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Commercial Fitness Products, a Florida based organization, has been serving the fitness needs of our customers nationwide for over 27 years. Our primary focus is Multi-Housing & Hospitality, as such, we stay current on the latest industry trends, and are able to share ideas on how we may equip or improve any community fitness center. We provide more than just equipment…our goal is to delight your residents & guests by providing them an exceptional fitness environment.
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The Corona pandemic has shaken up the fitness industry. Instead of the motto “higher, faster, further”, the future will see more health orientation, holistic offers and specialization in particular clientele such as risk groups. We present the seven most important fitness trends for the year 2021.
Fitness studios in Germany are in the middle of their second shutdown in the Corona year 2020, which has complex consequences – on the one hand, many fitness center operators fear for their existence with a cumulative loss for the industry of 460 million euros per lockdown month. On the other hand, many users (forcibly) reorient themselves and discover app and video training at home.
“The uncertainty in the industry is great. Many studios will not survive if the lockdown lasts much longer,” says Ralph Scholz. The head of the German Industry Association for Fitness and Health (DIFG) hopes that the fitness studios will be able to open again in January 2021 – that’s when most new members usually sign up with the Christmas kilos on their ribs.
The pandemic will massively change the fitness economy. This makes it all the more important for all players to set the right course for the future. These are the most important fitness trends identified for the year 2021.
Many people stay in shape during the lockdown period with running, walking, fitness exercises on their own or free digital services. Of these, a proud number of 73 percent intend to maintain this alternative training in the future. Although most fitness enthusiasts want to go back to the gym in the future, they place the condition that training is not associated with the risk of corona infection.
“The survey has shown that many people are concerned about having the highest possible standard of protection. It must therefore be in the studios’ own interest to ensure exactly that,” says Ralph Scholz in the ISPO interview. So the basic condition for studio operators in 2021 is to win back the confidence of fitness fans.
Over one million of the 11.6 million members in Germany in 2019 have quit their membership so far.
In the era of closed fitness studios, most sports and fitness fans have turned to online offers. Apps such as Freeletics, which use artificial intelligence (AI) to compile individual training offers for users, are particularly popular. “The main benefits for users are access to training planning, monitoring and even motivation at a fraction of the current cost, which means that many more people can be reached than ever before,” says Simon Alger, Lead Data Scientist at Freeletics, in an interview with ISPO.
Another example of the new digital trend: With the so-called peloton bike – a spinning bike with which you can connect with spinning fans around the world via the Internet – you can do your cardio training, for example, in virtual competition with many like-minded people around the globe.
The topic of outdoor fitness is gaining in importance precisely because of Corona: intensive training in particular is much less dangerous outside than indoors because of the draught. Fitness studios should therefore move more and more equipment and activities outside. This creates more safety for the users.
The experience of a pandemic, which is unique for everyone, has brought the topic of health into focus for many people much more than before. In principle, this is good for the fitness industry. Fitness strengthens the immune system. In fact it also needs the right and safe offers to do so.
Whether it’s in media use, buying behavior or travel: individualization is advancing in all areas of life. This also applies, of course, to the fitness wishes of the clientele. Whether Beer Yoga, fastest possible self-optimization through high intensity training or the new workout trend Glide Fit: differentiated and target group-oriented training is mandatory.
All-round fitness studios will continue to exist. Nevertheless boutique and micro studios with tailor-made offers are attracting more and more customers. In these difficult times, specialisation can also be financially attractive for fitness studios. Scholz: “The interesting thing is that the more special you are, the more money you can demand from customers.”
For corona risk groups and senior citizens, health and fitness are just as important as for the rest of the population. This makes seniors a core target group that must be wooed with special offers and training opportunities. This can range from individual training sessions or workouts in small training groups to special premises and digital offers for risk-free training at home.
The trend towards topics such as yoga, mental training or Pilates already existed before Corona. But it has been intensified by the pandemic. More and more people want to combine physical training with mental relaxation.
This desire is triggered not only by job-related stress, also by the strenuous homeschooling with children or financial and health fears in connection with the pandemic. “We must therefore also strengthen the sport psychological level in our offers”, demands Ralph Scholz.
Rather go to the gym to train on workout devices or jog outside? For many fitness freaks this used to be a real question of faith. The Corona period, including the closure of the studios, has accelerated the resolution of this either/or situation. Many equipment fans move to alternative indoor and outdoor offers, apps included.
“In the perception of the end consumer, this belongs together, if only because of the many new apps and wearables. That is why it is also important to develop holistic offers. In a sense, the gym is the pilot in this process,” says Scholz.
reproduced by: https://www.ispo.com/en/trends/seven-most-important-fitness-trends-year-2021 sent to us by Commercial Fitness Equipment.
Tags: Common Area Issues, Fitness Rooms Articles, Management News
Tonight’s the night! Ft. Lauderdale city officials are expected to approve raising sea walls by just over a foot to meet a county mandate.
