Significant synergy
“For this year’s GAA! program, IHRSA’s goal is to have IHRSA clubs encourage 50,000 indi- viduals, both members and nonmembers, to participate in the PALA event, or an active lifestyle program of their own design, from May 2 through June 26,” says Helen Durkin, IHRSA’s executive vice president of public policy. “The enrollment period for the Challenge is May 2 through 15.” In addition, participating GAA! clubs are encouraging members to bring friends, family
members, neighbors, and coworkers to their clubs, free-of-charge, May 2-5. Many clubs will also sponsor an Open House May 6-8, when they’ll open their doors to the general public, Durkin points out. The linking of the two programs clearly represents a win/win development for all involved. “The teaming of GAA! with Let’s Move!, the most highly publicized wellness campaign in the
nation’s history, offers a tremendous chance to position individual clubs, and the industry as a whole, as a compassionate, cost-effective, realistic, prevention-based solution in the fight against inactivity and obesity,” says Joe Moore, IHRSA’s president and CEO. “Getting Americans active and healthy is one of the core objectives of the President’s Council
on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and we’re thrilled to have the support of IHRSA and its clubs, which will focus on fun, safe, and affordable fitness opportunities through the Get Active America! program,” observes Shellie Pfohl, the executive director of the PCFSN. “These clubs represent an important infrastructure of high-quality fitness facilities and instruction, permitting communities across the country to pursue healthy activities in a safe and professional environment. “Through IHRSA clubs,” says Pfohl, “Americans can achieve their recommended daily physical activity and earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.”
Bullish buy-in IHRSA clubs, too, are enthusiastic about the potential of the multidimensional effort. “It’s wonderful to be affiliated with the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign,”
notes Sharon Ehasz, the vice president of marketing for the Maryland Athletic Club and Wellness Center (MAC), based in Timonium, Maryland. “There’s no greater priority for our nation than that of curbing childhood obesity and helping inactive adults adopt a healthier lifestyle. MAC is proudly opening the doors of all three of its facilities to the community to celebrate the program.” “We’re offering GAA! again this year, as we always have,” reports Lynne Brick,
the president of Brick Bodies/Lynne Brick’s, headquartered in Cockeysville, Maryland. “It’s especially exciting, this year, to be part of a truly national movement. We look forward to serving our communities.” “This will be the eighth year that we’ve participated in Get Active America!,”
says Christine Thalwitz, the director of communications and research for the ACAC Fitness and Wellness Centers in Charlottesville, Virginia. “In addition to member/guest activities and open houses, ACAC will host a Family Fun Festival at the end of the week. Each club will open its outdoor water park to the public, free of charge, for a day of swimming, carnival games, face-paint- ing, and other fun activities. It’s a very popular day with area families, and a good way to remind everyone that being active is fun! Typically, ACAC clubs play host to some 2,500 guests during GAA!” “This is a chance to be leaders in the fight against obesity,” attests Mark
Christine Thalwitz
Harrington, the CEO of the Healthworks Fitness Centers for Women, based in Boston, whose seven clubs will take part in GAA! this year. “The fact that children are involved is important: it’s time to attack the obesity problem from cradle to grave. If we can look upstream and help change people’s lives before they become overweight and/or ill, our indus- try can make a dramatic and valuable difference.” —|
– Patricia Amend,
PAmend@aol.com
www.
ihrsa.org | MAY 2011 | Club Business Internat ional 45
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