No Guest ID For Friends from Lake County
 

We have really good friends who live in Leesburg and want to invite them to spend the day with us. We want to spend some time at our adult pool, but I just looked at the qualifications for a guest ID and see that if they live in Lake, Marion or Sumter Counties and are not a close relative, they cannot get a guest ID. What can we do?

Home Pool
 

I know it's disappointing, but there is sound reasoning behind the ruling. Even being a close relative does not count, only those relatives specifically spelled out in the qualifications for the In-Area Guest Card.

This may be one of the reasons many Villagers put in their own pools. I know some who opted for a home pool for this very reason.

As for something else to do, cooking out and hanging out might be just the ticket.

And the sound reasoning is _____________________________.


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You can ask about the reasoning when the residents here are allowed to bring all their friends from all the aforementioned surrounding counties to all the facilities and you can't get in even though you live here and pay all the fees which they do not.

Son of the Berlin Wall.


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chuck, I often find myself in agreement with your thinking, and judging by the places listed in your life's residences, I certainly respect your military service to our country, but I'm not with you on this one.

I'm thinking that dillywho hit the sound reasoning button pretty solidly.

And dillywho didn't even mention the wear/tear, damage, and maintenance issues that result from non-resident area guests who pay nothing towards costs related to those issues.

Why not guest fees? Say a day pass at $15 per should cover as we pay about $4 through our amenity fees per household.

Or if anybody remebers the M.A.S.H. episode of getting the Officer's club for Officers and relatives when Hawkeye starts to introduce everubody as Uncle this and cousin that......

:crap2:

GMcN,

I totally agree.

Folks from the surrounding counties are able to go to the squares, restaurants, movie theatres and rec centers ONLY where they are attending meetings open to the general public (such as a cancer survivors support group).

Hedo -

The thought of a guest pass was raised previously. The problem with it is the cost of effectively administering the collection of the fees and the issuance of cards. I don't think that a reasonable fee - such as the $15 you propose - would come near to covering these costs.

JMO,

Kate

OK...but what about a limited number of passes for these individuals. Since we have only one couple with whom we are friends with that live in any of the local counties (and we knew them before we moved here), I didn't realize that so many people here were friends with individuals who lived outside TV. If TV can limit grandkids and others to visits of no more than 30 days, then why can't the limit Lake, Marion, Sumter people to a limit of 10 or 15 visits during the year? Sounds like a viable solution to me.

visitors
 

If you are so hell bent on seeing these friends in a pool surrounding, then go to their development and use their pool. We in the Villages are being crowded out of enough activities and don't need additional wear and tear on the facilities that we pay for. Fifteen dollars would not be enough to pay for the displacement of Villagers by these so called "guests." In fact no sum of money would be sufficient compensation considering what is a quality of life issue for those of us who chose to live in TV.

This is just my 'suspecting', but perhaps another reason for this rule, and why it probably won't be changed like it or not, is from a business/marketing standpoint; to encourage people not to just move (or keep living) near The Villages, in perhaps less expensive neighborhoods, and then be able to use The Villages' amenities through being a Villager's guest, but to encourage them to actually move to The Villages, themselves. To me, it would be painful to live near The Villages and have to miss out on so much of the goings on - 'eyes pressed up against the windowpane'.

WOW...how rude!! Do you think you and those who live in the Villages are so far above everyone else??? That my friends would affect your quality of life??? I am so glad that we met so many other people who live here who are accepting and friendly and that you are in the minority.

Didn't you read all the "Rules", restrictions, etc., when you purchased your home? You were given copies of them.

With my occasional reading here on TOTV by residents complaining about overcrowding at pools, restaurants, health clubs or wherever, why should the situation be exasperated by opening the doors of access to the greater area around TV to that which most of us (if not all) currently pay $1620.00 annually to have and and have maintained. IMHO TV has it right when it comes to drawing the line on over-extension or over-saturation of resources, which is a whole lot more than I can say for the federal government's spending habit!

On the other hand, is there no room for extending the possibilities when it is for the benefit of some who pay those very fees? Are there not options possible that have not yet been mentioned, or at least I haven't read them yet, that wouldn't make any substantial expansion of the operational expenses? For example, providing for a guest pass for a fee to cover administration costs that has similar restrictions as imposed on children... 30 days max per year! The system for that is already in place and would only need a second class for the pass with the only real difference being the fee involved.

Another is for the aforementioned 30 day pass to be available only during the summer season where the locals could play when the snow birds are away... in a limited way of course. This could benefit some "resident only access" local businesses that have a slump in receipts during the off season. I'm sure that others could come up with even more feasible ideas!

