You know, this is definitely THE problem in TV. I am not just talking about the pools, I am talking about everything. When people buy their houses here, they are very aware of the rules, regulations, or suggestions for all aspects of life here. They all agree to abide by these rules. But once they are moved in, things change, and everyone wants to interpret the rules to match their wants and needs. The powers in TV try not to make downright orders for everything, hopeing that people will do the right thing and abide by TV's rules or suggestions. The papers say "no saving seats", and the people say--"they don't mean me, or I'm going to do what I want" The papers say"no scooters on the MMP", and the people say "they don't mean me-I am going to do what I want". The pool rules say or suggest that all lap swimming, and organized classes should be done in the sports pools, and the people say----"they don't mean me, I am going to do what I want." I could go on, but that;s enough. There are 100K people here, and if everyone does what they think ok, then everyone starts stepping on the other people's rights. If that happens, the powers might have to get downright demanding, and impose restrictions none of us want, just to protect the rights of all. Just my opinion.

I agree with you, but I also think at least half of the onus is on TV to enforce the rules it has set up to begin with. They want to keep everyone happy, but really, they are only keeping the rule breakers happy with their no-enforcement-without-loud-complaint policy.

This is a big problem in all of our society--"I'm entitled to do what I please, and the rest be damned." Kids are being raised on that disrespect for others.

Fortunately most people in TV were raised to have respect for other people and for rules that are meant to promote an orderly community.

When people hog the neighborhood pools to do group water walking, etc., they need to be told to clear out and go to the sport pools' open water areas (not lap swim lanes).

The Rec Dept. is in charge of keeping order at these pools. One resident cannot be expected to confront a group of bullies and give them the boot. Rec dept. employees need to step up and enforce the rules.

Hear hear.

Isn't there a phone at every pool?
The Sports pools are for exercise classes.
The Adult pools are for swimming and relaxation.
Individuals shouldn't be expected to confront a group of walkers or exercisers that are monopolizing the Adult pool.
I'd think the pool phone would be a good way to contact the "powers that be", if people aren't willing to share the pool.

I don't think anyone has a problem with someone swimming laps or individuals doing water exercises in the neighborhood pool. But, when a large group is holding a class, and there is no room left for "relaxers", they are essentially taking over the pool which shouldn't be permitted. You can't even use a float in the pool because (I was told) they infringe on others' space; so why should a group be allowed to take over the pool. I'm surprised the rec department allows group water aerobics in the neighborhood pools as there would be no one controlling the number of participants...at the sports pools which are much larger, the rec staff controls the number of participants (I think 85 is max) to ensure folks aren't running into each other (safety reason, I presume).

Kind of hard to do if there is a large group of people doing water aerobics in the adult neighborhood pool...wouldn't be much room for others to "jump in and enjoy".

The problem occurs in the collier pool also. They should use big cypress.
I am told by the Eisenhower staff that the pool is open; however,it feels very uncomfortable to swim when a bunch of people are in a circle encompassing most of the center of the pool.

The staff at the rec centers is told not to be enforcers. You have to go over their heads to the rec department and complain. If enough people do it (like in the postal center/dog issue), something will be done.

You have your rights too, even moreso than the exercise classes. Unfortunately, you have to assert them or TV will do nothing because they don't want to make anyone unhappy, and there are more of them (the exercisers) than you to make unhappy.

[QUOTE=CFrance;890639]The staff at the rec centers is told not to be enforcers...

I think they pick and choose what to enforce. Actually had one tell me and another grandparent, our toddler (under age of 2) grandchildren could not play with a small plastic cup in the family pool. Since they couldn't swim, the kids were just sitting on the steps entertaining themselves filling the cups and pouring the water out. Hey, it's cheap entertainment and the kids were quiet...two plusses. But, rec staff came by and made us take their "toys" away...didn't go over too well with the toddlers, ya know how that goes. Though did read an article later saying small plastic cups and buckets are permitted. Anyhow, I digress from the original topic ... I realize it's probably tough having to deal with so many villagers and the different personalities. But, they shouldn't pick on the small stuff then overlook situations like a large group deciding to routinely use the neighborhood pool for water aerobics.