The move will mean dilapidated sea walls will have to be replaced, and new ones will be required to be at least 5 feet high to help protect against future tidal flooding.
Was established to fulfill the unique needs of structures in coastal areas such as South Florida. The team’s rare combination of expertise in Civil/Structural Engineering and Corrosion Engineering makes SRI unique in providing concrete rehabilitation/protection services related to condominiums and other near-sea structures. SRI also provides Concrete Diagnostic testing (Ground Penetrating Radar, monitoring corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete structures) to its clients or other engineering firms.
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Choosing a contractor can be difficult with all the options available.
Here’s how to pick the best plumber for your needs
You will meet two categories of plumbers during your search for a plumber. The first category is that of plumbers who can do installations, while the second category includes plumbers who do repairs. Your choice of a plumber will depend on your plumbing job. Plumbers in these categories are also classified into three groups: master plumber, journeyman, and apprentice.
Apprentice plumbers are still in training and will often work alongside a qualified or more experienced plumber. Once the apprentice plumber completes the training and gets a license, they become journeyman plumbers.
Journeyman plumbers can do plumbing repairs or installations but typically work for other plumbers. After the journeyman plumber has been in operation for many years, they will become a master plumber.
Insurance and proper license offer protection during the plumbing project. Consequently, only hire a plumber who can show a valid license and an applicable insurance cover. Examine the provided insurance certificate and contact the insurance provider to verify the insurance policy. As for the licensing certificate, check your state’s website to confirm the license’s validity.
Similarly, a qualified plumber will be a member of trade associations and plumbing groups. Members of trade associations must meet specific standards of competence and safety. Thus, a qualified plumber will display the logos or links of the associations they are a member of.
A plumber or plumbing company that has operated for several years will have a long list of references. Avoid a plumber who is not transparent with information about references. Instead, consider a plumber who readily provides testimonials and reviews from their previous clients.
For the plumbers who provide references, contact the people on the list to know about the plumber’s workmanship and service.
Always prioritize a contractor who works and lives in your local area. If you hire a contractor living in another city or state, you won’t benefit from quick services in case of an emergency. On the other hand, a nearby plumber can quickly respond whenever you need instant help.
The plumber’s charges will vary from one location to another. The cost will also depend on the type and duration of the plumbing job. The lack of standardized prices means some plumbers will charge more than others for the same job. For example, more experienced and skilled plumbers often have higher rates but may do a better job.
A plumber should display professionalism when dealing with clients. Professional conduct includes appropriate dress and courteous communication. Also, the plumber should be organized and display integrity at every turn. You will want to hire a plumber who responds quickly to your queries and treats you with respect.
You will prefer to work with a plumber who will complete your job on time. Therefore, ask the plumber to provide details about their previously completed jobs. Pay special attention to the amount of time the plumber takes to complete their work. Plumbers who have completed jobs within the predetermined schedules will be perfect for you.
A plumber can install or repair many fixtures and appliances in your home. Hire Pipe Restoration Solutions if you want high-quality services in the shortest time possible. We are a trusted and reliable company with an elite and experienced team. Contact us to get a quote.
Board meetings should be productive, efficient meetings where the board conducts business. Stop and think about that for a minute. Are your meetings productive and efficient? Does the board meet to conduct business or socialize? Are you getting the most out of your meetings?
We’ve put together seven keys to a successful board meeting. Following these suggestions can bring new life to your association and keep volunteers interested in helping.
1.- Board meetings should not last more than one hour. Start the meeting when it is scheduled to begin and get straight to business. If you collectively have the focus to get done in an hour you’ll be amazed with how much you can accomplish. If you have no time limit, the meeting will typically drag on and a lot of time will be wasted.
When time is wasted at a meeting then people are less likely to volunteer because they feel their time is wasted. One hour meetings have a major impact on volunteers. Associations that hold focused, one hour meetings have more people volunteer. It’s also important to note that those volunteers stay active the in the community for much longer. Length of your board meetings may seem like a trivial matter, but it really does have a large impact on how the volunteers of the association view the organization and, in turn, how they view their role.
2.- Make your meetings action oriented. Don’t just discuss issues, make decisions. Every item up for discussion should end in a vote to move forward in some way or table the issue with a clear understanding of why the item is being tabled and when it will be revisited. When taking action on an item make sure it is clear who will be responsible for getting that task completed. Ambiguity cripples a board.
3.- Board Meetings are for the board. They are not neighborhood meetings or social gatherings. The purpose of a board meeting is to conduct business, not see how many people you can get to attend. Some board members try to get as many people to attend as possible. This is missing the point. Homeowners are, of course, welcome to attend but it is not a membership meeting. The purpose of the board meeting is for the board to consider the affairs of the association, make business decisions, and then have a clear plan of action.