Now some residents could have a cold no-way Jose attitude toward any tri-county outsider access ideas while others have an anything should go mindset that dismisses any expense by or sense of fairness to other residents. But like the old "the truth lies somewhere in between" adage about statements of conflicting opinion, there must be a "somewhere in-between solution" that can be fair and reasonable without catering to the whims of any extreme ideas or positions. After all, isn't it every amenity fee payers quality of lifestyle that's important?

Nicely said SkyGuy.

We are new to TV and are doing our best to learn all the rules and regs. It always amazes me how the most innocent questions on this forum can bring out the ugliest of responses. Sometimes it is hard to believe that this is "Florida's FRIENDLIEST hometown"!

Things are fine the way they are.

Thanks! As far as "Florida's FRIENDLIEST hometown," I was only was there for closing and stayed two months before heading back north for the summer and I truly believe that they are the friendliest dispite the very few "yesterdays tossed tomatoes" that may reside there!

:BigApplause:

PKlein,

While I happen to agree with Whatever, I do feel things could be said without the rudeness.

One huge difference between visits of friends vs. children/grandchildren is that the latter CAN'T live here. Your friends (unless they have young kiddos) could have chosen to live here.

I stated earlier that I felt a $15 fee would not cover our costs. I hope you and your friends can visit the squares and enjoy the entertainment - and maybe you can visit the pool in their community.

OTE=Whatever;359343]If you are so hell bent on seeing these friends in a pool surrounding, then go to their development and use their pool. We in the Villages are being crowded out of enough activities and don't need additional wear and tear on the facilities that we pay for. Fifteen dollars would not be enough to pay for the displacement of Villagers by these so called "guests." In fact no sum of money would be sufficient compensation considering what is a quality of life issue for those of us who chose to live in TV.[/QUOTE]

spot on,I'm also are sick of people who want to change one little thing and then another after that it becomes never ending.If they don't like the rules move it's as simple as that.or charge enough to recover costs like 30 to fifty a person per day.Go and see what it would cost to do things at a facility that charges it is not 15 a day it cost 10 bucks a hour to shoot pool at a pool hall.

I don't think Whatever is trying to be rude. :confused: I think he is just a person who believes in "plain speaking". I know many residents that have tried to attend popular activities and they've been full ... especially in snowbird season when there are lots of guests, renters and lifestyle previews. I think a resident can be hospitable and entertain local guests in their homes and at the town squares.

As Bogie Shooter says, things are fine the way they are now.

Charging a high enough fee to open limited access to tri-county residents might cover the costs, but wouldn't doesn't solve the problem of overcrowding. It would make the problem worse.

If buying in a community "near the Villages" entitled me to everything TV had to offer, strictly on a pay-as-you-go basis, that would be a great deal for me-- and a raw deal for Villagers who pay the home bond, monthly amenities fee and annual maintenance but faced more overcrowding and reduced use of the facilities they pay for.

The fact that TV is not overcrowded in the summer is great for Villagers. Reduced access to our amenities in the summer too is not something I'm praying for.

You stated it just perfectly, Pturner. Exact way I feel.

It is sad that one Lifestyle Visit cannot show all the ins and outs of TV. It makes me feel bad when people move here expecting to be happy and find that the CDD form of government is not quite the democratic way that things were run in the old neighborhood, and that the predominant political climate and preference towards certain speakers and non hospitality toward others by the owners of the development corporation is not what they feel comfortable with.

I personally am o.k. with it. I have given the changing of the world and the details of it to others. I am used to a Republican paper growing up in Ohio. I think that the plan that we have and the way things are here are fine. I have lived with deed restrictions for the last 40 years. It is what it is....and although not perfect, it feels just right for the G's.

I just wish that someone would write a book and say that the final say goes to the developers. That the paper is not one to publish much that would cast a bad light on the community. That you can't park your boat or camper on your property for more than 24 hours and have a family of gnomes in the front yard. You can't put a for sale sign in your yard south of 466 and you can't hear a prominent Democrat speaking at the square.

I suggest to all of you who have not moved here to get a copy of the deed restrictions and read every post on TOTV, because me, Grace Helene, I want you to be happy here.

I really do.

You nailed it, PT.

I believe the developer planned the community so rec facilities, especially golf and pools, would support the community. I am not sure how delicate the balance may be, but if the rules were changed to allow unlimited guests I am betting we would not be happy with the results.

