What's with Fairway center requiring everyone to check in???

Did I miss an email blast announcement? Apparently Fairway has started requiring everyone to check in at the front desk. Why?? Is this some insidious plan to convince people there is a security problem related to the library? Whatever the reason for this draconian requirement, I certainly hope the RCSC rethinks the big picture ramifications of this new requirement. Hopefully they're not planning on implementing something similar at other centers -- I can't see it working at all at Sundial, Bell, Marinette, etc.

At Fairway, detouring to sign in at the front desk is inconvenient if you're lawn bowling, going to the dog training area, or are heading to the clubs located at the far eastern end (eg, wood, model trains, the classrooms, etc.). But, it's completely insane to expect those who have fobs to unlock the far East door to go to the front desk -- isn't the whole reason for allowing member access via that door to accommodate those who are unable to walk long distances? (Eg, from a handicapped space in front of lawn bowling to, say, the wood shop is 125 yds +/-)? Yesterday (Saturday) members who entered through that East door were told to go check in at the front desk before entering their club. One elderly gentleman, who walks with a cane, parked close to the East door and entered with his fob -- I watched him trudge off to the front desk and return 20-minutes later, so out of breath he had to sit down to recover. He said he thought he was going to collapse while in line to sign in. He confided that being allowed to enter the East door had allowed him to continue his membership in the club after the onset of several medical issues affecting his stamina and ability to walk any great distance.

 

I have always checked in at the front desk at Fairway, even when I was going to have a massage. Of course, I don't belong to any of the clubs there so I don't have a fob for the east door. I also think RCSC is trying to get better data of what facilities are being used. It might also be for safety reasons, such as a fire and knowing where people are in the building. Sorry for the gentleman with medical issues!

 

It's my understanding they want to move the front check-in desk over in front of the entrance doors because it's too easy to enter the building and go to the right without checking in or anybody knowing where you're headed.

I also believe this has something to do with the homeless?

 

This is the stuff that really makes me angry. We are elderly. We have health issues. Sun City was supposed to be designed to help us. If fire is the issue do folks check out too? What about every office building /school across the country? People don't check in and out for potential disasters. Are people checking in and out at all facilities? Maybe RCSC just wants info on Fairway for a specific reason.

 

Janet, my understanding is the fob for the East door is primarily given to members who have disabilities. FWIW, I'm at Fairway often and, until Saturday, have never signed in at the desk for any use other than the gym (which is cold and often crowded so I seldom use it). AFAIK, most clubs take/report attendance regardless which rec center they're in -- certainly the clubs I belong to do -- so collecting statistics at the lobby is redundant and somewhat punitive.

If the RCSC wants to reduce the occurrence of unauthorized entry they should incorporate modern technology in our badges and put readers/electronic locks and video surveillance on doors which need to restrict access. Many of us have been proposing this for at over 10 years!! The technology to do so has been available for a very long time. Eg, over 30 years ago I went through security into a restricted area -- I talked to a camera and the voice of someone 1500 miles away who prompted me to show my ID documents, a security check was run somewhere, and a few minutes later a voice said I was cleared for entry and the door unlocked. Today, smart badges and facial recognition can automate that entire process in seconds. And yes, there will still need to be someone in the lobby to handle problems/special cases.

This is commonplace today. Virtually all commercial stores, offices, factories, housing, etc. installed electronic security decades ago. We routinely scan cards at grocery stores, tickets at airports and entertainment venues, passports, etc. and facial recognition is active at border stations, police, home security systems (eg, mine doesn't alarm if it recognizes me, my wife, our pets, etc.). The RCSC's claim their IT is "behind the times and they can't do it" is an excuse that's so old and worn it's laughable. So is their "we don't have the money" argument. If the RCSC has a plan to improve security and access they need to stop just wringing their hands, and if they don't know what they're doing they should hire a company to do it for them. In my pre-retirement corporate experiences we all realized some things would never get to a high enough priority to get funded, but nonetheless they needed to get done. If the RCSC can spend millions on a maintenance shed they can spend a million on security and stop this insanity. The RCSC needs to reorganize priorities enough to pay for it. Although I'm relatively healthy, the years are creeping up -- none the less I'm still hopeful I'll live long enough to see this resolved.

