Jost ADK Helps Launch Colorado Fitness Coalition
It goes without saying that the pandemic has upended a lot of businesses and industries , the fitness industry among them . In Colorado , gyms banded together to form the Colorado Fitness Coalition ( CFC ) so they could speak with a unified voice to their state government . Jost ADK is a part of this coalition , with Robin Jost , department head of accounting and human resources for Jost ADK , serving as a founding member and as part of the advisory board . member news
How did the Colorado Fitness Coalition form ?
The Colorado Fitness Coalition , which formed in August 2020 , came about because peers within the fitness industry understood the needed to speak with one voice about their concerns so they could get their message across . That means that the fitness brands and clubs that have come together are technically competitors . There are 37 brands and 184 locations across the state that have joined the CFC . However , Jost explained that competition had been put aside in the face of the coronavirus pandemic . The group was formed with the intent to aid businesses within the fitness industry with following state / local public health orders and consider best practices within its member base . However , the most significant goal was to keep Colorado consumers safe .
The CFC emphasizes that because of the struggles and challenges people have been through during the pandemic , fitness is crucial for both physical and mental well-being .
The CFC has engaged a lobbyist to assist in these efforts . The lobbyist will be working on helping gyms get essential business status , easing capacity restrictions on gyms , changing the public opinion of gyms , and connecting with officials at the state and local levels and health officials on their behalf , according to Jost .
What messages does the CFC want to share ? In the face of further shutdowns in October , the CFC had several major points that they wanted to make known about gyms and the fitness industry . First , the data seems to show that fitness facilities are indeed safe . Second , fitness centers are able to keep COVID safety measures in place . Mask-wearing , distancing , scrupulous cleaning and sanitation and contact tracing ( something that gyms are able to assist with since they can track member presence ) are key to keeping indoor facilities safe . In fact , the CFC points out that gyms are able to and have enforced the same guidelines as health care facilities . Third , the group notes that closing off access to gyms has a worse impact on people of lower socioeconomic status because alternatives for exercise may not be readily available to these groups . For instance , going outside to exercise won ’ t be feasible as winter approaches , not everyone can afford a home gym and not everyone has reliable Wi-Fi to do virtual fitness classes .
Access to gyms isn ’ t just beneficial for the physical well-being of Coloradans – it ’ s also beneficial for mental and emotional health . People haven ’ t been able to be as active during the pandemic and many feel isolated , lonely and depressed . The CFC emphasizes that because of the struggles and challenges people have been through during the pandemic , fitness is crucial for both physical and mental well-being .
What successes and challenges has the CFC faced ? As far as challenges go , Jost explains that changing public opinion about gyms is difficult , as is advocating that fitness centers should be named as critical service businesses that ought to remain open for the good of the mental and physical health of Coloradans .
However , Jost points to the Colorado Dial Dashboard , a tool for gyms to reference , as a success . The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ( CDPHE ) came up with a way to show , at the county level , the appropriate degree of “ openness ” through a standardized dial system . The tracker uses key metrics for each county and moves the county between different levels depending on these metrics .
Speaking to officials to make several important points about fitness centers was another success . There was a time in October where it looked like several counties in Colorado were going to shift to Level Orange , meaning that gyms would have to close . In response , the CFC ( upon advice from their lobbyist ) contacted the governor ’ s COVID team as well as their local health departments and the CDPHE Executive Director . This is where the group was able to explain the messages outlined above – that gyms can enforce safety and that they can track and trace . This data shows gyms are safe and that access to exercise is essential during these difficult times . Opening that dialogue was highly important .
What does the future hold for the Colorado Fitness Coalition ?
The CFC is not going to go away when the pandemic ends . According to Jost , it ’ s expected that the group will continue to work together to strengthen the voice of the fitness industry . The CFC wants to remain relevant so that they can respond if legislative or regulatory issues come up in the future .
In fact , Jost said that it has “ really been an educational and wonderful experience ” working with others in the fitness industry despite being competitors . She points to working with her peers in the fitness industry to keep their businesses open as the most rewarding aspect of being a part of the CFC . G
GearedUp | 2020 Issue 4
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