Saturday, March 05, 2005


Evolve the Social Club...

ron thomas
EDITORS NOTE:
This article is provoking lively discussion which we feel is a good thing. As concerns over whether it is do-able or not come to the surface in the COMMENTS we will be putting them at the bottom of this article for you to consider. If you have any ideas how a negative concern can be fixed please put it in the COMMENTS.



The Social Club was created for the entertainment and enjoyment of all park residents.


Not All park residents care to be included in the entertainment and enjoyment of Social Club sponsored activities.

Some residents like to be involved if they do not have to do anything but come to an activity.

The same people volunteer to serve and help the Social Club attain its goals again and again until they are burnt out and then they quit, often bitterly, and take up volunteering into other activities outside the community that are more rewarding to the soul.

When the key volunteers quit and move on to other outside park organizations they leave a vacuum and no trained replacements. Many times those that followed our leaders leave with them and increase the vacuum even further.

New leaders with really no idea of the mechanics and politics of the park are sucked in by the vacuum of the trained leaders leaving.

New leaders may try to follow new ideas to improve the community. If they have the personality they may even attract new idealistic people to try and make the park into Nirvana. Everyone is filled with enthusiasm. New things are tried.. Some work. Some don't.

Eventually, the new leaders become the old leaders and those that work with them become a group of friends often referred to as a clique. Those that lead somehow reach a point of saturation where no one else comes forward to help. As time goes on more and more tasks are put on the members of this group because there are no more volunteers to do anything. This wearies everybody and leads to the eventual demise of the group in general as they leave the service of the Social Club for more rewarding outside park involvement.


And so it goes, cycle after cycle.
Recruitment after recruitment.

If you can see a train wreck coming do you sit and watch it or do you get out of the way?

Maybe we should stop the train and re-route it?

Here is an idea I had while Jacky was chasing me around the house with a broom.....

The Social Club exists with a treasury, leaders, and an agenda that calls for the entire park to be involved and have fun. I think the Social Club should be restructured. They should be the executive branch that controls the treasury that doles money out to individual clubs in the park. They should not be in charge of making park activities. Individual park clubs with their own special interests should be doing that.

A park club would be in charge of their own interests. They would decide what they want to do and attract interested members to do it. If they can't do that... Then ...No more club... Simple as that. Membership in all clubs must be open to any park resident. Each club would decide what it wants to do and how to do it. Each club would receive financing from the Social Club treasury as well as have its own money raising capability, such as dues, pay for events etc.

This could be a cure for what ails the park. Why?
  • People would join those things that interest them.
  • They would most likely have to support their club with money or time and would therefore not be seen as taking advantage of other members. In other words members would have a vested interest in their club and its advancement.
  • People not interested in participating in a club but would like to attend a club sponsored event would pay what that club feels is a fair price for the efforts of its club members.
  • Volunteers for a club would have far less responsibilities and demands put upon their time than the all encompassing Social Club now has.
This solution is good for our community. It provides a means for all to participate in what interests them and it provides for those that are interested but don't care to participate in a club (they pay as they go for what they want). It removes much of the burden of caring for the entire park from the Social Club. It also provides for those totally not interested in anything the park does as they will not be asked for anything.

Our reader's respond with these concerns about this article:
  • The park will experience a social breakup, disintegrating into small splinter groups and limit socializing.
  • Who will fund those park activities like coffee, popcorn, equipment upkeep, etc.?
  • Will the Social Club exist to fund clubs or will each club fund their selves?
  • A lack of interest is pervasive in the park and despite many attempts to overcome it. Nothing seems to work.
  • This will further divide the park.
  • Belonging to the community in general should not be based on whether a person chooses to be involved with the Social Club. If a person chooses not to particpate in activities they should not be made to feel guilty for that choice.
  • Americans can choose what they want to do.
  • Some folks are weary of hearing about what the volunteers at the Social Club do. They feel this makes them feel gulity and is unfair because they choose not to participate.
  • How the Social Club disburses its money does not matter... to clubs or to the Social Club in general.
  • Some would like clarification on what the Social Club was orignally formed for. What was it's purpose then?

At a later date we will discuss each concern by itself in a separate article and try to find a solution for it. Help for this might come from those of you who have lived in other retirement communities and have seen how they deal with these problems...Please join our forum we are eager to hear solutions.

  • A side note. Do you see how we can add on to an article days after it has been written? This is what a member of the blog writing team has access to at any time. If you make a mistake you can just go back and correct it or add to an article if you get a thought ... at any time. This is the advantage of belonging to those that write on this page. Like the idea? email me .



Friday, March 04, 2005


So you like to watch the birds?

ron thomas

Well what we have is some nifty ideas on bird feeders and treats for your feathered friends from the Audubon Website.

Click here Audubon Society


Jack Scherer wanted this article posted...

Jack Scherer put this in my mailbox at the clubhouse and would like to point it out to you. I have seen it a couple of times before and somewhere in the archives it probably still exists... Nevertheless, it makes everyone think about telephone security. Here it is then....

