In BRIEF

In Inspirational figures (such as former New York Knicks star Earl “The Pearl” Monroe shown above) and celebrity spokespersons gathered with 500 students at Chelsea Piers Fieldhouse in September to kick off the Live It! Program. The program promotes healthy eating and physical activity among middle school students. Live It! is an extension of The Coca Cola Company's Step With It! program.

Lenny Silberman, the assistant vice president of program services for the Jewish Community Center, was honored as the National Youth Sports Administrator of the Year. He received the STRIVE award, which is given to leaders for their passion and commitment to help children succeed in youth sports activities. He created the Day of Caring, a Day of Sharing at the JCC Maccabi Games and has helped to improve the Israel Sport Center for the Disabled, a rehabilitation facility in Israel.

The YMCA Lamar-Dixon branch in Gonzales, LA, created a physical education program for home-schooled students. Forty-seven children from 25 families registered for the twice-a-week program. The branch is offering the classes due to the growing number of home-schooled children in the area and parental demand for a structured physical education class for the children.

Life Fitness' Signature Series strength line won a 2005 Silver IDEA in the annual Industrial Design Excellence Awards. Sponsored by Business Week magazine and run independently by the Industrial Designers Society of America, these awards “represent the best of the best from the U.S., Asia and Europe,” according to the magazine.

The Almaden Valley Athletic Club in San Jose, CA, introduced a nutrition program designed to provide individualized diet prescriptions aimed at disease prevention, weight loss and improving overall health and quality of life. Vesna Mardesic, a nutritionist and personal trainer, joined the club's staff to oversee the program.

Octane Fitness, a manufacturer of elliptical cross trainers, added Edward O'Connor as its new chief financial officer, and Shawn Patton as its vice president of sales. The company also has moved to a new corporate headquarters in Brooklyn Park, MN, to accommodate its growth.

FitRewards, the official rewards program of IHRSA, and Retention Management have partnered to provide fitness centers with fully integrated active retention service.

After successfully completing an ACE and AEA recognized intensive two-day training session, a licensed Poolates instructor is trained to teach introductory Poolates group classes and is qualified to continue on to other levels, including Poolates Personal for special population classes and one to ones, Prenatal Poolates and, and Advanced Poolates for athletes. For more information about Poolates, to sign up for a certification class or inquire about hosting opportunities, visit www.poolates.com.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) was selected as a winner in the 12th annual National Health Information Awards. The program recognizes the nation's best consumer health information materials and outreach.ACE received a Merit Award for Best Television Public Service Announcement for the “Active Kids” piece.