02/18/2012
East River Playroom Members,
Welcome to a new year from a new group of volunteers! We hope to make the playroom an even more fun and safe space.
To this end we are trying to increase our membership and giving out new cards upon renewal to better manage our roster and who uses the space. We are also looking to secure cleaning staff for the weekends and assessing which toys need fixing/replacing. There will be more information once our budget is better known.
New Rules
A few important new rules were adopted by the volunteer committee overseeing the space. First, as you've probably noticed, the playroom is now a shoe-free area. We've installed shoe racks for your footwear and ask that you and your guests (including party guests) abide by this policy. If you or a child you care for has a medical reason to wear orthopedic shoes while in the room, please let us know. We will be making shoe covers available for such cases. Currently the policy is self-policing and we hope to leave it this way. If you see someone wearing shoes in the playroom, you can certainly make clear the new rule and the posted signage. If you see anyone disregarding the policy, please e-mail us at [email protected].
Second, the committee decided that the playroom is a nut-free zone. Please do not bring nuts and nut-butter foods into the playroom. We hope that this will not only make the playroom safer for current members, but that it will also allow a new set of cooperators to join. Like the no-shoes policy, the nut policy is self-policing and we cannot assure you that other members have not violated the policy. As a community, we count on all members to put the safety of all children first.
Other than children wearing orthotics, there are no exceptions to the shoe policy, and there are no exceptions to the nut policy. These rules are aimed at making the playroom safe for all children. For that reason, members will receive a formal written warning if they intentionally violate these policies and a second violation may result in a membership cancellation with no refund.
Use of the playroom is at your own risk and subjects you to the terms of the attached waiver of liability. In other words, if you enter the playroom you are waiving your right to bring claims for injuries sustained in the playroom.
Membership Drive
We will be reaching out to our neighbors in the coming weeks and will hold a membership drive on Sunday 2/26 from 2-7pm. Dues for the year are $175 per family, payable with PayPal or cash. In the meantime, interested cooperators can e-mail us and send PayPal payments to the account associated with [email protected].
Finally, when the weather is a little nicer, we hope to throw a party for the parents who use the playroom. We'll keep you posted as we hammer out the details.
See you around the playroom,
East River Playroom volunteer committee
