FBP_NEWSBEAT_ A Penton Media Property February.1.2010 If you want to view this on the web go to: http://enews.penton.com/enews/clubindustry/v/353 ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT (http://www.retentionmanagement.com) ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT 2010 is a critical year... * Stay connected with current members using automated email communication * Convert new sales into long-term members by integrating them more effectively * Proactive and automatic follow up with low and non-users * Market club services, specials, referrals and programs using our state-of-the-art broadcast email templates * Increase leads, follow up with guest traffic and reconnect with former members using our Prospect email program Now is the Time. Contact Us Today. www.RetentionManagement.com ---------------------------------------- NEWS --Merritt Athletic Clubs Founder Leroy Merritt Dies BALTIMORE -- Leroy M. Merritt, chairman and founder of Baltimore-based Merritt Athletic Clubs and Merritt Properties, has died. He was 79. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/forprofits/leroy-merritt-dies-20100129/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Sports & Fitness Insurance Corporation has been a premier provider of insurance in the health and fitness industry since 1985. As a full service agency, we understand the needs of the industry and provide business, commercial, and personal lines of insurance in all 50 States!!!! We offer such valuable coverages as General Liability, Property, Package Policies, Professional Liability, Workers Compensation, EPLI, Bonds, Umbrella, Business Auto, Home, Personal Auto, Disability, Life, and even Health Insurance. Sports & Fitness Insurance is endorsed by Curves for Women _ as well as IHRSA, the International Health and Racquet Sportsclub Association. Representing notable "A" rated admitted carriers, let Sports & Fitness Insurance assist you with a quote today - 1-800-844-0536 or www.sportsfitness.com. ---------------------------------------- --Life Fitness Q4 2009 Sales Down SCHILLER PARK, IL -- Sales in fourth quarter 2009 were down 15 percent for the Life Fitness Division of Brunswick Corp., according to financials released by the company last week. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/inside_manufacturers/life-fitness-q4-sales-20090201/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ABC FINANCIAL SERVICES Every day thousands of customers use ABC software and services to run their clubs. Why? Easy to use club management software, billing that collects the most money from the most members every day, marketing and retention tools that work, onsite training and support and merchant service that cost you less. Our business is to focus on your success. Call us today and experience the difference. 800.622.6290 http://www.abcfinancial.com ---------------------------------------- --Trustmark to Acquire Health Fitness Corp. MINNEAPOLIS -- Trustmark Mutual Holding Co. will acquire Health Fitness Corp. for approximately $97 million. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/corporate/trustmark-health-fitness-20100127/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Who Else Wants To Make $20 - $70K In PT Sales Every Month? Special report reveals how your health club can generate $20,160 To $70,560 per month in PT sales from your existing membership... Within the next 90 days! Click here to grab your copy now. - http://www.ptsalessystem.com/index5.html?utm_source=FitnessBusinessPro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=C41009 ---------------------------------------- --Military Fitness Center Embraces Haitian Evacuees HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, FL -- Military spouse Zakiyya Brodie got more than she bargained for when she went to work out at the Homestead Air Reserve Base gym. The base's fitness facility was full of evacuees from Haiti seeking refuge after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/military/Military-Fitness-Center-Embraces-Haitian-Evacuees-2010121/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT No Contract. No Hidden Fees. No Worries. Your business deserves a billing solution that will increase your cash flow. ASF offers you this, plus the flexibility you need to successfully run your business. Our processing and collections, software, and marketing programs can all be tailored to meet your club's needs. EFT/Billing | Software | Marketing www.asfinternational.com 1-800-227-3859 ---------------------------------------- --Peak Fitness on BBB 'Dirty Dozen' List CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Better Business Bureau in Charlotte, NC, listed troubled Peak Fitness on its 2009 "Dirty Dozen" list of worst-rated businesses in the Southern Piedmont area of North Carolina and South Carolina. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/forprofits/peak-fitness-dirty-dozen-20100128/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT The industry's first and only rewards program that provides member motivation, develops club loyalty, and enhances brand image. Proven to improve the bottom line numbers in profit centers, increase referrals, boost retention, and build member loyalty. Points earned are easily redeemed online for brand-name merchandise, club embroidered apparel, and in club services. www.fitrewardsclub.com ---------------------------------------- --Y Gets Gift for Family Changing Rooms BILLINGS, MT -- Family-friendly changing rooms are becoming more popular as health club members demand more privacy, but in a down economy, many clubs have not had the resources for locker room renovations. