The following comments are from the Coffee Talk Survey.

 

Comment:

The whole idea of coffee talk was for members to have a chance to get together, meet new people and discuss topics of interest to them. Having staff use their time (and our $/hour while they stand around in the Avila room) is a waste. We don't need tablecloths or tables; we are fine outside chatting and having fun. Give this club back to the members.

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Comment:

I believe coffee time was initiated to allow members to have a “social hour” where they could catch-up with each other’s activities, families, friends, neighbors, etc. I was stunned when I read that the HOA was stepping in to steer this group in another direction. How can members attempt to interact with one another in a friendly group setting when the HOA is bringing in a life style coach? What does one have to do with the other?

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Comment:

Coffee time is a long time established Trilogy event. It gets members together to meet and greet and feel a part of this wonderful community. It is a symbol that Trilogy was built on - friendship and a reason to get together.

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Comment:

Coffee Talk should be continued on both days. It is ok to reduce food options to what was available before Covid or food could be eliminated and people can purchase food. Coffee should be free and available to all members during that time. This has been a wonderful experience and opportunity to meet new friends and visit with friends. Remember, most of us moved here because we liked the amenities offered and wanted the opportunities to meet people. This is an important amenity for many.

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Comment:

Coffee Talk is an important way for the community to share ideas and companionship. This is especially true for our residents who are not able to participate in sporting events or charter clubs or are recovering from medical procedures and surgeries or are new to the community.

 

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Comment:

Coffee Talk has always been for members to meet and catch up as well as welcome new members to the neighborhood. It was never ever intended to be held in the Avila room with the talking limited to the staff doing all the talking and telling us what a great job they are doing for US the homeowners and members of our club. Nor was it ever intended to be free coffee and cookies for pickle ball and bocci ball players who then leave and go home.

 

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Comment:

My preference is to keep Saturday and Wednesday Coffee the way it was.  We have a bike ride Saturday morning and we start early enough so we can arrive at Saturday morning coffee‼️. There are 5-25 riders. More in summer. There are a group of women about 15 that meet on Wednesday. There are a group of men that also meet on Wednesday and Saturday.  The whole idea of living here is community‼️. The coffee tradition on these dates certainly enhance his community.

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Comment:

The coffee talk is an important and valuable function for onboarding new residents, and it is a vital component of community. I think it should continue, in fact I think it should be expanded to include Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and I think that every day there should be a voluntary payment jar that every one may contribute. I think the voluntary paid coffee hour should be for one hour only beginning at 9 and ending at 10.

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Comment:

Membership should be consulted before making such a radical change in our lifestyle amenities that have been a tradition since the founding of Trilogy. Such lifestyle gatherings have been a cornerstone in the sale of Trilogy homes.

 

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Comment: 

The ONLY reason I signed the petition is that the people said they were never given a reason the food/coffee service was cancelled. Having given the reason, I concur with the decision to cancel free coffee and doughnuts due to cost.......let people buy their own. Again, my objection was removing a perk without giving any explanation about why it was removed. Once given, my choice was different from my initial thoughts

 

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Comment:

I believe that changing coffee talk to once a week instead of twice a week is a fair compromise between management and the residents. The pastries are not needed but the coffee is. When you have a social gathering like this that has been beneficial to residents for many years, it is unacceptable to cancel it without consulting the residents first.

 

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Comment:

I can’t see that this cost that much for it not to continue.

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Comment:

Coffee talk is a valuable activity for members to have a time and place for visiting, discussions and meeting new friends. I've seen non-Trilogy residents and groups getting coffee at coffee talk in the past. New policy could be to show your ID card and have a nominal fee for coffee only or for coffee and snacks. This should definitely be discussed with the members first.

 

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Comment:

Instead of meeting in the Avila room for a presentation, have the lifestyle person visit with the various people having coffee. Maybe offer monthly breakfast/lunch specials to generate more business during off times.

 

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Comment: It seems as coffee talk is only important to those of us that have attended faithfully all the years..... Often bringing new neighbors into the fold. Those that don’t attend regularly are not onboard keeping coffee talk. I feel the cost of staffing is the same with or without coffee talk - so the cost involved would be coffee/tea and treats (possibly cut in 1/2 and maybe secured day old from NIPOMO donut or elsewhere. Or at least coffee only.

Second Comment:  Thank u for an alternate point of view and clarification of corporate stated facts.

