I’d Never Heard of Gyrotonic(R) Before. . .Have You?

July 29th, 2010

One of the things I love about being on the agency side of the public relations business is that I have the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of services and businesses. One new project deals with GYROTONIC, an exercise methodology, that, though it’s been around for 20 years, I’d never heard of before. (I later learned it’s well-known in the international dance community and has been featured on “Regis and Kelly” and “The Rachael Ray Show.”) It’s designed to help those with chronic back pain, including dancers and athletes. Once I had my first meeting and witnessed instructor Carol Meyer working with a client and explaining how GYROTONIC literally saved her physical and mental well-being, I couldn’t wait to help her publicize her new practice in Katy, Texas.

What also resonated with me was how Meyer, a life-long ballet dancer, was so determined to turned her chronic pain issues around (which she has done) and is so committed to helping others do the same.

Meyer has a degenerative disc disease and scoliosis. After missing the landing on a routine ballet jump and aggravating her spine, she has emerged six years later from living with extreme, debilitating sciatica, slipped disc and a pinched nerve, into a high-performance exercise enthusiast who works out more than three hours daily. This summer, she became a certified GYROTONIC® instructor. GYROTONIC is a three-dimensional spiraling-toning system that is central to her physical turn-around. She credits the exercise program in helping renew her movement and spirit.

Only 3-1/2 years ago she had 16 screws and metal rods in her back and every part of her body movement was limited due to osteoarthritis resulting from my surgery. Her 2005 back surgery was so difficult — her neurosurgeon said her back had aged 10 additional years — she had the surgery reversed. “When I began GYROTONIC® classes in 2008, I couldn’t lean forward on the bench or even move my body from side-to-side” said Meyer. It took six months to work up to the Pulley Tower machine.

GYROTONIC helped rehabilitate her through spiraling and circular movement that creates space between the joints. “This is nothing short of a miracle in my life.”

Juliu Horvath, a Romanian gymnast, dancer and swimmer, developed GYROTONIC® equipment about 20 years ago in Germany after sustaining multiple injuries. He designed it around the musculature of the body with exercises that articulate and lubricate the joints, elongate and stretch the spine, and strengthen the muscles. The modality benefits people of all ages and body types for general conditioning. But it is invaluable for those who are physically challenged; athletes, such as gymnasts, runners, golfers and tennis players; professional dancers; people in rehabilitation after injuries; and others with scoliosis, arthritis, osteoporosis and diseases of the central nervous system.

Certified GYROTONIC Instructor Carol Meyer works with client Pam Epstein

Certified GYROTONIC Instructor Carol Meyer works with client Pam Epstein

Gyrotonic creates space within the joints that relieve the pain caused by arthritis as well as improves scoliosis.

The workouts begin with a series of spinal motions and stretches that use continuous, circular patterns to create rhythm in the body, fluidity and spinal flexibility. Then a specially designed pulley tower is used to address a sequence of exercises beginning with the arch/curl of the spine, the hamstrings, the upper body and abdominals series, the seated legwork, and the upper body openings, specifically designed for the shoulder girdle.

GYROTONIC® exercises allow the joints and muscles to move freely once again, creating increased range of motion and flexibility. In Meyer’s case, her symptoms have diminished with daily progressive workouts on the Pulley Tower and/or bench, although she still has some numbness in her lower back. The feeling was restored just this year, she noted.

“Because of my own healing journey, I am very sensitive to what others experience and can totally relate to what they’re going through,” said Meyer, who began training to be a certified instructor in California in January, 2010. “I’m helping clients increase their range of motion, alleviate pain and lessen the severity of neuromuscular difficulties. My motivation for pursuing certification was to motivate others to keep on moving.”

Therapeutic assistance is given during each exercise, feeling much like a massage, she explained.

Meyer currently holds classes bi-weekly for seniors at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church (where she also choreographs and performs liturgical dance) and conducts private lessons in Katy, Houston (Pilates Concepts) and Sugar Land (Bodycirque) by appointment.

For further information or an appointment, contact Carol Meyer, Inspiring Movement Instructor/Practitioner, cmeyer9@comcast.net.

Tennis Coach/Ace Athlete Helps Launch Firethorne Tennis Program

June 30th, 2010

Firethorne has been a client of Susan Farb Public Relations for five years and has a wealth of talented residents and staffers in the 1,400-acre master-designed community in Katy/Fulshear. I’ve had the good fortune to meet and work with several people there who have helped create this tight-knit, neighborly community, including a middle school competitive bicyclist, Madeleine McDuff, who trained for and participated in the National Junior Cycling Championships in California (Firethorne sponsored her local cycling team), a mom, Beverly Tucker, who helped raise the funds needed for the Woodcreek Elementary School playground cover to help protect children from damaging rays of the sun (her son has Alopecia Areata), and Fitness Center personal trainer Peggy Skaggs, who transformed herself from a size 16 to a size 4 and who went on to earn her certification as a personal trainer from the prestigious Cooper Institute in Dallas.

