Norm's Notes for April 2024
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Norm Cates
■Hello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 364th monthly edition of this 31+ year running club business publication I refer to as: A Labor of Love! I'm very thankful that you've tuned in again for this iteration of Norm's Notes, as I proceed on my keyboard with my longtime habit of "Telling-It-Like-It-Is!" I'm really happy that you're reading this edition, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for sticking with us every month! As usual, we have a bunch of health and fitness club business news, so please read on!
■Is AMERICA a GREAT COUNTRY, or WHAT!? Hmm... hmm... hmm! And, as usual, let me start these Norm's Notes with my normal monthly salutation to you all: GOD BLESS AMERICA and GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY and YOUR BUSINESS!!!
■Well, folks, here I sit at my keyboard writing these Norm's Notes for you on April 8, 2024. It's 2:07 PM now, and I'm watching television coverage of the solar eclipse. At the moment, they are showing the view from Mazatlan, Mexico, where it is almost totally black where the sun should be and the "diamond ring" is showing, meaning there is only a sliver of sunlight showing around the moon. WOW! AMAZING! I hope we Geezers out here got a real good look at this, because the next solar eclipse viewable from the continental United States will not happen again for another 20 years! Folks like me, who are age 78, if we survive 20 more years, we'll be 98 during the next one! So, I hope you watched this amazing eclipse coverage. By the way, did y'all know that the sun's diameter is 400 times larger than the moon's? And, the sun is 400 times farther from Earth. This makes the relative size of each similar and enables the phenomenon of the solar eclipse to look as fantastic as it does! What an amazing experience to be lucky enough to be at my keyboard actually chronicling a total solar eclipse as it's happening! Yahoo!
■The Virginia-based acac Fitness & Wellness Centers now counts 14 locations across three states. This news broke in Athletech News on April 8, 2024: "La Maison Health & Fitness, a family-owned fitness club serving the Main Line neighborhood of Philadelphia, has been acquired by Virginia-based acac Fitness & Wellness Centers. The La Maison facility will soon be rebranded under the acac, said CEO of acac, CHRIS CRAYTOR, commenting on the move, which now gives acac 14 clubs in Virginia, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. 'We're thrilled to be part of the vibrant and active Main Line community. Our plan is to improve the member experience in the form of new equipment, system upgrades and cosmetic enhancements.'
Current La Maison members will be able to upgrade their memberships and access acac's other nearby health and fitness facilities in West Chester and Eagleview, Pennsylvania, commented STEPHANIE SPOSATO, President of La Maison. Sposato added... commenting to the La Maison staff: 'We are excited that the 40-year legacy of La Maison Health & Fitness will continue under the ownership of acac, another family-owned fitness organization. We feel that acac will keep the family feel we have now... while taking the gym to the next level. You're going to be in such great hands!' Similar to acac's offerings, La Maison provides members with a full scope of health and wellness services such as cycling, yoga, barre and aquatic classes, personal training, fitness programs for kids, health and nutrition coaching, recovery and physical therapy services and a shake bar. Acac locations also offer medical wellness programming." Congrats to the acac and La Maison teams, and Stay Tuned!
■DR. PAUL BEDFORD, a friend of ours in England, produces educational videos and makes them accessible to club operators around the world via his digital video productions. Today, I'm sharing with you, our esteemed Club Insider Readers a production Paul released on April 2, 2024. Paul leads off with these comments, and I quote him here: "In this video, I talk about how we have given over control of the gym floor to YouTube. Over the last decade or so, the number of gym floor staff has continually decreased, and as a result of that, members are having to find their own ways of learning about exercise, find their own motivation and progress their own journey. I discuss how, as operators, we can take back some of the control by offering content that consumers can use that has validity." Folks, check out the video by going to: bit.ly/clubinsider154. If you have any questions or comments, send Dr. Paul an email at paul@retentionguru.co.uk.
■Two important Notes from the ever-expanding Pickleball World:
Life Time is celebrating National Pickleball Month with the opening of its first dedicated, ground-up pickleball development. Life Time Chanhassen Pickleball is located adjacent to the Life Time Chanhassen, Minnesota Athletic Country Club and the company's headquarters. Spanning a total of nearly 46,000 square feet, the club features eight indoor and seven outdoor courts with accompanying viewing areas, a bar and lounge, dressing rooms, retail and more.
ACE RODRIGUES, Founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, has signed a multi-state deal in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. With the escalating fervor for pickleball, Pickleball Kingdom is dedicated to offering premier indoor pickleball facilities for players of all skill levels, addressing the burgeoning demand for indoor pickleball. Ace commented on the expansion: "We are thrilled to introduce Pickleball Kingdom to Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. These states boast vibrant and expanding pickleball communities. With Pickleball Kingdom, we ensure year-round accessibility to this fantastic sport."
The helm of this expansion is led by NEEL AMIN and KHOBE NGUYEN. Amin commented: "I am excited to embark on this journey with Pickleball Kingdom. Our aim is to cultivate thriving pickleball communities in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, providing an exceptional experience for players of all backgrounds." Nguyen, echoing Amin's sentiments, added: "Pickleball is more than just a game; it's a vehicle for building connections and creating memorable experiences. I am honored to be a part of this endeavor and look forward to sharing the joy of pickleball with people across our region."
Pickleball Kingdom's COO, ROB STREETT, emphasized the high demand for clubs in these states, underscoring the company's commitment to finding the right partners for expansion. Prospective franchisees interested in joining the movement are encouraged to apply. The new Pickleball Kingdom's franchise locations will offer premier indoor courts equipped with advanced technology, ensuring optimal playing conditions. Players can anticipate a welcoming atmosphere conducive to both competitive play and social interactions, nurturing vibrant communities in each locale.
Folks, stay tuned as the Pickleball Boom continues!
■JUSTIN and I want to THANK YOU for reading Club Insider! We appreciate you being with us. And, in particular, WE VERY SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANY and ALL SUPPORT OF OUR ESTEEMED Club Insider ADVERTISERS! PLEASE DO BUSINESS WITH THEM and WHEN YOU DO, PLEASE TELL 'EM Club Insider SENT YOU! THANK YOU ALL!
■God bless our troops, airmen and sailors worldwide and keep them safe. Thank you, Congratulations and Welcome Home to all of our troops who have served around the world. God bless America's Policemen and women and Firemen and women; keep them safe. Finally, God bless you, your family, your club(s) and your members. God Bless America! Laus Deo!
