Thread: Grrrrrr. Rec Center Issues

A little backstory: I've been teaching at this particular rec center for 7 years now and have very few problems with them at all! Because our economy's been so down the past year, pre-registration has suffered some, but we always seem to get some who sign up the night of the first class. This past session, though, there weren't enough pre-registrations, so the class was canceled for the session.

I just got off the phone with a woman who had come to register for the first night of classes to discover it had been canceled due to lack of pre-registration. She then recounted to me that there were around seven women there to sign up for the class! They were all very disappointed, so the desk clerk took their names and contact information. The clerk told them I would be contacted about starting the session the following week and that they would be contacted with the result of that conversation. Well, of course I'd do the session starting a week late! We always schedule a "buffer" week in case we have to cancel a class, so we could still run the full session.

Only problem is, I was never called and neither were the potential students.

The next week came and the ladies showed up again, hoping that the class would start just a week late. They were again turned away because the class was still canceled, as I was not notified that they had come the week before.

Still wanting to take a belly dance class, the woman who called me began searching on the internet and came across my website, which lists the classes at the rec center, so she called me to get some answers. Imagine my embarrassment when I had no idea what she was talking about!

Fortunately, she's going to try out one of my classes at my other location and bring her daughter along too. She doesn't know any of the other women who wanted to register, so those might not be recoverable.

I have sent out a strongly worded WTF letter to the person I deal with at the rec center. I'm pretty sure she didn't cause this mess, as she's always been responsible and good about communication, but as the boss lady, it's her job to fix it.

We'll see what happens.

Oh Mihri, that's just lousy!
I can see how frustrated you must be, it can get get crazy dealing with
rec. centers and issues like this that come up. It's so tough right now,
because it does seem that more students are signing up at the last minute
than before. Why don't the rec centers listen when you try to tell them?
If they were to look at the pattern of registrations themselves they would
see that.

Unfortunately, I chose to stop teaching at one rec enter because of
situations like this. You did the right thing contacting your person
there, and hopefully they will find a way to fix this that suits everyone
involved. I would hate to see you lose students because of their mistake.

Good Luck!

I have the exact same issue with one of the Rec Centers I teach at. It's very upsetting and frustrating.

Feeling your pain!

Historically I've always had more "show-ups" than pre-registrations, so that's why I've always insisted on being there the first night of class. If there's not enough students to hold the class, I explain that the class is cancelled, give them a "mini" lesson, thank them for their interest and tell them that they will be called about the next session. This last session, I went from zero on the books to nine students (which in the current economy is a huge class for me).

My current problem with my rec center is that they are now making mandatory that I have a business license in the city I teach in (which is not the city I live in). That little piece of paper, which has no value to me other than being allowed to teach costs $110 a year! I really had a lousy year in terms of class size last year and, after seven years, that and other little issues that have cropped is really making me rethink continuing teaching there.

I've had other rec center jobs come and go, but this one's been pretty solid for me, they pay well, and I'd like to stay there. I just need some kind of assurance that the dingleberry behind the counter won't eff up like this again! Grrr.

Khaalidah... a business license? Really? I have to carry my own liability insurance, but since I need it for the classes at my other location, it's really not an issue. I've never been asked for a business license before!

The question of business license is about are you a independent contractor or a ad hock employee of the city. If it's the first, then you need the business license. The second, not so much. But this is really an accounting / IRS thing. PIA, but understandable.

{{{HUGS}}}

Yeah, its what Tahira wrote, it's to "prove" I'm an independent contractor. The thing is that this is a new requirement after teaching there for seven years. The biggest thing is for the last year, my class sizes just don't warrant the extra expense. This coupled with my own dingleberry issues with staff over the years and the fact that I started graduate school--- makes me reluctant to continue.

Mihri, I feel you. I've had so many "boo boos" that had to be corrected (by me) - after of course, finding out somehow or other - I can't even count them all.

I decided long ago I'd just keep my smiling face on & be nice to whoever messes up because they're who has control over my classes. A little forgiveness will go a long way with them & they'll remember it.

I guess it's happening because of cut-backs, less people doing the work that more used to, they dont' have as much time to think about decisions & follow up and all that good stuff.

Last thing that happened to me was someone else got my entire paycheck - and that was last month. It's always something....

I have an agreement with my rec center. I will teach the first night free if they end up having to cancel the class. That way, I can get all the last minute stragglers.

I have never had to teach a free class and the classes have never been cancelled.

I got a response back from the person in charge of the contracted teachers over there. Basically, she had been made aware that *three* people (not seven) had tried to sign up, but that she had no knowledge of the clerk taking down names and promising to contact me. The clerks aren't supposed to do that. If they see a class is canceled, they're supposed to tell the customer it's canceled and that's the end of it. She also expressed surprise that nobody of those seven called to complain about the situation, which she found odd. She has a point there.

I get that. If the rec center was wishy-washy about whether stuff is canceled or not, it can be a big headache of communication. One of two things is happening. Either a clerk overstepped her bounds and promised something she's not authorized to deliver on or the student is not remembering the scenario correctly or exaggerating the story a bit to gain my sympathy (which she really doesn't need... I'll teach her anyway).

So now I have to construct a diplomatic response that admits that I may have overreacted to the situation without knowing the facts, but when all I have to go on is one student's accounting, what am I supposed to think?

*sigh* At least the student and her daughter are starting with me at my other location tonight.