theranc er VOL. 6 NO.8 Civic Assoc. at the Roslyn Country Oub, Inc. ov. - Dec. 1955

COMMUNITY AROUSED BY 33V3j1o INCREASE IN COUNTRY CLUB DUES; DEMAND ACTION

THE PUBLIC BE DAMNED! AN EDITO,RIAL

No one in this cOlll1llunity denies the principle of Free Enterprise. Many Country Clubbers are successful busi-nessmen who recognize the necessity of a fair return on an investment. But these men also know there is a big dif-ference between a fair profit and goug-ing. They know that continued profits depend on customer goodwill, and that the policy of charging "whatever the traffic will bear" is not the American way of doing business today.

Those responsible for running the Country Club have seen fit to foist upon an unprotected public an increase of 331/3% in Country Club dues - an increase that is as outrageous as it is unnecessary. This is not a matter against Free Enterprise, since free enterprise does not exist in this case. The pool and tennis courts are a virtual monopoly; the choice is, take it or leave it. There is no competition in the usual sense, for these facilities have become part and parcel of our way of living. This is the "Country Club" we counted on enjoying when we bought our houses. It was of-fered to us by Levitt as one of the mosL attractive features of the community. How can the law of "supply and de-mand" be expected to apply in such a situation?

A great deal of resentment has devel-oped in this community as a result of

the unconscionable action on the part of these "business men".

Resentment against the unnecessarily high boost of 331/3%.

Resentment against the insultingly offhand manner in which notice of the increase was made public (as a footnote to the Thanksgiving dinner menu!)

Resentment against their failure to give commensurate value in return for the increase.

Resentment against their refusal to reduce the number of members in the same proportion as the increase in rates (Their offer: to lower the present 680 quota to 650).

Resentment against their failure to provide sufficient parking facilities to accommodate the big crowds.

Resentment against their arbitrary at-titude and callous indifference toward members of our community.

Resentment of the possibility that the commercialized activities of the Club could affect the value of the entire com-munity, by virtue of its almost unre-stricted zoning privileges.

The management of the club would be guilty of even greater error if, in addition to their " Public Be Damned" attitude they adopted the smug feeling that "nothing could be done about it". Stronger forces than Lhey have been brought to bar by an outraged public. No one can safely ignore the anger of

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RoslynCountryClub.org

the rancher Official Publication of the

Roslyn Country Club Civic Ass'n 14 Pasture Lane

Roslyn Heights, L. I. Tel . ROslyn 3·5962

Editor EVERETT GELLERT

Associate Editor CHARLOTTE STEIN

Advertising FLORENCE THOMSON

113 North Court ROslyn 3-3210

Advertising rates given upon request

Letters Dear Bea:

Hurrah for your welcome suggestions for a workable Community Chest. As one who has pounded the pavements and doors collecting funds for charitable organizations, I would welcome this plan with a great sigh of relief.

Your suggesti')J1 for earmarking the amounts of contribntions to be made to the organizations of choice should dissipate their objections to participa-tion in a Community Chest plan.

Sincerely, Natalie Epstein

Dear Bea: ___________ Me, too. Sincerely, Shirley Janowitz

(Editor' s Note: The above letters were received in response to Bea Gellert's let-ter last month suggesting that all solici-tations be combined in a single Com-munity Chest drive.)

Editorial (from page 1) an aroused people, and this community, almost to a man, feels that it has been abused by the Country Club's present management. Our demand is for fair treatment, not gouging; adequate return for our membership dues, not "what-ever the traic will bear"; consideration for our comforts, not a "Public Be Damned" attitude.

Residents of the Country Club can rest assured that the RCC Civic Associa-tion will do everything within its power to protect their interests and does not intend to take this matter lying down.

2

LEVITTIES READY TO ROLL PLAN IS TO EXTEND SCOPE

Don't be surprised if the next Edition of the " Levitties" adopts some strange innovations and presents some unfa-miliar faces. Indications are that several old traditions will be discarded in favor of a more realistic approach to the situa-tion.

