iLife Activities

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

iLife is an enrichment program and social club that was created by Spring Run Members for Spring Run Members. While most iLife activities are Member-led, we also feature guest presenters from other clubs and area organizations. A competitive alternative to the usual fare of golf, tennis, pickleball, and bocce, Members not only attend iLife activities to learn or have fun, but also to see familiar faces and to meet new friends and neighbors with similar interests.

Each season over 100 unique and diverse activities are offered through the iLife program with an average of 2500 registrations. The number of iLife volunteers also continues to grow each season, ever increasing Member engagement and involvement at the Club. Volunteers plan and implement presentations and activities along with provide guidance and leadership for the iLife program. Volunteers are also essential in cultivating new leads for topics and new Member presenters. While we can’t directly link a significant increase in Club revenue to the iLife program, we do get more Members to use the Club more.

Through the years, iLife has provided learning opportunities which have evolved our membership from having difficulty using email or accessing the Club’s website to becoming proud Zoom participants and efficient internet operators. iLife not only enriches the lives of Spring Run Members, but also the operations of the Club through a more technologically sophisticated membership. For this reason, we were able to go virtual with many iLife activities to keep Members safely engaged during the pandemic.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

iLife started off as free tennis lessons on Spring Run’s tennis courts from a Member who was a retired tennis pro. It quickly transformed into a bonafide enrichment program boasting a vast array of free, Member-led activities (there may be a charge for art classes or cooking demos where materials are provided for participants). Each off-season the Activities Director coordinates with Spring Run staff, Member volunteers, and guest presenters to plan and execute presentations and activities under the auspices of the iLife program. This includes but is not limited to cultivating leads, assisting with topic development, composing compelling activity descriptions, scheduling, advertising, and registrations. Essentially, the Activities Department provides all the logistical and technical support for the iLife program. Each year we produce, print and distribute a polished brochure for iLife which features general information about the program along with the descriptions and dates of all the upcoming presentations and activities. During the pandemic we switched to a digital-only brochure and focused more on email ads and reminders. Members register to attend iLife activities online through the Spring Run website or by contacting the Activities Office by phone or email. Any changes to the original schedule are announced by email and updated on the website calendar.

Members have been overwhelmingly supportive of the iLife program, save for the golfers who complained about full parking lots at first. For this reason, we take special care not to schedule iLife activities when the Club will be busy with other functions and events. Each season Members are eager to read the annual iLife brochure from cover to cover to see what new adventures await them. We often have to manage waitlists for iLife activities because the demand is so great. With the support of the Board of Directors, the General Manager and an army of Member volunteers, Spring Run’s iLife program continues to flourish each season.