Bellingham Tennis Club & Fairhaven Fitness www.bellinghamtennis.com

January 20

2012-01-20T05:42:00.001-08:00

Updated 4:05pm

Come visit us!
We are open with regular hours and all adult fitness classes on schedule today.

SLUGFEST for middle schoolers is ON! Parents - there are 4 spots left....grab your chance at a little time out of the house doing something fun while your kids are here playing tennis and eating pizza! Call to make your reservation. 360-733-5050

Thursday January 19

2012-01-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

Updated 9:41am
Club is open regular hours with adult fitness classes on schedule.

Tennis Clinics are CANCELLED today. Make up for today's clinic will be held on Friday, February 17th at the regular times.

Make-up for the tennis clinics cancelled yesterday (Jan. 18) will be held on Monday, February 20th at the regular times.

Stay warm!

Tuesday 1/18

2012-01-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

Updated at 10:45 am

Club is operating with normal hours.
9:45 am Boot Camp is cancelled (Instructor cannot get here!)
11:00 am Boot Camp Gold is still on the schedule

TENNIS CLINICS ARE CANCELLED TODAY
The following make-up days are scheduled at the regular times of your clinics:
For Monday/Wednesday Clinics: Make-up on Monday 2/20
For Tuesday/Thursday Clinics: Make-up on Friday 2/17 (those who did not attend yesterday on 1/17 because of snow are welcome to come to this make-up)

Tuesday 1/17 Closing at 9:30pm

2012-01-17T20:44:00.001-08:00

The Club is quiet....
We want all of our staff to get home safely.

January 17 - All Tennis Clinics and Cycle Moles REGULAR Schedule

2012-01-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

We are holding all tennis clinics and Cycle Moles on the regular schedule today.
At 1:15pm, the road is slushy snowy in front of the Club with the main roads fairly clear.

Bad Weather Policy Changes

2012-01-16T17:07:00.000-08:00

In times of poor weather, we will do the best we can to operate with regular hours.

We are changing our bad weather policy regarding classes.

Group Training Classes - We will operate all group training classes as scheduled and all instructors will do their best to be here and on time.
Tennis Clinics - We will make the call by 1pm each day about tennis clinics (whether they are on or cancelled).

If there are any updates or changes to our normal operation, we will post it here on our Blog.
We want everyone to stay safe!

January 16 - All Tennis & Classes on Time

2012-01-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

We have a little snow.
All of our regularly scheduled tennis clinics and fitness classes are operating today!

Check back here for updates.

WWU Viking Showdown and FREE 10 & Under Tennis Clinic for the Bellingham and Ferndale Boys & Girls Club Kids

2012-01-11T15:38:00.000-08:00

WWU Club Tennis Team will host their annual Viking Showdown Tennis Tournament Fundraiser at the Bellingham Tennis Club on January 13 & 14 and this year has added a free tennis clinic for Boys & Girls club kids.

This year the WWU Team, in partnership with Mark Toppe, USTA PNW Regional Director and the Bellingham Tennis Club, is also hosting a FREE Tennis Clinic for kids ages 10 & Under from the Bellingham & Ferndale Boys and Girls clubs. In this unique clinic, each boy or girl will be matched up with one of the college tennis team players – including the visiting teams. Eric Guenther, captain of the WWU team came up with this idea to help kids learn the joy of tennis. The clinic will be held for about 30 kids on January 14^th from 1:30-2:30pm. Interested parents should contact the Boys & Girls Clubs to see if there is still room in the clinic.

The free clinic is designed to help kids learn how to play tennis and further build the confidence of the kids from the Boys and Girls Club and to help them to identify as tennis players. Eric Guenther, Captain of the WWU Club Tennis Team has been volunteering with the various Boys and Girls Club throughout the academic quarter and this event is a culmination of efforts put forth by the Bellingham Tennis Club, the USTA, and the Western team to help the kids form long lasting bonds and friendships, and the chance to develop into great players.

Schools in attendance for the Viking Showdown and free tennis clinic include University of Washington, University of Oregon, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and hosts Western Washington University.

The Bellingham Tennis Club donates the court time and use of this Club so that all of the Tournament fees are contributed to the WWU Club Tennis Team and the tennis clinic is free.

Sunday Movie Ride starts 1/20

2011-11-19T16:45:00.000-08:00

Join me this Sunday for Movie & Cycle at 9am!

We'll watch "Knight & Day"
Stay for as much of the movie as you want. This is an open ride, no instruction. Just time on the bikes.

It's FREE for Club Members & Cycle Moles. Guests are $10 for a fitness day pass and includes movie ride!
Please register so we know how many bikes to set up. BYOBike or ride one of our spinning bikes.
Click on this link, below, to save your spot!

Click here to sign up for the Movie Ride!

See you Sunday ~ Robin

We had fun at our New Member Social!

2011-11-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

About 60 of our old and new members enjoyed good food, great company, and fun tennis!

Fairhaven Fitness Zombies donate $1000 to Blue Skies for Children

2011-11-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

Thrillingham was AWESOME!
We donated a little more than 50% of the net proceeds from Learn the Thriller to Blue Skies for Children and Live Consciously. Check out this photo of Blue Skies for Children receiving the $1000 big check from the zombies!

There were about 100 zombies who performed the Thriller dance to crowds of thousands in Fairhaven and at Maritime Heritage Park on Halloween. Amazingly fun ...and raised money for charity! We also donated $800 to Live Consciously - the group who puts on Thrillingham each year to help defray production costs.

Thanks Zombies, you are horribly awesome! ~ Robin Zombie

ZOMBIANCE

2011-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Our new and returning Zombies left the first night of our 4-night learn the dance series having mastered the zombie march and roar turns. Our head Zombie is Liam Elio who also owns and operates Peace Love Pizza - you can find him at the Saturday market and other events in the Northwest.

THRILLINGHAM IS BACK!

2011-09-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hey Zombies! The Thriller is back!

Learn the Thriller Dance & Raise Money for Charity

All Fridays in October 7 – 9pm (10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28)

Don’t miss out on your last chance to learn the Thriller while raising money for two organizations: Blue Skies for Children and Live Consciously. This is our last year teaching the Thriller at the Club! Watching these videos reminds me how freaky AWESOME it all is.

Click here to watch the "behind the scenes" video from 2009
Click here to watch the Fairhaven Thriller Performance
Click here to ride the Zombie Bus
Click here to watch the Downtown Bellingham Thriller Performance

In the past two years our zombies have helped raise $2,500 through the Thriller dance series for Blue Skies for Children. This year we are splitting the contribution between Blue Skies for Children and Live Consciously. Blue Skies for Children provides help for homeless, low-income, and foster children in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Live Consciously is the organization responsible for bringing you the downtown Thriller performances for the past 3 years – in the past, all expenses have been out of pocket for the love of entertainment.

It all starts FRIDAY, 7 - 9pm October 7th at Fairhaven Fitness at the Bellingham Tennis Club.
Become a zombie now!

RETURNING ZOMBIES GET 50% OFF - great way to brush up on your zombie march and STILL donate to charity.

