By Stephen Smoot
In recent months, the Potomac Highlands Recreation Center has repeatedly rang the tocsin to ask for community support and help.
Last Saturday, almost 50 turned out to attend the PHRC annual business meeting to share appreciation, show support, and learn more about this vital Franklin facility.
“Everyone is real receptive to what our predicament is,” shared Ray Fox.
One of the important items of business lay in determining PHRC leadership in the coming year. Paul Mallow, the longtime president, requested relief from the role. Fox accepted nomination and election to the post of president, while Mallow moved to vice president.
“Essentially, we changed positions,” said Fox, who added that Mallow “will teach me what to do in the president’s role” while continuing to support the board of directors and facility operation.
Those who attended learned the full picture of the PHRC, from its current financial status to the often unsung services that it provides for the community, especially youth.
“We told them where we were financially,” said Fox. The finances, he said, preclude the facility meeting its greatest need, that of a full time general manager. He explained that PHRC would need more revenue to cover the cost of a general manager salary.
According to Indeed, the average general manager salary for a restaurant in West Virginia lies at approximately $52,000. PHRC would bring even more work and responsibilities than a restaurant general manager as well.
The inability to hire a general manager at this time will not prevent PHRC from attending to its most dire need. Fox stated that the newly hired — and hard working — high schoolers still need adult management. He said 16 had signed up at the meeting to help with PHRC’s immediate staffing needs.
One of the moves that the PHRC board and officers had to announce, regretfully, that PHRC had to “raise prices in the kitchen and on the bowling side.” Fox explained that “the way everything has gone up, we’re barely making ends meet.”
And that is with significant support from officials and board members on a volunteer basis.
When apprised of the level of the price hike, some in attendance argued that PHRC had not gone far enough in raising prices to cover costs imposed by inflation in food, equipment, and other areas.
Fox said that he replied to that concern by saying, “This is not Harrisonburg. This is not Stanton. This is not Morgantown or Clarksburg.” He went on to add that the customer base was made up of families looking for affordable recreation for their children and seniors on a fixed income who came six nights a week to socialize, eat together, and perhaps bowl a few games.
“It could cut the business too much if we raise prices too much,” said Fox.
Many in attendance did not understand the full mission of the PHRC, that it was not a typical business, but a non profit with a purpose.
“We are a community building,” shared Fox. He added that “people don’t know what all they do here.” He pointed out that students from schools in Pendleton, Hardy, Pocahontas and Highland [Virginia] counties enjoyed school rewards at the facility. He also stated that the Future Farmers of America for Pendleton, Grant, and Hardy counties hold combined celebratory events there.
The Pendleton County Farm Bureau also holds its annual meeting at PHRC.
Board members and officials resolved to keep two practices in place, despite the fact that changing them could produce more revenues. First, they will continue to not charge community organizations to use the meeting rooms – especially since attendees to meetings often spend money on food there.
He also stated that PHRC is proud to remain an alcohol-free facility, pointing out that church groups and even Mennonite families specifically use PHRC because it is family friendly.
The next meeting takes place on Feb. 16. Fox shared that the Treasure Mountain Festival Association has expressed interest in “joining the discussion” about how to best use PHRC as a community asset during the festival.