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/nonprofits/Y-Gets-Gift-for-Family-Changing-Rooms-1272010/ --Arkansas Replaces Aging Rec Center JONESBORO, AR -- The new recreation and wellness center at Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, was more than 10 years in the making, but the facility was officially dedicated last month and opened for students. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/universities/Arkansas-Replaces-Aging-Rec-Center-2010129/ --California Clubs Offer Nutrition Programs SAN FRANCISCO -- Two health club companies in California recently began offering nutritional programs to help members make healthier lifestyle choices. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/inside_manufacturers/California-Clubs-Offer-Nutrition-Programs-1262010/ IN BRIEF --WebSavvy's February Article Online Now Learn how to update social networking sites synergistically in February's WebSavvy column (http://clubindustry.com/websavvy/), provided by Club Industry and Leslie Nolen, CEO of the Radial Group (http://www.radialgroup.com/) and a Step by Step (http://clubindustry.com/stepbystep/) columnist. Get more from your Web site by reading past WebSavvy articles (http://clubindustry.com/websavvy/) on how to get more e-newsletter subscribers, analyze Web traffic and make your site more useful. To view the full article go to: http://clubindustry.com/websavvy/ --Club Industry East Don't miss out on the Club Industry East (http://east.clubindustryshow.com/east2010/Public/enter.aspx) show this May in New York, featuring keynote presentations from former New York Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent and Ali Vincent, winner of "The Biggest Loser." For more details, visit the show site (http://east.clubindustryshow.com/east2010/Public/enter.aspx) or view the pre-show brochure (http://east.clubindustryshow.com/east2010/CUSTOM/cie10_preab_web_aw.pdf) (PDF). --Facility News *The New York Sports Club (http://www.mysportsclubs.com/regions/NYSC.htm?WT.ac=Header_Image_NYSC_Region/) in New Rochelle, NY, is closed for repairs after powerful wind gusts from last Monday's storm damaged the club's roof, according to LoHud.com (http://www.lohud.com/). There were no projectiles and no roof collapse, but there was water damage in the pool and locker room areas, and the club was evacuated as a precaution. Repairs and inspections could take weeks, but the local deputy building commissioner said he hopes to have the club reopened in the next few days. *Residents in Hamburg, NY, are fighting to keep the town's fitness center (http://www.townofhamburgny.com/Fitness_Center.html) open. Hamburg Town Board members agreed to meet with the club's members after announcing that the center will close by April 1. Dozens of the club's 334 members packed the board chambers last week to voice their displeasure. According to The Buffalo News, the board says the center costs a total of $192,000 to operate and produces $27,000 in revenue, meaning the town is paying $400 per person to subsidize memberships. *The Maryland Athletic Club and Wellness Center (http://www.macwellness.com/), Baltimore, announced a partnership with the Baltimore chapter of Back on My Feet (http://www.backonmyfeet.org/) to provide access at the MAC's Harbor East facility on days when the weather is too inclement for the organization's members to be outside. Back on My Feet is a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of the homeless population by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. *The Penobscot Bay YMCA (http://www.penbayymca.net/), Rockport, ME, is hosting a special event on Feb. 6 to benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Proceeds of the event's $25 registration fee will be donated to the Port-au-Prince YMCA to help its members recover. Participants can choose from a half-mile swim, 5K indoor walk/run, a one-hour cycle class or one hour of children's activities. All the events will conclude with a one hour Zumba class. *The National Swimming Pool Foundation (http://www.nspf.org/), Colorado Springs, CO, released an online course on Aquatic Risk Management (ARM) on Jan. 31. The training course is designed to help aquatics managers and operators protect customers and staff and to reduce risk and liability. The course takes about two hours, costs $50 per student and includes a copy of the ARM Handbook as a reference. Students can register online at www.eProAcademy.org (http://www.eProAcademy.org/) or by calling 719-540-9119. --Supplier News *Life Fitness (http://www.lifefitness.com/), Schiller Park, IL, received a 2009 Body LIFE Award for its cardiovascular machines. The company has received the award for nine consecutive years since the contest began in 2000. Life Fitness was chosen for the award by 500 randomly selected European gym and fitness club owners who completed a questionnaire and were interviewed. The survey measured