All working out

Things were never better for Work Out World (WOW) when it comes to membership and interest in the local not-for-profit gym facility.

The non-profit gym that has been plagued with moving and finding space over recent years is settled in quite nicely in 5,000 square feet of space in the College of the North Atlantic building.

The club's president Lester Murphy and Treasurer Jeff Young say right now they are quite happy with how the club is thriving.

Record high membership

"We had our Annual General Meeting Feb. 17 and at that time we had 481 people registered," said Young noting that it is a record high for the gym that's been operating in Labrador City since the 80s. "We had a day in January, for example, where 190 different people came to the gym."

The executive set up a new electronic tracking system at the beginning of January this year that requires members to have a membership card with a bar code that is used to check in and out.

"It's a good system," said Young. "It lets us see the peak days for the gym, peak month or just to check and see what kind of number patterns are there over any amount of time."

January sees the biggest influx of new memberships, according to both men, and it's what they refer to as the New Year's resolution effect and by February month there is always some tapering off.

A younger community evolving

But even with the January rush past, there is a stronger presence at WOW than they've seen in years and it a very positive sign for club's future, according to Murphy, who says there are a couple of explanations for the increases.

"We are getting to be a younger community again now-and we are seeing a lot of new faces here; the town is growing," said the long-time president of WOW. "I think there is more attention going to health and fitness for everyone now and doctors and medical people are encouraging physical activity."

And both men were quick to add a very significant number of seniors are regulars at the gym each day.

"We have people of all ages here," said Murphy. "We have them from 16 years old to as old as...well, if they can manage to get in the door."

Putting money back in

The increase in membership and the space has allowed for WOW to add some enhancements to its club from ventilation improvement to new equipment.

"All the money received from our membership, goes back into the club," affirmed the treasurer. "We get a grant each year from the Town, as well as we have generous donations from IOC. We appreciate the renovations and enhancements."

This year WOW was able to invest in three new pieces of equipment that has just been set up in the gym. A new leg press, a converging chest press and a tricep dip/pull-up assist machine were purchased after the membership indicated a preference for that equipment.

"At last year's AGM we agreed we would conduct a survey within the membership to find out what they'd like," said Young. "It could be the hours of opening and closing to different equipment."

Unknown future

Air conditioning was big on the want list, but too large a financial commitment when the future of where the gym will be located is still up in the air.

"There are many things we'd like to do, but we have to look at the cost and whether or not we will be here once the college is gone," said the club's president. "I would love to put another floor up over the aerobics area for example."

With a new college being built, the men figure around 2012 it will be moving time again unless something can happen before that.

Going back to the building they left 17 months ago won't be an option though.

"We were invited to go back in the LCC building [developed into an apartment complex by True North Properties] but the cost was way more than we could afford," said Murphy. "They are businessmen, and they brought an offer to us that was way over what we could afford, we counter offered and it just didn't fly."

And even if the club could afford the overhead at the new apartment complex, the space available was not adequate enough now that the club has grown so much.

Good arrangement with CNA

For the next couple of years the executive says it has a good setup that has been worked out with the local college. For an affordable rental rate, the club offers free membership to CNA students attending the local campus and a discounted fee to staff of the college.

"It's a win-win situation," said Young. "The free membership is an enticement for students to go to the college and getting them into the gym, we hope, will get them hooked on working out."

But the club's president sees potential in the current facility, even beyond the days when CNA takes up residence in its new building. Murphy is kind of hoping there may be a way the club might be able to stay on.

Waiting for needs assessment results

"We are anxious now to find out from the Town as to what they are going to do when the needs assessment is done for recreation," Murphy said. "Myself and Jeff put something together and went to the Town and we brought the gymnastics people with us because they can't get to secure a space. When LCC got closed down [for the new apartment complex] a lot of groups got kicked out."

Murphy and Young both see the existing college facility as having potential to accommodate all recreational and sporting clubs in need of space and are hoping it can be an option for a sportsplex for Labrador West.

"There is so much space here," said Murphy of the building. "You could have a lot of groups in here everything from gymnastics to the food bank for that matter. The location is just excellent because it is centrally located. "

An affordable membership

But they both say, they can't take anything for granted at this point and will patiently wait for news to come on what's ahead for all recreation and sports in Labrador West and in the meantime they will continue to maintain the equipment and enjoy the success WOW is enjoying in its growth spurt.

The $34-monthly membership is a great deal according to Young, who says, in comparison to other clubs it is a very low cost to the members.

"With our membership that $34 gives a member unlimited hours in the gym as well as a pass to all aerobics classes," he noted. "Other gyms charge $50 or $60 a month and exercise/aerobic classes are often an added cost. So we keep it pretty affordable for our members and if there is a second family member joining, the rate is discounted to $21.50 for the second family member."

Seniors and youth also get the discounted price of $21.50 per month.