Clubs have always been tangled up in the ongoing conflict between the desire to make their properties a sanctuary from the noise and activity of business life, and the need of many members to be able to monitor and respond to work-related issues. And the challenge of keeping the two purposes separate has only intensified with the continued advance of smaller, faster and more far-reaching personal communications devices.

While building its new Beach Club (“A Full Day at the Beach,” C&RB, March 2009), the John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Fla. was determined to let the peaceful oceanside feeling prevail as the dominant atmosphere in its comfortable new facility. But management also wanted to encourage members to make the new Beach Club their “home away from home” where they could come early and stay late. That meant also recognizing that even in the most relaxed atmosphere, it’s still important to provide some way to let members catch up if needed with what’s going on in the “outside world.”

THE GOAL:Find a way and place to give members access to business services while using the new Beach Club at John’s Island Club, without interfering with the serenity of the surroundings.THE PLAN: Build a secluded Member’s Office within the new library THE PAYOFF: Members appreciate being able to stay in touch with the “outside world” in a way that’s respectful to others and still allows everyone to enjoy the club environment.

John’s Island already had plans to create a 1,200-ft. library within the Beach Club, for those members who might not want to sit outside by the pool or the ocean, but instead relax indoors with a book or newspaper, or watch the large-screen TV. The library area also offered a fireplace and game room with billiards and tables for cards, chess and backgammon.

The Beach Club was going to be fully wireless (a feature that helps to provide service to outdoor and beachside diners). So John’s Island’s management decided to look for a way to take advantage of that connection and partition an area of the 1,200-sq. ft. library where controlled use of computers would be allowed. But it needed to do so in a way that would allow privacy for members who wanted to use the computers, while at the same time not disturbing others.

The solution was a small Member’s Office that was secluded within the library. A computer is provided in the office that allows members to scan the Internet or catch up on e-mail. A top-of-the-line printer with scanning, faxing and copying capabilities is also available,  in case someone needs to print an airline boarding pass or send or receive a document.

Members are now also using their own laptops and other portable devices in this area, but always in a respectful way. “Our member comments have been very favorable regarding this new dimension of the Beach Club,” reports Linda Cascio, the club’s Catering and Activities Director. “It has allowed members to stay in touch with the outside world while still ensuring that everyone can enjoy their new club environment.”