GAA

Regular Price is $99 for adults (ages 18+); $40 Child (ages 8-17); additional children with zombie parents are $15 per child. Returning zombies who have enrolled in our previous series are 50% off!

Click this link to enroll online or call the Club at 733-5050. Don’t wait, it will fill fast!

We are still planning the two optional performances in Fairhaven and downtown on Halloween.

Please forward this blog post to your zombie-like friends and let's make this the biggest Thrillingham EVER!

~Zombie Robin

Leadville 100 update

2011-08-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Here I am at Copper Mountain, CO getting acclimated to the high altitude of 10,000 feet before my race on Saturday. Last night I watched the Leadville 100 Mt. Bike video again to get a better feel for the terrain and race circumstances.

I feel so blessed to be here right now. I am fortunate that I have family, friends, and co-workers who supported me in so many ways and helped me through the hours of training it took to get me to this point. I am "all in" for this race - I feel rested, the altitude is not having any super bad effects (couple of headaches, no nausea), I am excited and in awe of this event with which I have challenged myself.

There are Olympians here!

There are World Cup Champions here!
There are Tour de France riders here!

And there is me! And a bunch of others like me.
I am just glad to be a part of it all. Today was the check-in and I chatted with others who are racing for the first time as well. About 65% do not finish - that means I know where I'll need to be in order to make the 4 hour, 8 hour, and 9 hour time checks in order to continue the race. There were stories of pre-rides and how hard the climbs are. We were all excited and curious and supportive of each other. What a cool environment.

This whole process of picking this huge goal and making a plan to reach it has been pretty amazing.

"People with goals succeed because they know where they're going."

— Earl Nightingale: Author, The Strangest Secret, Lead the Field.

I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and pick a goal. It doesn't have to be insanely big like this one, but just find a focus, make a plan and get there. And measure yourself from how far you've come. It feels really good.

There are lot's of "what if's" for my race day, but in my eyes I have already succeeded by getting to the start line healthy. I will do my best to pass each of the time marks and finish the race and that will be the icing on the cake (or maybe the froth on my well-deserved beer.)

AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION. You helped raise over $2,000 so far (there is still time! click the link on this blog, above). That means more to me than the race itself. Many heartfelt thanks to you...

Until after the race,
Robin Robertson

PS If you go to my facebook page, I've posted a bunch of pictures and ancedotes of my travels here. Look for Robin Mortimer Robertson.

From Sea Level to 10,000 Feet

2011-08-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

I'm a little nervous! I leave on Saturday for Leadville, Colorado where I'll ride in the Leadville 100mile mountain bike race. Leadville starts at about 10,000 feet and goes up to about 13,000. I am wondering how my body will do...I arrive on Monday with the race the following Saturday. If I get altitude sickness I should have time to acclimate before the race.

I've had lots of good advice about everything you could imagine and I feel like I am as prepared as I can be. I will definately have an experience!

I am glad that my daughter and her boyfriend will be driving out and Doug later flying out to support me during the race. Unfortunately my son can't make it - more importantly he is at marching band camp for his senior year at BHS.

There is still time to support me through a donation to the Alzheimers Association in honor of my dad who died 25 years ago. So far, you have helped raise about $1500! That is so awesome and thank you! If you'd still like to make a donation, click this link.

Well, wish me luck!!

Committed to your good health,
Robin Robertson

Now Hiring - Customer Service

2011-07-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

We are now hiring for our Customer Service at our front desk area. This is a permanent part-time position with 15-20 hours per week. If you are interested, please click the link below to learn more about the job and how to apply. Applications are due by July 24th, interviews July 25-18, training starts first week of August.

Tell me more about the job!

July 14 Camp INSIDE today

2011-07-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

The Competitive Camp will start indoors at the Bellingham Tennis Club instead of Sehome High School because of the rain. Please arrive directly at the club! 800 McKenzie Ave in Fairhaven.

Scholarship Students

2011-06-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

We would like to congratulate our 4 new scholarship recipients for the 2011/12 season. They are:

Kristin Chalmers - Sehome High School
Makena DeGolier - Squalicum High School
Santana Diaz - Squalicum High School
Catie Welch - Bellingham High School

We look forward to having these students progress and get to enjoy the game we all love.

Summer Tennis Camp Update

2011-06-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

Indoors or Outdoors? All camps scheduled for Sehome High School will be indoors here at the Bellingham Tennis Club if the weather turns bad. We will be making the decision by 7am each morning the camps are running. For further information call us at 733-5050.

Club is a Scrubbin'

2011-06-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here we go with Club Scrub! Just a reminder that we are closed on June 15 & 16 for our annual Club Scrub. Courts can be booked online only after 8am each day. Regular court bookings will resume by phone on 6/17 at 7:00am.

CLUB SCRUB - CLOSED JUNE 15 & 16

2011-06-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

We will be closed for our annual "Club Scrub" on June 15 & 16.
However, the 21 Day Body Transformation classes will still be held! We will hold the classes as regularly scheduled!

We take this time for those projects we can't do during normal operating hours. We start off with an all staff meeting and then launch into 48 hours of cleaning.
Here is a peak at our plan:

Lifts onto the tennis courts to change lightbulbs
Clean all lighting fixture lenses (lots of green dust on the tennis courts!)
Patch the tennis court insulation
Scrub all 5 tennis courts
Move and clean under all of our fitness equipment
Clean all of our fan fixtures
Touch up Painting
Caulking in locker rooms
Carpet cleaning
Overall scrubbing, cleaning, & reorganizing
Plus... a jillion other little things.

Swing by if you want to see us in action!

If you have any thoughts on things you've noticed that need attention, let me know!

Here are some pictures from last year's club scrub.....

~Robin

Ski to Sea Video - I'm in it!

2011-06-03T13:44:00.001-07:00

The Ski to Sea folks put together a video that you can find on youtube - or right here! Guess which one is me (Robin)!

State Tennis - Bellingham Dominates!

2011-06-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

WOW and CONGRATULATIONS to the high school state tennis players! We are very proud of "our" kids - its nice to know that Bellingham is a force to be reconed with! Most of these kids have spent a little or a lot of time training here at the Club and we happy that we had a hand in helping them get to State and have terrific successes. Congrats to all!

Be sure to congratulate these junior players!

DOUBLES:
Bella Hoyos & Megan Mullarky: 1st Place -State Doubles Champs 2nd year in a row!
Bjorn Thorpe & Matt Goebel: 4th Place
Becca Wilson & Danielle Dorr: 5th Place
Morgan Sherif & Katie Adams: 7th Place
EJ Troutman & Reed Welch: 1 win, 2 losses - only team to take a set off State Champs

SINGLES:
Girls: Annie LeFebvre: 4th Place
Boys: Avery West: 5th Place

Parents & friends - if you have any pictures of these kids in action, please email them to us! We'd love to post them!

