By Chris Frost EAGLE TIMES NEWS EDITOR
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Savings Bank Community Center is looking to increase membership and become more financially self-sufficient.
Parks and Recreation Director Nick Lawrence presented a proposed action plan during the City Council’s Wednesday meeting.
“Our experienced staff has acquired a lot of insight and suggestions, and they’ve been a factor,” he said.
The city hired Active Entities Consulting in May to review the center. And, as part of the review, a survey generated 290 responses from the center’s 1,300 members. Lawrence also had conversations with executive directors of other recreation facilities, including the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction, Vt., and the Edgar May Recreation Center in Springfield, Vt.,hesaid.
The plan seeks to define the long- and short-term goals and establishSMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevantand Time-based —objectives todrive results.
“The actions we take should be viewed as pillars and help us reach the SMART goals,” Lawrence said.
The Center operates under three objectives: Increasing cost recovery and reducing tax subsidy;creating value for its visitors and members; and fosteirng a sense of community.
“All tie back into the mission of Claremont Parks and Recreation, which is dedicated to providing quality recreation facilities, programs and services to enhance the quality for Claremont residents and the surrounding region,” he said.
The department hopes to achieve 55percent cost recovery in Fiscal Year ’23 andadd 150 new members. As part of that effort, it will be surveying former membersand taking part in fairs and networking events to increase membership. In 2015, the center had 1,800 members.
Already, the center has reviewed its fee schedule and raised prices on July 1.
“Implementing the revised fee schedule was a critical first step for getting on track for healthy cost recovery,” Lawrence said. “In its report, AEC stated that rates need to reflect economic realities and said the center should plan for a 2- to 4-percent increase in dues and fees annually.”
“With our new prices set for the center, we’ll focus our energy on the product and the promotion of it,” he said. “Active Entities suggested starting a campaign that paints CSBCC as a family-friendly facility.”
Ideas to increase the buzz include a monthly email blast to members,using free media to advertise happenings via the city’s web, Facebook and Instagram pages and possibly running paid ads, he said.
Lawrence added that the center plans to stop free space rentals.
“We halted nearly all these situations in the last year with a couple of small exceptions,” Lawrence said. “Members and organizations are eligible for 10 percent off of rental spaces.”
They also plan to have additional sponsorship banners and advertising space at the facility around the track’s perimeter and pool areas.
“We’ll create a plan to collect past due balances,” he said. “Approximately $260,000, or $26,000 annually, on average in fees went uncollected over the 10-year history at the Community Center. That is cards of expiring members stopped paying and attendingbut did not notify us. We haven’t had anyone to focus on that.”
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