FINAL ASSIGNMENT- Allison,Alex,Dean, Ryan

SAVOY MOVIE THEATRE-

The main goal of the commercial movie theatre in Savoy is to provide the service of showing movies to the community while making a hefty profit. This establishment is funded solely from ticket and concession sales. The majority of people that this place serves is the general public. They are a unique agency because they have quality facilities for watching movies. They also provide newest movies to the viewer before available at home while being able to enjoy large comfortable seats with air conditioning. Movie theatre's strengths are that it is relatively cheap, family oriented, and a unique service is provided. These are considered strengths because it provides a wholesome cheap family event. A weakness is the cost of food and goodies at the concession stand. This is considered a weakness because the food is considerably more than the tickets. This agency fulfills its goals because it provides entertainment for the general public while making a great deal of money, which is the ultimate goal of commercial agencies.


CONSERVATION DISTRICT--

The goal of this agency is to preserve open space, and to provide environmental education programs and resources for recreation opportunities to the public. The agency is funded from property taxes of the residents of McHenry county and a very small amount comes from small fees from programs and violations of parking and other tickets given out by the district's police force. This conservation agency serves all of the public including the residents of McHenry county. It also supports school field trips. Their uniqueness comes from the fact that they provide preserved nature and outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, horseback riding, canoeing, and camping. One major strength of this agency is that it is a free service, preserves nature and its natural beauty, has plenty of outdoor activities to participate in, and it is open all year. There are not any weaknesses to this agency. It fulfills its purpose because it promotes education in regards to nature, preserves nature, and also provides great places for leisure activities.

Intercollegiate Athletics ---

The mission statement of the DIA is “To have the highest quality athletic program in all sports that allows the University of Illinois teams to compete for championships in the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.” This agency is funded from boosters, ticket sales, and through the varsity I-FUND. Everyone that is involved in varsity sports are served along with students,faculty, and public spectators. The elements that set this agency apart from others is that it is the sole agency that deals with intercollegiate athletics at UIUC. Strengths would be providing sporting events for fans of watching sports, UIUC, and a nice venue for the events to take place. Weaknesses include only serving a small population, such as local people and alumni. These are considered to be strengths and weaknesses because sports are a huge part of recreation and leisure;however, this particular agency only serves people directly affected by the Illinois campus. This organization does fulfill its purpose because the universities intercollegiate athletics are successful, in our conference and within the NCAA.


Each of these agencies provide leisure in its own specific way. These only are a small amount of the recreation providers. Some are free and some are not, either way they contribute to the communities and promote quality living.

Goodrich Savoy 16 by Ryan Sumait

Savoy 16

One of the oldest examples of commercial recreation is theatre. In ancient times people gathered in open spaces to watch plays and musicals. The only difference today is the type of medium being used to showcase theatre. Movie theatres are a popular form of commercial recreation. I visited Goodrich Savoy 16 theatres in Savoy, IL before I left for Thanksgiving break. This movie theatre fits Bullaro and Edington's definition of commercial recreation perfectly. It possesses the two basic characteristics; it creates and distributes leisure services by providing films to watch, and other amenities for its customers and it's primary goal is to make a profit.

When I went to the theatre I met with the cinema manager on duty, Dan T. I asked him about the theatre's history and background information. Goodrich Quality Theatres operates in small to mid-sized cities, usually on the outskirts. This is true in the case of Savoy 16, as it is located in Savoy on the outskirts of Champaign-Urbana. It was built in 1990 to provide a place where people in the CU community could enjoy movies. The exterior aesthetics are pleasing to the eye. For me it invokes a feeling of an older or classic theatre with its muted colors and simple design. The interior has a nice layout and good lighting.

There are numerous employment opportunities available at Savoy 16. I picked up a job application and asked the manager what the process to get a job was. First a written application is filled out, then if Savoy 16 calls you back there is an interview process. Finally you will be notified if you are qualified for a job and begin training. The different positions are the typical ticket booth jobs, food service (concessions), technical jobs (machinery maintenance), and cleaning labor (janitorial positions).

The current trends and key issues are not too different from other businesses in this industry. Despite the economic downturn, the movie theatre business is still profitable. People are still willing to pay for movies. When I asked how the economy affected Savoy 16 I was told that though there are a little less people going to the movies, there has not been a significant drop off. This could also be due to the fact that Savoy 16 is one of two theatres in this regional area and they are moderately priced ($6-8.75). They also offer rewards cards and other incentives for consumers. The key issues they face, are that they are in direct competition with Carmichael Beverly cinemas in Champaign. With the economy the way it is, it could also get worse and ticket sales could be affected. Finally the indirect competition with pirated movies or online movies could affect this theatre, but for now people are still going to theatres for movies.