I agree with you also :)







I totally agree with you except for the part that most people in TV were raised to have respect for other people and for rules meant to promote an orderly community. They may have been raised that way, but a lot of people have forgotten it. Keeping in mind that so many of TV are wonderful people, it is the ones who are not that you notice the most. I think that morals in this country have almost become extinct. It is "whatever I want is ok".






Sorry, I disagree with the first sentence. Most of the thread says that people do mind when others are exercising or swimming laps. There are pools specifically for that purpose. If you want a rule to succeed, it is pretty much all or nothing. It can't be wheter someone has a problem with it or not. You may not have a problem with it, but other people there might. Obviously things can be different if you are the only person there, but when others come to the pool, the activity should stop.

Unfortunately there are people everywhere who just don't follow the rules. Whether we agree with the rule or not, it is a rule and it should be followed. As with anything, the person doing the right thing, or following the law or the rule, is the one who has to make changes or adapt. It's getting out of hand and people just need to behave

My opinion is they need to be made to behave by the people who made the rules in the first place. TV needs to step up and take some control. I don't understand their laziness regarding things like this.

They shouldn't have to enforce the rules they should just be followed. But since they aren't being followed, CFrance is absolutely right, the Villages should enforce them. The big question is how?

///

I think the how would come about if enough people went straight to the Rec Director with their complaints. We've had something like this happen with our pickleball group, and the individual rec center wouldn't do anything about it--just ignored it and said Oh, well... Then someone went over their head, and the problem was fixed.

In this case, since it's happening in more than one spot, people from each pool would have to lodge a complaint with the director. Harrass him enough, and point out what rules are being broken and who is suffering because of it, and he will have to respond instead of ignore. It worked with the postal centers/dogs. It worked with the wall. People have to become assertive about their rights.

How about if a bunch of people reading this thread forward it to John Rohan....Isn't he the recreation director? I tried to figure out HOW to do it but am not sure. http://districtgov.org/departments/R...ecreation.aspx

That's a good idea. He would have to be a member of TOTV to read it, though. Otherwise, copy and paste everything into a word document.

Here is Mr. Rohan's email address. Let's do something about this situation! John.Rohan@districtgov.org

Here is my email to Mr. Rohan:

Dear Mr. Rohan,

A number of neighborhood pools are being used for exercise classes, tying up the pools for an hour or more at a time and making it impossible for the pools to be used for their intended purposes--floating around, relaxing, a little swimming. Many people have become combative when asked to make room for those wanting to use the pools for their intended purpose. Going to these pools' rec center staff and complaining has done no good. They either state there's nothing they can do about it, or they won't do anything about it.

There is a groundswell of dissatisfaction over this practice, and people are being urged to get together and try to get the rec department to enforce the rules at the neighborhood pools, and to have the exercise classes moved to the sports pools where they belong.

If you are a member of Talk of The Villages forum, I urge you to read this thread: https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...-pools-117062/ It will give you information about which pools are being affected at this time. However, even if you don't read this thread, my request is that you direct your recreational staff at each rec center to ensure that these exercise classes are moved to the sports pools, and enforce the original intent of the neighborhood pools, which is for relaxing and socializing.

Here is the email response I got from Mr. Rohan:

"We are looking how to get the residents to mutually respect pool use and intent. We agree the exercise classes should not impede or impact the enjoyment of others to use the neighborhood pools. That's why we designed sports pools."

I urge all of you to email him at the address given in my post above.

The Fly in the Ointment contained in his response is "mutually respect". It is a crying shame that this must be dictated.

They could start with a sign............

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...9/poolsign.jpg

Too simple? We could form a vigilante group that crashes the activities to play Marco Polo.

The neighborhood adult pools should have monitors enforcing the rules, checking ID cards, and clearing out groups who take over the pool and patio as their own turf like playground bullies.

As many of us told our kids as they grew up:

"You want to be treated like an 'adult'?? Then act like one. But until you do, you are going to be watched by us or a babysitter."

Come on TOTV'rs who agree with CFrance and a lot of us...Send him a short and sweet email, and name pools. AND the time of the class that is taking up the space.