The newest addition to this Firethorne tradition is the new tennis coach, an ace on and off the tennis court! Resident athlete/sports coach Chris Dante didn’t even take up the sport until he was 30, after excelling in baseball (in 1988 he made it as far as the Olympic Trials), basketball (City University of New York team captain) and football, as well as boxing and Taekwondo (he has a black belt)!

“But after one too many broken noses, I turned to something less brutal — tennis,” said Dante, who helped launch Firethorne’s premiere tennis program this spring. With the new Women’s Tennis League and beginner tennis clinics now in full swing, Firethorne continues to demonstrate the Katy/Fulshear community’s commitment to fitness and competitive sports, through its hike and bike trails, swimming and running (Katy Triathlon at Firethorne), regulation lacrosse fields and personal training at the on-site exercise facility.

According to Firethorne Marketing Director Janet Burkett, the fact that Chris lives and coaches in Firethorne further illustrates the true spirit of community at Firethorne. “He’s more than a coach, he’s a neighbor and mentor and he is deeply committed to instilling in children the values of honor and virtue in sports competition.”

During the summer, Coach Dante offers two morning clinics for children (9 and 10 a.m.) and one 6 p.m. clinic for adult beginners. He also teaches private lessons. The tennis courts are open to Firethorne residents and their invited guests.

Dante worked as a coach at Iona College (Div. I) in New York and Providence College in Rhode Island. “At Iona College, I worked with Iona College Basketball Coach Jeff Ruland, an All-American out of Iona College who played in the NBA,” he said.

He approached John Brennan, tennis coach of the citywide champion St. Francis Preparatory High School in Queens, NY, to be his tennis coach and mentor. For the next three years, Dante played in tournaments all over New York City, He coached high school tennis in Providence, RI, before moving with his wife, Marina, and their three children to Katy, two years ago. He appreciates living in Katy because of the best schools and it is “a wonderful place to raise children. My wife loved Firethorne because it looked like ‘real Texas.’ I bought her dream house here,” he said.

“Coaching is a labor of love,” said Dante. “I love being outside with the kids — teaching and coaching them.” He also enjoys introducing many of their parents to tennis, as well as coaching baseball and football through his company, Sports Mania.

The four fully lit hard courts, Firethorne’s newest amenities, are located adjacent to the lacrosse fields in the development.

FirethorneTennis-ChrisDante-June'10WebFirethorne, located 15 miles west of Houston’s Energy Corridor, blends the best nature has to offer: 150 acres devoted to parks and recreational amenities, a 12-acre lake with surrounding greenbelt, hike/bike trails, parks and playgrounds, discovery-rich wildlife observation area and a natural bird habitat. Served by the award-winning Katy I.S.D., Firethorne combines the vibrancy of West Houston with the small-town charm of Katy/Fulshear. To tour Firethorne, take I-10 West and exit Pin Oak to FM 1463, call 281-395-1440 or visit www.firethorne.info. # # #

Photo ID: Firethorne Resident Tennis Coach Chris Dante (center), who has helped launch Firethorne’s new tennis program, is on the court during a summer children’s clinic with residents (bottom/center, then clockwise): Boston Blake, Hannah Blake, Julian Martinez (far left with basket of tennis balls), Najee Boyd, Alissa Basaldua, Roel Martinez (hidden), and Jean Basaldua. Firethorne opened four new tennis courts this spring.

AMI Raises $65,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana;

April 29th, 2010

Last year, in honor of its 30th year in business, Association Management, Inc. (AMI) set a goal to raise $30,000 — the equivalent of five children’s wishes — to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana. Though the economy was down, donors’ spirits were high and under the stewardship of its co-founders, Glenda and David Regenbaum, the company more than doubled its original goal with a total of $65,000.

“We granted five wishes last June and will present the balance of $35,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana today to fulfill wishes of a potential of ten children who have life threatening medical conditions,” said AMI President Glenda Regenbaum, founder of the Houston-based homeowners association management company with her husband, David, Chairman and CEO, in 1979.

