This Month in Club Insider: September 2020
In Touch With Brent Darden, IHRSA's Interim President and CEO
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesIn the very beginning, nearly 40 years ago, IHRSA was launched without the "H" for Health in the name, making the acronym: IRSA. The Association was and has continued to be a labor of love for my good friend, Rick Caro, and me. IRSA was Rick's idea, and we are all very fortunate that Rick dreamed up this special Association. At that time, in 1981, Rick was actually serving as a Board Member on two national Associations: the National Tennis Association (NTA) and the National Court Club Association (NCCA). So, via a phone call with me one night, Rick suggested the great idea of merging the two associations. I thought it was truly a genius idea, and I told him so immediately. There we were! Founders of what is known today, worldwide, as the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). Read More...
October Cover Story Preview
Paula Neubert and Club Greenwood
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesThis year, 2020, has been a year of firsts for so many us. From our personal lives to professional careers, we have had to adapt like never before. The same has occurred for us here at Club Insider, especially over the course of the past two months as important industry news continues to break, day-in and day-out. We are thankful to be a nimble publication, because it allows us to quickly change editorial direction in order to effectively cover pertinent news in near real-time (both online and in print). Our recent August and September Cover Stories have been a testament to that fact. Read More...
Bounce-Back Strategies
By: Gary Polic
Gary PolicWe are in unprecedented times, and we do not know what the future will bring. It is natural to be discouraged at this time, but our industry WILL BOUNCE-BACK. WHY? Because our industry has too many stellar leaders spearheading the effort, coupled with the fact that, "exercise is the most significant factor contributing to the health of the individual," stated by the American Medical Association. People will continue to seek out clubs to work out in, because there is an inherent motivation that comes while working out with others that no online virtual fitness program available can compete with. Read More...
Business Finance Depot Video Series
The First Steps in Preparing to Finance Your Business
By: Paul Bosley
Paul BosleyPreparation when launching a new privately held business or a franchise is key to the success in securing the financing needed to properly capitalize a new business enterprise. The following video series outlines the key steps to prepare for financing a new business. This video provides an overview of two upcoming videos and outlines important initial steps to take... Read More...
The Golden Age of Health Clubs
By: Bruce Carter
Bruce CarterThe beginning of 2020 was a positive time for health clubs. According to the IHRSA 2020 Global Report - The State of the Health Club Industry, the industry's future looked bright. The industry was excelling in its sincere desire to help people improve their lives, and the number of clubs, memberships and health club visits were at an all-time high. Then, early in 2020, COVID-19 hits. Like nothing before, people's lives are turned upside down. People cannot get together, affecting most businesses in a dramatically negative fashion. Clubs close, and then, here and there, they are allowed to open with a variety of restrictions. Read More...
COVID-19 Waiver Considerations
By: Paul R. Bedard, Esquire
Paul R. Bedard, EsquireAs health clubs continue to operate with a focus on minimizing the COVID-19 health risks posed to members, guests and employees, many clubs have implemented COVID-19 waivers --or are otherwise deliberating the employment of these waivers-- as part of their overall COVID-19 response. However, care must be taken to evaluate the enforceability of these waivers while weighing any negative ramifications associated with their use. More importantly, clubs must first focus on the policies and procedures that must be implemented to keep people safe, which will likely also result in the ability to defeat a negligence claim based on COVID-19 exposure. Read More...
"Non-Essential" Never Again
By: Eric Durak
Eric DurakMany in the health club industry are reeling as to the temporary and some permanent closings of health clubs and studios across the United States. They are blaming a virus or city/state officials who have imposed a quarantine on their livelihoods and forced some out of business. The mantra of this dystopian situation is because health clubs were classified as "non-essential" service providers by those in public health, city government and state bureaucrats early on during the national shutdown. According to those in the business, it's because government doesn't understand the power of exercise in promoting health and reducing the burden of disease. This, of course, is true, but how has it been conveyed by the profession to medicine, public health and government? Read More...
Many Clubs Thrived While Your Club Was Shut Down
Three Keys that COVID Holds to Building Your Wellness Wealth
By: Donna Krech
Donna KrechIt's true. While you were closed (or maybe even still are), there were clubs that were thriving because they were producing results for their members, such as blood pressure being completely normalized, diabetes-related numbers being turned back to healthy and weight being dropped rapidly and safely. I get it, times are uncertain and your brain probably feels like mush. Your body is tired, and you're not exactly sure what to do. You're most likely doing everything from running the front desk to cleaning toilets to selling memberships. You don't have time to waste, so you'd like to know, right now, what the three keys are. Let's address that first. They are simple... Read More...
JLR Associates Announces Expansion of Services to Include Recruitment for Both Personal Trainers and Group Exercise Trainers
DEDHAM, MA - JLR Associates announces the expansion of their services to now include recruitment for both Personal Trainers and Group Exercise Trainers. Over the years, JLR Associates had many requests to fill these types of positions, and the company is pleased to now provide this service to the fitness industry. Heading up this new department and service will be Lisa Joffe, an industry professional with years of operational and staff recruitment experience. Read More...
National Study Confirms It's Safe To Work Out At The Gym
Current Data Shows No Evidence of COVID-19 Spread in Gyms
BOSTON, MA - After analyzing millions of member's check-in data across 2,873 gyms, sports clubs and boutique fitness centers over the course of three months, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and MXM, a technology and knowledge transfer company specializing in member tracking within the fitness industry, conclusively found that fitness facilities are safe and are not contributing to the spread of COVID-19. Read More...
Norm's Notes for September 2020
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 321st monthly edition! I hope this finds you and your family, your employees and your members ALL avoiding this dreaded Coronavirus! Our prayers have been with all of you every day. Read More...
