Will the Easter Bunny visit Broadlands this year?

Just curious, I did a small search online and on the newsletter and didn't see anything. Will there be any official Broadlands Egg Hunt or visit with the Easter Bunny this year?

 

You are correct Eric...there were simply not enough people to run this labor intensive event. That said, the Community Events Committee is actively looking for ideas and volunteers for events happening all year. Contact Tammy Welles at tammy@jwells.us

 

That's a shame. Isn't there anything in the budget to offer a small payment to maybe some college kids to help run events like this?

 

We have a huge community. Why don't more people volunteer is a better question.

 

I think the issue with the volunteers is, younger teens or college kids would want to be paid for their time, understandably, and the adults in the community that are in tuned and aware of events like this, are the busy parents (a lot both working FT too) with small children that could not fit things like volunteering in their schedule, or want to bring their kids to the events, so can't volunteer at the same time.

I think empty nesters or grandparents would love to help with things like this, but they may not be the ones on the boards that know about events like this that are in need of volunteers.

 

those are good ideas...but...i always see the same volunteers at these events. they really don't have a problem bringing their young children to these events. the easter bunny event allows for a parent and little one to put eggs all around the field. Or stuff eggs together as a family one night. i think that no matter how busy parents are, they should show their children by example how important community service is, and not just leave it to people who aren't "busy" to do it. everyone is busy! we are all given the same hours in a day. volunteering is way easier than it sounds. it can consist of ordering the eggs online. or making up a schedule. or helping to cleanup the hill when it's over.

 

there is always time to make time for what matters to you. i work fulltime, run my own side biz, have a kid and a dog, and volunteer for Broadlands Live! because i LOVE the energy and excitement it brings to the 'hood, and love that our HOA supports such a cool event. it matters to me, so i get involved.

so when events that ppl SAY they care about about disappear b/c there aren't enough volunteers, i don't have much sympathy. volunteering here is FUN and rewarding. it sets a great example for our kids that they should get involved- not b/c they get paid, but b/c they care about the cause.

 

This community has been great on volunteers, the problem is getting the word out. I know the events committee has been in a transition, but beyond a post about a brainstorming night I don't recall seeing a single post saying they need people, and nothing saying they need people to run the easter egg hunt or it would be canceled. Just ask on the forums every now and then, I bet the response would be there.

 

There was at least 2 articles in the newsletter and seeing how THAT is the official form of communication between the HOA and the residents one would think it would garner something. This forum is a wonderful source of information but as has been stated numerous times it is not an official form of communication with or from the HOA.
Besides, this is a community and the community is the ones that needs to run and put on the events it wants. If it is important to enough people someone will step up and take it on, if it is not then it gets canceled. The make up of this community is changing so changing the events is not necessarily a bad thing.
And the whole I am too busy does not fly with me. I have 3 small kids and a job,but yet have found time to help run the pools and the recreation events for the last 7 years, serve on the HOA board of directors for 7 yearas and am now running the Neighborhood watch program. If it is important to you you will find the time just as I do- if not then you can not expect others to be there to pick up the slack.
I am sorry this is so in your face but I am tired of it always being someone elses job to take on things people want. When are people going to step up and make this community what they want rather then waiting for someone else to do it for them?

Staci

 

I'd love to know what everyone does with their kids when they volunteer. I for one, have no family in town to watch the kids if I have to go do something, and a husband that travels extensively for work. That with two small kids under 4, and work doesn't leave any time or opportunity to do much. We volunteer when we can, but our weekends are so full of everyday maintenance that we can't do during the week. Not to mention, as a working parent, I wouldn't want to leave the kids at home to go do something myself and lose that precious time with them, but there is NO way I could ever bring my very high maintenance toddler with me. I can't get anything done at home with her, so no way I could take her to a strange environment and expect to work with her by my side. It wouldn't fly. So don't be so quick to judge... not everyone has family, a spouse at home, or kids that can go out and do things with you. Not to mention in the "free" time we do have, my husband is a volunteer fire fighter and does events with them. It is not possible for everyone to volunteer more and spread themselves to thin at certain stages of life.

We did it a lot more before kids and will do more again when they are older, but right now, it's not gonna fly. I was just saying, would be nice if we could offer some payment to young kids in the community that need jobs so these events don't have to get cancelled.

 

ATTENTION! I forgot about this!! I got a flyer from Cross Current Ministries in the mail last week, and they will be doing an egg hunt on Easter Sunday from 9-10am "Fun For All Ages"! Then Food/Fellowship 10-10:30 and a Family Service for K-5th (Nursery will be open)
It is at Eagle Ridge Middle School.

The back of the flyer says:
"FREE EGG HUNT for toddlers thru 5th grade kids
*Join us for a egg-cellent time of searching for eggs and making crafts!
*Find a golden egg and win a special prize!
*Afterwards, stick around for some food & hang time followed by our special Easter service.
Invite Your Friends and Neighbors!"

I am probably goingto take my kids down there for the hunt. Check in the newspapers for other churches doing this- there are usually a ton of them that do it.

 

Awesome news! That's good to know, thank you.

 

maybe you could help coordinate something like this, like write a blurb for the newsletter. the events chair can't do it all- she really needs volunteers!

as far as what to do with the little ones, i get my 7 & 5 year old to help me out and i stick my 2 year old in a stroller. if that's not an option for you, find the things that you can do very quickly at work, like a phone call or writing that blurb. then at least you stay involved, and i can tell by your posts that you are very interested in and love the broadlands.

 

The Events Committee and this forum not being the official form of communication from the HOA is irrelevant, I don't see what that has to do with them asking for volunteers on here unless the HOA is telling them to use only official forms of communication? The articles in the newsletter I saw, and correct me if I'm wrong, were for the brainstorming meeting which didn't clearly address that they needed people or that events were being canceled due to the lack of volunteers. Some people I'm sure went to that wanting to help out, but I think most people didn't even realize the events committee needed people and that events were being canceled. It's just my $.02, if you need people to volunteer you need to get the word out every way you can.

 

I think you under estimate the amount of traffic these forums get.

As for the post, you posted about coming and joining the events committee for a brainstorming session. I think that was a great idea, but from the sounds of it it needed to be phrased a little differently. To me it read like the committee was fine, and was hosting a meeting to get new ideas for the year. Not that the committee was lacking members so badly that events are being canceled. All I'm saying is that more advertising, be it here or on the newsletter, being more direct to the point of needing members can't be a bad thing. This thread is a case in point, no one knew the easter egg hunt even needed a coordinator or it would be canceled because there wasn't any word out at all - here or in the newsletter. I'm not trying to be critical or anything, just trying to help.

 

Events like the Easter Egg Hunt need to be planned months in advance...you can't just ask for volunteers a few weeks before they are suppose to happen. Volunteers would have had to be in place during the annual planning phase which happened back in late 2008. I think it is great that the Events Committee is getting a leg up on the remainder of 2009 and planning for 2010 at this early stage.

 

i understand your intent horn. i know that forum gets plenty of eyes, i would argue that the majority search for what info they need to know and do not read posts beyond their limited interest. there's a small % that does what WE do, and browse most threads and comment constantly. and an even smaller number that actually get off the computer, go to meeting, volunteer, etc.

and for the record- i just responded to the post about the meeting as one who would attend- i didn't write the invite.