JCAC SPONSORED GROUPS
Joint Community Activities Committee:
Since the founding of Amalgamated, education and community activities have been a priority for our co-op. Today the Joint Community Activities Committee (JCAC) is the social, cultural, and educational arm of our two cooperative organizations: Amalgamated Housing Corporation and A. H. Consumers Society, Inc. JCAC is composed of Directors appointed by the President of each Board. Each group of appointees reports back to its respective Board. JCAC elects its own officers and sets its own rules and regulations, subject to review and revision by the parent Boards.
JCAC establishes policy for educational and cultural activities, deriving its authority from the three Boards of Directors, and is responsible to them jointly. JCAC’s broad mandate is to provide for cooperative education including the publication of the weekly Co-op Bulletin, the Community News (printed and distributed quarterly), and such other methods as may be appropriate to promote community activity, including sponsoring and overseeing various groups and organizations. For that reason, we maintain an Education Office as part of our Management staff.
Through the years, the Joint Communities Activities Committee (JCAC) has sponsored many different groups. Groups have come and gone, some have endured, as cooperator interest has warranted. All groups are run by elected volunteer committees of cooperators. Their policies are made in keeping with the policies of JCAC itself. If you are interested in any JCAC activities, or would like to see a new activity started, or would like to talk about educational and cultural activities in our community, please call the Education Department located in the Management Office. All groups may be contacted through the Education Department.
For a complete list of our JCAC groups, clubs, classes, and activities, please contact the Education Office at 718-796-9300 and look out for our flyers, postings, and weekly bulletins.
The Amalgamated Nursery School (ANS) is a community-based, parent cooperative school that participates in the New York City Department of Education’s Universal Pre-K (UPK) and 3-K programs. It operates as a community-based organization (CBO) under District 10 in the Bronx. Founded in 1933 by residents of the Amalgamated Houses, the Nursery School was established to provide nurturing early childhood education for children of the cooperative. While originally serving only children of Amalgamated cooperators, the Nursery School now also welcomes children from the surrounding community.
The Nursery School is sponsored by the Joint Community Activities Committee (JCAC) of Amalgamated Housing A. H. Consumers Society, Inc. The Education Director serves as the primary liaison between the Co-op and the Nursery School. Amalgamated provides space for the Nursery School at minimal cost and has contributed financially to its operations. Cooperative property—including Ostroff Plaza (Train Park), the sand park adjacent to Building 7, Vladeck Hall, and the Playgroup Room in Building 8—is used regularly by the Nursery School. Amalgamated and the A. H. Consumers Society, Inc. have supported the continuity of the Nursery School for more than 80 years.
- All household members wanting to become members must appear on the income affidavit.
- Annual membership fees are set by the Co-op. Users will have the option of paying membership fees on an annual basis or semi-annual basis. As of July 1, 2023, annual membership fees are $150 for the first person and $98 for each additional person from the household, over the age of eighteen. Yearly membership fees are non-refundable. The semi-annual membership is $75 for each person over the age of 18. Additional family memberships are not discounted on a semi-annual basis. Memberships for teens, ages 14-17 are $46. All teen members must be accompanied by an existing Fitness Center member over the age of 18, from the same household.
- No one under the age of 14 is permitted to use the Fitness Facility at any time.
- In order to use the Fitness Center, the apartment in which the user resides must be in good standing according to the Co-op in Good Standing Policy.
- In addition to the membership fees, every user of the Fitness Center must purchase a photo identification card for a fee of $5. The photo I.D. card must be carried at all times when using the Fitness Center, as Co-op Security and other staff persons will visit periodically to check that only authorized members are using it. Replacement photo I.D. cards are $10 each.
- Every user of the Fitness Center must also purchase a key card from the Co-op Education Office for $20. The charge for a lost key card will be $25.
- All users of the Fitness Center shall observe the following rules of conduct:
- No smoking.
- No food or beverages.
- Use headphones if listening to personal music.
- Do not wear loose clothing.
- Wear sneakers or rubber-soled shoes.
- Always have your photo I.D. card with you.
- Limit time on equipment to 20 minutes when others are waiting.
- Wipe the equipment after use; paper towels are available; do not throw paper towels or other rubbish or debris on the floor.
- Do not move and/or drop equipment.
- Make sure the door is locked at all times.
- Turn off fans and/or air conditioners when you leave the room.
- All users of the Fitness Center must sign a Release and Waiver in the prescribed form as a condition to using the Fitness Facility (contact the Education Office).
- The Co-op shall have the right to terminate the right of any person to use the Fitness Center at any time.
- The Co-op reserves the right to amend, supplement and otherwise modify these Rules and Regulations at any time.