4.- Take time prior to the meeting to think about what you want to discuss. Inform the community manager of this one week prior to the meeting. This way your topics of discussion can be placed on the agenda which will allow the other board members and the community manager the opportunity to think about and/or research the item you want to talk about. When you don’t come prepared and spring things on the other board members or on the community manager this typically results in a lot of unnecessary discussion with additional research needed in order to make any kind of decision. Remember, be action oriented. By planning ahead you can make more decisions at the meeting instead of causing an item to be discussed twice and delayed for months.
5.- There are an odd number of board positions for a reason. You will not always see eye to eye. Don’t take it personal if the other members of the board disagree with you. This will occur and is healthy. While each board member should attempt to come to a consensus with the other members, you will not be able to achieve this each time. Countless hours are wasted by board members continuing to argue a point just to obtain “victory” on a certain issue or to avoid any vote that is not unanimous. This occurs because someone is taking it personal. If your view is not shared on an issue, take a vote, and move on. Do not hold a grudge. Recognize that you can disagree and still work well with each other.
6.- If you think you may have a conflict of interest do not vote on that issue. Let’s say a board member’s spouse is on a committee. If the board is making a decision on an issue related to that committee then the board member with the spouse on that committee should excuse him/herself.
7.- Most associations should hold quarterly meetings (unless your bylaws require more). Meeting more often than that becomes excessive and unnecessary. Remember you want to have focused, short, productive meetings. This keeps people interested in serving on the board and on committees. If the association is constantly meeting then people feel it is taking too much of their time and they will stop volunteering. It is important to note that you are required to comply with the minimum meeting requirement in your bylaws. Most association bylaws require no more than quarterly meetings, but check yours to be sure.
Tags: Board of Directors, Condo & HOA Elections, Management News
There really is a lot to know when it comes to e-mails. Here’s a brief outline:
Can Directors Communicate and Vote By e-mail?
Members of the board of administration may use e-mail as a means of communication but may not cast a vote on an association matter via e-mail.
Example: Friday night is a board meeting. On the agenda is whether or not to hire Joe’s Landscaping Service. Between now and Monday the Board members can send e-mails to each other suggesting whether or not to hire Joe’s. Even if all decide to hire Joe’s, that vote must still take place Friday night at the properly noticed Board meeting.
Are these e-mails official records of the association, accessible to the unit owners?
E-mails on the personal computers of individual directors are not official records of the condominium association. The property of an individual director does not become the property of the association because of his office on the board. Even if directors communicate among themselves by e–mail strings or chains, about the operation of the association, the status of the electronic communication on their personal computer would not change.
Similarly, an e–mail to an individual director or to all directors as a group, addressed only to their personal computers, is not written communication to the association. This must be so because there is no obligation for a director to turn on the personal computer with any regularity, or to open and read e–mails before deleting them. The conclusion may be different if the association owns a computer on which the management conducts business including e–mails (analogous to government public records); or if e–mails are printed up and passed around for discussion at a board meeting.
Does that Mean A Director’s E-mail can Never Be Seen By Anyone?
Just because the e-mail may not be an “official record” of the association does not mean that nobody can ever get to see it. Trust me, if the association is involved in litigation, and I serve a subpoena on a director for their e-mails which may have relevant information, the court will require production of those e-mails. So board members be warned, before you hit the SEND button think about whether or not you would be comfortable with a judge, jury or opposing counsel reviewing it as well.
Are the E-mail Addresses of the Unit Owner’s an Official Record obtainable by an Owner?
E-mail addresses are not accessible to the unit owners, unless the reason why the association is in possession of that e-mail address is because the unit owner signed a form consenting to receive notices by e-mail.
Have any additional questions? Send us an e-mail.
Tags: Board of Directors, Elections
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Do you know? Or do you think you know?
I call this lack of systems knowledge. Here’s why it’s important.
Every piece of your building is made up of systems. Each system has pathways and pipes that make that system whole. I love when people generalize the term “plumbing”, when there are really multiple facets of systems that make up the plumbing.
There are domestic water systems, storm water systems, sanitary systems, etc.
Now, with that said, are you waiting until you have a major problem with your system to
Look at it? Like a don’t ask, don’t tell type of scenario?
Problem is, these systems almost always find themselves in peculiar locations, level 5 finished walls, columns with marble on them, walls with expensive finishes etc. Like when the kitchen of the tower club is located above the law offices really fancy conference room. (More on that story later).
The design of these systems is like the veins in your body, they hide discretely under the surface of your skin, and as long as everything is running smooth, no reason to investigate or research right?
Wrong.
Each one of these systems has a life expectancy for failure, and the longer the life, the higher the risk. When you wait till the system is failed, it usually always ends up
Costing more in the end.
For this condo in Fort Lauderdale, they unfortunately deferred maintenance, waited until it was too late, and the entire system needed to be replaced, as an emergency.
Had a thorough camera work up and report been done 5 years ago, they could of budgeted for this, and been more prepared.
As the story goes, just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Underground utilities are a part of your buildings critical infrastructure, you must prioritize it, or it will bite you in the ____.