I asked Dan what Goodrich Quality Theatre's definition of leisure was. He replied that it was "to provide an entertaining experience for the people of the greater Champaign-Urbana area." The main benefit it provides is a quality venue for people to have a good movie going experience. It achieves this through the features of the theatre. The theatre caters to the Americans with Disabilities Act by having special closed caption showings, free assisted listening devices, and wheelchair accessible building and seats. There are 2600 stadium seats, and I was going to take a picture of the theatre, but wasn't allowed to due to copyright laws. There are acoustic panels on the wall, dolby digital speakers, cup holders, and comfortable seats. The picture was clear. I also learned that a megaplex, which is what Savoy 16 is classified as, means that it has more than 15 screens. This allows it to accommodate more patrons. Other amenities include a party room that can be rented out and a game room.

Overall I had a good experience in Savoy 16. The theatre delivered on its mission to provide a good place to watch films. The entertainment provided, however, was not so great (New Moon). The pros to working here would be that you're in an industry that wasn't hit too hard by the economic troubles. It is very easy to move laterally in this company, you can diversify your work experience and it provides a fun and friendly atmosphere to work in. The cons are that it is hard to move vertically in this company without working there for a long time. Even higher up, the pay scale is not on the higher end, and you are confined to one area almost all of the time you work. A career here would be difficult to develop, unless you had a degree and obtained a upper level corporate position. The agency fits in the leisure delivery system by providing a nice place for people in the community to enjoy movies. It is very important, because sometimes people need a place to lose themselves and relax. The movies are a great place to forget about your busy work for a few hours and slip away to a different place.

Division of Intercollegiate Athletics by Alex Reavy

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is responsible for everything involving varsity athletics at the University of Illinois. It is run out of the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building here on the U of I campus. The DIA has three primary responsibilities that which include helping their athletes receive the highest education in the best possible environment, keeping the public confidence, and competing at the highest level of athletics within the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA.

The Athletic Director, Ron Guenther, oversees the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. The mission statement of the DIA is “To have the highest quality athletic program in all sports that allows the University of Illinois teams to compete for championships in the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.” The criteria for excellence used by the DIA includes: integrity, academic performance, balanced budget, championship program, gender and ethnic equity, facilities, and a caring community. All decisions regarding sanctioned varsity sports at the U of I are made by the DIA.

The DIA provides jobs for faculty and students in over twenty nine different fields. As a former football player, I have witnessed first hand the opportunities that the DIA provides for its students, athletes, and faculty. I was able to interact with students who worked as trainers, equipment managers, and academic counselors just to name a few. The Career Services Network provides an easy and accessible way for people to apply for jobs.

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is growing and becoming more diverse every year. Upgrades in DIA facilities points to recent success. The $7.2 million, 43,000-square-foot Bielfeldt Building is the main offices of for the DIA. There has also been a recent renovation of Irwin Academic Center and an expansion of Memorial Stadium and the football offices. The U of I has established itself as a contender in the Big Ten and the NCAA over the last ten years.

The DIA’s definition of leisure stems from the goals of the agency. The DIA is responsible for providing their student-athletes the highest education in the best possible environment, keeping the public confidence, and competing at the highest level within the Big Ten and the NCAA. The varsity sporting events provide leisure for the athletes as well as the public.

There are many positive to working for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Students are given irreplaceable experience when working directly with the athletes and coaches on a daily basis. The DIA does a good job of creating a business like environment that will be beneficial for all involved. Working with the DIA is an opportunity to better the athletic department which will ultimately lead to positive attention for the university. The wide variety of job opportunities the DIA provides makes it appealing to potential employees. A downfall of applying to work for this agency is the competition among those applying for jobs. The success of the sports teams provides leisure for the entire community. The U of I athletic teams provide leisure to fans all around the country.

McHenry County Conservation District by Dean Johnson

Over Thanksgiving break I visited the Rush Creek conservation site in Harvard, Illinois. It is part of the McHenry County Conservation District which owns or manages twenty-seven sites, totaling over 23,000 acres of land for the purpose of preserving nature in McHenry County. These sites consist of woodlands, prairies, wetlands, ponds, creeks, and rivers that are open to the public all year. They offer many opportunities in outdoor recreation and education to the over 300,000 residents of McHenry County.