Fairhaven Fitness Ferocious Females Takes 3rd Place

2011-06-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about our 3rd place finish in the Ski to Sea Whatcom Women Division. I love this race because it brings together all ranges of atheletes - from Olympians to couch potatoes. The Whatcom Women division is the best of Whatcom County and we are so proud to be in the top three teams! The bonus is that this is a really fun group of women. We look forward to racing together again next year!

Here we are at the podium....
Top Row (from left):
Nicole (and baby Ari)- Road Bike (but Ari did not make the trip with her :o)
Ginny - Canoe
Vanessa - Kayak
Roxanne - Canoe
Bottom Row (from left)
Meilani - Downhill Ski
Robin - Mt. Bike
Cathy - Run
Ingela - XC Ski

BTTC Team takes 2nd!

2011-05-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our BTTTC (Bellingham Tennis Tricycle Team) for bringing home the 2nd place honor at the annual tricycle race in downtown. Our team dominated the first heat and brought it to a close finish in the second heat with our arch rivals, the YMCA, snagging 1st place. Our team mates "took 2" for the team with gnarly thigh bruises from legs banging the seat. We'll come up with a good solution next year....

Thank you team Captain Debbie Brown, Betty Koon, Shelley Bruce, and ringer Nancy Goldfogel. You gals are awesome~!

Exercise Updates

2011-05-21T07:39:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about our summer programs! A few changes are involved to make this all happen.

1) 21 Day Body Transformation - as of right now, ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT at 5:30 pm! (This opening was previously posted for 6:30pm, but someone switched from 5:30 to 6:30 making the FINAL spot open at 5:30pm) - HURRY - Be quick and register for the last opening in the 21 Day Body Transformation Program!

2) Our "drop-in" 6:00 am Strength Training, Cycle, and Cycle/Core classes end on June 2nd.

3) Our "drop-in" 5:15 pm X Circuit and Cycle classes end on June 2nd.

4) Gentle Yoga at 9:30am on Saturdays is suspended as of today until further notice. We are seeking a new instructor as Louise is leaving us to attend to her soon-to-be grand baby. We'll let you know as soon as possible if we are able to resume the Gentle Yoga class on Saturdays.

5) We are now taking enrollment for our Fit 40-60 Boot Camp and Cycle Camps beginning June 27 thru the end of August. Sign up for both camps if you want the ultimate package for changing your body and you are serious about making a change. You'll even have FUN while the fat melts away.

Fairhaven Fitness 21 Day Body Transformation Boot Camp

2011-05-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

Better hurry, these 2 boot camps are filling fast! If you are 40 - 60 years old and unhappy with your body, are out of shape, and tired of ....being tired, then try our 21 day Body Transformation Boot Camp to get a jump start on your fitness. We combine 3 days of classic boot camp (except we won't yell at you, but we certainly WILL challenge you) with 2 days of indoor cycling to burn gobs of calories, build lean muscle, and kick your metabolism into high gear.

Starts June 6th: Choose either 5:45-6:30am , 5:30-6:15pm, and 6:30-7:15pm.
Includes:
 2 Body Diagnostics sessions: Weigh, Measure, Body Fat Analysis
 3 muscle toning Boot Camp Training Sessions per week (45 min)
 2 fat burning Cycling - Cardio training sessions per week (45 min)
 Success Book to keep track of food intake, workouts, and feelings
 Meal Plans and full access to our comprehensive online nutrition program
 Weekly review of your food logs
 Support from our Personal Training Team
 Full Fairhaven Fitness Membership
 Newsletter with tips and recipies
 Accountability, encouragement, and support along the way!

Price Value $360 for only $97 (+tax)

Click here to see more and register online!

Farewell to Scott!

2011-04-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Our best beloved Scott Young had his last day today and is off for his new adventures in Portland, Oregon. If you need a personal training fix with him, you'll find him at Edge Performance Fitness. We will all miss you Scott!

Happy Spring Break!

2011-04-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

Please remember that there are NO tennis clinics this week (April 4 -8) during the Bellingham School District Spring Break.

We do have the Junior Slammers Tennis Camp, April 4 - 8, 3 - 5pm for ages 8 - 12. There are still a few spots left if you want to sign up!

Educational Workshop: Bone Health on March 23

2011-03-12T12:23:00.001-08:00

Bone Health March 23, 1- 2 pm

Featured Speaker: Physical Therapists from Core Therapy

Learn about osteoporosis and how to build stronger bones at any age. The type of exercises you do has a direct effect on your bone health. It’s FREE!

100 Miles; 1,000 Donations; 10,000 Feet

2011-03-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

Check it out, I got into the Leadville 100 race! This grueling 100 mile mountain bike race starts at 10,000 feet in Leadville, Colorado. I'm not just racing, I'm fundraising too. To read more about it, click the link above that says "100 Miles, 1,000 Donations, 10,000 Feet". I'll post updates to fundrasing and training on this page so you can keep up to date on my progress!

I hope you will help me reach my goal of 1,000 donations for the Alzheimers Association.

Sincerely,
Robin Robertson
Owner & Manager
Bellingham Tennis Club & Fairhaven Fitness

2/24 ALL CLASSES ARE CANCELLED UNTIL NOON

2011-02-24T05:32:00.000-08:00

Due to the weather, all of our drop-in fitness classes are cancelled until noon today. All afternoon and evening tennis and fitness classes will be held at their regular times (however, if the weather turns for the worse, please check here for further updates.)

For classes and clinics, we generally follow the Bellingham School District schedule: if schools are closed because of weather, all classes and clinics are usually cancelled. If schools are on a delayed schedule, all classes and clinics are usually cancelled until noon. Make-up days for any paid classes that were cancelled will be announced.

Monday Zumba Camp is Cancelled

2011-02-23T17:28:00.000-08:00

Drat!! Due to low enrollment, we had to cancel the Monday 10am Zumba Camp. We need a minimum of 6 people enrolled to hold the camp...and we only had two. If you can make a group of 6 or more, we'd be happy to reinstate the Camp. Thanks!!

ZUMBA MAKEUP DAY

2011-02-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Remember the snow day on January 12th? We will have a make up class for Zumba on Wednesday, April 6th for anyone who missed a class on the 12th. Join us for Zumba fun!!

FINALLY, TRX at NIGHT!

2011-02-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

We hear you! And we've added a special TRX series on Monday and Wednesday nights (yes, both nights for the most benefit!) at 6:30 - 7:15pm - starts 2/28 thru 3/30!
Click here to sign up Now!

This specially priced series of 10 semi-private sessions is only $165 for Members and $215 for Guests (plus tax). That saves you over $330 from private training sessions!

Don't wait, these sessions will fill fast with only 6 spots available. Sign up today!

Sign up for TRX at Night - Now!

ROCK HARD ABS IN 2 WEEKS!

2011-02-02T21:31:00.000-08:00

I don't think so. But it sure is tempting to believe those infomercials about the equipment you can buy to "spot reduce". Here's a good video produced by our friends at American Council on Exercise with the REAL way to strengthen your core. Check it out...

TRX BODY BLAST BEGINS THIS WEEK!

