annette is an incredibly motivating and engaging instructor, creating an environment where participants are energized and enthusiastic. Her class fosters a dynamic atmosphere that inspires everyone to give their best.”
Mondays, 1:30–2:30pm at Las Campanas; Drop in for $10, or sign up at GVRec.org.
Don’t miss the last Whipple Observatory lecture!
Thursday, April 24, 9–10am
The Darkest Night: A World Without Light Pollution by Amy C. Oliver, FRAS, Outreach Lead, Whipple Observatory and Principal Investigator, Dark Skynet and Project Glowworm. West Center Auditorium, doors open at 8am, there is no charge for admission, and concessions are available for sale.