The following is a statement from Mr. Bert Friedman, director of LEVIT-TIES, community sponsored musical:

"Because of the difficulty of obtain-ing sufficient talent of all kinds, grow-ing increasingly harder this year (only three responses to the first call for help) we feel it necessary to enlarge the scope of the production. We feel it necessary to involve people from all over our school district, instead of limiting our resources merely to Country Club talent as we have done in the past.

"This does not mean that we don't want to encourage home talent. On the contrary, we want every bit of coopera-tion we can get from our own commun-ity in order to carryon what most of us have considered one of the finest ex-amples of communal projects - the production of a topnotch LEVITTIES.

"But rumors and gossip notwithstand-ing, you cannot have a LEVITTIES without a book, and that means writers; or songs, and that means singers; or skits and that means actors, and if we cannot get them anymore from within the framework of the country club, it will be necessary to get help from out-side - if LEVITTIES is to continue, that is.

"We need the following: 1) original skits with or without music; 2) experi-enced directors; 3) scenic artists; 4) lighting technicians; 5) costume de-signers; 6) singers, dancers, actors, etc.

"Auditions will be held by contacting Bert Friedman, RO 3-2316; Elaine Maz-lish, RO 3-0285, Sheila Strasser, RO 3-4613R and Edward Goldman, for tech-nical crew, RO 3-3643.

"Immediate calls will be appreciated. Let's get this show on the road!"

1956 SLATE PICKED BY NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

After several fully attended sessions, the RCCCA's Nominating Committee, under the chairmanship of Morris Sobin, picked a strong slate of officers to gov-ern the Civic Association next year. A good percentage of this year's officers will be on next year's Board thus afford-ing necessary background of experience and procedure; 11 of the 19 officers will be serving their first term.

The fOllowing names will be put up for nomination at the next RCCCA meet-ing November 30th. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted. }Jresident:

Donald Ostrower, 50 Field Lane Vice-President:

Henry Cohart, 8 Summit Lane Recording Secretary:

Ruth Amster, 14 Barnyard Lane Corresponding Secretary:

Piry Rame, 57 Hayloft Lane Treasurer:

Philip Trager, 12 Percheron Lane Sergeant-at-Arms:

Alfred Willard, 22 Corncrib Buildings & Grounds:

Leo Kornblath, 60 Carriage Co-op Purchasing:

Max Miller, 18 Strawberry Lane Country Club:

Dr. Leo Schwartz 51 Strawberry Entertainment:

Sidney Koenig, 68 Hayloft Lane Finance:

Mort Shainess, 208 Parkway Drive Hobby:

Shirley Samberg, 22 Barnyard Lane Legal:

Joseph Calderon, 180 Shephard Ln. Membership:

Zangwill Golobe, 74 Hayloft Lane Publications:

La wrence J arett, 19 Shephard Lane Public Health:

Dr. Hursh Mullman, 8 Barnyard Public Safety:

Harry Holzman, 30 Percheron Lane School:

Lucille Moss, 56 Carriage Lane Transportation:

Joseph Catania, 415 LU. Willets Rd

3

FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR

RCCCA MEETING NOV. 30th TO PROTEST HIKES IN RA,TES

A record turnout is expected at the forthcoming meeting of the RCC Civic Association, to be held at the Willets Rd. School Wednesday, November 30th, at 8:30 P.M. Residents and members are invited to participate in open discussion relative to the announcement by the Club 's management at dues will be in-creased 33 1/ 3% over last year. The new rate is given as $200 plus 10% tax - an increase of $55.

Although Hermansen's announcement declared that the increase was motivated by the membership's demand to lessen the crowded conditions of the pool, he told our Country Club chairman that he intended to reduce the membership list from 680 families to 650, a reduction of about 4%.

A movie affecting the safety of our communi ty will also be shown.

Other topics to be taken up at this meeting will be nominations for next year's officers, the disposition of the monies made by LEVITTIES and, most likely, a lively discussion regarding the increase in rates for Country Club mem-bership.

Please make it a point to come to this meeting which is the last one of the year. Coffee and cake will be served as usual.

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