Full Transcript
Welcome back everyone to the first Take 5 of the new year. From all of us here at your trade association, we hope you had a happy new year and are ready for 2021. I know we're anxious to get started here at IHRSA.
Fitness Industry Loses Leader Stephen Tharrett
Unfortunately, over the holiday, our global industry lost one of its well-known and beloved leaders, as Stephen Tharrett passed away.
Steve was truly a gentleman and a scholar. He was a personal friend and colleague of mine that was always willing to help in any way that he could. And he regularly contributed his time and expertise for the benefit of myself, for IHRSA, and the industry at large.
Steve really did possess a brilliant mind, which was evidenced by his prolific research, presentations, and writings. He was a passionate student, continually learning, and also a grand teacher in health and fitness, using his analytic prowess to foster an understanding, professionalism and the credibility our industry wants so badly. He really was a dedicated servant leader that will be dearly missed.
5 Initiatives IHRSA Takes On
There are a lot of changes [and] initiatives rolling out that you won't want to miss. I wanted to take a few minutes and share five things that we've been working hard on so that we can serve you better and have the association serve its purpose at an even higher level.
Associate Members Are Now Industry Partners
Moving forward, IHRSA decided to recognize our current associate members as industry partners. Health club operators rely on manufacturers, suppliers, and consultants for equipment, products, and services needed to grow and fuel their business. Like this week's Take 5 sponsor, Precor. This name change recognizes the critical role these companies play within our industry, and also their partnership with IHRSA towards ensuring the industry's growth and prosperity.
Two New Advisory Councils Will Lead the Industry Forward
I'm also excited to tell you about two new advisory councils that will help lead the fitness industry forward.
The Industry Partner Advisory Council will help support IHRSA's mission to grow, protect and promote the health and fitness industry and help ensure the success of all of its members. We're thrilled to work with the nine individuals who've been selected to be part of this council that have demonstrated success and a commitment to the broad health and fitness industry.
Next, the IHRSA Medical, Science, and Health Advisory Council includes experts in medicine, public health, exercise science, exercise physiology, medical fitness, fitness, nutrition, and behavior change. These council members will serve for two years, advising IHRSA on current research and science that will help advance the health and fitness industry on a really broad perspective.
Medical, Allied Health, & Public Health Professionals Give Support
The next thing I want to share is the letter medical experts signed on in support of clubs. Research and data, as you know, continue to show that health clubs are really not the driving COVID transmission. In fact, they represent a relatively very low risk of that possibility. And IHRSA has amplified medical voices speaking up on the importance of exercise, and the vital and safe role that health clubs play. Experts in medicine, allied and public health have already signed on to this medical endorsement of exercise and lifestyle letter.