Youth Committee Formation Meeting & Indoor Youth Activity Center Update

UPDATE & NOTICE OF MEETING

At 11am on Tuesday Dec. 11, a group of almost a dozen parents met with Big Canoe Senior Staff Jill Philmon (GM) and Jason Brownell (Director of Operations). The meeting was instructed by Jay Goldman (incoming Board President) after he and I had a discussion about investigating the possibility of using the lower level of the old Country Store as the interim location of an Indoor Youth Activity Center.

The meeting went great. Jill was very open and gracious – eager to listen and discuss frankly the possibilities and potential path forward. Jason is one of the unsung heroes of the community – the guy that oversees almost everything. He and I were able to clearly discuss the structural and remodel issues that might be involved. We all were able to agree upon a general path forward, and the basic remodeling issues that were potentially involved. We went into this on our side wanting to keep the costs down to an absolute minimum. Our goal is to get an indoor place, and remove as many financial objections as possible. We all determined that the space is very usable with minor adjustments. Jason is doing some research and cost estimating on the POA side of the equation.

On our side, the parent/community side, we have some homework assignments also…. which leads me to CALL A MEETING of any and all interested parties (defined as community members with permanent resident children/grandchildren, or children/grandchildren that visit frequently, and that would like to be involved in the planning process.)

I have reserved the Swim Club Lodge for the following times:

Saturday Dec 15:: 10am – 12:30pm < Primary Meeting
* Tuesday Dec 18:: 5:30pm – 9pm < if needed we have this time available
* this second one is tentative, IF NEEDED, and might double as a game night or play date for any children coming with parents. Will update on this after the 1st meeting.

THE GOAL of this meeting(s) is twofold:

1. We will be presenting an initial overview of our tour of the space, including handouts of rough blueprints, sample layouts of how we would use the space, initial ideas for how the space will be utilized for the various ages groups.
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2. We will discuss the formation of a Young Family Committee to oversee this Project, and which will undertake “Operational Oversight” over the Indoor Youth Center once it is established. This eventual Committee will need to establish rules, adult supervision guidelines and/or schedules, be the incubation point for new use ideas, develop youth programs and schedules, interact with the Board/GM, etc. It is important to note that putting a Committee together is a MANDATORY part of the plan.  One of the biggest obstacles over the years was this belief by the POA that this needed full-time “Paid” staff for the location. We’ve come up with a workaround, but that is going to involve a parent committee to oversee and semi-govern this new space and all program associated activities. Also, this is NOT a done deal. I get the very strong impression that this is doable, and will be supported by the GM and Board, but we need to show follow-through in standing up a Committee.  We need to show Support In Numbers.

I’m already working with a small core group of parents that has been guiding this from the beginning, and it is ideas that have sprung from these preliminary meetings that we will present as a foundation from which we can begin to build.

I think it is an exciting time for Young Families here…. we’ve got some momentum, and after 26 years of false starts and false promises, we have an opportunity to get an Indoor Space in the community that is dedicated to kids. Let’s not squander this opportunity. I really encourage everyone to make this meeting on Saturday Morning!  10am @ Swim Club.

Below are some photographs and notes to get everyone partially up to speed on the proposed  Indoor Youth Activity Center.

See you Saturday Morning!

Peace,
– david