Your Incredible Neighbors: New GVR president a GV fan for years

Green Valley Recreation President Altie Metcalf and fellow board members have a full card of issues to deal with this year, including potential declining revenues, member pressures for new programs and to make sure the all-important important volunteers keep coming.

Board members elected Metcalf president earlier this year in just her second year on the board. The previous year, three board members resigned over differences with board actions or former officers.

She forecasts smoother times ahead, however.

Metcalf predicts there may be some differences of opinion in the new year, adding, “We’re going to have disagreements. Some people feel very strongly one way or the other, but can get beyond making it personal.”

She added, “The board will work best if people believe in consensus building. Let’s figure what’s the best solution for GVR and move on.”

There are about 60 clubs in GVR, in everything from cards, dance groups, arts and crafts. sports, computers, cameras and travel among other things. There are also nine social or state clubs that meet regularly.

She sees such problems ahead, such as where the income will come from after Green Valley is built out. There will be fewer new-home sale payments to GVR.

She said service questions are paramount, such as, “Are we paying enough attention to maintenance?” She also said GVR must help new clubs that are growing “by leaps and bounds,” while other groups work steadily for years for support.

“There’s limited money and limited space. We have to make hard decisions.” said Metcalf.

“For our projects we have a queue” and the new ventures will have to fit into that queue she indicated.

GVR’s Web site says it has 12 recreation centers and visitor center, all valued at more than $18 million.

Work is concluding on the new, large Canoa Ranch center and expansion and completion work is under way at Las Campanas.

Metcalf said she’s interested in taking GVR programs to members, supporting the idea of “a bookmobile or a mobile fitness center.”

There are about 12,360 houses in GVR with an estimated 24,000 individuals living in them.

Metcalf first came to Arizona 35 years ago as a student at Arizona State University where she also worked for a time.

She fell in love with the desert then.

And although she has lived many places, including in the Washington, D.C., area, she also visited an aunt who lived in Green Valley over 15 to 20 years.

When she first saw it, “I knew immediately Green Valley was the place I’d retire to.”

One of the things that appeals to her about the west is the people. “

They’re not so judgmental, no so hung up one what you r job is or what your title is.”

She calls herself an Army brat, living in Japan, California and Pennsylvania among others places.

Her father was the Army’s Judge Advocate General in Washington, D.C. During part of that time, she lived with her husband Richard Metcalf in an area southwest of Annapolis, Md.

Both Altie and Richard worked for the National Science Foundation.

She was there 22 years, the last 10 as senior adviser and budget officer of U.S. Polar Programs with a budget of about $400 million. Her office was responsible for managing three U.S. Antarctic stations and supporting research in Antarctica and the Arctic.

On GVR’s Web site she’s quoted, “Like many people who are drawn to Green Valley, our decision to move here was based on the extraordinary range of facilities and services offered by GVR which are truly amazing and worth preserving.”

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749