2011-02-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

TRX Body Blast
Our TRX Body Blast semi-private training groups are filling quickly and we don't want you to miss out!
ALL SESSIONS START THIS WEEK!
At the time of this writing, these are the remaining openings:

Tuesdays 9:45am w/Ginny - 1 spot left!
Thurdays 9:45am w/Ginny - 3 spots left!
Fridays 6:00 am w/Scott Y - FULL!
Fridays 7:00 am w/Elizabeth - 1 spot left!
**NEW SECTION Fridays 9:45am w/Elizabeth - 4 spots left

What are you waiting for? Your body is not going to morph into great shape unless you work at it. If you are tired of doing what you are doing and getting what you're getting....then try TRX
Because you are working against your own body weight at the intensity you choose, everyone will feel success in this program! Don't wait another second, sign up now!

TRX TEEN Body Blast
This specially priced session for teens is twice per week for 8 sessions, beginning Wed. 2/2
Mon & Wed 3:15pm - 3 spots left!
TRX Training is the perfect addition for teens to help you get stronger, more balanced, gain agility, and help prevent injuries for any sport you do. Get the edge on your competition!

Click here to reserve your spot now!

Pictures from Africa

2011-01-26T11:57:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to all who donated T-Shirts for our visit to the SOS Childrens Village in Livingstone, Zambia. The gifts were well received and I am very impressed with the SOS organization that operates in 130+ countries around the world. Our visit to the orphanage was a very special part of our trip. Our gifts were appreciated but hardly make a dent in the needs of these children. If you are interested in helping kids, who have no parents, receive a good education and a loving home, please consider contributing to the SOS Childrens Villages. To learn more about this worthy organization, please visit http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/

Click here to check out the pictures I posted on facebook!

Courts opened up Saturday 1/29

2011-01-26T11:50:00.001-08:00

Our staff appreciation night and bowling tourney was postponed until March 6th. So that means our Club will be open regular hours this Saturday 1/29 until 8:45pm. We'll close early at 6:15pm on March 6th.

In Memory of Jack LaLanne

2011-01-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

Some of my earliest memories include watching Jack LaLanne on TV and following his exercises. He was definately an inspiration to me and countless others. His methods of time-tested exercises help found the modern day fitness movement. Jack LaLanne passed away yesterday (1/23) at the age of 96.

Check out this video from the Jack LaLane show....

To read more about Jack LaLanne, click this link: Jack LaLanne.

If you have any memories of Jack LaLanne, please add them to this post!

Morning Classes Cancelled

2011-01-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

Due to the Bellingham School District closing schools all morning classes will be cancelled. The afternoon classes will all run on time due to increasing temperatures and improved road conditions.

Can You Donate a T-Shirt for an Orphanage?

2010-12-29T21:28:00.000-08:00

My daughter and I are leaving for South Africa and Zambia on Tuesday 1/4! We will be doing lots of sight seeing, but are also visiting the SOS Childrens Home in Livingstone, Zambia. They have told us that they have 95 girls and 85 boys from 1 to 17 years old - but most of the kids are under age 10.

So, we are seeking T-Shirts for kids to take with us to this children's home. If you have a new or lightly used T-shirt (or other clothes too) that you would like to find a worthy, new home in Zambia, PLEASE bring us the shirt by Sunday, 1/2 so we can get them packed up.

Any and all shirts would be welcome. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

New Member Social Pictures

2010-11-24T08:46:00.000-08:00

We love hosting a party...especially one in honor of our wonderful members! Our New Member Social is a great time for new members to meet staff and our not-so-new members for a fun time of socializing, great food, beverages, and even round robin tennis. Check out our pictures!

Our Streets are SUPER Icy

2010-11-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Our streets coming and going and in front of the Club are SUPER icy! We are doing what we can to break up the ice and sand, but if you are not a confident driver with capabilities to drive in the ice, you may want to arrange for different transportation to the club.

We have requested sanding from the City, but we are on a very long list of streets that need attention.

Walking can be very slippery! Be careful!
And....it is starting to snow again.....

~Robin

POWER IS ON!

2010-11-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

All of our lights are on! Tennis Clinics at 4:15 and for the rest of the night are on! The Train Like a Pro class is cancelled.

Any missed clinic today will be made up on Friday, December 17th at their regular time.

Thanks to the speedy work of the PSE technician who fixed the fuse at the pole, and Fritz from F & E Able Electric who found the problem with our tennis court lights.

11/18 POWER OUTAGE

2010-11-18T15:26:00.000-08:00

THE CLUB IS CLOSED
Its 3:24pm and our power is OUT at the Club.

Tennis Clinics are cancelled today! Makeups will be held on FRIDAY, December 17th at the same times.

Apparently we have a partial transformer blown. Puget Sound Energy has dispatched a technician - but who knows when they will get here.

So Sorry! We will post a note here as SOON as we are open again!
~Robin Robertson, Owner

Help Whatcom Middle School Win a New Computer Lab!

2010-11-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Whatcom Middle School is one of FIVE finalists in the nation to win a new computer lab!
Click this link to vote:

http://www.nbc.com/school-pride/partners/microsoft/

You can vote once per day.....keep on voting!

Only 3 Spots Left in Cycle Moles!

2010-10-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Don't miss out on the Cycle Moles Indoor Winter Training Program - only 3 spots left! Sign up now for this coached program that will increase your power and endurance over the winter. You'll emerge in the spring faster than ever! Don't turn into a couch potato and let your fitness go to waste this winter...join us for this fun and challenging cycling program from November 1 - February 23 on Monday & Wednesday nights at 6:30pm. Click Here for more Cycle Moles Information!

THRILLER on Halloween

2010-10-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Zombie Followers - Here is the line up on Halloween:

THRILLER IN FAIRHAVEN AT 7:30PM (at the gravel lot next to Village Green)

THRILLER IN DOWNTOWN AT 9:00PM (Downtown - Maritime Heritage Park)

And for all you little ghouls....trick or treating in Fairhaven is from 3 - 6pm!

Hit & Fit Poem

2010-09-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

For all you out there wondering what the Hit & Fit is all about our very own Club Poet Susan Willis give you her experience through a bit of a rhyme.

I took a little survey
to see what I could learn
to get my body stronger
and make my muscles burn

Elizabeth & Ginny are really quite the gals
They put us through our paces
with bosus,balls and stretchy bands
gets our muscles strong and smiling red faces

Matthew is really quite the guy
to teach us strokes and tell us why
We move our feet and practice the sit
That's why I Love Hit & Fit!

There is a New Hit & Fit mini session starting October 11th.
Sign up and see how you can bring your game to a new level by strengthening up the foundation of your tennis game.

Statements Delayed...coming this week!

2010-09-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

Your Bellingham Tennis Club & Fairhaven Fitness dues statement should arrive in your mailbox no later than Friday! Our conversion to our new rates structure has had a few delays and we just want to make sure everything is right before we send you your statement.

We hope you will enjoy the Tennis &/or Fitness Guest Pass that you will receive with your statement as an apology for being tardy with our bill. You may use these passes for a friend to enjoy the Club too! Tennis passes were given to tennis members and fitness passes for fitness members. For the tennis pass, we ask that your friend plays on a court with you. Both types of passes have full use of our fitness facility - try one of our drop-in group fitness classes!

