This massive and sudden change would have put an end to my skating very quickly if it had happened when I was an active competitor. The points and plan outlined in this petition are outstanding. I find it baffling and irresponsible that such an important decision would be made behind closed doors with no notice.
B
Barbara Babcock Kirby
10 years ago
Due diligence and transparency are important not only as a best practices for doing business but for gaining the trust and support of the Club's members. As a former member and competitor, I value the history of the Club and feel its current location (in Boston) gives credibility to its name and to its amazing and enviable reputation.
D
David DeCaprio
10 years ago
As a former member who recognizes the incredible history of this club and it's location, I would prefer a more transparent and informed process which includes current member involvement. Alumni should be considered as well. Especially on the local level.
E
Elizabeth B. Johnson
10 years ago
sounds like this decision needs more study with input from members and a long range planning process.
N
Nancy ONeil
10 years ago
As many members have commented, the location to Norwood essentially "decentralizes" the Club to the South Shore, which is prohibitive to a large majority of the membership. The South shore traffic is the heaviest traffic area, and will preclude many people from keeping their membership, due to their inability to "get there."
The Board needs to recognize and understand there are numerous skating facilities in this area, however, the Skating Club remains a distinct unique facility, accessible to all, no matter where you live.
Everyone knows the (3) golden rules of Real Estate: "location, location, location." This needs to be applied to this project as well, in order to keep the Club viable for years to come.
It is my great hope that our Club will remain as "THE Skating Club of BOSTON."
Thank you,
Nancy
M
Michael Morrow
10 years ago
Way too big an issue to be so opaque to the membership.
A
Anne Bohan
10 years ago
My membership is remit
A
Anne Ferguson Stacy
10 years ago
I was a member of the rink in the past.
C
Cynthia Jerrier
10 years ago
Norwood is a terrible location, I wish you would reconsider somewhere close to where we are right now.
P
Patricia Severance
10 years ago
What is the Club membership's geographic distribution? I suspect it is within the I-95/Rte. 128 "ring road." and closer to the I-90 and Rte. 9 East/West route than the I-93/I-95 South routes. Has anyone measured the TIME TRAVEL DIFFERENTIAL, not just the mileage differential? Rte I-95/Rte. 128 is horribly and predictably congested during the morning commute and the afternoon commute, which begins backing up @ 2:00 PM and lasting beyond 6:00 PM, which easily could result in many missed lessons - for both pros and skaters alike. Forget Friday Night Supers.
I agree with all concernsvoiced here about trashing the historical component of the Skating Club of Boston, issues of transparency, lack of member input, and the great haste to commit to an enormous cash expenditure without having completed - and shared - the requisite due diligence.
M
Maria Bryant
10 years ago
I am a former member of the SCB
D
Diana Le Maire Squibb
10 years ago
I am not sure that I understand the rush to make this move without giving the membership the ability to review any and all documents. It sounds like a hush hush job to me. Kevin is right; it would become The Skating Club of Norwood in the future. Think about the history of the Skating Club of Boston. The accessibility to Cambridge and the city of Boston is a real plus as it is centrally located. Norwood is not.
P
Patricia Severance
10 years ago
Newburyport, MA
Former long-time member
J
John Hess
10 years ago
There needs to be more transparency and member input regarding any expansion or move.
K
Kevin Kennedy
10 years ago
The name says it all; "Skating Club of Boston" take the club out of its native environment and most of the membership that makes the club what it is will not be able to follow. I am not sure of the business decisions driving this move, but it seems to be in haste. The club really hasn't been about its membership in the nearly 10 yrs I have been a member, but even so I hope this is not falling on entirely deaf ears. There is a lot of history that will be lost. I am not sure why some of this substantial expenditure could not be applied to redeveloping the existing facilities and buying out the remainder of the lease for the hotel next door.
For the membership at large the accessibility issue is a substantial problem. I recognize nothing remains the same forever, but is this the best solution for the club and its *current* membership?
J
Joy Wang
10 years ago
I think it is wrong to move to Norwood because a lot of people are far away from the skating rink and won't be able to go there.
J
Joe Riess
10 years ago
I think it is a mistake to move the Club's main facility outside of Boston, and that moving it to Norwood will be a death knell for the organization.