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Comment:

To the CCMA Board of Directors - Since the inception of Trilogy Monarch Dunes, Coffee Talk has been a great way for members to bond and stay connected. Everyone loves it and looks forward to it and lots of people go on both Wednesdays and Saturdays so keep Coffee Talk on both days.

 

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Comment:

I’m ok with what happens.

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Comment:

Please do not limit our opportunities for social interaction between seniors. Coffee talk has been going on in the twice weekly format since long before we moved here (5 years) and has proved to be a very popular event.  But we do pay dues/fees to maintain a certain level of benefits.  Our options seem to be gradually shrinking and/or getting more pricy.  For example - corkage fees of $20.  If the Club is indeed owned by and run for the benefit of the members why charge an expensive fee for members to bring their own wine to dinners and other events. If, as it has been posited, it is required by law that a corkage fee is to be charged, why not make it a nominal fee.  $5 for example, or, at worst $10 for members and $20 for non members to maintain the illusion of value.   Additionally, why are Wine Locker/Club members charged an arbitrary $275/$350 per year for the privilege of bringing their own wine to club events/dinner in Adelina's?  And then, frequently, Wine Club "privileges" are not valid if the Cub has a special event where there is a cash bar.  I have been told (and this may or may not be accurate) that there are approximately 130-150 Wine Club members/households. so, out of approximately 1300 households in Trilogy, a little over 10% are Wine Club Members.  So, yes, a cash bar at an event is of benefit for the 80-90% of those who are not Wine club members.  But why penalize those who have paid the exorbitant/arbitrary Wine club annual fee by suspending their privileges for certain events?  Sorry to go off on a tangent, but it has to do with eroding benefits/privileges.

 

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Comment:

Flavored vanilla creamer would be much appreciated. It makes or breaks coffee for me.

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Comment:

PLEASE make public the breakdown for the RIDICULOUS supposed $25,000 cost of Coffee Talk post-Covid. Food options? Unbelievable! I've seen (and unfortunately tasted) the dubious pre-packaged cookies and muffins that were on offer after Covid. If they were an "improved" food option, perhaps THAT is what you should be rethinking. Actually, the whole background agenda that management seems to have to eliminate or chip away at the perks and amenities that were inducements to many of us to purchase homes in TMD is a total RIPOFF.

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Comment:

Possibly keep the existing coffee selections (are there many choices now?) and save money by eliminating the food.

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Comment:

Coffee talk is great. I have only been in the community for 2.5 years. It has been a great way for me to meet and interact with other people in the community. I like the idea of having "day old" pastries if available on both Wednesday and Saturday. If there are none available then just coffee, tea and talk. Maybe just do one item i.e. cookies, muffins, etc. per day. If we continue in the Avila Rom (which is very nice and much easier to hear each other) would it be possible to open a few of the back doors and put a few tables on the patio? Question: is there a cost to setting up the Avila room? The room is beautiful, but are we defeating the objective to save money? I am fine with people getting a coffee to go outside or on their way. There is interaction between residence when getting their beverage. Perhaps the consigner could be in the Avila room during that time to answer questions or promote upcoming events. I realize the computers are located at the main desk but entries that need to be made could happen after coffee talk. Just thinking of ways to draw more people into this wonderful event. A big thank you to all who are addressing the future coffee talk format.

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Comment:

I work full time so most of the time for socializing for me is on Saturdays when I meet friends for tennis and later a cup of coffee.

 

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Comment:

A gathering of coffee club members only for friendly community talk. No outside speakers.

 

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Comment:

This should not be in the Avila room.......there should be no presentation from the HOA about anything during the time period.  This is for residents to meet with other residents.

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Comment:

I think you should continue to offer free coffee--only regular and decaf one type and do not offer free pastries. This should curb the cost. People really enjoy the coffee talk.

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Comment:

I have not ever seen people taking coffee and treats and leaving the club area. You have small groups of people in Adelina’s, the Market Place, Sculpture Garden, Atrium, around the pickleball courts, outside the art center, ie. everywhere throughout the Monarch Club. It's a wonderful place to be on a nice Saturday or Wednesday morning to see friends and neighbors. Restore, please, the coffee talk as we have known it. Thanks

 

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Comment:

We didn’t always have muffins and cookies-just coffee. We didn’t ask for food, the club just started providing it. I have seen some people come in, get coffee and several muffins/cookies and leave. If you eliminate the food, it will discourage many of them from coming in. Please keep coffee talk twice a week as it is a great way to meet people that you otherwise may not come into contact with, because they don’t play a sport or play cards.

