By Laurie Whittier
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Other communities may post a generic list of clubs and activities for their residents to join, but that’s not how the magic happens at Wind Crest. Here, community members initiate their own clubs and activities while staff plays a supporting role.

“One of the most frequently asked questions I hear is, ‘What kinds of clubs and activities will be offered at Wind Crest?’” says Kimberly Pate, resident services director. “And my response is always, ‘Whatever our residents want.’ We’re here to support our community and get them engaged in whatever it is they want to do.”

You hold the cards
Rather than dictate activities, Wind Crest’s staff helps bring clubs and activities to life. Typically, this begins when a resident approaches a staff member with a club idea or activity request, Pate says. “A new resident recently told me that he enjoys sailing, so I suggested that he start a sailing club,” she says. “Chatfield Marina offers sailing, so it’s really that easy.”

Beyond spearheading ideas, Wind Crest community members also often help create their own marketing flier to advertise on the clubhouse bulletin board, Pate says.

At Wind Crest, more than a dozen clubs were already meeting as of mid-July, including a computer club, line dancing club, clay sculptures club, the “Wisdom Writers,” and book club, to name a few.

People have also expressed interest in forming clubs celebrating theater, dance, travel, and woodworking, among others. Eventually, Wind Crest’s clubs and activities will number in the hundreds, says Bridget Meyers, associate executive director, who worked at Erickson’s Riderwood community in Silver Spring, Md., before coming to Wind Crest. “Before I left, Riderwood had around 900 clubs and activities,” she says.

An early start
Surprisingly, Wind Crest’s clubs began taking shape before the grand opening, Pate says.