Dear Friends:
In the late 1980s, I worked in the fitness industry and my managers made it clear that January was about capitalizing on intentions. Even fitness instructors were in on the incentives for selling year-long memberships. The strategy was clear: oversell and bank on folks not coming past March. Long-time members knew the crowds would thin, and the revenue paid for all kinds of new equipment. A little hassle was worth it. Friday Update for 16 January 2026 from Mary Kintz, Community Connector