As part of the notification process which has already included our MWR employees and the local labor unions, I want to let you all know that we will be reducing some of the services offered by the O'Club.

On Dec 10, 2010, the O'Club will serve lunch for the last time until after Memorial Day, at which time it will reopen for lunch for the summer (up to the September Air Show).  The Check Six Bar, back patio, game room, and JO Bar area will be open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays starting at 1500 from that day on.  Large scale catered events, if already scheduled for the O'Club, will be moved to Shifting Sands or the Seabreeze Club at Dam Neck.

Smaller scale events which require little to no set up and finger food only may still take place (with the proper notification) in the bar areas only Wed-Fri after 1500.  Squadron hosted events are still fine on those days only - as long as they don't start before 1500 and do not require kitchen or significant staffing to support.

You all need to know that this decision was not one that was done in a vacuum and was not taken lightly.  It is a result of a large number of financial factors over a long period of time that are not easily explained in an email.  This is a proactive step to make the O'Club a viable entity that can stand on its own financial feet and to keep its current symbolism and status to this base and to our community.  It is no one's fault and no one person or organization is targeting the O'Club.  Rather, the services that we have historically offered are not valued enough with the current economy to provide the extremely costly overhead it takes to make those services available.  The building and what it represents will still continue to operate, albeit with much more specific windows of time.

For many out there who drop by the Club on a Wednesday or Friday night for a beer or to take part in a patching ceremony, these changes will be transparent to you.  I will be more than happy to explain this decision in as much detail as you want in person.  I will be unable to attend the CO's meeting next week with the shift in scheduling, but if there are specific details you would like to discuss, I will be make time available to you to do that.  We will be making these changes public in the coming week in the Jet Observer and the NASO Plan of the Week.  We will also be putting the salient points of this notice on the NASO Facebook page.

One last but very important part.  If your organization employs Union personnel, please let them know that if they have labor-related concerns with this reduction in service, they will need to contact their servicing Human Resource representative.  As mentioned above, separate official letters of notification are being sent to each Union representative.

V/r,
CAPT Webb

Commanding Officer
NAS Oceana
(757) 433-2922