[jeriteri]

I am wondering, now that Rohan will be a place of worship, if anyone knows if having worship services in our rec centers, that we are carded for to enter, is going to require ID cards to attend the services. I would hate to think that The Villages Owners are now going to allow our rec centers to be open to PUBLIC rental now for financial gain. It has been established in our community that the amenities are for people who live in The Villages and have registered ID cards that allow them to participate and use The Villages Amenities.

[billethkid]

Finding utilization of assets that sit idle many hours per week is not a bad thing.

One can argue principal or reality or practicality.

If the intended use does not infringe upon any resident activities and provides a service that will accommodate "mostly" residents.....wherein lies the problem?

Seems like a win-win for asset utilization and resident benefit.....IMHO!!!

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Finding utilization of assets that sit idle many hours per week is not a bad thing.

One can argue principal or reality or practicality.

If the intended use does not infringe upon any resident activities and provides a service that will accommodate "mostly" residents.....wherein lies the problem?

Seems like a win-win for asset utilization and resident benefit.....IMHO!!!

I agree with this. Considering the recent outcry about the amenity fee cap removal, why not indeed.

[champion6]

This is NOT A NEW situation.

jeriteri, why don't you call or email to have your questions answered? From the CDD website:
Facility Rental
The Villages offer a variety of recreation centers to be rented for that special occasion or event. Our dedicated staff is available to answer any questions regarding the use, scheduling, and room rates of our facilities. For information please call 352-674-1800 or email roomreservations@districtgov.org.

As an example, a club I belong to has a monthly meeting in a rec center ... just like all the others. Once a year, we have an additional special meeting for club members to which we also invite 12-18 non-Villagers as our guests. We must rent the room for the special meeting because of the many non-Villagers.

[Schaumburger]

According to today's Daily Sun, Hope Lutheran is planning on building a new church along the Turnpike. This congregation is probably not planning on using Rohan for Sunday worship forever...just until their new location is built.

More churches are building in the southern end of The Villages now. New Covenant UMC now has a church near Lake Deaton. Excellent outreach by these congregations to the residents of the southern Villages.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Schaumburger

According to today's Daily Sun, Hope Lutheran is planning on building a new church along the Turnpike. This congregation is probably not planning on using Rohan for Sunday worship forever...just until their new location is built.

More churches are building in the southern end of The Villages now. New Covenant UMC now has a church near Lake Deaton. Excellent outreach by these congregations to the residents of the southern Villages.

The Recreation Centers have AA meetings and those of other support groups. And I do not think that a Village ID is required to go to these.

Do not see why churches should also not be allowed to have events at the Recreation Centers which would be open to anyone.

[eweissenbach]

We attended services in Eisenhower for New Covenant Methodist, Lake Deaton for a couple years before they finished their new building. Never were we ever asked for ID, nor did I ever see anyone else asked for an ID.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by jeriteri

I am wondering, now that Rohan will be a place of worship, if anyone knows if having worship services in our rec centers, that we are carded for to enter, is going to require ID cards to attend the services. I would hate to think that The Villages Owners are now going to allow our rec centers to be open to PUBLIC rental now for financial gain. It has been established in our community that the amenities are for people who live in The Villages and have registered ID cards that allow them to participate and use The Villages Amenities.

The use of the rec centers for services is not at new situation and has additional merit not always recognized, the biggest of which is golf cart accessibility to the services. This is important to some.

As far as "The Villages Owners" and "financial gain" there is a demonstrated lack of knowledge with these remarks, the Rec Centers (north of 44) are owned by the district government and any monies received go back into the recreation department budget to offset operating costs. Let me translate - the "developer" doesn't own or operate the rec centers and receives no financial grain or profit from them, any money goes back in the budget for the rec centers , this is the same budget that our Amenity Fee funds each month.

The concern of use of the facility by non-residents also has merit and should be discussed directly with the Recreation Department for a clear answer.

Of course some will make an issue of this no matter how much good may come of it and will cry for the ACLU to come in and file a law suit over "separation of church and state" (a gross distortion of the first amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.") and make the entire situation untenable. It may be best we let this topic go and allow something good to survive as long as possible.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by jeriteri

I am wondering, now that Rohan will be a place of worship, if anyone knows if having worship services in our rec centers, that we are carded for to enter, is going to require ID cards to attend the services. I would hate to think that The Villages Owners are now going to allow our rec centers to be open to PUBLIC rental now for financial gain. It has been established in our community that the amenities are for people who live in The Villages and have registered ID cards that allow them to participate and use The Villages Amenities.

And who are "The Villages Owners" you talk about? Do you mean the Developer? Do you know who owns Rohan Rec.? It is the SLCDD. They offer a lot of FREE Classes in The Villages to educate residents about how things operate. You might want to consider it.

Originally Posted by champion6

This is NOT A NEW situation.

jeriteri, why don't you call or email to have your questions answered? From the CDD website:
Facility Rental
The Villages offer a variety of recreation centers to be rented for that special occasion or event. Our dedicated staff is available to answer any questions regarding the use, scheduling, and room rates of our facilities. For information please call 352-674-1800 or email roomreservations@districtgov.org.

As an example, a club I belong to has a monthly meeting in a rec center ... just like all the others. Once a year, we have an additional special meeting for club members to which we also invite 12-18 non-Villagers as our guests. We must rent the room for the special meeting because of the many non-Villagers.

Thank you!

[Martian]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

Of course some will make an issue of this no matter how much good may come of it and will cry for the ACLU to come in and file a law suit over "separation of church and state" (a gross distortion of the first amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.") and make the entire situation untenable. It may be best we let this topic go and allow something good to survive as long as possible.

I certainly do not see any "separation of church and state" issue, however I am sure someone will try. It makes good headlines - SIGH.

However, as an atheist I would be interested in knowing if this is an exception being granted only to Churches or if this is something that any organization in need of renting facilities can make use of. (I assume the Church is renting the facilities?!).

I personally have no issue with renting out facilities to non-resident organizations as long as it does not impact resident use of the facilities, and that Churches are not the only organizations given the exception (assuming it is an assumption.)

[njbchbum]

So the fact that rec centers have been used on a rental basis in the past means nothing when it comes to hoping for a stabilization on amenity fees. And the ease of outsiders using more than just their rented space remains the possibility and probability that it always has been. So no change in anything!

[justjim]

New Covenant Methodist church Campus @ Lake Denton used The Eisenhower Recreation center for worship until they bought land from The Villages and built a new worship facility that is golf cart accessible and they now use. Several churches of different faiths I understand have done something similar. Perhaps the Lutheran Church will have a similar arrangement.

[Martian]

Originally Posted by justjim

New Covenant Methodist church Campus @ Lake Denton used The Eisenhower Recreation center for worship until they bought land from The Villages and built a new worship facility that is golf cart accessible and they now use. Several churches of different faiths I understand have done something similar. Perhaps the Lutheran Church will have a similar arrangement.

Sounds like a win-win to me, as long as residents get priority (preferential) access.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Martian

Sounds like a win-win to me, as long as residents get priority (preferential) access.

Have you spoken to anyone at the Rec Dept about your concerns?

[kittygilchrist]

The original post has three aspects. A dispute over having Christian services at rec centers, dislike of financial gain from rentals, and desire for exclusivity of rec center space for villagers. I’m trying to figure out which of those really put the bee in the bonnet of the original poster.