I, for one, read and understood the rules prior to buying. Those same rules are one of the reasons I found The Villages attractive. I sincerely hope they do not start chipping away at them by making exceptions. I have seen it happen in other communities with poorly managed HOA's. The results were not pretty.

Last year I was in a foursome that included a guy that lives in Dell Webb on 441/27 about 8 miles North of The Villages. I asked him what kind of shape the courses up there were in? His answer was that he didn't know because he always and only plays the Championship courses in The Villages. When he checked in I saw that he had a guest pass. Now before you ask how he did that I later asked him if he was a full time resident of Dell Webb and he said no that he lives up North as well. So this means that he had an out of state ID and can get a guest pass for here.

All I could think about was this is perhaps one of those guys who says you can get more home outside of The Villages but was enjoying our ammenties. I knew he was working the system and it was working for him. I feel that the system we have works ok not great.

But I for one don't want to put more and more rules in The Villages than we than we already have. The system has been well thought out. Yes it could be tweeked but where would it stop. I have a friend who moved into an older community in the Tampa area. This is a condo cumminity and they have so many crazy rules it would amaze you. I personally don't want this place to end up like my friends place a rule crazy community.

Somebody in TV is helping him "work the system". That is sad.

A small (I hope) story to expand on this subject:

A while ago, the AAC (Amenities Advisory Council, or whatever) who are charged with adminstering the amenity fees, reluctantly approved a six-month trial period allowing non-Villagers to attend meetings of non-funded medically-oriented support groups at Villages facilities, provided they were no more than 10% of each meeting's attendance.

There were many, many harsh words during hearings on this proposal ["They'll swarm over us," "They're out to take over our facilities," "We can't set any precedent allowing outsiders in," etc.]

After the inital trial period, statistics maintained by my particular support revealed: 144 visits by outsiders; accummulated by 8 outsiders; no one ever questionned their attendance.

But, the swimming pools are probably the biggest attraction for so-called outsiders. There, I can see placing limits.

The subject of outsiders using Villages facilities/amenities has been on-going since before I came here. Many of the older residents remain adamently opposed to letting any one other than immediate family to take advantage of our recreational facilities; the newer residents are "more accommodating."

As many of you know, my brother and his family live off campus in Marion County. They frankly have no interest in our amenities, being happy with their own. That said, one of their first demands when I moved here was, "We must go to Katie Belle's." So, I took them as my guests. We were all so disappointed in the evening that they've never asked to go again, and I've never suggested it to them!

SWR
:beer3:

Don't be so sure that he is in the minority....Most of my neighbors feel the same way.........If you don't think so , the next time your at a neighborhood party , bring up the subject and you'll be surprized...........

fumar

And the problem is ??????????

I believe that even children should not be allowed. It is unfair to those who have less kids. If the true purpose of the existing rules is to prevent over crowding or undue wear and tear on our facilities than there should be a an annual limit on the number of guests and not on which family members can get guest passes. Since no one has any idea of how many kids residents have or how many would visit how does restricting passes to only children and grandchildren control the number of guests using our facilities? If the true purpose is limiting them then a limit in the amount of passes is the logical method. The true purpose of the current rules is for the developer's benefit to discourage people from buying outside TV and therefore buy from him. Like I said, the current rules cannot anticipate the number of guest passes and therefore is a poor method of crowd control. Furthermore those of us with less or no children are denied privileges for our brothers and sisters who, in my case, are much too young o move into TV. My wife's only family is her sister in Marion County who is 40 and ironically the reason we even found out about TV. We have no kids so how fair are the current rules as I have to subsidize those with large families?

The above is tongue in cheek but my point is valid about the current rules. They are like trying to limit the traffic on a highway by saying only red cars can use it without knowing how many red cars there are and penalizing those who bought different color cars. It only serves to increase the sales of red cars.

So, from the above posts, it appears that the TV guest pass policy is preventing nearby relatives and friends from mainly using the following TV amenities:

Dining at Katie Belle's

Getting the cheaper Guest Rate at the (open to the public) 18 hole golf courses

and

Swimming in Pools.


I can definitely see why all the Villagers want to protect these valuable privileges.


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Vinny? I see on the bottom of your posts in the list of where you've lived, it says...Pennecamp TV, Who knows where next? and it has a sort of unhappy smiley next to it. ...You are unhappy here? I hope not. You always have somthing interesting to tell us and I always read your posts with interest.

In response to your post, I say that trying to have a completely fair to everyone policy on every issue here in TV is very difficult, if not impossible, and for singles and those without children, it chafes. In defense, it does seem to work well for most of us.

Don't leave us Vinny!!!:wave: