Introducing: Scott Gillespie Meet a new member of IHRSA's board of directors: Scott Gillespie, the president of Saco Sport and Fitness, in Saco, Maine. Scott Gillespie's career path is not unlike that of many other successful fitness professionals: He started off in 1983, as an energetic fitness instructor, and then, over a period of eight years, worked his way up to GM at HealthTrax International. With a decade of experience under his belt, he then decided he was ready to purchase his own health club: Saco Sport and Fitness. But nothing could have prepared him for what happened next. On a fateful day in 1994, Gillespie's newly realized dreams literally went up in flames, when a fire destroyed his club. However, he didn't give up; the redesigned and rebuilt facility opened a year later, and has since been renovated and expanded. Gillespie has also served on the hoard of directors of the New England Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (NEHRSA) and is a founding member of Maine Clubs for Fair Competition. "Having watched my club burn to the ground, I've learned that every situation presents us with possibilities, and the biggest problems often provide the biggest opportunities," he reflects. During his time on the board, Gillespie would like to facilitate the passage of national legislation that would help to promote physical activity. He'd also like to have a hand in helping IHRSA build partnerships with like-minded agencies to increase awareness of the benefits of physical activity on a national scale. "I believe the greatest challenge we face is the cultural perception that exercise is chore-hard, uncomfortable, and not worth it." he explains. "We need to do a better job of helping people to understand the long-term benefits of being physically active, moving the focus from 'quick fixes' to sustainable vitality." Club Business International August 2010