Many of the finest employee recreation programs today are those that began with open management support many years ago. Lockheed Martin Recreation Association was one such pioneering program. LMRA got off to a meager start in 1949, when it was organized to provide recreation facilities and wholesome leisure activities for the employees of Consolidated Vultee Corporation, or "Convair." Since that time, LMRA has grown to include over 40 separate organized recreational programs, or "activities," based at a 79-acre facility separate from the LM Aeronautics plant.
LMRA is the site of several buildings, including a clubhouse with administrative offices, a gift shop, six meeting rooms, a ballroom, banquet hall, TV lounge, model railroad room, rock shop, and a photo darkroom/studio. Other buildings include the Sports and Fitness Center, which houses facilities for basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, seven racquetball/handball courts, karate and judo rooms, a well-equipped coed fitness facility, weightlifting room, a coed exercise room, locker rooms, and a snack area.
Outdoor sports are accommodated by three softball diamonds for men's, women's, and coed teams, four lighted tennis courts, two soccer fields, and two sand volleyball courts. Other facilities include auto repair, ceramics, pottery, and radio. In addition, there are picnic areas with more than 50 grills, including a Texas-size barbecue pit, kiddie rides, a minature golf course, an enclosed children's playground, three lighted volleyball courts, grass volleyball courts, and a ranch house for parties, meetings, or picnics.
An outstanding feature of the recreation area is the Olympic-size pool with 17-foot diving well, 50-meter racing lanes, instructional area, and kiddie pool. Swimming lessons and lifesaving courses, are available during the Summer.
LMRA's recreation program also features the 18-hole Squaw Creek Golf Club, located in Willow Park, 20 miles West of the recreation area. A clubhouse, including a pro shop, snack area, locker rooms, and indoor instructional area, is situated on a hill overlooking Squaw Creek lake and the golf course. Annual memberships are available to employee and affiliate members, who may otherwise use the course on a greens-fee basis.
The funds necessary for developing and operating the facilities are derived primarily from activity participation fees, vending machine receipts from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, and the Affiliate Corporate Members The organized activities strive to be self-supporting by requiring participants to pay nominal activity fees that are collected and disbursed for each activity's requirements.
LMRA is a separate non-profit corporation for Lockheed Martin. LMRA is governed by an Employees' Council composed of commissioners of the various activities, representatives-at-large and management representatives. The commissioners and representatives-at-large are employees' of LM Aero who volunteer their spare time to promote, organize, and manage recreational activities for their fellow employees and affiliate members. A full-time manager and staff are employed to maintain the area's facilities and to administer operations in accordance with the policies and rules approved by the Employees' Council. The enthusiasm, cooperation, and dedication of the LMRA staff and council members are basic to LMRA's success in providing the finest recreation programs and facilities available.