Post by Colette Asmussen on Apr 17, 2018 19:31:36 GMT
Hi Everyone,
I spoke with Ron Salski for an hour yesterday. We are making some progress, although really slow. It will be up to us to step up the pace on our end to show action, mostly with fundraising and the clubhouse.
Here is what was discussed:
Ron has been tasked by the board to deal with 4 areas regarding the Lake Bluff Golf Club (RFP, Fundraising, Fees, Zoning).
1) RFP.
- The RFP draft process is underway and between attorneys regarding the specifics to leasing the land (requires the lessee to pay property taxes), the equipment, building, etc.
- The main points to the RFP are financial (heavy weight), expertise, business plan, approach
- I asked for a call out in the RFP to having a small board of residents meet with the lessee on at least a quarterly basis, and Ron was in agreement
2) Fundraising
- He is relying solely on our group at this time.
- I mentioned many of the same concerns that all of you have: 1) how to in good conscience fundraise with the threat of the closure and 2) how much is enough and by when? He hadn't thought about the first one and will bring that up with the board. For the second one, there will now be a board meeting on May 7th for the board to discuss this very point
- The board will be looking for ideas that can be annual ways to raise money for the golf club capital needs. Most of the draft (attached) of fundraising ideas are annually focused. This will be some heavy lifting on our part.
- I've sent 2 requests to the Friends of Lake Bluff Parks over the last week to request a meeting with them to get the ball rolling
- The LBCGA will need to start on many of these right away. I can set up a meeting on Saturday afternoon. I will check availability at the rec center.
3) Fees
- That sounds like the main intended discussion point at the board meeting last night. Nothing new here except fees will not be raised this year is my understanding.
4) Village Zoning
- The request letter went to the village and Ron is following up to ensure the process is moving along.
Other items of discussion:
1) LBCGA is here to be their golf committee.
- Ron has to think about how this would work. His initial thought is to help with strategic direction only as that is how other Park District committees work.
- We have offered several ideas and willingness to do the work, but at this time, Ron feels he wants the expertise and work (other than fundraising) done in house (see marketing below)
- Ron will get back with us on this point
2) Clubhouse needs.
- I requested for us to go into the clubhouse in order to get insight on 2 areas: 1) Spring spruce up for volunteers to fix the aesthetics at no cost to the Park District, 2) scope of work for a local estimate on the ADA needs
- Ron is fine with both. He just needs a list of what we will do for the spruce up and when we want to do it. And he wants the Park District to get another estimate for the ADA work if it comes in lower than he would expect
- This initial look will take place on Friday afternoon. More to come. We will need people to get donations and/or purchase some items, as well as volunteers. Ron said the Park District could pitch in up to a few hundred dollars, if needed.
3) Marketing needs.
- The email issue with Billy Casper was discussed in an internal Park District meeting on Friday with Billy Casper, Ron, and the Park District's IT consultant. They identified some issues and believe it began last August when the Park District supplied 5000 of their email list addresses. We offered to have a LBCGA member as part of that meeting, but Ron feels that they have the experts needed to address the issue. Billy Casper is supposed to give the Park District a progress report next week on the issue
- We discussed stopping the bleeding with the Golf Club perceptions when no marketing is going out about the golf club and there are emails and flyers about other Park District programs, people assume that the Golf Club is not yet open and likely to close the end of this year. Ron mentioned this was discussed with Mike and John during the meeting last Wednesday, and that was the first time he had thought about it that way.
- Ron's solution to "close the gap" between Park District marketing communications and Golf Club communication is to hire a contract marketing person to be used for all Park District programs. I offered we could help on the Golf Club side without spending any money, but Ron again said that this in an internal Park District responsibility and should have an internal paid expert to do this
4) Other suggestions.
- I recommended a Golf Club membership drive in May, which I will also mention to Dominic on Friday
- I passed along the recommendation of charging for beach passes although that is out of our scope but felt it came up so many times in our group and the beach is becoming a primary issue for the Park District.
