[jflynn1]

Please send to everyone you can think of to help get this reversed

Entertainment Department verified that starting in 2013 there would be no more parades (352-750-5411). Y

ou may wish to attend a meeting this Wednesday at Savannah Center 1:30PM . It is the AAC Amenities Advisory Committee to let them know how you feel. If many Villagers show up it may influence them. Even if attending the parades is not your thing it is important to show the developers that we care about The Villages and what it has to offer- that you would like to be a part of the decision of what is removed.



Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: News -IMPORTANT
Nadia, the Entertainment Dept. organizer/contact for The Villages is telling all the club leaders this. She is the one who schedules all the clubs/performances for each festivity, what time and square, etc. All this was just announced to the clubs within the last week (or less). What additional info I learned today is that all parades for 2013 (and beyond) are canceled, no longer happening. The "Fest" activities will tentatively include additional performances from the clubs/groups (in addition to the nightly music)...IE: the Italian Fest may have performances from say, the cheerleaders and belly dancers, provided they wear the appropriate colors and dance/perform to the appropriate music, IE; Italian music (which isn't a biggie as I think the groups try to do that anyway). But, subject to change. They are not giving a specific reason, however, speculation is it all boils down to dollars and cents. If they feel they're not making enough profit they stop doing it. Irregardless of the fact they use these festivities to lore folks here to live. I spoke with the ex-president of the Maryland club who filled me in on a little insight. She said that because folks here are retired they'll all wait for someone else to do something about this. If we only have a few folks upset nothing will happen. If, as a huge group of 80,000, we stand up to the developer and say we aren't happy about this or how can we take this over and handle it ourselves in the future, we might have a chance of getting a positive result. As the Maryland group, they used to rent the polo grounds/table area and kitchen to boil their own crabs for 200 people. They would rent it for one day from 8am to 9PM and cook the crabs for $200. When the developer took the grounds (back) over they raised the fee to $600 and said the club would have to use one of their caterers, either La Hacienda or Katie Belles, cause of course, they own them. Needless to say, the Maryland group stop this event.
Everyone I've talked to about this is extremely upset. I know some are posting stuff on facebook (I don' know how to go about this). Some are talking about letters to the editor (a joke of course, as the developer won't let those be put in the Daily Sun).

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by jflynn1

Please send to everyone you can think of to help get this reversed

Entertainment Department verified that starting in 2013 there would be no more parades (352-750-5411). Y

ou may wish to attend a meeting this Wednesday at Savannah Center 1:30PM . It is the AAC Amenities Advisory Committee to let them know how you feel. If many Villagers show up it may influence them. Even if attending the parades is not your thing it is important to show the developers that we care about The Villages and what it has to offer- that you would like to be a part of the decision of what is removed.



Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: News -IMPORTANT
Nadia, the Entertainment Dept. organizer/contact for The Villages is telling all the club leaders this. She is the one who schedules all the clubs/performances for each festivity, what time and square, etc. All this was just announced to the clubs within the last week (or less). What additional info I learned today is that all parades for 2013 (and beyond) are canceled, no longer happening. The "Fest" activities will tentatively include additional performances from the clubs/groups (in addition to the nightly music)...IE: the Italian Fest may have performances from say, the cheerleaders and belly dancers, provided they wear the appropriate colors and dance/perform to the appropriate music, IE; Italian music (which isn't a biggie as I think the groups try to do that anyway). But, subject to change. They are not giving a specific reason, however, speculation is it all boils down to dollars and cents. If they feel they're not making enough profit they stop doing it. Irregardless of the fact they use these festivities to lore folks here to live. I spoke with the ex-president of the Maryland club who filled me in on a little insight. She said that because folks here are retired they'll all wait for someone else to do something about this. If we only have a few folks upset nothing will happen. If, as a huge group of 80,000, we stand up to the developer and say we aren't happy about this or how can we take this over and handle it ourselves in the future, we might have a chance of getting a positive result. As the Maryland group, they used to rent the polo grounds/table area and kitchen to boil their own crabs for 200 people. They would rent it for one day from 8am to 9PM and cook the crabs for $200. When the developer took the grounds (back) over they raised the fee to $600 and said the club would have to use one of their caterers, either La Hacienda or Katie Belles, cause of course, they own them. Needless to say, the Maryland group stop this event.
Everyone I've talked to about this is extremely upset. I know some are posting stuff on facebook (I don' know how to go about this). Some are talking about letters to the editor (a joke of course, as the developer won't let those be put in the Daily Sun).

The only chance you have to salvage parades is to promote funding it sans developer. Get with the retailers and the clubs. The developer is only making business decisions. The only thing he gains from the parades and many other subsidized activities is marketing of homes. As the build-out approaches, you can expect the developer to stop subsidizing everything. Just like in most communities, it will fall to the retailers. If it makes money, it will be done.

Try putting a charity fund-raising spin on the parades (of course this will take donations) but this might induce the developer to stay involved in some fashion.

It is time for all Villagers to realize there is no free lunch. If it cannot be paid for with amenity fees, all of the freebies will either come to an end or shift to the retailers. It is what it is.

[blueash]

A few dozen people marching near the sales offices with signs every day might make a difference. Or perhaps all the members of the XYZ club could mysteriosly just happen to all be slowly driving their golf carts down Canal street into LSL at the exact same time. Why that might look like a parade, but it would just be a coincidence.
Perhaps someone can educate me on the techical definition of a parade that they are not going to allow. As the streets are public someone other than the developer must be issuing a "parade" permit if such is needed. I am sure the local governmental authorities would act according to the wishes of the citizens and not be under the control of the developer, right?