I am reading lots of negative comments that a "group" of exercisers prevent others from entering the pool, do not share, are taking up the whole pool and generally are a territorial group of individuals.
I am one of the people being complained about and we always leave a lane, greet people as they arrive and say come on in, plenty of room. There are "groups" all day at the pool, so should ALL of theses be prohibited?

His reply sounds ambiguous to me. Having "mutual respect" sounds like he is OK with all uses of a neighborhood pool, including water walking.

I think before people get too excited, he needs to clarify if he intends to allow it or not. Sounds like he does.

Have all of them arrested !
 

That should take care of the problem. It would also mean that friends gathering at the pools would not be possible. Many neighood groups gather at pools for fun and enjoyment. GONE, would be subject to to LAW inforcement. Most residents are not early risers and don't use the pools until the sun is high.

Nobody said friends shouldn't be allowed to gather at the pools for fun and enjoyment. We're saying that groups should not be allowed to take over the pool as their own pool.

With the size of these neighborhood pools, it only takes 3 or 4 water-walkers teamed up to "occupy" the entire pool. The loud group gossip is part of the "occupying" some do and it's very annoying.

My friend's husband works at one of the rec centers. They only have one monitor for three pools. Things like these exercise groups slip through. Then they become established events, and the rec center staff doesn't want to suffer the ire of 30-60 people, so they waffle and do nothing, even when faced with a complaint.

It really has to come from the top down, IMO.

We were in TV a couple of weeks ago and I walked by the Charlotte Pool on my morning walks. I noticed several carts at the pool and was curious what was going on. As i peaked over the fence, several exercises invited me into the pool. There was plenty of room for others in the pool. It looked like they were enjoying themselves and I would have liked to join in. Unfortunately, things are crazy when we are only there for two weeks.

YES.
I don't have a dog in this fight, as I have not encountered it but I have encountered people having classes and charging for them in our facilities where it is NOT allowed. If you want to exercise as a group, do it in the sports pools. That is what they are for.

As previously stated by a lot of different people, exercise groups belong at the Sports Pools. Otherwise a relaxed swimmer feels intimidated. No-one wants an elbow in their eye.

Charlotte pool
 

I have read of mutual respect being needed by all residents, but some postings have spoken of information gathering in opposition to the pool use by a group of neighbors. Did the man who came this a.m. and pretend to use the men's room, then turn and take pictures of people in the pool, qualify as respect? I vue it as rude and invasive . What is the purpose of the pictures? Will they be used without our permission?

That was Mr. Midnight's shy son, Tom. He was just peeping. Just ignore him.
Attachment 43243

Did you ask the photographer why he was taking the pictures?
I'm not sure anyone here could answer your questions.

Sorry, it was an introductory sentence.. what I meant to convey is probably most would not generally complain if an isolated individual was doing some water exercises on the side of the pool....but, the real issue (which I supported in my post) seems to be that group water aerobics are being conducted in the adult pools, and I agree the rec staff should put a stop to this.

????Not to be disrespectful, but it sounds like a polititian wrote the response. He agrees exercise classes should not impede others....but, doesn't come right out and say they shouldn't be conducted. when he's done looking & finds the answer on how to get residents to mutually respect, etc.....he should bottle and sell it....he'd make millions. But, for now sounds like we are on our own

Recreation Dept
 

If you really want to get something done, don't just call the recreation department. Call John Rohan, Director of Recreation. He is the 'get it done man'.

:bowdown::bowdown::agree: Totally agree!!








Also agree.








Maybe your group is very respectful, and polite, but not all are. But, people have already shown that not everyone plays by the rules, because they don't believe the rules apply to them. So, because of that , Rules cannot and should not be specific to different groups. You just can't say "it's ok for you, but not for you", so rules have to apply to all-that is the only fair way. TV has pools that are specifically designated for water exercise, and the neighbor pools are not designated for water exercise or sports. So why would you want to do exercise in the little neighbor pools when you have a nice big pool for exercise. People who just want to laze around and quietly enjoy the pool cannot go to the sports pools and demand that the people who are there to exercise have to stop so they can enjoy the quiet.






No problem :laugh:





BTW, I think Mr Rohan's answer was totally wishy-washy. I totally agree with some of the previous posters who say we need employees in TV who have the authority to actually make decisions.