I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T service technician who was conducting a test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should touch nine (9), zero (0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up. Luckily, I was suspicious and refused. Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#, you give the requesting indiviual full access to your telephone line, which enables to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number. I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many local jails/prisons. I have also verified this information uf UCB Telecom, Pacific Bell, MCI, Bell Atlantic and GTE. Please beware. DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE> The GTE Security Department requestred that I share this information with everyone I know. Please pass this on to everyoner you know......

Thursday, March 03, 2005


NEW POLITICAL WEBSITE BEING BUILT BY JIM DODDS..

In an email Jim Dodds speaks of a new site he is building for political discussion. Thanks Jim we will all look forward to seeing your new site and those that want to participate can follow the below link.



am in the process of creating " A World Of Weasels" website.

A frank, no holds barred political bashing website.

It has a corkboard to post commentary too.

If you would like to write an article or add an entire web page email me and I will set it up.
You may write or post anything you want.

Visit:

http://www.weasels.4mg.com

Jim
THE POWER OF THE FLOCK

Having just read an article in my Jan./Feb. 2005 Saturday Evening Post, I hope
you are interested in our Canadian Geese that settle on our lake here in the
LVH park at various times during the year. They are so graceful and other
than the "calling cards" they leave on the pathway and lawn, I love watching
them when they visit. The following is only the factual information from this
article by Reverend Ervin G. Roorda. I hope I'm not breaking any copyright
rules in sending this on.

Fact One: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the birds that
follow. And by flying in a V formation. the whole flock adds 71 percent greater
flying range and is able to fly 75 percent faster than if each bird flew alone.

Fact Two: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag
and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the other birds immediately in front of it.

Fact Three: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation
and another goose flies into the point position.

Fact Four: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front
to keep up their speed.

Fact Five: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot, two other geese always
drop out of formation and follow it down to help or protect it. They stay with it
either until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another
formation and catch up with the flock.

Hummmm, I wonder whoever figured this all out. The complete article is very
interesting, and you can locate the magazine in the clubhouse just as soon as
I finish with it!

Wednesday, March 02, 2005


<==== March Newsletter is posted. Use the link on the left.


YOU GUYS NEED TO....
RON THOMAS


Make sure you know that the Okie Breakfast has changed to April 2nd. Somehow the newsletter called for it to happen this weekend. Don't know how that was decided. It takes a lot of time to reschedule events. You can't just say well we will have it next week. Doesn't work that way. FYI There is a private party at the clubhouse this Saturday. There are new posters describing upcoming events at the clubhouse so be sure and check the bulletin board.


Even if you signed up for the Okie Breakfast you will have to do it again. It is a new event with a new date and we really need to know how many are coming because the food is expensive and will be bought according to how many sign up. $3.50 per person... Season pass holders free.

We're sorry this event was cancelled but there wasn't a person working on it that didn't have the flu or was operated on. Not really the ideal condition for food handlers.

Another error reported that I would put the emergency red light system in a person's yard for $7.00. Sorry that just can't be done. It is about 7 times that much just for parts these days. However, our volunteers will put your house number on your post light and give the post a coat of flat black paint for $7.00. All proceeds go to the Social Club.

OUR HOME Posted by Hello

Cities that visited our website yesterday...

ron thomas

Jim Dodds gave us a feature that accumulates statistics on our website. One of the most interesting for me is the folks who have looked in on us from all over the world... If you are traveling see if we caught you looking by seeing if we got your city... If you are a relative or friend drop a comment if we spotted you....or if you recognize a city that a friend may be looking let us know in the comments.


Here are the cities that looked yesterday:

YUMA AZ, CORVALIS OR, FOSTER CITY CA, MANASSAS VA, EUGENE OR, MOUNTAIN VIEW CA, PORT TOWNSEND WA, WALDPOR OR, PETERSBERG VA, MEDFORD OR, KANSAS CITY MO, MOBILE AL, ATLANTA GA, LOUISVILLE KY, SALEM OR,DULLES VA, MICHIGAN, SPOKANE WA, ST LOUIS MO, LANHAM MD, NAPLES FLA, MARINA DEL REY CA, SINGAPORE, FINLAND

PRETTY NEAT HUH?



Here is a link sent in by Jim Dodds...

jim dodds

Jim has found a link that he wants to share with you. It deals with ways to help our troops overseas... to give them support. He is hoping you will take time out for a look....

anysoldier.com



What Club...
ron thomas


Well we have the Fishermen's club. The Ladies' Coffee. The Social Club. Why aren't there more clubs? Perhaps a Computer Club? How about a Photograpy Club? There is a Pinochle Club and a Bingo club and even a Pool Player's Club.

Should there be a Craftsmen's Club for those with a special interest in tools and projects? Where is our Shuffleboard Club. How come there is not a walking or hiking club? How about a touring club? Where are the Texas Holdem club players?

Should we have a group that attends townhall meetings in Newport? Where are the volunteers for the Police department? Is there a religious study group that should be meeting at the clubhouse?

Should we be exploring more ways to help our troops... Is there a club for that? Where are the noon time Checker Players? We could use a Chess Club too. How come we don't have a Horseshoe tournament? Do those that play Golf think about teaching new comers to the sport how to play?


