Honor to the Soldier and Sailor everywhere,

who bravely bears his country's cause.
— ​Abraham Lincoln

 

​Dear Ocean Shores Community Club Members,

Independence Day celebrations are always special to me. Celebrations include parades, fireworks, barbecues and of course — time with family and friends.

 

Personally, this year’s celebration feels more special as I reflect on the history of our country, our freedoms and how fortunate we are. The reflection came after the recent passing of my uncle, William (Bill) H. Schelker. Bill grew up in Roscoe, New York, where he learned to hunt, fish and cook.
His first big accomplishment was when he obtained his pilot license at the age of 14. Once he graduated from high school, Bill entered the military — serving in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Once he finished his tours of duty, Bill married and settled in Ohio. He continued his commitment to service and became an EMT.

 

While practicing as an EMT, he enrolled in Wright State College and received his degree in Computer Engineering. Bill’s commitment to serving his country led to his civilian work with Wright Patterson Airforce Base. Here Bill worked with a team designing and developing simulators for our key aircraft.
Bill’s life was filled with passion for his faith, his family and his country. Bill’s pride in serving with and for the men and women who protect our freedoms was immeasurable.  

 

The Declaration of Independence established foundational guidance for the people of our country. Bill’s passing helped me to remember and to appreciate the freedom that I have.  Additionally, remembering his service made me pause to appreciate those who presently serve or have served. It is with a very grateful heart that I wish to thank all military personnel and their families for their commitment and sacrifice. 

 

Family Friendly
Ocean Shores Community Club holiday activity truly displayed the meaning of ‘community’. Our parks, pools and clubhouse hosted thousands of members and their guests. One of our senior members commented on how wonderful and exciting it was to see more young families enjoying our facilities. Their laughter was contagious.  Joy grew each and every moment. The OSCC team worked hard to help our members and their guests have a great experience. Rules and guidelines were shared and followed. Members demonstrated their gratitude and assisted in keeping the environment safe and positive. 

Annual Picnic – Reservations Required
Preparation for OSCC’s ANNUAL PICNIC continues. To date, nearly 400 people have registered for this end of summer event held on Saturday, Aug. 29, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Reservations can be made by contacting our front desk, and will be accepted through the end of day on Saturday, Aug. 15. RSVPs help us plan for the appropriate amount of food! Our team and Board of Trustees are looking forward to celebrating the end of a wonderful summer season with you. Our Slow Jam group will be providing music and our Paint In group will be displaying art for your enjoyment. So, remember to book your reservation. We look forward to seeing you!

Club Updates and Reminders
Your OSCC team has been hard at work. Our administrative team assisted members with their accounts and facility access.  They appreciated everyone’s patience as we welcomed more than 1,800 people over the holiday weekend.
Our lifeguard team safely managed three pools. Their diligence to safety while ensuring patrons enjoy the pools, is commendable. What an amazing team!

Our maintenance and custodial team continually work hard to ensure the safest and cleanest environment possible. The team, while tackling their designated duties, also addressed multiple incidents of vandalism.  These incidents whether small or big take time away from beginning or completing projects. This being said, our teams worked together to ensure the facilities and pools were ready for our members’ 4th of July visit and celebration.  Kudos to them!

Thanks to our team, our family restroom (ladies’ side) has been renovated, the complete shower tiles have been regrouted and sealed, updates to several fixtures were made and a new color was added to the walls. What a great update for our members. 

Sadly, we have some not so good experiences. Our Women’s Sauna will be replaced. Water has been poured on the unit and resetting the unit is no longer an option. We will do our best to repair and replace the unit. Please refrain from pouring water on the unit. It is designed as a ‘dry’ sauna. Thank you. 

Our fitness room received its own workout. New free weight racks were installed to store all of our weights up to and including the 115 pounders. As most members patiently waited, our new elliptical arrived and is now being fully utilized. Member usage appears to be increasing with the machine updates and new equipment.  
With so much usage, it is important for members to appreciate each other’s personal space. Some members love to chat during their fitness time; others prefer little to no chatting as they workout in their ‘zone’. Please remember we each have different comfort zones for both space and noise. Your thoughtfulness and kindness regarding this request is appreciated.

Pool Updates
Excitedly all our pools are open for summer usage. Bayshore Pool remains open regular hours. Cabana Park Pool is hosting Water Aerobics in the morning, lap swimming for an hour each day and open swim 7 days a week. Members are enjoying the re-opening of Ken Peterson Park Pool on weekends.  Remember to check our website for hours and activities. Our lifeguards will be happy to address any questions during your visit. They do ask for members to follow the rules including our weight limits for our diving board and slide.  These are in place to ensure safety as well as longevity of our equipment.

Café
The Jitter House is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public. Enjoy pastries, coffee, sandwiches and rotating varieties of soup! 

Closing Thought
As a former educator, I worked with many young people – from pre-school through college levels. Many times the discussion came to their request for more ‘freedom.”

We would chat about what freedom meant particularly when it was awarded. We would discuss the balance between freedom and responsibility. In the end, the realization that with great freedom came even greater responsibility. 

“Freedom is the power to think, act, and live authentically,
and it comes with both responsibility and courage."

—Author Unknown

Happy summer!

​​​Kindly,

​ Kathleen

Kathleen Maroney

General Manager