Tis The Season
Christmas can be a joyous season but also a hectic one. Trying to find those perfect gifts at the mall when you're lucky to simply find a parking spot - then the crazy crowds once you get inside. Planning and delivering a perfect meal for you and your extended family; baking all those holiday goodies; putting up the Christmas tree; decorating both inside and out. Personally, I love every minute of it. I feel there is enough negative things going on in this world not to take the opportunity during this season to embrace all that is good and pass that feeling on to anyone I meet within my day.
This is also a great opportunity to do the same for your business and your community. What better time to position your company as more than just a place to work out in your community and become a valued part of it. There are many different opportunities this time of year. Two common ones are toy and food drives. You can get your members involved and make it a challenge to see how many new toys they can bring in. You can start the process with your own donation or create some sort of matching program where you will bring in a toy for every one brought in. Even in these financially strapped times I'm sure your members would enjoy the opportunity to spread good cheer by spending no more than they drop at Starbucks everyday. You could even throw down the gauntlet and make it a friendly challenge between you and other local fitness facilities.
Once you have the ball rolling I'm sure your local radio station would love to do a quick interview with you on what you're doing to help the community. Once the toys are collected you can get volunteers from your staff to hand out the toys at the local shelter or hospital. Again, I would contact the local paper as this is the perfect story for this time of year which could include photos of your staff handing out the gifts. You have now done a great public service that you and your staff can feel great about. Your company has also shown that it is a valued part of your community. Radio interviews can be recorded and listened to on your web site as well as a display of any other media. If a story is done on you, this can be framed and also put up in your club.
So spread the joy of this season of giving and get involved in your community!