From l., unidentified legislative aide listens to Michele Melkerson- From l., Laurie & John Miller, of Courthouse athletic Club;
Granryd, of the Texas Health, Racquet & Sportsclub association Tanya Barham; and legislative assistant Eva DuGoff
IHRSA had identified, in advance, 29 key legislators can be to staying healthy. And I’m pleased to be able to
who will play a significant role in reforming health care. report that she’s since agreed to sponsor the WHIP and
The targets included all members of the House and Senate PHIT bills!”
leadership and individuals holding high-ranking posi-
tions on committees critical to health care reform, such
Making a difference
as the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension
Art Curtis, the CEO of Millennium Partners Sports Club
Committee; the Senate Finance Committee; the House
Management LLC, a member of IHRSA’s board of direc-
Ways and Means Committee; and the House Energy and
tors, and a veteran Summit attendee, awarded high marks
Commerce Committee.
to the new format. (See “Polishing a Brand’s Image,”
August CBI, pg. 32.) “The event was much more focused,”
he attests. “Targeting the Congressional leadership that’s
“I’m convinced that coming to responsible for developing health care-reform legislation
the Summit each year has made
made the meetings much more productive—we were
speaking to the right audience.”
a difference.”
The Summit not only allowed fitness professionals to
educate lawmakers about the unique and crucial role that
exercise plays in the health care continuum, but also gave
The meetings with legislators and/or their staffers provided them the chance to educate themselves about the lawmak-
rich discussions about the preventive benefits of exercise, and ing process. “It permits you to really get acquainted with
the impact they can have on improving quality of life and the system,” says Fletcher-Hayes. “It provides an opportu-
curtailing skyrocketing health care costs. Tanya Barham, the nity to broaden your horizons, and to touch on an aspect of
founder and CEO of Recess Wellness, in Portland Oregon, our business—government regulation—that we often hear
found her audience, an aide to Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), about, but rarely see in action.”
much more receptive to the idea of exercise as prevention The Summit also leaves participants with a distinct
than expected. “It was a lot of fun to talk with her,” says impression that they haven’t been involved in a pointless
Barham. “She was actually a fitness instructor!” political process, but rather, have made a real difference.
Summit attendees scored points for the power of exer- Laurie Smith, the senior vice president of Leisure Sports,
cise and healthy lifestyles by providing first-hand Inc., of Pleasanton, California, and an IHRSA board mem-
accounts of their day-to-day experiences working with ber, turns to exercise to explain the Summit experience. “I
club members. Fletcher-Hayes believes that the anec- think a good analogy is whether you think that walking an
dotes made a deep impression. “Real stories about real extra 20 minutes a day ‘makes a difference’ in your health,”
people help legislators put a face on the need in their she explains. “I firmly believe that every little bit helps, and
districts,” she explains, “which, I think gives them more that there’s a cumulative effect. So while my particular part
of a reason, if not ammunition, to fight for the legislation may have been very small, I’m convinced that coming to
that’s put before them.” the Summit each year has made a difference.
Barham had a successful interaction with Representative “When health-promotion legislation finally passes,
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). “I wasn’t able to speak with her I’m going to feel as though I played a role in helping
personally—she was on the phone with the governor of it happen.”
—|
Wisconsin,” says Barham, “but I wrote her a heartfelt note
about how important locally owned and operated facilities – Lilly Prince,
lp@ihrsa.org
www.ihrsa.org | OCTOBeR 2009 | Club Business International
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