That is what I have for now.
Thanks,
Colette
I spoke with Ron Salski for an hour yesterday. We are making some progress, although really slow. It will be up to us to step up the pace on our end to show action, mostly with fundraising and the clubhouse.
Here is what was discussed:
Ron has been tasked by the board to deal with 4 areas regarding the Lake Bluff Golf Club (RFP, Fundraising, Fees, Zoning).
1) RFP.
- The RFP draft process is underway and between attorneys regarding the specifics to leasing the land (requires the lessee to pay property taxes), the equipment, building, etc.
- The main points to the RFP are financial (heavy weight), expertise, business plan, approach
- I asked for a call out in the RFP to having a small board of residents meet with the lessee on at least a quarterly basis, and Ron was in agreement
2) Fundraising
- He is relying solely on our group at this time.
- I mentioned many of the same concerns that all of you have: 1) how to in good conscience fundraise with the threat of the closure and 2) how much is enough and by when? He hadn't thought about the first one and will bring that up with the board. For the second one, there will now be a board meeting on May 7th for the board to discuss this very point
- The board will be looking for ideas that can be annual ways to raise money for the golf club capital needs. Most of the draft (attached) of fundraising ideas are annually focused. This will be some heavy lifting on our part.
- I've sent 2 requests to the Friends of Lake Bluff Parks over the last week to request a meeting with them to get the ball rolling
- The LBCGA will need to start on many of these right away. I can set up a meeting on Saturday afternoon. I will check availability at the rec center.
3) Fees
- That sounds like the main intended discussion point at the board meeting last night. Nothing new here except fees will not be raised this year is my understanding.
4) Village Zoning
- The request letter went to the village and Ron is following up to ensure the process is moving along.
Other items of discussion:
1) LBCGA is here to be their golf committee.
- Ron has to think about how this would work. His initial thought is to help with strategic direction only as that is how other Park District committees work.
- We have offered several ideas and willingness to do the work, but at this time, Ron feels he wants the expertise and work (other than fundraising) done in house (see marketing below)
- Ron will get back with us on this point
2) Clubhouse needs.
- I requested for us to go into the clubhouse in order to get insight on 2 areas: 1) Spring spruce up for volunteers to fix the aesthetics at no cost to the Park District, 2) scope of work for a local estimate on the ADA needs
- Ron is fine with both. He just needs a list of what we will do for the spruce up and when we want to do it. And he wants the Park District to get another estimate for the ADA work if it comes in lower than he would expect
- This initial look will take place on Friday afternoon. More to come. We will need people to get donations and/or purchase some items, as well as volunteers. Ron said the Park District could pitch in up to a few hundred dollars, if needed.
3) Marketing needs.
- The email issue with Billy Casper was discussed in an internal Park District meeting on Friday with Billy Casper, Ron, and the Park District's IT consultant. They identified some issues and believe it began last August when the Park District supplied 5000 of their email list addresses. We offered to have a LBCGA member as part of that meeting, but Ron feels that they have the experts needed to address the issue. Billy Casper is supposed to give the Park District a progress report next week on the issue
- We discussed stopping the bleeding with the Golf Club perceptions when no marketing is going out about the golf club and there are emails and flyers about other Park District programs, people assume that the Golf Club is not yet open and likely to close the end of this year. Ron mentioned this was discussed with Mike and John during the meeting last Wednesday, and that was the first time he had thought about it that way.
- Ron's solution to "close the gap" between Park District marketing communications and Golf Club communication is to hire a contract marketing person to be used for all Park District programs. I offered we could help on the Golf Club side without spending any money, but Ron again said that this in an internal Park District responsibility and should have an internal paid expert to do this
4) Other suggestions.
- I recommended a Golf Club membership drive in May, which I will also mention to Dominic on Friday
- I passed along the recommendation of charging for beach passes although that is out of our scope but felt it came up so many times in our group and the beach is becoming a primary issue for the Park District.
That is what I have for now.
Thanks,
Colette