Where are the funny dressed dog shows? Don't forget the electric cart races. How come our musicians don't have a club? Where did the folks that have motorhomes hold their annual trek to this year. Where are the gardeners meeting this week. Don't forget the artists and the quilters.. We know they are just itching to teach new members about their craft.


This place could be so much more...... When you are having fun you live longer... When a newcomer wants to buy here they like to see what we do for fun. Let's make it attractive... Well? Got ideas where to start?

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Five views of the same picture using some of the hundreds of choices available in Picasa


Download Picasa for free ... use the link on the left side of the page.


make the photo larger by clicking on it... to return here again... use your web browsers back arrow.



ori

Monday, February 28, 2005

Patrol


Thoughts on folks away from home...
ron thomas
Have you noticed that we have a link on the left for a form that can be filled out to notify your Neighborhood Watch Captian that you are out of town? What if we had a group of people willing to do an occasional walk around of these folks homes while they are away? They could look for problems and we could notify the owners if there is a problem. Really wouldn't be to much of an imposition on those that walk the community on a regular basis.... They could just give a home a once over by walking around it and filing a computer report or phoning a report to a co-ordinator who would contact the home owner if necessary.

Walkers Wanted to inspect homes for away homeowners. Co-ordinator wanted to keep track of reports and notify homeowners if there is a problem.

Plea for Newsletter help

Look... You all like the Newsletter.. Right?
ron thomas


That's right I knew you would say "yes". Whenever the community has to be notified of something the first thing off everybody's lips is, "We'll put an announcement in the Newsletter." Here is what you are really saying... "We will tell the volunteers on the Newsletter to compose, and print the notice and then get it out to the community on time." Then we just forget about it and it is done.


What wheels are set in motion from that request? A volunteer takes time out to compose the request on his computer and then must arrange it to fit the newsletter format (Jim and Marilynn McCrea). Currently, another volunteer collects the money from advertisers (Jim and Jean Hart) and brings their ads to our editor who physically cuts and pastes them onto sheets of paper. Then on deadline day the completely arranged newsletter is copied and sent to our professional printer (John Forsloff) with the ads. The Newsletter is printed at a greatly reduced cost to the residents of this park thanks to a ... Volunteer (John Forsloff). Once the newsletter is published the Newsletter editor (Jim McCrea) has to see that they are delivered to your mailbox at the clubhouse. Then (he/she) have to rearrange the Newsletter into a format that can be published on our website copy of the newsletter for all those folks that are absent from the park and then do that.


Jim McCrea, Jim Hart and John Forsloff need help with these volunteer jobs. I think we can agree that they are already dedicating a lot of time for for the folks of the park. Who has not seen them helping to setup at a function or selling raffle tickets? Have you seen Jim taking time to interview residents about things of interest for the newsletter? Have you seen Jean Hart sending out cards of encouragement for the Sunshine committee for those of us that are ill or conducting the ladies coffee meetings? Probably not... We have come to expect that someone else with a lot of time on their hands will do all these things for us...They have nothing else to do and must be bored... After all we are very busy doing our thing in retirement....Right?


So when Jim McCrea called today to ask if I would take on making the ads for the newsletter because he doesn't know how to do it and has to actually use scissors and glue to cut and paste now. ... I felt inclined to help but in order to do the cut and paste operation with a computer a scanner is necessary. Mine is broken and can't be fixed. I told him no, I could not but I would appeal to the community.


What about it? A lot of you have a scanner. Say you have one and don't know how to use it? So you aren't going to volunteer to help do this job? Hey! I have a deal for you! I will come to your home and give you personal instuction on how to use it and cut and paste the ads for the Newsletter...


This community will grow closer every time a person steps forward and says , "I can do that". Every time a person takes a small piece of the load for the community it helps those that carry the greater burden. Come on.. Let's give our Newsletter volunteers a hand... You can do it.. Do I see some hands raising out there?

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Books, Books, Books

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS
 
Today I went to the archives to learn when I had sent in my first
book report.  It was 12-18-04!  How time does fly.  Ron followed
with a book report but no others have taken the time to share
a book report with us.  I know that there are many, many readers
here in the park by the books that are returned for the library
committee (consisting of two) to reshelf them.  Since 12-18-04
I have read several books but none worth writing about.  Most
were the "quick read" mysteries while waiting for sleep to take
over at night.  However, a friend loaned me the second book
that I have read by author, Dan Brown....'Deception Point'.  It
was a great read, very, very detailed but was difficult to lay it
down and do any chores.  Most times the chores just had to wait
until I arrived at a stopping point.  Dan Brown writes short chapters
and the following chapter is about something or someone else.  It
makes for good reading!  I highly recommend it.  Check the lVH
library to see if there is a copy there.  The first book I read of Dan
Brown was "Angels and Demons".  Excellent.  I have a card file of
books I have read since 1993 and rate them 1-5.  Angels and
Demons received a 4, but my rating of "Deception Point"  will
be a 5.  Rain is hopefully arriving the end of the coming week.
Check out a book, read it and tell us about it.
 
Cleda Hampton

TEST

WAITING FOR PUBLISH
--
Ron Thomas