Thanks for your patience with our billing system. We hope to be operating normally by October 1st.

Sincerely - Robin Robertson

Robin on ENW on KVOS TV!

2010-09-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Deb Slater from KVOS TV interviewed me for the "Experience Northwest" TV show that will air Saturday, September 4th at 5pm, Monday September 6th at 7:30am, and Wednesday September 8th at 7:30am. If you see the segment, be sure and let me know what I can do better next time! I was unusually nervous and tongue tied....let's hope I made sense!

During the show you'll hear me talk about our FREE classes we have coming up starting with the
FREE Beginners Tennis Clinics on September 11th - Kids ages 6-16 at noon - 1pm; Adults 1:30-2:30pm

Our regular session Tennis Clinics (7 weeks long) start the week of 9/13 - they are filling up so don't delay signing up!

FREE Classes to Try during the week of September 13-16

Hit & Fit: (Adult) The Ultimate Tennis and Fitness Program - Mon 9/13 & Wed 9/15 at 6:30am or 9:00am
Train Like the Pros: Junior Fitness program to explode your tennis game!- Mon 9/13 & Wed 9/15 at 4:15pm; Tues & Thurs 9/14 & 9/16 at 4:30pm (30 minutes)
Yoga for Cyclists (or anybody with tight hips, legs, back, and neck) - Mon & Wed 6:30pm
Winter Sports Boot Camp (great program to get in shape!) - Tue & Thur 6:30pm

Regular 3 or 6-week camps start the following week for each of the free classes.

Check it OUT!

See you soon! Robin Robertson

We've Updated our Events Calendar

2010-08-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

WOW! Look in the right hand column to see all the events and classes and workshops that we have planned for you this fall! Some of them like the Thrillingham - Learn the Thriller dance and the Cycle Moles Winter Training Camp have early bird signups to save you money!

Fall Leagues Sign Up Starts Monday, August 23rd

2010-08-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Members, be sure to put your name on the lists for the fall leagues! We will determine the league rosters through a lottery system. Doubles Leagues run week of September 13th through November 15th. Cost is $30 per player which includes a balls for each court every week, and prizes with a party on the last day of league! Singles Ladders will run September 17-November 19 and cost is $15 per player. Players in the singles ladder may play each other one time. All league play does NOT count against your reservation allowances.

Sign up!

An Apology ...We Blew It!

2010-07-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hi Members,

The 8:30am Strength Training class was not supposed to be cancelled today, on July 30th. I am not sure what happened on our part, but apparently we really blew it. Please accept my apology.

I want to make sure that you know that the Friday group fitness classes are cancelled in August. Attendance tends to be very low in August and our summer class rosters have shown that we are below an average of 6 per class. Other classes cancelled in August include Tuesday yoga at 5:15pm and Thursday Circuit Fit at 5:15pm.

We are analyzing our schedules and getting ready for fall. I have been hearing from many of you and of course will consider your comments in our mix of considerations when planning a new schedule.

A little history about group classes and where we have come from...
When Doug and I bought the Club in May of 2000, we had three aerobics classes per week and our Fitness dues rates were actually higher than they are now. We experimented with adding many more classes and worked our way up to 22 classes per week, without even adjusting dues. What we are finding is that we cannot compete with the big clubs that offer the same thing because...well...we aren't a big club. We cannot stuff 30 people into the group fitness classroom. We do not have thousands of members to subsidize the classes that only a small percentage of our membership take advantage of. We do not have mediocre instructors.

Our classes are small in size, more like group personal training sessions than general fitness classes. Most clubs our size charge $9 - $15 per drop-in class. Under our current dues structure, here you have the option to take as many classes as you want per month and they are included in your dues! If you take 3 classes per week and simply divide it with your dues, that works out to be only $3.75 per class or less. Of course our expenses are much higher than that because your dues pay for much more than just a class.

Our instructors are best of the best. We are proud that our instructors can give personalized instruction in every class. We want to maintain the high level of service that we offer in every class. But, as a small club, we just can't do it all when classes fall below a minimum attendance average of 8 people per class.

We still want to offer a nice selection of classes for Members before work, during the day, and after work to help you with your general fitness needs. You will see that our August schedule is pared down since it is the slowest month of the year. As we move into September, we will offer most classes on a Mon-Thurs basis. This leaves Friday as a do-it yourself opportunity, or maybe a great time to spend with one of our Personal Trainers to really get your fitness moving. You know the saying, "If you keep doing what you are doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting." If you have reached a plateau in your fitness, it might be time to mix it up.

We will be offering more "Training Camp" classes. These programs are offered for an additional fee and worth every penny. These are small group training classes that are dedicated to to help you progress. In fact, every camp will have several personal parameters we will measure at the beginning and end of camp so you can see your progress. We are so sure that you'll benefit from these camps that we offer a 100% money back guarantee!

I know that change can be difficult, but can also be an opportunity to try new things. We are constantly evaluating our programs here and working to bring you the best mix of activities possible. I'd love to just give it all away, but that would definately put us out of business. So, we will strive to bring you the best value for your dollar. I think you would be hard pressed to find a better small group class environment at any Club, anywhere. We are proud of what we offer and strive to continue to bring you the very best.

Sincerely,
Robin Robertson
Owner & Manager

Our NEW BALL MACHINE is here!

2010-07-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

You asked, we got it. Our NEW BALL MACHINE is here!

We know that some of you were frustrated with the old one whose remote was unreliable and unfixable. The ball machine itself worked just fine, you just had to adjust it at the machine rather than with a remote. Being one to "use it up, wear it out, make it do", I was a little hard pressed to replace it when it worked fine. (In fact, I thought it was better because it forced you to run to the machine to adjust it so you wouldn't lose balls! - more workout!)

But.....with as many requests as we had to fix the remote and knowing that it could not be done, we bit the bullet and brought to you the top of the line Playmate Ball Machine. I hope you will enjoy many great tennis workouts!

Ball Machine is available only to members at the rental fee of $10 per session or $80 for 6 months rental with the "Ball Machine Club" Our ball machine is available on court one and usually needs an advance reservation. Try it out!

~Robin

PURE JOY!

2010-06-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Megan Mullarky and Bella Hoyos after winning the Girls 2A Doubles State Championship!!!

WOW- Two Days packed full of Club Scrubbin'

2010-06-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

Check out some pictures of our team hard at work! We kicked off the two day Club Scrub with an ALL STAFF meeting that generated many great ideas! We will have some exciting new things for you coming this fall. We worked hard and enjoyed our time. Thanks to all of our team who participated in the spirit building and club scrubbing event!

Club Scub: Feelin' Clean!

2010-06-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Remember, our club is closed on June 17 & 18 for our annual Club Scrub to do some heavy duty cleaning and maintenance. Feel free to drop by to see how hard we are all working! Check out our job list below.

