Army MWR Chief Leaves Post, Takes New Job at Fort Bragg
By: By Jennipher Shaver, senior associate editor
ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Karen White, the chief of sports, fitness and aquatics for the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation headquarters in Alexandria, VA, recently left her post for what she calls a “new challenge” in Fort Bragg, NC. White now serves as the base’s athletic director and oversees the complex’s more than 20 fitness and athletic facilities. ...
Man Convicted of Fondling Boy at Illinois YMCA
SPRINGFIELD, IL -- A 60-year-old Springfield, IL, man was recently convicted of fondling a 15-year-old boy in the hot tub at the Springfield (IL) YMCA last spring, the State Journal-Register reported. ...
Leading Clubs Report Growth in Third Quarter
BOSTON -- For 18 mid-size club companies, the third quarter of 2007 was a time of financial growth, according to a survey of health and sports club companies conducted by Industry Insights for the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). The companies collectively grew their revenue an average of 18.1 percent to $16.6 million in revenue for the third quarter. ...
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Walks it Off
OAK HARBOR, WA -- Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s (NASWI) fitness center is encouraging sailors to get healthy and fit one step at a time. Since the center’s Walk it Off program began last summer, 27 participants have taken more than one million total steps, an amazing feat considering the program was created for those who are intimidated by a fitness facility. ...
RDV Celebrates 10th Anniversary
ORLANDO -- This month, RDV Sportsplex, Orlando, celebrates its 10th anniversary. The facility blends sports, fitness and medicine. ...
Fitness Franchises Make Top 500 List
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor
IRVINE, CA -- Eight fitness club franchises made Entrepreneur magazine’s 2008 Top 500 franchise list, including two key-card clubs, a personal training studio and two well-known brands. Several of the companies also made Entrepreneur’s list for low-cost franchises and fastest-growing franchises. ...
What Winners of the Last Recession Did Right
By: Ed Tock
The record-setting economic growth of the past several years temporarily obscured the reality that recession is a fact of business life. The current business...
Cry Foul
By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor
A newspaper columnist in Vancouver, WA, once referred to that city's $25 million Firstenburg Community Center as a Taj-Ma-health club. It's no wonder....
Florida First Coast Y Receives $16 Million
By: Jennipher Shaver
Jacksonville, Fl Starting Feb. 1, current Florida First Coast YMCA members in Jacksonville, FL, will have another Y where they can work out. In January,...
In BRIEF
Jim Mizes, CEO at Club One in San Francisco, completed a 500-mile charity bike ride in November in Israel. The ride, called Wheels of Love, benefits the...
Marines Test New Combat Fitness Test
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN --Over the past month, 14 selected units through the Marine Corps have been testing the Marine Corps’ new combat fitness test (CFT) The new CFT is designed to more closely replicate the physical demands of combat and augment the Marines’ physical fitness test, according to Marine Corps officials. ...
Fitness Club Complaints To BBB on the Rise in 2007
By: Stuart Goldman
Arlington, Va The number of complaints received by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about fitness clubs has increased more than 90 percent in the last...
TSI Leadership Has a New Look
By: Pamela Kufahl
New York Leadership at Town Sports International (TSI), New York, looks a little different today than this past summer when Bob Giardina headed the company...
67
The percentage of pediatricians who say they do not have the time to address overweight issues with their patients and their families. Twenty-one percent...
Mastrov's Resignation as 24 Hour Chairman Comes Swiftly, Quietly
By: Stuart Goldman
San Ramon, Ca Mark Mastrov's abrupt resignation as chairman of the board of 24 Hour Fitness, San Ramon, CA, left some in the industry puzzled. Mastrov,...
Montana State Completes Renovation
By: Stuart Goldman
Bozeman, Mt Montana State University recently unveiled its renovated student recreation center. The renovation of the 14,000-square-foot Marga Hosaeus...
North Carolina Y Begins Wellness Pilot Program
By: Jennipher Shaver
Shelby, Nc The Cleveland County Family YMCA in North Carolina has started a wellness pilot program for designated North Carolina state employees, according...
Gold's Franchisees Face Off
By: Pamela Kufahl
Wenatchee, Wa What started out 10 years ago as one franchisee's competition among his members has turned into the Gold's Gym Challenge, a competition...
Backing Boosts Titan's Plans To Open 60 Clubs
By: Pamela Kufahl
Mclean, Va Jeff Skeen has his sights set on 60. Sixty Gold's Gym locations, that is. Skeen, president and CEO of Titan Fitness, recently announced that...
Cameras Help Nab Locker Thieves at Y
By: Jennipher Shaver
Glens Falls, Ny Two men suspected of carrying out 16 robberies at the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area (NY) were recently arrested thanks in part to...
New Personal Training Franchise Launches
By: Pamela Kufahl
Anaheim Hills, Ca For 12 years Mike Salerno ran his own clubs, Precision Fitness in California, but recently, he decided to take that personal training...
Health Club, Community College Reach Agreement
By: Stuart Goldman
Saranac Lake, Ny North Country (NY) Community College (NCCC) and the Lake Placid (NY) Health and Fitness club have reached a mutual agreement in which...
Plus One Takes Over Google's Corporate Sites
By: Pamela Kufahl
New York Management and staffers at Plus One Health Management Inc. haven't wasted any time getting down to business with one of its newest clients, Google....
Idaho State Plans Rec Addition
By: Stuart Goldman
Pocatello, Id Idaho State University will take construction bids next month for a proposed $6.3 million addition to the school's student recreation center....
Snap Makes Online Moves
By: Pamela Kufahl
Chanhassen, Mn Snap Fitness, a franchisor of small 24-hour fitness clubs, is taking its members online with their own Web pages and some new offerings...
