Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Independents
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
Upcoming IHRSA Board Chair, Jim Worthington, Instrumental in Passage of the Right to Try Bill
Posted: May 23, 2018 in Independents, Other News
NEWTOWN, PA - On May 22, 2018, the Right to Try Bill was passed by the House of Representatives in Washington, DC. This bill was first passed in the Senate (S 204) in August 2017. It finally passed the House and will now proceed to the President’s desk for signature, which he has indicated he will sign. Jim Worthington has put all his resources and connections behind supporting this bill because of his connection to Matt Bellina, who suffers from ALS, a terminal illness giving him 2 – 5 years to live. Jim first met Matt in 2015 when he joined the Newtown Athletic Club, and they began raising money for Matt’s Mission to support Augie’s Quest and ALS TDI research. Read More...
The Atlantic Club’s Country Concert for ALS a Huge Success
Posted: May 7, 2018 in Independents
MANASQUAN, N.J. - The Country Concert for ALS at The Atlantic Club in Manasquan on Friday, April 27th proved to be a great success. The event brought together both members and the community to raise awareness for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. A total amount of $7,500 was raised for the ALS Therapy Development Institute, in an effort to get AT-1501, the most promising drug to date in the treatment of ALS, into human trials this year. Read More...
NAC Owner and IHRSA Chair-elect, Jim Worthington, Appointed to Presidents’ Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition
Posted: May 4, 2018 in Independents
NEWTOWN, PA - On May 4, 2018, the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) announced that it appointed 40-year industry veteran, newly-elected Chairman of the IHRSA Board of Directors, Owner of the Newtown Athletic Club (NAC) and physical activity champion, Jim Worthington, to serve. Mr. Worthington will be serving with other newly appointed individuals including: Herschel Walker, Mariano Rivera, Bill Belichick, Dr. Oz, Lou Ferrigno and Misty-May Traenor. The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition was formed in 1956, and since then, has worked to create and promote programs that allow Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles that stress the importance of regular physical activity and good nutrition. Read More...
Jim Worthington, Newtown Athletic Club Owner, Elected Chairman of IHRSA
Posted: March 28, 2018 in Independents
NEWTOWN, PA - Jim Worthington, owner of the Newtown Athletic Club (NAC) was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the IHRSA (International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association) on Friday, March 24, 2018 in San Diego, CA. The election took place at the 2018 IHRSA International Conference where education, networking and the largest fitness equipment trade show in the world are provided for 10,000 clubs representing 90 countries. During his tenure as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Worthington will be responsible for leading the largest fitness trade association in the world to become the solution for the global obesity crisis as well as to protect, promote and grow the fitness industry. Read More...
Cincinnati Sports Club Announces Club Vision 2025 (Version 2.0), a Long-Term, Multiple Phased Plan Of Capital Improvements To Better Serve Members
Posted: March 15, 2018 in Independents
CINCINNATI, OH - In 1998, Cincinnati Sports Club (CSC) developed a long-term, multiple phased master plan to grow with its members’ ever evolving lifestyles and enhance their overall Club experience. CSC is a “for profit” business and its local and private investors choose to reinvest in the club each year without assessing their members. In 2013, this multi-year plan evolved into Club Vision 2025, a plan focused on the re-programming of existing space to better serve the members while taking advantage of available technology within the club industry without dehumanizing the member experience. Club Vision 2025 has continued to evolve, and in February 2018, CSC refined and added some additional components for consideration, reintroducing the plan as Club Vision 2025 v. 2.0. Read More...
The Atlantic Club in Manasquan and Red Bank Earn Prestigious Medical Fitness Certification; Becomes Safest Place to Exercise in New Jersey
Posted: March 14, 2018 in Independents
MANASQUAN, N.J. - The Atlantic Club is proud to announce that it has earned the medical fitness facility certification from the Medical Fitness Association, a global leader in medical fitness standards. The prestigious certification applies to both The Atlantic Club’s Manasquan and Red Bank locations. To earn this certification, the Atlantic Club underwent a year of compliance testing and evaluation and a rigorous two-day, 209-point inspection. Read More...
Lake Toxaway Country Club Receives National Award After $7.1 Million Clubhouse Renovation
Posted: February 19, 2018 in Independents
LAKE TOXAWAY, N.C. - Lake Toxaway Country Club announced that it has been awarded with a prestigious 2018 Golden Fork Club Award from Golf Inc. Magazine. Lake Toxaway was recognized nationally in the Most Improved Private Club Restaurant category. The accolade is the result of a recently completed $7.1 million clubhouse renovation. The facility modernization is the latest development in a line of Lake Toxaway Country Club upgrades including more than $10 million dollars of golf course improvements since 2007. Read More...
River Valley Club: $2.4 Million in 1 to 1 Training Sales
Posted: January 22, 2018 in Independents, Suppliers
TORONTO, CANADA - Like most clubs, the River Valley Club (Lebanon, NH) could never figure out how to make significant revenue from their 1 to 1 training program. Their highest yearly total was just $69,000 but that was before they heard about a relatively new consulting company based out of Toronto, Ontario that focused on one thing: 1 to 1 personal training. The year was 2000, and the consulting company they discovered was founded in 1998 by respected industry veteran Jeff Russo. The club took a leap of faith with Russo's Pro Fitness Program and PT sales have skyrocketed ever since. In 2017 the River Valley Club produced an outrageous $2.4 million in 1 to 1 training sales and remains the signature club that all facilities in the Pro Fitness Program network try to emulate. The club, which recently underwent an extensive renovation has over 2,500 members, 35 full-time Trainers and boosts a PT member penetration rate of over 35%. Read More...
Lyle Schuler Passes Away at Home In Hurley, New York
Posted: September 26, 2017 in Independents
HURLEY, N.Y. - Lyle Schuler passed away at home on Saturday, September 23rd in the presence of his wife, Holly Snow Schuler. The cause of death was not disclosed. Lyle Schuler was born in Bayshore, New York and resided in Hurley, New York. His funeral visitation will be at the Simpson-Gause Funeral Home at 411 Albany Avenue, Kingston, New York on Friday, September 29th from 1 to 8 PM. Lyle Schuler was a Cortland State Exercise Science Graduate who always had a passion for health and fitness and helping others realize their goals. With humble beginnings as an aerobics instructor, then personal trainer, he moved onto membership sales and General Management, and he eventually achieved Partnership status in the Gold’s Gym Hudson Valley group. Read More...
Clubhouse at Lake Toxaway Country Club Now Open After $7.1 Million Renovation
Posted: September 15, 2017 in Independents
LAKE TOXAWAY, N.C. - The new clubhouse at Lake Toxaway Country Club is now open following a $7.1 million renovation. The renovation, originally announced in October 2016, is the latest development in a line of property updates including more than $10 million dollars of golf course improvements since 2007. “The renovation project began and ended with one goal in mind: enhancing the Lake Toxaway community and the member and guest experience,” said Reg Heinitsh, Owner of Lake Toxaway Country Club. Read More...
