My family and I have been members of the Club since 2007 and would hate to see it moved. Please consider: would this move make Club members leave the Club because of the inconvenience? Many members live in Newton, Brighton, Brookline, Needham, etc. and wouldn't it be horrible to lose that many skaters to another, lesser known club? That's not to say that there are also club members for whom this new location might be easier to get to. But if you think about it, there are skaters and families coming from all over the state, and even other states, to practice, coach, and compete.
N
Nancy ONeil
10 years ago
As a long term member of 25 years, I urge the board to suspend any decision before a complete and thorough examination of all facets and implications of this decision are made.
The Board has been expanding our Club for many years now, and I am deeply concerned that this decision will be made premature, without a deep, thorough analysis of the impact to our members and competitive skaters.
We appreciate your time and dedication to maintain The Club.
Best Regards,
Nancy O"Neil
M
Mary Beth Gordon
10 years ago
I'm sorry that I couldn't make this fall's open meetings. This seems like a big enough decision to include the whole membership in specific written conmunication with an opportunity to weigh in formally...
J
J. Robin Umbley
10 years ago
The membership has been entirely left out of this development process. We are expected to follow along enthusiastically despite having zero knowledge of whether or not any of this makes financial sense--it's like, "Trust us! We know what's good for you." Without knowledge of a solid business plan, to many it seems that rational development decisions are clouded by delusions of grandeur. But the club is about the members, not the board. Therefore, we, the membership, require complete transparency regarding something this monumental that if not handled properly, could spell financial ruin for the club. We must be aware of and have a say in such processes and plans.
M
Miranda Tyson
10 years ago
Moving the location would make the rink really inaccessible to college students.
W
William R. Koss
10 years ago
As a new member for the past year, my limited observation is that the decision of this magnitude for a historically significant institution of Boston is being undertaken with a great deal of haste. I understand it would be a few years before a transition to a new facility is complete, which is why I think more than a few weeks of dialog with members is required.
S
Shayne Huff
10 years ago
I am completely opposed to moving the skate club to Norwood MA. This move would select membership to a very narrow group of families who have a non-working spouse or nannies to bring kids during daytime hours. It will no longer promote skating to the Boston community as a whole. One must consider that most people have jobs during the day, and would be traveling to the club during rush hour. Due to this fact, the shorter distance quoted by the proponents of the move is wholly inapplicable. Effectively a Norwood location would move the club 1 hour outside of Boston. Families like ours would not be able to continue our membership if the club moves. Although I understand the desire to recoup financial losses due to the recent cancellation of the other Boston location, it seems that this decision is being made in haste, and ultimately results in throwing good money after bad. I have concerns that such a drastic move will eventually result in the effective destruction of the club due to loss of members and failure to recruit new members. It seems that there are reasonable alternatives open to the club that should be pursued.
K
Katherine Ingraham
10 years ago
Is there any information on how many members would be unable to continue skating with a move to Norwood? Almost everyone I have spoken to (early am skating families) says the distance would be a huge impediment. Is the club planning on sourcing predominantly new members?
P
Peter Lynch
10 years ago
New member
C
Christie Allan-Piper
10 years ago
I appreciate how long and how hard many members of the board have worked on this undertaking. The decision however, is so momentous that surely the entire membership should participate in making it. Under any circumstances, I hope the historic and architecturally significant original building will be kept as the "Mother Church". Without it, the Skating Club will lose its foundation and its meaning. In my long time in skating, I have seen too many venerable old skating clubs lose their rinks, which go on to be renamed after car dealerships--and eventually torn down to become car lots.
P
Pat Berger
10 years ago
too many questions that have not been addressed with the full membership.
My family and I have been members of the Club since 2007 and would hate to see it moved. Please consider: would this move make Club members leave the Club because of the inconvenience? Many members live in Newton, Brighton, Brookline, Needham, etc. and wouldn't it be horrible to lose that many skaters to another, lesser known club? That's not to say that there are also club members for whom this new location might be easier to get to. But if you think about it, there are skaters and families coming from all over the state, and even other states, to practice, coach, and compete.
As a long term member of 25 years, I urge the board to suspend any decision before a complete and thorough examination of all facets and implications of this decision are made. The Board has been expanding our Club for many years now, and I am deeply concerned that this decision will be made premature, without a deep, thorough analysis of the impact to our members and competitive skaters. We appreciate your time and dedication to maintain The Club. Best Regards, Nancy O"Neil
I'm sorry that I couldn't make this fall's open meetings. This seems like a big enough decision to include the whole membership in specific written conmunication with an opportunity to weigh in formally...
The membership has been entirely left out of this development process. We are expected to follow along enthusiastically despite having zero knowledge of whether or not any of this makes financial sense--it's like, "Trust us! We know what's good for you." Without knowledge of a solid business plan, to many it seems that rational development decisions are clouded by delusions of grandeur. But the club is about the members, not the board. Therefore, we, the membership, require complete transparency regarding something this monumental that if not handled properly, could spell financial ruin for the club. We must be aware of and have a say in such processes and plans.
Moving the location would make the rink really inaccessible to college students.
As a new member for the past year, my limited observation is that the decision of this magnitude for a historically significant institution of Boston is being undertaken with a great deal of haste. I understand it would be a few years before a transition to a new facility is complete, which is why I think more than a few weeks of dialog with members is required.
I am completely opposed to moving the skate club to Norwood MA. This move would select membership to a very narrow group of families who have a non-working spouse or nannies to bring kids during daytime hours. It will no longer promote skating to the Boston community as a whole. One must consider that most people have jobs during the day, and would be traveling to the club during rush hour. Due to this fact, the shorter distance quoted by the proponents of the move is wholly inapplicable. Effectively a Norwood location would move the club 1 hour outside of Boston. Families like ours would not be able to continue our membership if the club moves. Although I understand the desire to recoup financial losses due to the recent cancellation of the other Boston location, it seems that this decision is being made in haste, and ultimately results in throwing good money after bad. I have concerns that such a drastic move will eventually result in the effective destruction of the club due to loss of members and failure to recruit new members. It seems that there are reasonable alternatives open to the club that should be pursued.
Is there any information on how many members would be unable to continue skating with a move to Norwood? Almost everyone I have spoken to (early am skating families) says the distance would be a huge impediment. Is the club planning on sourcing predominantly new members?
New member
I appreciate how long and how hard many members of the board have worked on this undertaking. The decision however, is so momentous that surely the entire membership should participate in making it. Under any circumstances, I hope the historic and architecturally significant original building will be kept as the "Mother Church". Without it, the Skating Club will lose its foundation and its meaning. In my long time in skating, I have seen too many venerable old skating clubs lose their rinks, which go on to be renamed after car dealerships--and eventually torn down to become car lots.
too many questions that have not been addressed with the full membership.