On a historical note, I recall when Fairway opened after the rebuild the doors on both ends and the lobby were all open for walk in access. That allowed members to park/enter via doors nearest their inside destination. Later, the RCSC reacted to an incident(s) with homeless individuals in the pool/shower area by locking all the doors other than the Lobby. The members were unhappy. As is typical, the RCSC took their usual autocratic stance and refused to entertain alternatives.

 

I understand perfectly! I worked for an educational cooperative that served 19 school districts in 63 school buildings and I needed to be able to enter each one when needed. However that was during school hours and I was granted entry through an intercom system. Some of our school buildings had been built in the 1920's but they still made it work! I, too, am tired of the, "We don't have the technology BS."

I think the clubs are better at tracking the attendance than, say, the pickleball and mini golf at Mountainview. However, some of the solutions that RCSC has taken have been draconian. Example: We attended the concert at Sun Bowl last evening. Luckily I remembered to take my photo RCSC card in case someone checked it. The unfortunate couple ahead of us didn't have theirs, even though the husband had his key fob. Nonetheless they were denied entrance to the event. Guess I can see it both ways, but sometimes common sense should prevail.

 

IC, what you’re suggesting is very similar to Oakmont Center’s recent security enhancements.

IMPORTANT Oakmont Center Security Enhancements
EMAIL FROM RCSC three weeks ago:

Dear RCSC Members and Cardholders,

We're excited to announce enhancements to our security measures at Oakmont to ensure the safety and comfort of all our members and employees.

Here’s what's new:
SUMMARY
1. Token Access: Starting Mid-April 2024, to enter Oakmont through the east gate (107th Ave), fitness center, auditorium, and club rooms, you'll need a token
2. Check Your Card: Does your card have a token? If YES, just tap your card on the access panel. No need to do anything else
3. Oakmont Club Members: If you don't have a token, pick it up from the Clubs Office starting March 25, 2024, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm. Bring your RCSC Member/Privilege Card and ID.
4. General Access: If you need general access to Oakmont, visit the Safety and Compliance team at Oakmont's Clubs Office from March 25 to March 29, 2024, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm. After March 29th, visit Cardholder Services at Lakeview Recreation Center.
5. Access Points: Use your card with a token on new readers at the east gate, auditorium door (from handicapped parking), and fitness room door (from west parking).
6. Note: West parking gate is for emergencies and employees only. Please refer to the map showing the location of the east gate entrance and the Clubs Office for your convenience.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping Oakmont safe and secure for everyone. If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
Safety and Compliance Department safety@suncityaz.org

READ FULL EMAIL HERE:
https://mailchi.mp/cb0a57f6491a/rcs...ing-video-now-on-youtube-7514874?e=f18f779945

Oakmont Center Directory map:
https://suncityaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Oakmont-07.08.21.pdf

 

So why is it such a big deal to check in? Is change that intimidating?

 

Larry,
I see two issues about “the change,” that could have been addressed for better acceptance.

1. Lack of communication to all RCSC membership and cardholders

2. Lack of consideration of member/cardholder physical hardship
“He confided that being allowed to enter the East door had allowed him to continue his membership in the club after the onset of several medical issues affecting his stamina and ability to walk any great distance.” ~IndependendentCynic

 

It's a big deal to the guy I mentioned because it turns a short walk for him into a walk 2-3 times as far (depending on available parking spaces west of the front entrance). An extra few hundred feet might not seem like much to me or you, but to him it's a question of can he make it without collapsing.

Sign in is only a semi-big deal to me -- mostly I see it as an ineffective solution -- ie, I doubt sign in will stop unauthorized people from sneaking in. I don't think sign in will gather particularly accurate specific activity usage since members often visit multiple clubs, maybe the pool or gym, etc once they're in the building and won't always indicate that at sign in. I know sign in often had lines before the change -- it only took one person with a question or problem to create a 5-minute line, so what's going to happen when there are Arizona room sized events/classes/meetings? Lastly, I think requiring Sign in connotes a certain lack of trust/respect of the membership by the RCSC -- ie, it wasn't needed for 50-years and now you don't trust me?

If the RCSC decides to implement a similar sign in requirement at, say, Bell, Sundial, or Marinette, I suspect there will be a lot of members upset -- it's a darn long walk on those campuses (think lobby to clubs near the library at Bell, for example). One wonders whether the external activities are expected to sign in as well -- lawn bowling, dog training, etc.

 

Yeah, the heck with all those folks that carry portable oxygen machines and those post surgery folks just starting to get out again.