Perspectives on the Standards

This Standard helps us honor the intent of the work-ordered day, while building community at our clubhouses. When the clubhouse is open during recreational times, it allows colleagues to relax and get to know each other better. How we spend our time-- working from Monday to Friday and pursuing recreation, leisure, fun, and outside interests at other times-- reflects how most adults in our society spend their time. When we accept this limit on our use of time, leisure activities become more valued, focused and enjoyable. Social programs allow members who work full time, or have other obligations that prevent them from coming to the clubhouse during the week, to stay connected.

Since we are a community, we enjoy celebrating holidays with each other, and coming together on the actual day of the holiday demonstrates that we care about each other and take pleasure in each other’s company. Many colleagues do not choose to celebrate holidays with their family. We all know that holidays are sometimes difficult. Clubhouses see this as an opportunity to invite colleagues who might otherwise be alone to deepen their connections to our community. The Standards express two important values, one concerning how we spend our time and the other concerning the clubhouse as a real community. Real communities come together in a real way on the actual day that a holiday is celebrated.