COURT RESERVATIONS will be taken as usual on Thursday and Friday at 7:00-8:00 am. All other booking must be done online as we will not be answering the phones.

"Get 'er Done" Job List:

TENNIS COURTS
Structural Inspection of Building (Com Steel)
Lifts on courts to replace all burned ballasts (Able Electric) & bulbs and clean the fixture lenses
Clean behind all backdrops, remove any unnecessary items
Net & net post maintenance
Dust walls and beams - defuzzify!
Patch ceiling and side walls
Cleaning and maintenance of court sweepers
Install new backdrop (north) on Court 1
Scrub and wash all the courts

GROUP TRAINING & WEIGHT ROOM
Clean/Dust all fans, vents, windowsills
Move all cardion equipment to clean underneath
Hang sound deflector in group training room
Thorough cleaning of all small equipment (Balls, Bosu, Mats, Dumbbells)

LOBBY, LOCKER ROOMS, GENERAL FACILITY
Clean vents for ventilation system
Clean laundry area; reorganize storage closet
Touch up paint where needed
Caulking in Locker Rooms
Scrub Saunas
Sand bench in women's locker room
Paint window trim and garbage enclosure outside of building
Sand, paint ramp

The best minds in the industry...

2010-06-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

I just spent two days with the top 20 people in the fitness industry at a "mastermind" group Meeting in Las Vegas! It was an amazing experience, to pick their brains about what brings our clients the best results. I've also been checking out the responses to our SURVEY that went out a couple of days ago. Thank you to those who have already responded! The information from both these events is going to help us bring you some amazing programs that will give you results like crazy! We are going straight to the drawing board to get these programs ready for you soon!

Have a great weekend!
Robin
ps- please fill out the survey if you haven't already. You could win a $100 gift card!
Pps - the survey should be in your email box. If not, go to our website home page And click the link. Www.bellinghamtennis.com

BTC/FF Regains Tricycle Championship!

2010-06-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

It was tough competition again, but Team Captain (and Tennis Pro) Debbie Brown drafted an all-American team with newcomers Hazel Thomas and Meri-Jo Borzilleri and ringer Nancy Goldfogel. Our BTCTT (Bellingham Tennis Club Tricycle Team) brought home the trophy!

Anniversary Party Fun!

2010-06-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

We had a blast at our Anniversary Party on May 12th, celebrating our 10 years of ownership and 37th birthday for the Club. About 100 members and staff joined us to socialize while enjoying delicious food, spinning the wheel for prizes, and round robin tennis. Thanks everyone for making this the best Club in the world! ~ Robin & Doug Robertson

Cheer for our Ski to Sea Team!

2010-05-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Wish us luck! We are in the recreational open division, team number 175. Our team name is "Bellingham Tennis Club...You Got Served!"

Here is the lineup:
X-C Ski: Steve Walker (Member)
Downhill Ski: Betty Curl (Customer Service Staff)
Run: Cheryl Shewchuk (Member)
Road Bike: Bob Harris (Member)
Canoe: Bailey Shewchuk (Member Spouse) &
Zachary Battle (Friend)
Mt. Bike: Robin Robertson (Owner)
Kayak: Scott Fisher (Member)

PS- We are closed on Ski to Sea Sunday but if you want to stop by to say hello after the race at about 5pm we are opening up the Club for our Ski to Sea team and to hear about your Ski to Sea experience. Stop by to say hello!

PPS - We are open on Memorial Day from 7am - 6:15pm. No classes are offered on Monday.

Enjoy the weekend! ~Robin

2010-05-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

Leah Strickling ready to blast her way through the State draw.

This weekend 12 students from Bellingham High Schools are heading down to Seattle for the State 2A Tennis Tournament. Many of these student athletes have been practicing year round for this opportunity to win for the team and themselves. For the past 5 months we have been working with the State bound and USTA tournament players every Wednesday night. The students that are going are: Will Topp (Sehome) Evan Madill (Sehome) , Leah Strickling (Squalicum), and Maddie Pearce (Bellingham) in the singles draws: Matt Goebel & Myles West (Sehome), William Giller & Bjorn Thorpe (Sehome), Andrew Troutman & Kyle Buckham (Bellingham), Bella Hoyos & Megan Mullarkey (Bellingham), Becca Wilson & Amy Wilson (Squalicum) in the doubles draws. Good luck to these stars of the future!

WIll Topp ready to serve up some aces at State.

2010-05-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Last might we celebrated the Club's 37th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of ownership by the Roberttson's!
We enjoyed great food, tennis and company!

Here's to another great 10 years!

Thanks to the Gardens at Padden Creek!

2010-05-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Check out our beautiful new pots at our entry way! I couldn't have done them without help from Wally at the Gardens at Padden Creek. I told him what we were looking for: two BIG pots, some evergreen, some color, some interest....and voila! Wally put it all together for me and even made it "plant by number" by arranging the plants in the box exactly how they should go in the pot. So, if you need some gardening help, tell Wally that Robin sent you!

For you gardeners, here is what is in our pots:
Taxus x media 'Hicksii' Hick's Yew
Heuchera 'Raspberry Ice'
Geranium Fantasia Violet
Fuschia (varigated leaf, purple bloom)
Ipomoea Margarita
Calibrachoa Million Bells Crackling Fire
Spirea Magic Carpet

Check out our Newsletter Archives!

2010-05-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs083/1102626578104/archive/1102693263894.html

Fitness Business Summit Marching Band Bellingham Tennis Club.MP4

2010-05-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Summer Programs are Ready!

2010-05-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

We have some exciting summer programs for you...
Of course we have the best tennis camps and clinics anywhere. In addition to that, we have two cycling programs that will knock your wheels off plus an outstanding Walking Challenge in the Fairhaven area.

Check it out:
Fairhaven Walking Challenge runs June 1-Aug 31 and is open to EVERYONE for FREE! Yes, FREE! Log your miles and if you walk 100 miles or more, we'll congratulate you with a commemorative T-shirt at the end of the summer! You can join our Walking Club class each Tuesday at 11:00 starting June 1st that leaves from the Club to walk through Fairhaven.

Ride the Tour de France...in Bellingham!
Ride with us every day the Tour is on (except July 4) and you'll get to ride the same profile as the Pros - all in one hour! (Because we are WAY faster, right?). You'll ALSO get to watch live coverage of the Tour. Starts July 3rd - pre-registration required. Only $25 Members, $75 guests.

Ride 542: Mt. Baker Hillclimb Training Camp
Train outdoors on hills learning technique, build power and endurance. Camp is offered on Tuesday evenings 6 - 7:30pm or Thursday mornings 6-7:30am. Only $149 includes Recreational Division entry for Ride 542. Starts week of July 26 for 7 weeks.

Click here to see details and sign up!

Help us Celebrate our 10th & 37th Year Anniversaries!

2010-04-22T15:26:00.001-07:00

Club Celebrates 10 Year & 37 Year Anniversaries

In May, the Bellingham Tennis Club celebrates 10 years of ownership by Doug & Robin Robertson. The Club opened its doors in December of 1973 and has seen several owners with the Robertsons purchasing the Club in May, 2000. The Club has seen a renewal in the last 10 years with remodeling, new equipment, unique programs, and a commitment to service.

