Autobiography - The Galindo Group

Ram Galindo THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN Page 235
Club, Bruce Hendin owner of the Racquetball and Fitness Clubs of San Antonio, and
John Barzizza owner of Hills Fitness center of Austin. Herb Lipsman from the
Houstonian Club sent a representative, and The Cooper Fitness Center in Dallas sent
Brent Darden.
After 14 months of getting to know each other and reflecting upon the idea, the eight of
us finally decided that we would make it work. We made a solemn promise to each
other and affixed our signatures to the following document:
AGREEMENT TO FORM AN ASSOCIATION
The undersigned Texas health and fitness clubs, possessed of a desire to
establish an association dedicated to the promotion of the best interests of the
industry in Texas, and to the continuous improvement of its member clubs, do
hereby solemnly agree to form a not-for-profit association of independent,
privately owned health and fitness clubs operating within the state of Texas.
The founders envision that all Texas clubs committed to the pursuit of excellence
in their operations, qualified in accordance with the by-laws of the association,
and dedicated to the growth and strengthening of the health and fitness industry
in the State shall be eligible for participation in the association.
The association shall serve the needs of its members by focusing its efforts and
resources on the following areas:
• Continuing education of personnel at every level of operations and
management
• Encouraging communication among owners and general managers of
member clubs
• Establish a political presence at state and local levels
• Creating quality-based differentiation of member clubs in the market place
• Contributing to the understanding and consequences of changes in the
industry
• Facilitating efforts to create new ventures for the benefit of members
• Establish favorable relations with industry vendors
• Serving as a liaison with similar associations in other parts of the country
• Growing the association until it becomes the self-evident representative of
the industry in Texas
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