[Minnie101]

We are getting close again to The Villages Annual Survey. Last year almost 800 residents took the time to enter in the comments section of the "2009 Annual Villages Survey" in both "The Developers" section and "The VCDDD" section" comments that a New Performing Arts Center to replace Savannah Center is required for our community.

These comments took many people by surprise and has lead to members of the AAC (on the north side of Route 466) to request VCDDD staff to submit to University of Florida consultants plans for a architectural and cost study to retrofit Savannah Center with "rake" or slooping seating and permanent seats rather than replacement of temporary folding chairs with other temporary chairs.

As noble and meaningful request as this is, it is the only action the AAC could take given their limited power and funding. However, this action does not resolve the real issue and that is that Savannah Center is presently an inadequate facility that is:
- Too small to attract larger acts or a higher quality of "named" acts
- Too small to attract productions with scenery or sceneray changes
- Has poor acoustics
- Has poor lighting
- Is not friendly for residents with disabilities
- Has a stage which is too small for any type of dancing program
- Has poor temperature control
- Has no facilities for handling coats (remember those recent cold days)
- and of course could use stadium seating so that all seats have a clear
unobstructed view of the stage
- Has inadequate dressing room facilities for artists
- Has no storage areas for our talented resident music and Theatre groups
- and many other inadequacies

What is necesary is for Mark Morse or his designate representing the Developer, The VCDDD, The AAC, The Volunteers Peforming Arts Alliance (VPAA, a not for profit corporation that has been established to establish, build and operate a New Performing Arts Center), and others to jointly identify a location that can be used to locate a New State-of-the Art Performing Arts Center for which our community of close to 200,000 people (Villages and those of surrounding communities) can be proud of and which can attract higher quality entertainment, plays, and events.

However, to get this ball rolling more than the previous 8oo residents MUST make the case that a New Performing Arts Center is required. As of now everyone but Mark Morse is listening. This doesn't make him a bad person it just means that we need many THOUSANDS of residents to make their voices heard to get his attention.

The Polo Field is a great venue for watching this thrilling sport. But more people attend events at the inadequate Savannah Cente then attend matches at the Polo Field. So why can't we get Mr. Morse's attention to provide land for a New Performing Arts Center? Apparently the numbers of residents who have requested a New State-of-the Art Performing Arts Center is not large enough to get his attention.

So starting today we need everyone to pass this message along, to tell your neighbors and friends, to mention it a club meetings and at the golf courses, exercise classes, Town Squares, and on The Talk of The Villages" that we the residents request that a New Performing Arts Center be located and built within the area of The Villages on land donated by Mr. Morse.

What a fitting memorial to The Villages Founder, Harold Schwartz, to have the Harold Schwartz Memorial Performing Arts Center be located within The Villages attracting local, national and international artists; providing a venue for the children or our Charter Schools; providing advanced music, Dance and Theatre courses in association with our local colleges and the University of Florida System; providing state-of the art facilities for our many talented resident musicians, actors, artists, and dancers,

The action must be taken now; the Annual Survey is the only vehicle we know of to get the message accross; to get the desires of the residents in the minds and plans of Mr. Morse and his wonderful design and construction teams.

Therefore, PLEASE follow these instructions to the letter for your desire for a New Performing Arts Center to be heard.

In Both "The Developers" Section and "The VCDDD" Section of the new "2010 Villages Annual Survey" when it comes out in late March or early April begin your comments with these words and these words only

A New Performing Arts Center is necessary ...........................

Let the voices of the residents of The Villagers be heard.