Innovations - IHRSA
Innovations - IHRSA
Innovations - IHRSA
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| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | International<br />
Resources & Benefits<br />
A focused approach will aid our children and communities<br />
By David “Patch” Patchell-Evans<br />
There’s a New Zealand Maori proverb that goes,<br />
“Ko taku rourou, ko tau rou rou, ka ora te<br />
tangata.” For those unfamiliar with Maori, that<br />
means, roughly, “With my resources and your<br />
resources, everyone will benefit.” It’s an admonition<br />
our industry would do well to heed.<br />
I’d like to propose that health clubs, suppliers, and allied<br />
organizations worldwide work to marshal and target their<br />
resources—to the advantage of all.<br />
One of the rewarding things about attending <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
conventions, conferences, and congresses is the opportunity<br />
they provide to talk to lots of people from many different<br />
countries. And one of the things I’ve noticed is that, when<br />
people focus on good intentions, their businesses invariably<br />
become more successful.<br />
It’s a fact I was reminded of recently when I attended the<br />
2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada (see “First Set,”<br />
pg. 81). In order to attain Olympic status, athletes focus on a<br />
single sport and do everything in their power to master it.<br />
But, in order to stand on the winners’ podium, they have to<br />
do more: they have to produce a performance that elevates<br />
the bar, surpasses everything that’s preceded, and, in<br />
essence, yields a new best practice.<br />
“ I’d like to propose that health clubs,<br />
suppliers, and allied organizations worldwide<br />
work to marshal and target their<br />
resources—to the advantage of all.<br />
”<br />
When they do so, they’re rewarded with the appreciation,<br />
approval, and applause of the crowds.<br />
I believe the same will hold true if we commit our time,<br />
energy, resources, and efforts to pursuing excellence on<br />
behalf of others.<br />
We can do so in two basic ways: by doing a better job of<br />
delivering the benefits that we provide; and by giving back<br />
even more to the community.<br />
The first step, I believe, consists of choosing a cause. It doesn’t<br />
matter if we choose the same or different causes. What’s important<br />
is that you adopt and own one that inspires you and creates<br />
a sense of passion within you. At GoodLife Fitness, 90% of our<br />
outreach efforts have to do with two major health challenges.<br />
One is autism, which affects one in every 150 children, including<br />
my own daughter. The second is the crisis of overweight<br />
and physically unfit children and youth, many of whom have<br />
never enjoyed a life enriched by play and exercise.<br />
Today, the majority<br />
of children are overweight,<br />
out of shape,<br />
and suffering the<br />
related emotional<br />
and<br />
psychological<br />
implications<br />
of low selfesteem.<br />
With respect to<br />
the latter, a number<br />
of club companies<br />
have come up with<br />
some great ways to make a<br />
difference. Geoffrey A. Dyer, the<br />
founder of Lifestyle Family Fitness, the<br />
55-unit, Florida-based chain, created the American Teen<br />
Challenge, offering free fitness services to teens each year in<br />
July and August, and is expanding the program throughout<br />
the U.S.—what an amazing idea! <strong>IHRSA</strong> has adopted the program,<br />
and, this summer, all of my clubs will be offering it, too.<br />
We can also demonstrate that we, our clubs, the industry,<br />
and <strong>IHRSA</strong> are concerned about the state of the world and<br />
committed to setting a higher standard by increasing our<br />
community involvement. We show that we care every day, of<br />
course, by distributing a product that improves the quality<br />
and length of people’s lives, and by constantly working to<br />
improve our facilities, equipment, programs, and professional<br />
expertise.<br />
We can emphasize the fact that ours are clubs with a conscience<br />
by being good corporate citizens. There are countless<br />
ways to achieve that, but, just to get things started, I’d like to<br />
offer one simple suggestion: If you haven’t already done so,<br />
consider donating at least 1% of your pretax profit—a<br />
philanthropic standard set by most countries—either via<br />
fundraising initiatives at your club or by direct contributions<br />
to charity.<br />
What, conceivably, would be the combined effect if we<br />
were all to do so?<br />
Together, <strong>IHRSA</strong> clubs could raise an estimated $14.5 million<br />
in charitable donations every year.<br />
Imagine, in addition, if each club also committed to the<br />
equivalent of 10 hours of volunteer community work, per<br />
employee, per year.<br />
What a powerful example we could set! What a significant<br />
message we could send to the world! —|<br />
– David “Patch” Patchell-Evans, patch@goodlifefitness.com<br />
www.ihrsa.org | APRIL 2010 | Club Business International 85