There are many ways to promote LW clubs
GRF RECREATION
by Kathy Thayer
recreation manager
A review of the Recreation Department’s monthly activity log shows that since the lifting of restrictions related to COVID-19, participation in all amenities is down approximately 15% over 2019.
It’s not just the clubs but most activities across the board. Golf is up and dance attendance is starting to rise, but fitness participation is down.
Partly due to cultural changes since the pandemic and partly because many new residents haven’t yet acclimated to all LW has to offer, the Recreation Department would like to offer some suggestions on how to promote LW clubs and organizations.
Recently, the GRF Recreation Committee voted to remove physical bulletin boards in the clubhouses.
Clubs now have an opportunity to upgrade their promotional methods. Does your club have a Facebook page or other social media presence? Do you send email blasts to your members and fans? Do you submit LW Weekly articles and flyers in a timely manner?
One of the best ways of getting the word out about your organization or event is on the digital bulletin boards that grace every clubhouse, as well as GRF offices. Professionally crafted, eye-catching flyers scroll 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving your club its best exposure. The policy governing this option, with the specifications, can be obtained from the News or Recreation departments. Simply put, you may submit your own professional quality artwork digitally, in landscape format. Technically challenged? There is no charge for digital flyers if you ask GRF to create the artwork for you unless it requires excessive staff time.
Clubs may submit articles to the newspaper by the end of business on Thursdays to be published the following week. Any GRF club or organization may submit contact and meeting information or even have a link to a subsite under the Active Living tab on LWSB.com. It is the club’s responsibility to see that this information is kept up to date, but Recreation is here to help. Once the new website is launched, residents looking for an activity like yours will be able to access your information even more easily.
GRF Policy 1406-50, Item 5, states: “Although Members are allowed to invite guests, no club may advertise or publicize its activities so as to imply its membership or events are open to non-GRF Members.”
Recently, with the prolific use of social media, postings and ads for club events have been showing up on the internet. It is incumbent upon club officers to educate their members about the policies governing clubs, specifically promoting an event on trust property outside of Leisure World is strictly prohibited. Electronic newsletters would fall under this provision and should be shared exclusively with club members, with the disclaimer that this event is closed to non-GRF Members.
Although club members may invite a guest, it should be emphasized that the Authorized Resident who invites the guest must accompany them at all times.
Clubs may not advertise any activity that is in violation of state, local or federal law. Unless a club is a registered charitable organization or other non-profit with a license to conduct a lottery, raffles and other games of chance are illegal and cannot be promoted. Recreation receives calls daily inquiring about clubs when information is not readily found. Help us help you get the word out and we thank you for doing it within the rules.
For more information, contact the Reservations Office by email at kathyt@lwsb.com.
