PARADISE BAY ACTIVITY COMMITTEE MEETING
DATE: _October 31, 2024_
- Reminder to Have Everyone Sign-in
- Meeting called to order by Jim Gath 2 p.m.
- Welcome to everyone for coming.
- Present: Jim Gath, Lee Stephens, Shana Simison, Cindy Bogen, Debbie Freeman, Tom Farrington, Joyce Farrington, Jean Colson, Susan Miller, Tom Billings, Brenda Ocenasek, Anne Osgood, Melissa Coleman, Cheryl Jones, Doug Jones, Ron Prieskorn, Dane Bertha, Kim Sease, Helen Carroll, Vicki Lamotte, Veronica McManus, Dan Smith
Committee Reports/Updates
Bocce – Tom Billings: Discussed getting upcoming meeting information for clubs; Lee Stephens
confirmed with Tom that Bocce League will start up January 8, 2025. Tom will get his information to Veronica McManus, our new editor for the Newsletter for PB/SB.
Newsletter PB/SB – Veronica McManus: Veronica introduced herself, and asked that we introduce ourselves at the meetings for a while till she gets to know everyone, and informed us of the newsletter schedule etc. and that there would be one this month. A good way to help get us back to normal.
Boating & Fishing Club – Ron Prieskorn: Club Meeting Tuesday, November 5, 2024, fishing contest for November cancelled and they will keep everyone posted regarding December.
Ron informed us that George Mullen (secretary) will get articles to Veronica McManus (Newsletter) regarding Boating and Fishing Club events too.
Waterfront Worship - Mr. Al and Dan Smith: Both would like to have a church service in the Sara Bay Hall, on November 17, 2024 at 4 p.m. this has been confirmed and is on the calendar with Lee Stephens, and the theme will be “Reflections and Worship.” Dan, has also said it is not conducive to hold waterfront worship at present, and would like to wait until January 5, 2025 to start.
Discussion was brought up, on service for Thanksgiving and Christmas…TBA at a later date. Tentatively, discussion was continued that perhaps another area not on the waterfront could be found for worship service, so the option has been left open to be reviewed. Dan also inquired into a possible Christmas singing theme, hot chocolate etc. that too will be a TBD…possibilities!
Roxanne Knowles, asked Dan is there any chance they could move the worship service to another area and why wait till January. Lee spoke with Dan on Friday, there is now tentative plans for a worship service December 1, 2024 an area soon to be resolved.
Sara Bay -November/December Start up – Cindy Bogan:
- Cindy told us that Sue Baker (catering business) is preparing the Thanksgiving meal at the Sara Bay Hall, for everyone, and she doesn’t need a kitchen! There will be 2 seatings/set-ups.
- Also, Marilyn Rotman and Vi Otteman will be preparing the Christmas Dinner starting at 1 p.m. and there was discussion of having 2 seatings in the Sara Bay Hall for this too. (two committees coincide) Discussion was brought up regarding the kitchen, “stove not working, fridge is fine, but it’s not a working kitchen at the moment.”
- Cindy wanted to know if the dance on January 25, 2025 at Sara Bay is still good, Lee and Jim confirmed it with her. (discussion was of construction still going on at that time possibly)
- Jam session at Sara Bay will start November 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. (practice time allotment may change, due to the numerous club’s scheduling and attempting to accommodate everyone for a while.) Maintenance will be notified to setup chairs etc.
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- Sara Bay Hall reservations are being handled by Cindy Bogan, Sarah Kohler and Kathy Ormiston, there are no hall reservations for November, 2024. The Sara Bay team does not keep a general schedule for November…
Anne Osgood, suggested reserved seating for the holiday dinners, and a sign-up sheet, and with that Cindy agreed on the idea
Health/Blood Drive - Susan Miller: Susan is working with the Health Fair and The Blood Mobile and has received a call from them, regarding a scheduled event on December 7, 2024 with the Blood Mobile. Susan needed to confirm whether we could still proceed with this event. Jim G. and several other club members were all in agreement. The Blood Mobile requests access to a bathroom, and a solution was derived. Jim Gath and several club members said the best set up is by the Shuffle Board court, and the bathroom is open and working and maintenance can be requested to have chairs setup in that area as needed.
Craft Fair – Friendship Club Information: (Committee) The Craft fair for December has been cancelled, hall will not be ready. Question was asked, would we be able to have a craft show in the spring, at this time we believe that still looks positive. The question was asked, who is handling the Craft fair, now that Jean Colson is retiring. Dee Majewski has taken over.
