| Letters | LVAC Leader Mourned Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Smith
I’d like to share with CBI readers the high regard I have for Rudy Smith, who, sadly, passed away in July. I can sum up my respect for him in a few short words: From my perspective, he was a man who never had a bad day. He loved life; he loved his family; he loved his work; and he loved the people on his team at the Las Vegas Athletic Clubs (LVAC). Every time I saw him, he was full of good humor and fun... And what a gift he had for mak- ing people feel upbeat and happy. Rudy was one in a million. God bless him and his family. He will be sorely missed. —| John McCarthy | IHRSA’s Executive Director Emeritus | Weston, MA
Aiding Legislative Efforts
> After reading a recent update on Louisiana’s legislative session, I was pleased to learn of the success that IHRSA had achieved in stopping proposed state legislation that would have added to the obstacles of operating a small business… So I felt obliged to contribute to IHRSA’s continuing battle to bring the industry to the top. Health clubs are the real healthcare. Thanks to IHRSA for all its hard work. —|
Michael Clulee | Owner | Anytime Fitness | Breaux Bridge, LA Why Did She Really Quit?
> I wanted to send you a note about the “Editor’s Welcome” in the July issue of CBI. My business partner and I own two small clubs in northeastern Pennsylvania, have been in business for 15 years, and read CBI every month. The “Editor’s Welcome” described how Jennifer H. McInerney,
the editor of CBI, had canceled her membership at her health club in order to join a different club—one with new state-of-the-art equipment. And this was a good thing—presumably for her new club and for the equipment manufacturers (that had outfitted it). Was her old club dirty? Was service lacking? Did they not
appreciate her business? Were there factors other than shiny new equipment that led to her decision? Things such as the staff (of the new club) getting to know her; great programming; extra services, e.g., daycare, personal training, group-fitness classes,
etc.; relationships with other members—you know, the things that CBI runs articles on every month, the things that our industry should be doing better! If Jennifer’s “new” club doesn’t give her great service, if they
don’t take the time to get to know her, if the club isn’t kept clean, if the equipment isn’t well maintained—will she return to her “old” club? Perhaps there were other factors that led to her decision to
leave her club. It just seemed that the “Editor’s Welcome,” and I realize space is limited, gave a nod to the equipment manufacturers at the expense of small club owners who, in this market, can’t get a lease at any price. In the interest of full disclosure, we have outdated equipment at
one of our clubs. We do our best to maintain it, but it’s showing its age. And we do hope to replace it soon. —|
Rob Bishop | Owner | Elevations Health Club | Scotrun, Marshalls Creak, PA
Editor’s response: As I mentioned in my CBI Unbound blog post on the topic (see .org below), several other factors weighed into my decision, but the bottom line was that there was nothing exceptional about my former club—the staff were friendly enough, and the programming was what one might expect, but the facility itself was rundown and not particularly clean, and the equipment wasn’t well-maintained. There were other issues as well, such as the club’s inconvenient location, that entered into my decision. When I toured the new club, I knew it was time to move on. —|
–Jennifer H. McInerney
.org
To read related blog posts on CBI Unbound, log on to:
cbiunbound.ihrsa.org. 12 Club Business Internat ional | SEPTEMBER 2010 | www.
ihrsa.org
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