customer satisfaction and publicity in seven award categories: cardio, strength, indoor cycling, solarium, software, education and consulting. *Cybex International Inc. (http://www.cybexintl.com/), Medway, MA, named Larry Gulko as its chief marketing officer. In this role, Gulko will provide leadership and strategic direction to strengthen the company's market position, drive growth and maximize the value of the Cybex brand. He previously worked with brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Reebok, Gillette, PGA of America, Kodak, Siemens, and the LPGA, among others. Gulko also served as president and on the board of the American Marketing Association, Boston. *Advantage Fitness Products (http://www.afproducts.com/), Chico, CA, recently completed its work on the California State University, Chico Wildcat Recreation Center (http://www.csuchico.edu/fcp/projects/wrec/), including the facility's design, layout and equipment supply. The company also will supply ongoing maintenance. "AFP was a part of the Chico State project from the beginning," Curtis Sicheneder, assistant director of facilities and operations for the Wildcat Recreation Center, said in a statement. "Being involved so early helped us with budgeting, electrical layout and our cardio theater decision-making. We continue to work with AFP with many of our group ex needs and look forward to working with AFP in the future as we turn over equipment." *The World Instructor Training Schools (http://www.witseducation.com/) (W.I.T.S.) will hold a town hall meeting at the IDEA Personal Trainer Institute on Feb. 27 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, VA. Industry leaders will discuss pending state legislation involving personal trainers as well as the debate over the continuing education unit (CEU) and the issue of a one provider solution. For more information, contact Jay Del Vecchio at jdelvec@witseducation.com (mailto:jdelvec@witseducation.com). *Bally Total Fitness (http://www.ballyfitness.com/), Chicago, has an agreement with All Day Energy (http://www.alldayenergy.net/) in which the club chain now carries the energy drink in its top 200 locations. All Day Energy includes three energy-producing amino acids: carnitine, arginine and ribose. The drink also has no calories, sugar or sodium. *Power Systems Inc. (http://www.power-systems.com/), Knoxville, TN, will donate $2 from every order it receives over the next few weeks to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development fund. In addition to the corporate donation, employees at Power Systems made additional contributions directly to the American Red Cross. The company also will donate about 200 exercise mats for bedding use in orphanages and shelters. *Concept2 (http://www.concept2.com/), manufacturer of the Concept2 Indoor Rower and new SkiErg, has released a Facebook application designed to help friends track and share rowing or Nordic skiing workouts. To use the application, the user must have an account on both Facebook and the Concept2 Online Logbook. Log on to concept2.com/facebook (http://www.concept2.com/facebook/) and follow the instructions. FROM THE BLOG --Greetings from the Club Industry Show Group Since I'm new to this blog and blogging in general, I'd like to introduce myself and our staff to you. We're the folks that produce the Club Industry trade shows twice a year. Our partners at Club Industry magazine have been gracious enough to share this blog space with us so we can bring you behind-the-scenes information on our upcoming shows. To view the full article go to: http://blog.clubindustry.com/fitnessbusinessproblog/2010/01/29/greetings-from-the-club-industry-show-group --Yoga and Chocolate This article, "When Chocolate and Chakras Collide," in The New York Times about the Exhale Spa's Yoga for Foodies class spawned some interesting comments. To view the full article go to: http://blog.clubindustry.com/fitnessbusinessproblog/2010/01/27/yoga-and-chocolate/ --Still Gettin' It Done Add this American Profile article to the many Jack LaLanne features we've seen over the last several weeks. To view the full article go to: http://blog.clubindustry.com/fitnessbusinessproblog/2010/01/26/still-gettin-it-done/ ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email# To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.fitnessbusiness-pro.com/?tc=NLSUB To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.fitnessbusiness-pro.com/?tc=NLSUB&cid=#message_id#&lid=#list_id#&email=#email# For information regarding advertising in NewsBeat, please contact: National Sales Manager: Marty McCallen at mailto:marty.maccallen@penton.com Account Manager: Matt Sinkovich at mailto:matt.sinkovich@penton.com Classified Sales: Gary Kazmier at mailto:gary.kazmier@penton.com For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact our Customer Service Department at: US Toll Free: 866-505-7173 International: 847-763-9504 or mailto:clubindustry@pbinews.com To get this newsletter in a different format (Text or HTML), or to change your e-mail address, please go to your profile page here: http://subscribe.fitnessbusiness-pro.com/?tc=NLSUB&email=#email# Penton Media | 249 W. 17th Street | New York, NY 10011 Copyright 2010, Penton Media. 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