“In the power to change yourself, is the power to change the world around you.”

                                            -Anwar Sadat

 

Someone once told me that appreciation is the most fleeting of all human emotions. That may be true of others, but it is certainly not true of the associates in the IFPA. You continue to overwhelm us with your generous expressions of gratitude toward our staff and faculty for their outstanding performance last week at the IFPA “Fitness-By-the-Bay” Conference. On behalf of myself, my staff and the IFPA Faculty I extend a heart felt, you’re welcome!

I am truly blessed to have the world’s best fitness presenters and educators on the IFPA Faculty and doubly blessed to have them as my friends. It is a joy to share their immeasurable talents, dedication and expertise with you, our communities next great generation of fitness professionals. It is my most fervent hope that you will take the knowledge, skills and education you gained from these world class educators and begin using this expertise on your journey to success, to be “Masters of your craft.”

“Success is a journey, not a destination.” The IFPA Faculty took time away from their own very successful careers for one reason, to help you on that journey, so that you could, in turn help others. That is the best possible way for you to show your appreciation. Use the gifts they gave you so that next year at the IFPA “Fitness-By-the-Bay” Conference, you can share your success stories of how you used your new found knowledge to improve other people’s lives.

You gave us high praise for the Awards Banquet… great food, great drinks, great music, great fellowship, great fun… You are very welcome! But never lose sight of the purpose for that wonderful party. You and I were there to honor the outstanding achievements of the leaders of our industry: Carla (Owens) Rasmussen, the IFPA Personal Trainer of the Year who gives 100% to every client, in every session. Vickie Lang, the IFPA Group Fitness Instructor of the Year who gives 100% in every group exercise class, work-shop and presentation each day, every day. For those of you lucky enough to have attended Vickie’s presentations at the conference you had the opportunity to see not only her tremendous talent, but her generous, caring spirit. Nancy Kouris, the IFPA Fitness Director of the Year who has dedicated her life to helping everyone who crosses her path toward a fitness lifestyle. For those of you lucky enough to have attended Nancy’s presentations you could see first hand her multifaceted talent as trainer, master group exercise instructor, successful businesswoman manager-owner and educator. Nancy is one of the most caring and generous people I know. Dr. Bob Simons, the IFPA Faculty Instructor of the Year who has now turned his formidable talents from the way of the warrior, to becoming a great fitness educator. Dr. Bob is a retired Colonel from US Army Special Forces, Rangers. He is a true hero, in and out of uniform. When I remember the time I spent as a member of our country's “Warrior Class” I sometimes think of one of the oaths I took: “I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces that guard our country and our way of life. I am prepared to give up my life in their defense.” Dr. Bob served with valor in Iraq, risking his life in combat against enemies that would gladly be here in the United States attempting to do us harm. Now Dr. Bob, like all of us in the fitness industry, is combating different enemies. Obesity, inactivity, poor eating habits and more that can and will kill Americans. While you will not be called upon to sacrifice your lives to fight these enemies, you still need the same level of commitment and dedication, the same level of expertise and mastery of your craft and the same level of perseverance and courage to strive diligently each and everyday to serve in the forces that lead our nation to fitness and health. For those of you lucky enough to have attended Dr. Bob’s presentations you had the opportunity to see not only one of the best educators in the world, but a true, decorated warrior. 

Dr. Wayne Westcott, Inductee to the IFPA Fitness Hall of Fame, is the fitness industry's most valuable asset. Dr. Wayne is the most generous and humble man I have ever known. He has written dozens of books, hundreds of articles and performed hundreds of presentations. Dr. Wayne is tireless in his pursuit of trying to help men, women and children improve their lives through fitness, health and nutrition. No one alive today has done more for the fitness industry or helped as many people with a healthy lifestyle than Dr. Wayne. There are many who have sold more books about “fad diets” or “fad exercise,” but no one works harder, researches more or tries harder to deliver useful, practical, helpful information to the people who need it. For those of you who had the opportunity to have attended Dr. Wayne’s presentations at the conference, you got to see first-hand the extremely valuable research Dr. Wayne conducts. Dr. Wayne has no interest in researching complicated, scientific minutia for academicians. Dr. Wayne focuses on the problems faced by our men, women and children and works harder than anyone I know to find solutions to those problems. Dr. Wayne is a great humanitarian and the fitness industry's finest role model.

I am also grateful for the outpouring of appreciation for all the IFPA Faculty, as I previously promised, they represent the best educators in the world. Thank you to Dr. Karl Dauphinais; Dr. Amyas Kabir; Dr. Tom Krueger; Dr. Ben Lerner; Dr. Allen Garcia; Mitch Weintraub; Joni Taddie-Pitcock; Master Dennis Kelly; Mark Kovacs, M.S.; David Sandler, M.S.; Whitnye Lolly, M.S.; Renee Herrera R.D., M.S.; John Gilman, M.S.; Jared Meacham, M.S.; Michael Capote, M.S.; Rich Decker and Ludmilla Kalinovskaya, M.S..