S
Sarah Carr
10 years ago
Featured
I am a brand new member, but would cancel my membership if the club moved to Norwood. I wish I had known this was being considered! That location is just not feasible for me. The best feature of SCOB is that it is so easily accessed from Cambridge by transit.
S
Suzanne Garcia
10 years ago
I am also dependent on public transportation, and barring that the drive from Arlington would be too difficult.
A
Amy Litchfield-Kennedy
10 years ago
If the club moves to Norwood, I will be forced to quit as I need public transportation to get there.
This massive and sudden change would have put an end to my skating very quickly if it had happened when I was an active competitor. The points and plan outlined in this petition are outstanding. I find it baffling and irresponsible that such an important decision would be made behind closed doors with no notice.
Due diligence and transparency are important not only as a best practices for doing business but for gaining the trust and support of the Club's members. As a former member and competitor, I value the history of the Club and feel its current location (in Boston) gives credibility to its name and to its amazing and enviable reputation.
As a former member who recognizes the incredible history of this club and it's location, I would prefer a more transparent and informed process which includes current member involvement. Alumni should be considered as well. Especially on the local level.
sounds like this decision needs more study with input from members and a long range planning process.
As many members have commented, the location to Norwood essentially "decentralizes" the Club to the South Shore, which is prohibitive to a large majority of the membership. The South shore traffic is the heaviest traffic area, and will preclude many people from keeping their membership, due to their inability to "get there." The Board needs to recognize and understand there are numerous skating facilities in this area, however, the Skating Club remains a distinct unique facility, accessible to all, no matter where you live. Everyone knows the (3) golden rules of Real Estate: "location, location, location." This needs to be applied to this project as well, in order to keep the Club viable for years to come. It is my great hope that our Club will remain as "THE Skating Club of BOSTON." Thank you, Nancy
Way too big an issue to be so opaque to the membership.
My membership is remit
I was a member of the rink in the past.
Norwood is a terrible location, I wish you would reconsider somewhere close to where we are right now.
What is the Club membership's geographic distribution? I suspect it is within the I-95/Rte. 128 "ring road." and closer to the I-90 and Rte. 9 East/West route than the I-93/I-95 South routes. Has anyone measured the TIME TRAVEL DIFFERENTIAL, not just the mileage differential? Rte I-95/Rte. 128 is horribly and predictably congested during the morning commute and the afternoon commute, which begins backing up @ 2:00 PM and lasting beyond 6:00 PM, which easily could result in many missed lessons - for both pros and skaters alike. Forget Friday Night Supers. I agree with all concernsvoiced here about trashing the historical component of the Skating Club of Boston, issues of transparency, lack of member input, and the great haste to commit to an enormous cash expenditure without having completed - and shared - the requisite due diligence.
I am a former member of the SCB
I am not sure that I understand the rush to make this move without giving the membership the ability to review any and all documents. It sounds like a hush hush job to me. Kevin is right; it would become The Skating Club of Norwood in the future. Think about the history of the Skating Club of Boston. The accessibility to Cambridge and the city of Boston is a real plus as it is centrally located. Norwood is not.
Newburyport, MA Former long-time member
There needs to be more transparency and member input regarding any expansion or move.
The name says it all; "Skating Club of Boston" take the club out of its native environment and most of the membership that makes the club what it is will not be able to follow. I am not sure of the business decisions driving this move, but it seems to be in haste. The club really hasn't been about its membership in the nearly 10 yrs I have been a member, but even so I hope this is not falling on entirely deaf ears. There is a lot of history that will be lost. I am not sure why some of this substantial expenditure could not be applied to redeveloping the existing facilities and buying out the remainder of the lease for the hotel next door. For the membership at large the accessibility issue is a substantial problem. I recognize nothing remains the same forever, but is this the best solution for the club and its *current* membership?
I think it is wrong to move to Norwood because a lot of people are far away from the skating rink and won't be able to go there.
I think it is a mistake to move the Club's main facility outside of Boston, and that moving it to Norwood will be a death knell for the organization.
I am a brand new member, but would cancel my membership if the club moved to Norwood. I wish I had known this was being considered! That location is just not feasible for me. The best feature of SCOB is that it is so easily accessed from Cambridge by transit.
I am also dependent on public transportation, and barring that the drive from Arlington would be too difficult.
If the club moves to Norwood, I will be forced to quit as I need public transportation to get there.