“When Doug asked me (in 1999) if I thought I could run a tennis club, I said ‘Sure, how hard could THAT be?’ Well, I had a lot to learn starting with basic accounting practices to see what was working and what was not. The facility needed a lot of care and the membership was very low. We worked to rebuild the tennis programs, staff and membership and expanded the club to add the 5th indoor court. It took about 4 years for tennis to stabilize so that we knew we were going to make it. Doug kept his day job (as a lawyer) to make sure we could pay the bills.

In 2005 we replaced all of our circuit weight equipment with the best new equipment on the market called STRIVE. I’d never even heard of STRIVE until I sat down on the ab crunch machine only to rest while at a giant fitness trade show. Before I knew it the sales person was showing me how the rotating cam changes where you feel the resistance during your range of motion so that you work different parts of your muscle on the same machine in a very short amount of time. The following year, after doing lots of research on equipment, the STRIVE machines were the only ones that we felt passed all of our requirements for the Club – including ease of use and ability to adjust the equipment for a variety of client sizes and abilities. The weights start at 10 pounds and move up by 5 lb increments. All of the cardio equipment has been replaced and added to as well.

We had a problem, though, that very few people knew we offered “fitness only” memberships. You don’t have to play tennis to enjoy the Club! So in 2005 we added “Fairhaven Fitness” to our name to emphasize that we are a full service fitness facility as well as a tennis club.

Doug pretty much tricked me when we were talking about the possibilities at the Club…he is a tennis player, I am a cyclist. So we visualized a Club where both could happen, but that didn’t look like it was going to materialize because cycling didn’t seem to fit…yet. It wasn’t until 2006 when we brought in the LeMond Spinning bikes to add indoor cycling to the growing list of group fitness classes. We now offer the most comprehensive indoor cycling training programs the County with our “Cycle Moles” programs. Coming for the summer is the month long July “Ride the Tour” program with hour long spinning classes that mimic the profile of each stage of the Tour de France while we watch live coverage. And we are teaching a Mt. Baker Hillclimb camp with weekly training outdoors – taught by me (I am also a USA Cycling Coach.)

And we’ve taken one notch higher as the only Club to offer resting and metabolic assessments in the County as well. Several of our staff members are certified in administering the assessments which provide information for weight loss, fitness training, and/or performance athletics. The metabolic assessment system we use is a sophisticated scientific analysis process formerly only available to elite athletes. We use the information to help people speed up their metabolism, understand the safe way toward weight loss, provide training plans designed specifically for an individual’s metabolism, and information that will help improve athletic performance.

All this and our courts are still full with only about 20 tennis memberships available. We cap our tennis membership to make sure everyone gets playing time. Fitness still has plenty of room to grow.

What’s next? We are continuing to invest in the Club to help it to grow as a healthy resource in our community. We are going to change our name in the next year to something a little less wordy than “Bellingham Tennis Club and Fairhaven Fitness” that will reflect the Club that we have become. We are hosting our Anniversary Party and Member Appreciation Night on May 19th from 6:30-8:30pm and welcome folks to stop by and say hello. Our address is 800 McKenzie Avenue in Fairhaven. Additional information is available at www.bellinghamtennis.com or by calling 360-733-5050.

It has been a joy to be a part helping people to lead healthier lives through physical, mental, and social benefits of fitness and tennis. ~ Robin Robertson

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Clean air. Clean water. Green trees. Great community.
Do something today to honor and appreciate the beauty our area.
Go for a bike ride!
Pick up some trash on the beach (wear gloves!)
Go for a walk!
Plant something!
Pull some weeds in a community area!

Let's all pitch in to keep our community such a beautiful place to live.

The Tuba & the Flamingos

2010-04-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

The Tuba & the Flamingos

The Tuba stood, alone and strong

Bellowing her bold
and raucous song

Sometimes filled with joy to be
Sometimes reflecting
On life’s mystery

Of loved ones taken
In too short a time

Of friends gone
And the loss left behind

Still the joy of life
The Tuba must play

For the flamingos have flocked
To hear on this very day

In Memory of loved ones lost to cancer
Barbara Robertson
Katie Walker
Britt Mortimer

The flamingos appeared in our yard this morning on 4/2/10 – I only wish I had more time to enjoy them before going to work. We were honored and happy to have been flocked to support the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen Foundation.

~ The Robertsons

Sign a Sail for Pete Ambrose

2010-04-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

Pete Ambrose, husband of long-time member Pat Ambrose is at the Virgina Mason Stroke Unit. Pete is an avid sailor and his friends are bringing a dinghy sail to the Club on Friday, April 2nd, from 12pm - 4pm for anyone to sign with messages of encouragement.

Who Took our Flower Boxes?

2010-03-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

Mystery solved! Well, it really wasn't a mystery after all. You'd think removing old flower boxes would be simple. But oooohhh nooooo, there is always more to it than you think. We can thank our own Customer Service Rep, Stringer, Clinic Coach, and mastermind Chris McCoy for doing the lions' share of moving the dirt, removing the boxes, and filling in the holes with a special cement that allows water to percolate through it.

We will be placing some beautiful pots with plants to freshen up our look with our new double door entryway.

The dirt and fill material along with the left over 4 X 4s that are at the end of our property (by the garage door on the far right of the building) are FREE to anyone who wants. U-haul.

VIPs Visit our Club

2010-03-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

We had a very important group of Kindergarten kids visit our Club - they made sure that our racquets worked and the foam balls could be balanced. Thanks for helping us out kids!

2010-03-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

A good time was had in Palm Springs by many BTC members during the BNP Paribas Open. I was fortunate enough to travel down and join 11 of our members for five days of tennis, sun, and fun. We spent four mornings working on the skills snd strategy of tennis and then spent a few afternoons and evenings checking out and seeing if the pro's could hit the ball as well as we were in the morning. The Desert Princess resort where many of us stayed was comfortable and quite convenient. I would like to thank Tessa Rawitzer for having a party for many of the BTC members at her wonderful place at PGA West. This was the second annual trip down to Palm Springs during the pro tennis tournament and hopefully more will join us in the playing tennis in the morning and watching the world's best later in the day. Those that improved their tennis and state of mind were: Nik, Lada & Vessna Ivancic; Howard Koon; Keith Kron; John & Joyce Pedlow; Bill & Jean Pratt; Doug Robertson; Bob Tourtelot. I am taking names for next year and I always say the more the merrier. Thanks to the group for such a good time!

Quote for the Week -

2010-03-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them." - Michael Jordan

Quote for the Week -

2010-03-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

"When someone tells me there is only one way to do things, it always lights a fire under my butt. My instant reaction is, I'm gonna prove you wrong." - Picabo Street

Master Your Metabolism!

2010-03-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

We are taking our Metabolic Assessment system on the road to the Whatcom County's Employee Fitness Fair on March 17 at the Courthouse from 11:30am-1:30pm and to the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Spring Business Showcase at the Sportsplex on April 1st from 4 - 9pm.