Questions were asked of the progress on the Helm house and the outcome of cleanup and debris removal and construction. Discussion involved; it still needing more work, but that they will be able to use it for meetings hopefully soon.
Lee Stephens stated the Friendship Clubs first meeting will be November 13, 2025.
Gym - Jim Gath – Co-President: Jim informed us that the gym is open, and the pool is not many days behind.
Pool - Tom Billings: Continued the above conversation with informing us that Harry Osgood and himself are piecing the fencing together around the pool lot…Tom said the rest of the material is coming in Friday or Saturday, and the heating element for pool. He also said the pool cannot be used legally, until the area is properly fenced in, which they are working on.
Tom mentioned, the bathroom area still needs to be washed down and the area needs a cleaning before we open up the pool to everyone, and volunteers will be needed for that too.
December 14, 2024 entertainment with Ron Prieskorn and friends…is being cancelled at this time due to equipment out of state. Also, the special event at the Paradise Bay Hall on December 14, 2024 is cancelled at this time for Jim Gath. Just a “birthday.” lol 😉
History – Brenda Ocenasek: Would like help with one of the large cabinets, between historical stuff that was damaged with the flooding and what has been salvaged. Work needs to be done, setting tables up and sorting and displaying what has been rescued. Anne Osgood let Brenda know there will be another scheduled dumpster day for Trash to Treasure effects and would notify Brenda as well. Anne also mentioned what they had to do with the legal documents that were damaged and how they copied and saved them. Jim Gath and others informed Brenda to first schedule with the office (Bonnie) for maintenance to get with her to help move the totes and set up tables. If and after that she needs help, he would send out an email blast for volunteers to help with the project
Treasurer: Jim Gath announced that Wendy Graf will not be coming back. Shana Simison has been filling the position and will take over permanently. Lee Stephens has been coordinating the calendar and he does not see why we would need to appoint anyone at this time for any other positions, and will wait till spring at elections if a need arises.
Horse Shoes and Shuffle Board: Jim asked Tom Farrington about these clubs and Tom explained that the shuffleboard court is destroyed, there were questions about the scoreboards, and there is still debris (garbage) there. Horse shoes, well that’s obvious, we know how that looks.
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Entertainment – Darnel Darr (Lee): Lee Stephens announced that all dances, entertainments, acts, fun fitness, karaoke, and food trucks are cancelled for the year. Lee has also asked that if any club is cancelling any event or activity, that they must let her know, too. Prepaid tickets for the season’s entertainment will be refunded to everyone, details TBA soon. But Lisa Diltz is cancelling Hope at the last minute, food trucks too at the last minute. The food trucks that handed out free food will get to do the dances if there are any dances. And, even if there are No dances we will still bring them in and have a “food night!” Suggestion was made to have outdoor dancing again, like we had by the park office. Anne explained the situation with the public and the access from the main street; and a more secluded spot was suggested! EPT Street/East Peninsula Terrace alongside the pool parking areas as a possibility TBD. (Portable stage, tents etc., I believe Jim said, Activities Committee has some money to spend, to make it happen.)
Bingo – Joyce Farrington: Tentative plans are in the works for Bingo. Complications have arisen, considering there is no longer an electronic Bingo system, or a building big enough to hold the bingo fans at the moment, thanks to the hurricanes! But thankfully Sara Bay is a sturdy building and it might be different for a while, but the Activities Committee are considering Bingo night for Paradise and Sara Bay Park residents only to start… A question was asked too, “will we have 50/50 tickets?” TBD
- Shoot for an Objective Plan Date and start small, January, 2025
- Purchase electronic (bingo?) computer and program and sound system
- Purchase games, cards, and replacement items, quality items.
- Hot Dog night with it, once objective plan is set
- Get Claims, receipts, paperwork into Kathy to submit to insurance for reimbursement (games, computers, electronics, etc. etc. ASAP)
Remediation and Insurance Claims: Anne Osgood explained a lot to us regarding the removal of everything from the park hall and buildings…When remediation comes in, and clears out a building, they clear it out thoroughly; pots, pans, books, games, decorations, everything. They do not have time to go through and save individual items. Thankfully, Anne, Kelli and Cindy had already done inventory earlier in the season and had an itemized list to go on to give to Kathy to file a claim with the insurance on their losses.
