Community Activities moves headquarters

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Lori Basilone shuffled through boxes last week, settling into a new home for the organization that brings free family fun to Lakewood Ranch families.

The Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. on Nov. 22 officially opened at its new headquarters in the Summerfield Information Center. It has operated out of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall for the last six years.

“It’s our 10th anniversary; it’s the 15th anniversary of Lakewood Ranch, and we’re relocating here at Summerfield Information Center, where it all started,” said Basilone, CAC’s director. “It kind of ties it all together.”

The change not only will give CAC much-needed office, meeting and storage space but also will be a more strategic location as the organization embraces plans to expand and better provide services to residents of newer communities such as The Lake Club, Country Club East and Central Park.

“It was important to Community Activities that we really just relocate to a central location where all the residents have access to us, but all the amenities, entertainment services that we provide remain the same,” Basilone said.

CAC’s Board President Maribeth Phillips agreed.

“We are thrilled,” she said. “It’s a great time, especially with Central Park coming. (Community Activities) is just getting bigger and bigger.”

The change was made official Nov. 16 when Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority officials approved a new agreement that made CAC’s operations entirely independent of the IDA, among other provisions.

Community Activities still will be responsible for Lakewood Ranch’s sanctioned clubs, which will continue to schedule use of salons in Town Hall as before. Basilone said the transition would be seamless.

Starting on Monday, Lakewood Ranch residents have had access to ticket purchases, event flyers and club information at Town Hall and from the three information centers in Lakewood Ranch. The CAC office now will be open Monday through Friday.

Basilone said the CAC board has several new events planned for 2011, including a Family Football Experience event at The Out-of-Door Academy in late January and a Valentine’s Day-themed dance at the Lake Osprey Cabaret in February.

The organization also is working on developing its own website, www.lwrcac.com. Although events will still be posted on Digital Village, Basilone said the new site will offer ticket sales, a calendar of events, photo galleries, volunteer sign up opportunities, event notification and more, once finished.

Lakewood Ranch Community Activities formed as a resident-owned and operated not-for-profit in November 2000. A resident controlled board works with Basilone to facilitate more than 14 events throughout the year, including family favorites such as Boo Fest, Holidays Around the Ranch and others. CAC also works closely with more than 50 clubs in the community.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].