Has it really been 30 years since the first convention and trade show of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association?

Actually, IHRSA was known as IRSA back then—the International Racquet Sports Association. IHRSA, which was renamed in 1994, was the result of a merger of the National Court Clubs Association and the National Tennis Association.

Consequently, most of the attendees at the first show were from tennis and racquetball clubs, with a smattering of multi-sport club operators sprinkled in, recalls Rick Caro, one of IHRSA’s founders. The trade show itself was filled with tennis and racquetball-related exhibitors. Cardio and strength equipment companies were few and far between, Caro says.

“Since there were few pure fitness-only clubs represented, most of today’s vendor categories at an IHRSA trade show would not have been represented or even contemplated in 1981,” Caro says.

How large was the international influence 30 years ago? Well, aside from a few companies from Canada, the show was attended by mostly U.S. club operators. IHRSA now has more than 9,500 member clubs in more than 73 countries and more than 600 associate-member industry suppliers.

“Many of the leaders of IHRSA for its first eight to 10 years were at that convention,” Caro says. “There were lots of speakers and practitioners from the club industry who spoke or served on panels, as the industry was one of a major sharing environment. There was a university professor as a keynoter. It was a time of excitement, optimism and entrepreneurial spirit.”

That spirit will no doubt permeate through this year’s IHRSA convention and trade show, March 16-19 at Moscone Center South in San Francisco. IHRSA30 features four best-selling authors and an appearance by the U.S. surgeon general, Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin.

Benjamin will speak at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 19. Her presentation, “Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation,” will emphasize the importance of fighting the obesity epidemic in this country by communicating and celebrating the benefits of healthy living.

“Americans will be more likely to change their behavior if they have a meaningful reward—something more than just reaching a certain weight or dress size,” Benjamin says.

The surgeon general’s presentation will be followed by a presentation from Phil Keoghan, host of TV’s “The Amazing Race.” Keoghan will discuss his success and zest for living after a near-death experience he had at the age of 19.

The featured speaker on Wednesday, March 16, will be Daniel Pink, author of “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” Pink will speak at 5:30 p.m. IHRSA30’s Three Decades of Success welcome reception will follow that night at 8 p.m.

Patrick Lencioni, founder and president of The Table Group Inc., will speak at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 17. Lencioni’s company is a specialized management consulting firm that focuses on organizational health.

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, will speak at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 18. Gross sales for Hsieh’s company have increased from $1.6 million to $1 billion during the past decade. After Hsieh’s presentation, Caro will moderate the 15th annual IHRSA Financial Panel from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The sixth annual Bash for Augie’s Quest to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS research program will be held on Friday night, March 18, at the San Francisco Marriott. The theme for this year’s event is Make a Muscle, Make a Difference.

Unlike previous years, the trade show, which will be in Moscone Center South, will run just two days, opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m. on both Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18. Early-morning workouts will occur from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Friday on the trade show floor.

For the latest information about the show, go to IHRSA’s website at www.ihrsa.org.

NEXT PAGE: IHRSA 2011 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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