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by blueash

A few dozen people marching near the sales offices with signs every day might make a difference. Or perhaps all the members of the XYZ club could mysteriosly just happen to all be slowly driving their golf carts down Canal street into LSL at the exact same time. Why that might look like a parade, but it would just be a coincidence.
Perhaps someone can educate me on the techical definition of a parade that they are not going to allow. As the streets are public someone other than the developer must be issuing a "parade" permit if such is needed. I am sure the local governmental authorities would act according to the wishes of the citizens and not be under the control of the developer, right?

The streets may be public, but the squares and the downtown shops, sidewalks, etc. are the developer's territory.

[ugotme]

[QUOTE=It is time for all Villagers to realize there is no free lunch. If it cannot be paid for with amenity fees, all of the freebies will either come to an end or shift to the retailers. It is what it is.[/QUOTE]

My question is what will happen if/when the time comes when the build out is complete and there is not much need to market homes here? Sooner or later the amenity fees will reach a "maxed-out" price which people may rebel against then what - fees for golf? tickets for shows in the squares? Not sure of the answer, just putting it out there.

[ilovetv]

Read the last sentence of this article dated Nov. 2012:

The Villages Voice

[Bogie Shooter]

With 85,000+ people in TV, has any parade attracted more than 10%.
Is the minority of people now wringing their hands for the majority who, apparantly won't miss the parades?
Didn't the same thing happen when the Christmas parade was no longer held at the square and now is at the Polo Grounds? And it has been a success since.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by ugotme

My question is what will happen if/when the time comes when the build out is complete and there is not much need to market homes here? Sooner or later the amenity fees will reach a "maxed-out" price which people may rebel against then what - fees for golf? tickets for shows in the squares? Not sure of the answer, just putting it out there.

Every household pays the fees yet the bulk of the money is spent on the most recently built locations. That being the case, the fees should not have to rise after build out as less will be needed to maintain common areas.

On the parades, I see them as more trouble than pleasure for the town squares. Contained areas for this type activity makes more sense to me.

[jblum315]

Originally Posted by ugotme

My question is what will happen if/when the time comes when the build out is complete and there is not much need to market homes here? Sooner or later the amenity fees will reach a "maxed-out" price which people may rebel against then what - fees for golf? tickets for shows in the squares? Not sure of the answer, just putting it out there.

I thought the retailers paid for the entertainment in the squares?

[Challenger]

"Chicken Little, the sky is falling." Hmmmmmmm

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

With 85,000+ people in TV, has any parade attracted more than 10%.
Is the minority of people now wringing their hands for the majority who, apparantly won't miss the parades?
Didn't the same thing happen when the Christmas parade was no longer held at the square and now is at the Polo Grounds? And it has been a success since.

The polo grounds are beautiful......I can understand why it's been a success there.

From our own experience, most people go to parades with young children; we started ours off from about age 2 and took them to every single town parade in our Vermont town.........of which there are many.

Once they were young teenagers, we were SO HAPPY that we could just let them walk down into town with their friends......to the parades.
Been there, done that......for years and years.

Then we began again with the new baby grandchildren.....from crawling infant stage on........again, glad when everyone decided it was TOO HOT TO SIT THROUGH THOSE THREE HOUR PARADES, having to put our chairs out early on the sidewalks (5 a.m. for noon parade; arriving at 11 a.m., winding down at 3 p.m.)

Parades are for young families and children. I can't even imagine trying to get a good spot at the squares.......at our age.

Up here the FIREMEN (all volunteers) sponsor the big summertime parade and other groups like the VFW sponsor the smaller parades.
The firemen get donations from us and other townspeople by selling ads in their parade newspaper.........since the parade honors the firemen, those past and present, it works out great. We have participants from Massachusetts, New York State and all over Vermont........even Connecticut. We used to have a drum and bugle contest the evening of the parade ....but that ended many years ago. Everyone went to that as well.
Our high school marched along with all the out of state bands..........they made floats, all the various town groups made floats........it was all "volunteer" sort of. Everyone and their uncle marched, including the various scouting groups, the guys riding the little "cars" with the "fez" hats on........it takes planning, but the community itself can do it.

Most towns have parades and somehow the citizens raise the money to sponsor them............we have parades for every season of the year.

If the people of TV want them, they will find a way and a place.

[billethkid]

Just put these changes on the list along side of celebrating new years on the squares which WAS fantastic. Outstanding way to do new years. Well attended does not describe the crowds and fun we had for 2 or 3 years when we first moved here. No reason ever given....just rumors about legal exposure and of course costs.

If one looks at the new venues for the tree lighting this year, now with Brownwood open. There is no more coordinated doing of the squares at the same time which USED to add a little bit of cohesive connection of residents for Christmas cheer. That is no more now with separate events.
I suspect additional logistics and extra cost are a big part of it.

And I would not be surprised in the special interest driven society we live in these days....there no doubt have been complaints of one kind or another about patriotic events, or parades or new years parties not lining up with some folks way of life or belief.

The above plus cost add up to eliminating events. The really sad part is that for all the good that TV developers do and their marketing and communicating expertise.....they do a 'P' poor job (really do not do at all) communicating 'stuff' like eliminating parades with not a word to the residents.

Yes we all understand it is not a democracy, they are the emporer et al....that does not make the poor communications of issues that impact residents....right.

My $7.29 (2 cents adjusted for inflation and the value of our dollar ).

btk

[mulligan]

I think the communication is very efficient. If nobody tells you there is a parade, don't show up to watch it. Real simple.

[graciegirl]

This is from NOVEMBER 2012 issue of The Village Voice

Go to the last two lines...Question. Will holiday parades be continued in each square?

The Villages Voice

[mulligan]

Thanks, G. Now, to expand on my last post, If someone tells you there is a parade, rush down to the appropriate square, and rope off a bunch of chairs.