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BAY MILLS - The Bay Mills Department of Recreation and Health Department made some major changes to their department with the acquisition of a new employee, newly installed locks that require the use of an electronic key to gain access to their facilities, and some new equipment that includes three new weight benches, an ab crunch, Roman chair with Bosu support, back extension, televisions and a Treadwall. They also implemented policies for the use of the center's facilities, which could result in one's membership being revoked or suspended if they do not abide by them.
According to Health Promotion Coordinator Joan Jerman, installing the electronic locks and putting certain policies in place, hopefully, will encourage people to pay for the use of the fitness center, and ultimately, help them maintain their new and old equipment. Jerman said previously the doors were left open for those who paid their membership fees. Anyone who was not a member could pay a daily fee, which was placed in a moneybox attached to the wall of the weight room. However, this led to the abuse and theft of equipment and also posed certain safety risks for children who could easily gain access to the equipment without adult supervision.
"We're trying to encourage people to pay for use of the fitness center and to discourage abuse of the equipment," Jerman said. "We're also trying to keep those out that shouldn't be in there for safety purposes. Hopefully, we will be able to maintain our equipment with the fitness fees so we can begin purchasing some new equipment, such as dumbbells. We've lost quite a few of those."
Jerman said the fitness center would no longer be offering daily fees, adding they would now only be accepting one and three month membership fees. Upon paying their membership fees, members would then be given an electronic key to enter the fitness center facilities. Upon entry, they will then be required to sign in so staff can keep accurate numbers of how many people are utilizing their services. With the previous system, Jerman said she had no idea how many people actually used the facilities, since only a small portion of those that used them actually signed in. The actual numbers are very important to the department because they dictate the amount of funding and grant monies they receive, she added.
More important than the new equipment and the locks that protect them are the services the fitness center currently provides. And with the recent addition of Bay Mills Community College Health and Fitness Instructor John Krentz, Jerman said he would only help add to those services. Krentz will be working alongside Jerman and Health Promotion Specialist Jen Bell for the duration of the summer, and may split his time between the fitness center and the college after the summer if they are able to secure additional funding in the fall. Krentz is currently working with the men's elders group three days a week, assisting them with cardiovascular exercises, weightlifting, flexibility and range of motion.
The Bay Mills Department of Recreation and Health Promotion currently offers men's and women's elders exercises three days a week, water exercises at LSSU three days a week, basic orientations to familiarize people with their equipment, setting up specialized programs for people that have specific goals and therapeutic exercises. They also offer a wide variety of summer activities for local seniors, tribal and non-tribal. The price of fitness club membership is currently $15 for one month and $30 for three months for tribal members, $20 and $40 for non-tribal, $25 and $50 for families, and free for anyone 55 years and older, she added. For more information contact Joan Jerman at 906- 248-3241, ext. 3119.