Anne Osgood, reminded all clubs that if you have any items lost, or damaged to be filed in a claim; to get your information into Kathy so that she can handle it in a timely manner. Anne also reminded Joyce Farrington to get the computer for Bingo ordered now as sometimes these things can take longer than expected to order.
Coffee Hours – 9:00 a.m. Coffee hour will be this Monday, sorry it’s last minute. Sara Bay Hall at 9 a.m. Jim Gath said there would be a speaker, (Pam Wilson) from Medicare present, too. Since, Sara Bay has coffee hour weekly, and Paradise Bay has coffee hour bi-weekly, the PB/SB will do a joint coffee hour, 9 a.m. every week until further notice.
Blood Pressure – Coffee Hour: Sue Miller would like to know if we will be starting up blood pressure checkups after coffee hour again. That was confirmed, but not at this upcoming one for November 4, 2024.
Para Bay Building Structure Information: Anne described to us the wood floor issue, (correct this …!) the vaults in the floor and the wiring are tripping which is a hazard, work is being done regarding build up overall cement level-wise…for the whole floor.
Pickleball Activities – Melissa Coleman: Jim G. inquired how everything looked for pickleball, and thank goodness that area looks good, and some of our residents have already started using the courts! No hitches!
Clubs and Activities: Where to meet? Discussions was held on where numerous groups will be holding their meetings and Activities for this upcoming year…for the most part it is TBD as we gather. Melissa Coleman, Sara Bay activities mentioned ordering extra card tables, now that games will most likely be moving to the Sara Bay building. Numerous buildings and projects will still be under construction, so all activities must be flexible with their plans.
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Shana, Anne, and Jim both came to the conclusion that if there is:
“Construction going on, it over rides any activity planned at that time.”
We will be going on a week-to-week basis, but we can do it!
So, options of where some clubs could gather were discussed for the future:
Book Club: Helm House Sewing and Art Club: Hand & Foot: Annex
Dominoes, Cards and Various Other games: Sara Bay Pool Aerobics: Next week possibly
Constitution Class: Helm House
Where is everything, we have left stored?
Library - Sara Bay building has what books they were able to salvage in bags in their Sara Bay Hall
Para Bay’s salvaged library books are in bags in the Para Bay, billiard room
Annex – Is full of worth saved stuff, history and equipment
Board of Director Meetings: November 19, 2024 3rd Tuesday of every month
Suggestion was made to ask that only 1 person, per household attend due to capacity and meeting being held at the Sara Bay Hall. Another idea was brought up to hold a board meeting outdoors, but the topic of the sound system was brought up. Our sound system is destroyed too. Just options and ideas…
Veteran’s Service: Confirmation was made that the Veteran’s service is still on for February, 2025
Getting the Word Out! Discussion was covered on the various ways of getting the information out to the Paradise Bay residents and the Sara Bay RV families.
- We have Veronica McManus on the newsletter, which she has asked if we could comprise a mass email list.
- We have Jim Gath that with his brother’s help can continue sending out an “email blast”
- We have Sara Bay’s team leaders coordinating their activities and emails and sharing everything with us.
- We have our Activities Committee and Club’s meetings, sharing through this (in the future when prepared in a timely manner, I will have the information shared.)
- We have the Park office
- We have our face book sites, that are kept updated.
- We have our Board that oversees everything that we need to be aware of.
- Unfortunately, we do not have our electronic board, it was damaged too with “The Hurricanes!”
Big Thank You’s!!: We couldn’t do it without you. Last week, Cindy Bogan and many others from Sara Bay (I apologize don’t have all the names) prepared a Coney Dog night for all of us ~ Para Bay and Sara Bay residents, October 31, 2024. It was a great turnout. They prepared over 400++ hot dogs, chili, onions (lol) and more. Thank you so much. Little over two weeks ago, Melissa Coleman, and all her helpers from Sara Bay took care of all of us too. We had a fantastic hamburger night! We needed it too, after the park clean up. It was a great turn out and the happy moments together were well needed. Thank you so much! Along with this, we could go on and continue to thank the office for seeing that there is water and the donated supplies available. For all the wonderful organizations that have been bringing meals in daily for everyone. But, most of all for all the volunteers that have worked so hard to get this park cleaned up, street by street in a faster than expected timely manner. We are “Stronger than the Storms!”
Finally: Jim says “We don’t want to cancel any activity; we will shift and wing it to make everything fit!”