Club transitioning to community center

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Changes to the Minuteman Club are coming late this summer. Keeping in step with trends at other military installations, the club is expanding to a community center and officials hope it will become the hub of the base.

"For years we've been trying to revive the Minuteman Club," said Vic Hayes, 66th Force Support Squadron director. "But it's time to move forward and put our energy toward an entirely new concept."

The club's name will change to the Minuteman Commons to reflect the notion that the building will become the center of the community. The commons will include club programs and a bar, the Tickets and Tours office, meeting space for community use and increased operating hours with community-focused programs and services.

"The commons will be open to an entirely new demographic," Mr. Hayes said. "Families will now be able to use the space to hold birthday parties, or contractors and civilians can stop by in the morning to check email and grab a cup of coffee and breakfast."

Officials from the 66th Force Support Squadron are working with the contracting office to solicit bids from caterers. They hope to provide a "grab and go" kiosk for breakfast and lunch and a caterer to provide food for functions, such as luncheon programs, special dinners and awards banquets.

In addition, various rooms in the building will be available for reservation.

"For example, the Hanscom Spouses Club could hold a game night at the Minuteman Commons," the squadron's director said. "Instead of holding the special event at someone's house, they could reserve a room and not have to worry about the cleanup. We would take care of that for them for a small fee. It would be similar to reserving one of the picnic shelters on base."

The squadron also hopes to add a wireless internet connection throughout the building and make some minor renovations.

In addition to availability of rooms for meetings, private functions and similar activities, the Minuteman Commons will offer a wide variety of community programs such as dance classes, internet gaming, bazaars, book clubs and more.

"And folks can come to the commons to pick up the enhanced wireless internet connection or just hang out in front of a wide screen TV," said Mr. Hayes.

There will be some minor renovations to the facility to accommodate the expanded capabilities of the multi-use facility.

"If a newcomer arrives at Hanscom, they could stop by the commons and visit the front desk to get information," the director said. "They could be directed to the School Liaison Office or find out about pool pass rates or how to get to the Youth Center."

Tickets and Tours will also move to Minuteman Commons in mid-July. After the move, when ticket alerts are sent out, base personnel will go to the commons to purchase tickets.

"We think moving Tickets and Tours to the Minuteman Commons is the 'anchor' to this new multi-use facility, providing services to the Hanscom community six days a week," said Mr. Hayes.

Many aspects of the club will stay the same, however. The Patriot Lounge will stay open and still serve a pub menu and beverages.

"Programs such as Wing Night and First Friday will stay in place," said Mr. Hayes. "The only difference is patrons may notice various areas of the building will be open for other activities."

In addition, commanders' calls, retirement and promotion ceremonies and many other traditional military functions will still take place at the new Minuteman Commons. The community will still be invited to hold wedding receptions, parties, luncheons and other functions.

Club memberships will still be available and membership rates will be reduced. The 66th Force Support Squadron will be reaching out to current club members to highlight the continued programs and services and notify them of the significant reduction in their dues.

"Club membership remains alive and well with member discounts at the majority of our FSS activities, to include Fourth Cliff, Auto Skills and Outdoor Recreation" Mr. Hayes said. "In addition, all base personnel can become a club member and membership is honored throughout the Air Force."

The club will operate as usual until the middle of July. For approximately a two week period during that month some functions of the club, such as the lunch program, will not be available because of the transition. The 66th Force Support Squadron is planning a Minuteman Commons grand opening in August or September.

More information about the transition to a community center, including key dates, will be available in future issues of the Hansconian and at hanscomservices.com.

"We want people to think about holding all their events and activities at the Minuteman Commons," Mr. Hayes said. "If it's happening, it's happening at the commons."