Letter from the COO

On May 24, President Marge Garneau established an ad hoc committee to review space use and reservations policies, and develop recommendations for the Board. Chaired by Director Ted Boyett, the committee will examine and identify gaps in existing policies and collect information through member outreach activities. Recommended policies will be drafted to address concerns that members, instructors, and community groups have voiced over the years. Those recommendations will also advance the memberidentified mission of pursuing operational efficiency.

GVR maintains most meeting rooms as multi-purpose spaces, setting up and tearing down each activity and storing various furnishings for each space. Staff will set up a space for a meeting, tear it down for a yoga session, then set it up for another meeting before it becomes a poker room for the evening. As you may imagine, this is time-consuming, storage-intensive, and hard on the furniture and flooring. You may also imagine that a lecture room is not the best space for yoga or poker.

The committee will seek solutions to these problems by identifying rooms that can be designated and outfitted for specific purposes. If furniture needn’t be stacked and stored in a small footprint, padded chairs and better tables become possible. Spaces designated for meetings and lecture-style classes can be equipped to support remote meetings, conference calling, and videorecording. The committee will reach out to various user groups via polls, surveys, and focus group sessions to hear concerns and recommendations.

Members frustrated with trying to access spaces dominated by groups and clubs will also have a chance to make their case to the committee. Sports courts, pools, and dance floors are high-demand, communal spaces. The committee will bring the users of those amenities together to hammer out agreements and solutions.

Staff will provide a great deal of support to this committee of volunteers as they tackle longstanding problems. If you have recommendations, a perspective to consider, or an interest in helping out, email me and I will be sure your voice or offer is heard: NatalieW@gvrec.org

The aim is a policy and approach that ensures equitable access, prioritizes recreation, and enhances the members’ experiences.

-Natalie (Nat) Whitman, Chief Operations Officer

Trivia Question

Where can you study karate on Tuesday, learn Italian on Wednesday, and practice your collage skills on Thursday?

Give up? The answer is GVR’s Las Campanas Center!

Start with Shotokan Karate from 9–11 on Tuesday mornings, June 6 through 27, in the Ocotillo/Agave rooms. Shotokan Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art where students learn to use their hands and feet as weapons. Through karate training, one learns self-defense while developing confidence, discipline, and concentration.

Then, take Italian Skills Beginners I class from 2–3:15 Wednesday afternoons, June 7 through 28, in the Cottonwood room. This course teaches beginner students basic Italian skills through experiential learning. A thematic, active and functional approach integrates language with culture to encourage students’ motivation.

After that, Collage: Cut, Paste, Create is available on Thursday mornings from 10–noon, June 15 and 22, in the Acacia room. Get creative using paint, papers, pictures, etc. to make your own unique works of art. Great for card making too. No experience necessary.

Imagine it—a variety of learning experiences in a single location!

Chat with the CEO 2–3:30pm East Center Lounge

LOOKING AHEAD

July 11

Andy Hersey

“This set of songs is acoustic based and eclectic. Country rock, silly drinking songs, a love song or two….”

Everyone welcome!

COOL OFF with Pool Flicks at West Center

• The consolidation of recreation catalogs cut print costs in half. Printing the GVR Now! locally at Action Print has saved money and improved the timely distribution of the newsletter.

• Where it made sense, some staff positions have been reduced to part time. Other positions have been eliminated and duties have been consolidated.

• Again this year, staff benefits increased more than expected, and once again, we worked with our broker to find solutions that fit the budget.

• GVR’s Fitness Coordinator has worked creatively with Maintenance Repair and Replacement funds to outfit the new fitness center at Desert Hills. Staff swapped equipment between facilities, and invested unbudgeted trade-in revenues (from old equipment) in additional pieces for the new center.