March 2009
First Word
Fear and Loathing Doesn't Cut It
Fear is spreading across the country these days. A late February poll from CNN and Opinion Research showed that 73 percent of Americans surveyed are fearful...
Goodbye, Michael
The staff of this publication has had the pleasure of working with Michael Scott Scudder for many years. In this issue, we are running Michael's last column with us ...
Top News
Online Outreach
The Internet and e-mail marketing are becoming essential tools for a club's lead generation efforts....
Feature
Collegiate Connections
The roots of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) go back 60 years, when a group of 22 African-American men and women from...
Trend Watch
Scanning Sales
The economy has left club operators with some tough decisions about whether to buy, lease or do without new strength equipment....
Grading Scale
The United States faces an uphill climb in the battle against childhood obesity, but some states are taking action....
25th Anniversary
People of Influence
To some people, this industry consists of clubs, programming and equipment, but the reality is that this industry's greatest element is the people who...
Fitness Business News
NIRSA Outstanding Sports Facilities Awards Announced
Corvallis, OR The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) announced the six recipients of its 2009 Outstanding Sports Facilities (OSF)...
LA Weight Loss Must Pay Up After Shutting Down Centers
Albany, NY LA Weight Loss Centers Inc. must pay up in at least one state after closing its clubs around the country starting late last year, filing for...
Operators Face Hurdles in Pool Act Compliance
Washington, DC Pool operators who have not yet complied with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act say that differences in state and federal...
Titan Enters Nevada in Next Phase of Growth
McLean, VA Titan Fitness' recent purchase of two clubs in Nevada is just one more step in the club company's plan to grow from 16 Gold's Gym locations...
Life Time CEO Remains Confident After Earnings Call and Cites Strong January for Company
Chanhassen, MN Life Time Fitness CEO Bahram Akradi expressed optimism about his company's club model during last month's conference call with analysts...
Club Performance Shows Mixed Results in 2009
Overland Park, KS Even though a recent annual performance index report showed that 14 of the leading for-profit health club companies in the United States...
24 Hour Faces Discrimination Claims and Class-Action Lawsuit
San Ramon, CA 24 Hour Fitness, San Ramon, CA, is the target of discrimination claims as well as a lawsuit involving the rebranding of some of its clubs....
In Brief
Army Fitness About 200 Army soldiers and their families participated in the 12th annual Aerobathon held in January at the Newman Fitness Center at Fort...
Inside Manufacturers
Manufacturers Experience Fourth Quarter Sales Decreases
Overland Park, KS The economy has taken a bite out of sales for some of the larger equipment manufacturers in the fitness industry, particularly in the...
Fiserv Changes CheckFree's Name
Brookfield, WI CheckFree has a new name and a new look. The company is now known as Fiserv, which acquired CheckFree in 2007 for $4.4 billion. Fiserv...
TV Show Features TRX Suspension Training
San Francisco The Feb. 17 episode of NBC's The Biggest Loser Couples featured Fitness Anywhere's TRX Suspension Training equipment. Bob Harper, one of...
Body Masters Nears Foreclosure
Rayne, LA Body Masters, a strength equipment manufacturer for 30 years, is in the process of foreclosure. Knight Companies, an oil field rental company...
Hammer Strength Offers Spring Clinics
Schiller Park, IL Hammer Strength extended its series of Hammer Strength Clinics for spring 2009. The national strength and conditioning clinics address...
On the Mark
Veterans Offer Survival Advice
I've been asked by many people how to leverage past experiences in an economic market such as the one we face. Rather than just share my ideas, I called...
Focus on Clubs
Execution of Ideas Leads To Accountability, Results
Club owners are searching for new ideas and more knowledge to help them survive and thrive in today's economy. You can find many proven and practical...
Focus on Design
Renovations Can Make A Big Splash for Little Cost
In today's challenging economy, clubs need to show that they have added value. People know they need to do something about their weight and health, but...
From the Lip
It's Time for a Break
While writing this column, I wondered whether I should call it break time or brake time. Certainly, circumstances in both our national business climate...
Pro Shop
Pro Shop
Biometric System FSS Inc. has a biometric system to replace carrying an ID card when members swim, work out or jog. Biometric fingerprint ID technology...
