[jacobsgrampy]

I have received over the last two weeks, two different emails regarding Non-residents use of rec centers/pools, etc. and now about Medical Support Groups. What is going on in the Villages? We have in excess of 70,000+ residents and an elected board wants to allow people from the Town of Lady Lake, Oxford, Wildwood and neighborhoods like Spruce Creek, Water Oak, etc. Why? Medical experiences from outside our "town" are all well and good, but what happens if a group gets too big, who chooses who stays and who has to get out. I can only see problems and lot's of hard feelings. If the Villages wants to incorporate everyone outside, as well as insiders who foots the bill? Does our amenity fee go up because we are "neighborly"? Should we ask for a 'donation' from our 'neighbors' to cover basic costs?

We have been out of the area for family business. Please let us know what is going on, it's my 'town' too.

[swrinfla]

I can speak to this subject a little.

There was a move instigated very early this year to allow essentially unfunded support groups to meet at Recreation Centers, and allow no more than 10% of any meeting to be outsiders.

Another stipulation was that these support groups be medically oriented. That's almost a given, I guess, but not necessarily.

The notion went before the Amenity Advisory Council (or close to that). After agonizingly lengthy discussions, they voted 3-2 to allow such meetings on a trial basis, thru 2009.

Many folks adopted the attitude that once you open the flood gates, you will totally ruin The Villages. As a member of one of the support groups who may benefit from this (we haven't yet decided whether to move our meetings away from an off-campus venue), in light of the limitations on attendance agreed to, I frankly cannot believe that we are damaging TV at all.

Unfortunately, there are many here (especially longer-term residents) who think we have already ruined the place, what with our near-75,000 population.

SWR

[JTW]

I actually did speak to one of the board members when I first got word of this situation through an email about a week or so ago. And I was told that these meetings, which are of a medical nature, were to be held at a few of the rec centers and that these "non villagers" would not be using any other of our amenities....no pools, no billards, none of that stuff. They would only be meeting in the rec centers meeting rooms...nothing else.

[SABRMnLgs]

I guess some people are not the "friendliest". More like a bunch of suffed shirts. Guess being neighborly does not apply to the mind set of a lot of people.
They can use my amenity stuff if they like. I very seldom use any of it anyway. I don't care to be around people who have their noses up in the air.
See my note on the previous thread.