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Comment:

Whatever the current "Coffee Talk", with Lifestyle people talking is, it should NOT be called coffee talk; perhaps it should be monthly and called First Wednesday or Friday where there is still some coffee and people can come hear what lifestyle has planned for the month. When I lived in Trilogy at La Quinta (where Eric was) it was called First Friday and Coffee, fruit and juices were served. The traditional Coffee Talk here in Monarch Dunes should go to once weekly (whichever day the participants desire) and only coffee, not stale pastries (or fresh ones) should be provided (to reduce costs). The Market Place does not need to hire any additional help than those they normally have on hand.

 

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Comment:

Hoamco should not be allowed to unilaterally cancel a club activity like coffee talk.

Other savings we already have

1) $75K savings for elimination of Mesa feature

2) $360K from Frontier

3) Savings (the board said) this year from switching from Blue Star to Hoamco.

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Comment:

It was a poor decision to arbitrarily eliminate Saturday AM coffee talk without consulting the members. Please reinstate it.

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Comment:

Management needs to understand that the members are its client and to respect the traditions and atmosphere desired by the members. Cost is just one factor to consider in making determinations such as these. Another gross example is the annihilation of the restaurant into a sometimes there, sometimes open debate.

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Comment:

Move coffee talk back to Saturdays if only offering once per week. More people are able to attend if they are employed.

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Comment:

Only serve coffee or tea-no food To cut costs Always run by residents before making significant changes

 

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Comment:

Thanks for looking into this and finding ways for the Club (all of us) to save some money and still have fun meeting with each other. After all, "free" is never really free after all.

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Comment:

It has been the practice to discuss issues about cost with homeowners before taking action. We can reduce cost by not buying cookies pre wrapped. We don’t want any body telling us how and what coffee talk should be about. It has been an avenue to voice concerns and get feedback from one another. It is our private time to support one another when there is a need. It is also a time to BS with one another in a sprit of friendship.

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Comment:

There is a compromise that I feel everyone would be happy with implementing. Only serve a decaf and caffeinated carafe at the tables for coffee talk and stop providing the pastries. It is about socializing and getting to know one another. It should stay the same as it was previously scheduled. Wednesday and Saturday. If you limit the coffee to the groups showing up for coffee talk and stop the food it may solve all of the controversy and everyone wins.

 

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Comment:

Thank you! We hope the board will reconsider the coffee talk changes they implemented without our input. I'm okay paying a discount price for my coffee if that helps keep the HOA costs down.

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Comment:

I'm not sure exactly what has attributed to the increase in costs - I suspect there are a lot of factors. Not sure how to control people taking food and leaving other than having a server bring food to the coffee talk table. The other option is to only provide coffee and allow people to bring their own bakery - or perhaps sell bakery but give free coffee. At minimum, you should talk to members BEFORE making abrupt changes. Also, nobody wants to go to the Avila Room to hear about Trilogy events - we can read!

 

Comment:

Hope there is some way to limit the coffee service to those that wish to come to coffee to "stay" for the camaraderie. "IT" used to work that way and hopefully can and will be able to again. WE regulars have become like family. It gives us something to look forward to and that means a lot to a lot of us.

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Comment:

I didn’t realize the cost was $25k per year. It would have made people more understanding if we were told this. My suggestion is to offer coffee at a discount and eliminate the added muffin/danish or give free coffee with a purchase. Change is difficult once you give people something for free. Another suggestion is to sell a yearly coffee pass and ask them to bring their own cups. Coffee talk was a great perk but I understand that with rising costs it was eliminated on Saturdays.

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Comment:

The board could spend some of the Frontier money that they received on Coffee Talk.

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Comment:

Offering no food would be fine with me. Allow those who want a  pastry to bring their own without a charge. Never stop supplying 2 coffees - regular and decaf.

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Comment:

Ideally, Coffee Talk should be limited to those who want to meet, and stay, at the club. If you can find a way to eliminate those who "grab and go", this would solve much of the problem.

 

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Comment: Seems to be major mismanagement of funds. Inflation does not account for 150% growth in costs for the Coffee Talk. There needs to be better oversight of how our HOA funds are spent especially with regard to food and beverage.

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