Innovations - IHRSA

Obama launches ‘let’s Move’
Michelle Obama says ‘let’s Move’
First lady to fight childhood obesity and IHRSA approves
In early February, First Lady Michelle
Obama formally launched an
ambitious nationwide campaign
to combat childhood obesity. “We want
to eliminate this problem… in a generation,”
she said in unveiling the program
on ABC’s Good Morning America. “We
all know the numbers. I mean, one in
three kids is overweight or obese,
and we’re spending $150 billion a year
treating obesity-related illnesses. So
we know this is a problem, and there’s
a lot at stake.”
President Obama supported the
initiative by signing a presidential
memorandum creating a special task
force to help coordinate the wide range
of organizations and activities that
will be involved in the undertaking.
Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” effort
has four principal goals: educating
parents about the importance of proper
nutrition and exercise for their families;
reducing fat, sugar, and processed
food in meals; making nutritious food
more accessible; and increasing the
emphasis on physical education.
The President’s Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) will take the
lead with respect to the latter objective.
The full scope of the program is detailed
on a new Website, www.letsmove.gov.
The first lady’s announcement precipitated
a nearly unanimous response
on the part of dozens of organizations,
ranging from IHRSA, to the National
Wildlife Federation, to Mission: Readiness,
a group of retired military officers.
“On behalf of the health and fitness
industry, I would like to commend you
on your initiative to address childhood
obesity in America and to extend our
help,” Joe Moore, IHRSA’s president
and CEO, wrote in a letter to Michelle
Obama. “The health club industry is an
important and effective resource for
introducing young people to a lifetime
of exercise, fitness, and healthy behaviors…
(and) we want to see you succeed
in your initiative.” —|
| News & Know How | news
AfP PhOtO/saul lOeb/newscom
industry mourns
Merritt Athletic
Clubs founder
> leroy Merritt, a real-estate developer
and owner of the Merritt Athletic
Clubs chain, passed away in late
January, following cancer-related
complications. He was 79.
In 1967, after graduating from
McDaniel College, in Westminster,
Maryland, he founded Merritt Properties.
the company is now the largest
property-management firm in the
Baltimore-Washington area.
A decade later, he followed the
advice of a young racquetball fan and
built the towson Court Club in towson,
Maryland—just as the racquetball
phenomenon was taking hold. the
club became so popular that, within
its first year of operation, it underwent
two expansions. In the mid-1980s, two
leroy Merritt
more club openings followed, as well
as the acquisition of the Downtown
Athletic Club, in Baltimore. today,
there are 10 Merritt Athletic Clubs,
including two “express” locations. A
new 50,000-square-foot “all-green”
facility is currently under construction.
“Leroy’s integrity, generosity, and
good humor will be deeply missed by
everyone who’s had the opportunity to
work with him,” said Scott Dorsey,
Merritt’s cousin and the president of
Merritt Properties. “this is a very sad
time for us all.” —|
www.ihrsa.org | APRIL 2010 | Club Business International 17