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Top L-R: Sandy Cotton, Sharon Belton, Jill Garnett, Joyce Bevan, Diane Hanson, Judy McMullen, Gail Hughes Bottom L-R: John Herbert, Gail Dawson, Joan Wells, Cher Owen

The Monterey Recreation Activity Association and The Monterey Recreation Centre

A Strong Partnership – But How Does It Work?

Dear Fellow MRAA Members, Let me explain first that when you became a member of the Monterey Centre you also became a member of the Monterey Recreation Activity Association (aka: MRAA or the Association). This dual membership happens at no extra cost, but it is an extra benefit for you. We are fortunate to have a facility where we can socialize, pursue our interests and hobbies, and to buy a hot lunch or order some take out for dinner. We can do all this because of the partnership between MRAA and the Monterey Centre. It is a relationship that provides us with many benefits but I will admit the dynamic between the two organizations can be confusing. Just what exactly is this partnership and how does it work? What is MRAA’s role and what are the Monterey Centre’s responsibilities?

Let’s start with the Monterey Recreation Centre: It is one of the five recreation centres maintained by Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture, and the District of Oak Bay. The Centre is a government body, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. The staff are all Oak Bay municipal employees. They are responsible for the daily maintenance of the building and they provide services (the courses, classes and food services) to the visiting public and to you, me and all the Centre/MRAA members. The District of Oak Bay approves the Centre’s budget. Lesley Cobus (the facility’s Coordinator) has the responsibility of ensuring that the centre’s income and expenditures adhere to the budget. A particularly hard task after two years of COVID. Originally the Monterey Centre was designed to be a meeting place for seniors only. It functioned as that for some years, but it was not financially sustainable. Oak Bay City Council then made the decision to open the Centre to all adults in the hope that the generated income would provide sufficient financial support to keep Monterey’s focus on services for adults aged fifty and over during the weekdays. It has worked well with the added support of volunteers. That’s how the Monterey Recreation Activity Association was born. Over time the members wanted to do some fund raising for the centre and provide support for the volunteers and the clubs. The Association which is a registered charity came into being to advocate on behalf of all Monterey members. As the centre opened to the public, it was important to keep a focus on the needs and requirements of the original patrons: members aged fifty and over. One of the strengths of MRAA is that it can accept financial donations and issue tax receipts for those donations. The Centre, as a for-profit business, cannot accept donations. All donations are used for the benefit of MRAA members. At times the Association will make some purchases for the building (such as furniture or equipment). All these purchases are viewed as improvements for the centre which in turn benefits the members’ experience when they visit the facility. Because of MRAA’s close association with the centre and because both parties want to provide the best services to the members we must work together. Both agree to that, and both want the best for you, the members. Because we work so well together and because we are seen so often together there is confusion. Where does MRAA start and where does the Monterey Centre end? Well, as I said before, it’s complicated! To minimize the confusion and to clarify the roles and responsibilities, a Memorandum of Understanding was created. The MOU was first drafted in 2016 and has recently been updated. One of the first requirements of the MOU came from Oak Bay Parks, Recreation & Culture. They stated that all the clubs at the Monterey Centre would be the responsibility of MRAA and your Association has embraced that role. We have the responsibility of ensuring that the clubs meet the Centre’s requirements and follow the Code of Behaviour as set out by the District of Oak Bay and which is supported by MRAA. We are also responsible for the financial support for all the clubs and have over the years,purchased equipment and provided services for the clubs so they may continue to succeed and to grow. One especially important responsibility for MRAA and its Board is the advocacy we do on behalf of the volunteers and all Monterey members. We are your advocate. Our goal is to ensure that your needs are met and that sufficient services and programs continue to be focused and open to adults 50+. Every member who joins the Monterey Centre becomes a member of the Monterey Recreation Activity Association. Perhaps some members find it confusing because when they make the decision to join the Centre they are not fully aware of the extra benefit they receive, which is MRAA. And make no mistake MRAA is a benefit for you. This year the Monterey Centre is celebrating its 51st year. MRAA has been active for 42 years. Together both MRAA and the Monterey Centre work on your behalf to ensure that whenever you visit the Centre your experience is positive and that you are in a safe and welcoming environment.

MRAA and the Monterey Centre will continue to work together to ensure that such positive experiences continue for the next 50 years!

Take care my friends,

Gail Hughes, President, MRAA