You can see the Metabolic Assessment system in action and may even be lucky enough to try it out! We'll also have a drawing for some GREAT prizes including a 60 Minute Tennis Lesson (value up to $70), 60 Minute Personal Training Session (value up to $60!), Metabolic Assessment (value up to $149), and 3 Month Introductory Fitness Membership (value $199).

Don't miss this opportunity to find out how you can Master Your Metabolism, win prizes and gather some great information!

Quote for the Week -

2010-03-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

"Athletics should reduce stress, not increase it." - Mark Allen

Last Day to Bid on the TV & Stand!

2010-03-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

The bids are coming in! The current bid on the TV is $30 and for the Stand is $10. Bidding closes at 10pm tonight. If there is more than one person bidding at 9:55pm tonight, we will accept "blind bids" where you write your highest price and we open all the bids at 10pm to see who is the winner. You may call in your blind bid between 9:55 and 10pm as well.

Make a Bid!

2010-02-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

We have replaced our old TV with a beautiful wall mounted 52" flatscreen with high definition so you feel like you are there!

We know you can't wait to get your hands on our old TV and stand because you want it for the spare room, garage, or basement. You are in luck! We are taking bids until close of business Thursday, March 4th separately for the stand and the TV. Bid right now is $11 for the TV and $1 for the Stand. Can you beat that?

Quote for the Week -

2010-02-26T16:13:00.000-08:00

"The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it." - Wayne Gretzky

28 Days to a Healthier Heart

2010-02-23T15:45:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars for this Thursday at 7:00 pm to hear cardiologist Dr. Bhola talk about easy steps you can take for a healthier heart. Sign up online to reserve your space! Click here to sign up now!

Make that MARCH 18th

2010-02-18T08:57:00.000-08:00

Our alarm testing is not today (as it had been scheduled), but is on March 18th. We'll give you all a fair warning before that occurs.

FIRE ALARM TESTING on Thursday 2/18

2010-02-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

You might want to bring earplugs! We ask for your patience during our annual testing of our fire alarm and extinguisher systems. The testing will start at 7:00 am and will take about 2 hours. We appologize in advance for the noise.

Quote for the Week -

2010-02-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

"Hard work is the only way to go.
Strive to be the best you can be
and remember that when you try your best,
you can't ask any more from yourself,
and people can't ask any more from you." - Michael Chang

Quote for the Week -

2010-02-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

"Everyone has the desire to win,
but only champions have the desire to prepare." - unknown

Our Doorway is Changing!

2010-02-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

We are making progress with our new double door entryway and ask for your patience a little longer with using our side entrance. The doorway should be completed by Thursday! Here is how it looked at 2:25pm today

Our Trainer Phil rides with Levi Leipheimer!

2010-02-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

Phil Elsasser, one of our Club Personal Trainers and elite cyclist is now in Santa Rosa for a month training with his teammates from the Seattle based Hagens Berman Cycling Team. Yesterday, Phil got to ride with one of the cycling world's most well known riders.....Levi Leipheimer! We wish Phil all the best in his training and you can look forward to his return to the northwest this spring.

Phil is available for personal training plans and cycling coaching online while he is away from the Club. Let Ginny or Robin know if you are interested in working with Phil.

Meilani & Phil Got Married!

2010-02-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

Join us for cake and champagne to celebrate this happy occasion on Wednesday, Februrary 3rd at 1:15pm. On Saturday, Meilani and Phil were married at the top of Raptor Ridge in the Mt. Baker area. This picture, however, is of the two closer to sea level at the staff bowling tournament last night.

The Competition was HOT!

2010-02-01T07:47:00.000-08:00

Our annual staff bowling tournament brought out the vicious competitor in us all! Just kidding, we had a great time enjoying each other and throwing balls. However, we DID have some awesome bowlers with our newest Customer Service Rep and String Doug Jambor coming in first with a high game of 178 to win the coveted bowling shirt. Eric Obra (Meilani's son) was one pin behind with a game of 177. Debra Streifler had high hopes but couldn't quite lift her game high enough. Meilani had a great run of 4 strikes in 5 frames....check out our pictures!

Quote for the Week -

2010-01-22T12:34:00.000-08:00

"There are only two options regarding commitment; you're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in-between." - Pat Riley

Junior Team Match

2010-01-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Junior Team participated in a match at Team Fitness in Stanwood on Saturday, January 16th. Fun was had by all and the kids continue to improve. Thanks to Carla Lyons, Janet Clawson, and Judy Anders for the coach and parent support. Pictured are Zoe Roberts, Kristen Chalmers, Andrea Clawson, Alison Anders, Conner Belsher, and Reece Gilbert. Keep up the great work!

Tennis Memberships Almost Full!

2010-01-18T09:57:00.000-08:00

We are nearing our cap for Tennis Memberships and we have ONLY 20 Membership spaces left! So, if you are thinking about joining, now is the time! We are still offering 50% OFF initiation with a one-year agreement through the end of January (or sooner if we reach our Tennis Membership cap). Once we reach our cap, Initiation will return to full amount and we will start a wait list.

Don't wait! Join today!

Sunday Ride Update

2010-01-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Well look at that! It's now 8:15am and the howling wind has stopped. You are welcome to come inside to ride at the Club, but I won't be there to set up a movie. It will just be an open ride inside. I am heading out! ~Robin

Sunday Movie Ride Inside is on

2010-01-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

Today, Jan 17, we'll host a 9am indoor bike ride in our group fitness room. This ride does not have instruction, but we'll put on a movie for your entertainment. This is a great way to get in a ride when the weather outside is nasty. No need to sign up. FREE for Club Members and Fanatik Race Team Members, $5 for Shuksan Velo Club Members, and $10 for all other guests. First come, first served for our 15 Lemond or CycleOps bikes and 7 trainers for your own bike. Happy Riding! Robin

Quote for the Week -

2010-01-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

"I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability,
it was my mental ability." - Bruce Jenner

Collecting Your Stories...

2010-01-13T16:16:00.001-08:00

We always love to hear your stories about how you enjoy the Club - whether its the intense singles tennis match, a great strength training workout, unwinding in a yoga class, or chatting with your Club friends over a cup of coffee in our lounge area.

Member and journalist, Meri-Jo Borzilleri, is helping us to write up some of our member stories. We want to hear from New Members, Old Members, Members who have reached fitness goals (or are on their way), stories of weight loss, couples playing tennis together, fun playing singles, or..whatever you want to tell us about your experience here.

If you are ready to tell us your story, contact me at robin@bellinghamtennis.com. You can tell me as much as you want in your email! I hope I don't get too much spam by putting my email here!

Thanks - and I look forward to hearing from you!
~Robin Robertson
Club Owner and Manager

Winter Ball is Cancelled

2010-01-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel our Winter Ball that was to be held January 22nd. Sign-ups were too low to have a great event. Anyone who has paid for this event will receive a full refund. We'll try again for a fun social in the future!
Robin Robertson, Club Owner & Manager.