MCCD was created by a group of McHenry County citizens in 1971. They began with the mission "to preserve open space, and to provide environmental education programs and resources for recreational opportunites to the public." Available recreation activities include bicycling, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, picnicking, and snowmobiling. They also offer a wide variety of educational programs for all ages from basket weaving to owl watching at a low or no cost. They also lend their educational services to youth groups, scout troops, and school field trips.

MCCD employs workers in many different departments including land & facilities management, education services, natural resources, wildlife resources, and planning & development. They employ their own police force that patrols the many sites. They also offer summer jobs to college students. I have had several friends work for MCCD. The District also utilizes many community volunteers.

A huge current trend in our society is becoming environmentally friendly or "going green." MCCD fits perfectly into this trend by its efforts of preserving, restoring, and monitoring nature and wildlife. They are continuing to expand their lands and increasing their number of public programs. They are working to improve their sites by creating quality recreational opportunities for their visitors and are continuing to educate the population on sound environmental practices.

I would say MCCD's definition of leisure exists within their mission statement: "The McHenry County Conservation District exists to preserve, restore, and manage natural areas and open spaces for their intrinsic value and the benefits to present and future generations." They work to provide quality experiences that promote green, healthy, and balanced lifestyles.

After visiting one of the MCCD sites it became apparent to me that they are perfect places for delivering leisure experiences. MCCD sites and programs combine relaxation, physical activities, and learning experiences in a family-friendly setting. Also, in our country's current economic situation they provide a cheap, readily-available alternative to expensive leisure pursuits. If you are a person who enjoys nature and wildlife, working for MCCD would be perfect. The only drawback may be the pay. Overall I think MCCD is a great agency that benefits our population and society. The sites are great places to spend leisure time. Find out more at www.mccdistrict.org.

Allison's Assignment 1

This agency is a private membership work out center because members must pay a yearly membership fee. The Sportspex is located in my hometown in Orland Park, Illinois. This is a newly built club which was completed and open to its member in 2008. It has everything from kids birthday parties to personal trainers and classes available to its members. In order to provide a more affordable place for people to get their sweat on rather then paying high membership fees at other private clubs such as Lifetime fitness; the city of Orland Park decided to build another club. Because many amenities are available and also because of the fees that are required to use such amenities this is a private member organization. The workout center is managed by the the city itself because it is not a franchise. There are many different employment opportunities available at this establishment. Jobs are available for high schools and for business management people to the personal trainers and receptionists. It helps a lot if one has training in CPR in case aid is needed. Also, if one knows someone who is currently employed at the center it is a great way to get a relevant reference and to share information that general resumes cannot provide.


Current trends at the Sportsplex include various activities that are offered. During the winter, step aerobics classes are most commonly filled along with the time slots for birthday parties for the kids. Then once spring starts to roll around classes all aerobics classes are filled. Spring is the time when people begin to pay that extra buck to work with a personal trainer in order to get ready for summer. Over the course of the year yoga and pilates are there number one packed area. However, aside from the popular activities a current issue is people ending their membership because the facility does not have an indoor pool for its members. This is a great problem for them because many people enjoy a swim for exercise and for fun.


The facility also offers rock climbing and two large basketball courts and two indoor soccer fields for members to enjoy socializing while getting physical activity. This is a very important aspect because people love being able to bring friends as a guest to the club. Their philosophy on leisure is the ideal picture: it is overall wellness, it includes the mind, body and soul. Their goals are include providing an environment for people to help maintain overall wellness; to create a lifestyle.


After visiting and thinking over the different aspects of this facility it has come to my attention that a career here may not be as rewarding as expected. It seems as though the current employees( physical trainers etc) are not enthused about their career location. Enthusiasm is important and it lacks at this facility. Since there are not an enormous amount of members it is easy for a personal trainer to really get involved and close with a trainee which is positive for the trainee as well as the trainer. The agency fits into the leisure delivery service because it provides the overall wellness to its members. For example, during the summer there are competitions held whether it be on teams who can lose the most weight or the option to be in a "marathon" type activity. This motivates as well as provides the members with an enjoyable activity .From the activities, motivation, the affordable costs, it provides a place of leisure for nearly everyone in the surrounding area. When I say nearly everyone, I really do mean just that, it is free for people to come in and walk around the track, they do not have to be a member. This means that even the poor or lower middle class can get their much needed exercise during the winter. This is delivering leisure.

Leisure means to us

Team name: team 14

Team members: Dean Johnson, Alex Reavy, Allison Swieca, Ryan Sumait

Leisure to us is what we do to enjoy life. We do this while we have free time in order to break away from the normal required tasks. It is beneficial to us both physically and mentally, without it we would more than likely go crazy. Our leisure often includes socializing with others.