Card swiping is coming to the Anza Athletic Club

Dreama Fumia

Fitness Center entry procedures are about to get easier! Wristbands will no longer be used. Beginning in July, residents will have their Robson (blue) card swiped at the reception desk and that is it! They can then zip through and enjoy the gym, pools, fitness classes or other activities. During Anza staffed hours, pool entry will be via the main Anza entrance. A pool key will not be necessary.

When the system goes live on July 1, your Robson card will be swiped at the reception desk as you enter. When your card is swiped, your photo, your waiver/release status and your emergency contact information will be available on the reception desk monitor for staff to view. This permits staff to verify your status and to confirm your authorization to use the facility.

How do we make this happen? Beginning on May 5, residents are asked to stop by Anza to have their picture taken and to sign a new waiver. Emergency contact information will be collected on the new waiver; thereby eliminating the need for Anza ID cards. This information will be stored electronically. Staff will be on duty for the purpose of gathering this initial data on Tuesdays through Thursdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

What if I don’t have a Robson (blue) card? You can stop by the Concierge Desk at the Madera Clubhouse and request a card. It usually takes seven to ten days to receive your card. It is not necessary to have credit authorization for your Robson (blue) card; it can merely be used for this purpose.

How does the information collected at Anza get coded to my Robson (blue) card? Once the data is collected here locally, it will be sent to Robson Corporate for encoding.

Other than making Anza and the Pool access easier, does this new system provide any other benefits? Yes, the system is capable of collecting data for us regarding number of users and date/time usage that will allow us to better allocate our resources for the facility. Plus, it can provide historical data to help us justify future equipment or facility improvements.

Are there any other changes that are happening coinciding with the July implementation of the card-swiping system? Yes, the POA Board and staff are committed to staff coverage of Anza during all hours of operation. To achieve this we’ve added some staff hours and reduced very early and very late hours of operation. Fully staffed Anza hours of operation beginning July 1 will be: 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Pool hours of operation will remain unchanged (4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily). During times when Anza is closed, but the pools are open, access to pools will be available through keyed gates.

What about renters and guests? Renters who have a lease for more than 60 days will be issued a Robson (blue) card with an expiration date. Renters who have a lease of less than 60 days will use their Renters Card (issued by Concierge). Guests may use the facility with their resident sponsor or with their Guest Card (issued by Concierge). Both the less than 60 day renters and guests will be signed in and tracked manually. There will no money collected.

This improved system is the result of the efforts of both staff and volunteers over several months. Thanks to Anza Director Cindy Mayhle, Anza staff member Steve Hill and personal trainer Larry Steer as well as members of the Finance Committee for their inputs.

If you have questions we haven’t answered here, please contact Cindy Mayhle at [email protected].