AMI, along with approximately 200 employees, and 44 vendor companies, contributed the $65,000, a major philanthropic achievement for AMI and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. One of the Chapter’s Board Members, Cheryl Smith, and her son Robin Spidell, who, as a child, was a Make-A-Wish recipient, accepted the gift on behalf of the organization. Robin plans to graduate from Pearland High School on June 4 and has been accepted into Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX for the fall. This summer, he will be going to the United Kingdom with a trip sponsored by one of his history teachers, Mr. Lane. Additionally, he will be doing mission work with his church, Friendswood United Methodist Church, and performing in a musical through United Players.

AMI made the presentation at an ice cream party today at their Northwest Houston corporate offices. An ice cream social is the ideal venue, according to Smith, whose teen-aged son, Robin, had one simple wish 13 years ago. He wanted to be “the boss of the ice cream man” in their Pearland neighborhood. As a child, Robin had T-cell Lymphoma, a form of cancer that affected his lungs and immune system. His treatment over two-and-one-half years included aggressive chemotherapy and painful spinal taps. He was often at Texas Children’s Hospital as much as three to four days a week for two and one-half years. Smith remembers when he was at home recovering; he looked forward to visits from the local ice cream man.

“I remember that I couldn’t wait for the ice cream man to come by. At the time, that was a big deal,” said Spidell. “I think that’s also when I first realized how expensive things could be.” Robin also noticed that some neighborhood children didn’t have the money to buy ice cream treats. Robin wished he could solve that problem and soon, with help from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana, and free ice cream donated by Blue Bell, his wish came true. In May 1997 Robin put on a hat dubbing him “The Ice Cream Man,” boarded the truck and handed out free frozen ice cream treats to the children in his neighborhood.

“The whole cancer treatment process was hard on Robin and each member of our family. But he had this incredible opportunity, and he really wanted to give to other people. That’s just how he is. Even as a typical teenager he has the best heart. He will always help anyone. As a mom, I have a lot to be thankful for,” said Smith.

Association Management, Inc. (AMI) is the Houston area’s oldest and largest privately owned company offering a full range of professional management services to a wide variety of communities. One of the first Accredited Association Management Companies (AAMC) in the nation, AMI was acknowledged by The Community Associations Institute (CAI) as an outstanding professional community association management company based on its experience, professionalism, and continuing education. In addition to the Pearland office, the company currently has regional offices in Kingwood, The Woodlands and Austin and has a corporate office in Houston.
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The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Wish children are referred to the Foundation by their parent, legal guardian, doctor, or social worker. Once Make-A-Wish has been contacted, a medical release form is sent to the child’s primary physician. Upon medical approval, a volunteer team sets up a time to visit with the child to determine the one wish in that child’s heart. With the help of the Chapter office, the wish team makes the necessary arrangements for the wish to come true (average wish cost is $6,000). The goal is to provide a joyful and meaningful experience that gives the immediate family time together away from medical treatments & medical bills

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Finding My Inner Rock Star. . . PR & More

April 25th, 2010

2009-10 JCC Arts & Culture Steering Committee Presented Susan Farb Morris this Plaque

2009-10 JCC Arts & Culture Steering Committee Presented Susan Farb Morris this Plaque


Recently former rock ‘n roll radio personality Dayna Steele published a book about how you can “Find Your Inner Rock Star. Steele, an author/motivational speaker/social media consultant and entrepreneur, spoke to my Women’s City Club last week and her message resonated in terms of my public relations work and my volunteer work in the community, specifically with the JCC of Houston.

Steele said that every day you wake up, get out of bed and set your feet on the floor — your stage. What you need to perform on that stage are: Passion, Knowledge, Relationships and Appreciation. That’s what keeps us fresh and at optimum performance level.

Passion.
In addition to having a passion for my work, I have a passion for my volunteer work. Five years ago I was asked to co-chair the JCC Jewish Book & Arts Fair, one of the largest, most successful Jewish book & arts fairs in the U.S. The time commitment is tremendous and I wondered if I could maintain my high energy level and service to my clients and do justice to the Book & Arts Fair, which features 40+ programs over two weeks. I had to accept — it was such an honor to be asked. In the end, I found that my passion for both saw me through the two-year JCC commitment (I chaired the event in 2006.) The experience was so thoroughly meaningful, thanks to the involvement of fellow-volunteers and staff, and such thrilling opportunities as introducing actor Jason Alexander to a standing-room-only crowd of 900 people, and comedian/writer Andy Borowitz, or being in the Green Room with Senator Barbara Boxer and internationally renowned attorney and author Alan Dershowitz.

Knowledge.
What a thrill it was to be able to instill my know-how in public relations to enhance the publicity for JCC Arts & Culture events. Whether it was developing media relations strategies, helping set up media interviews with the Houston Chronicle and FOX 26 or networking with nonprofit arts organizations, I relished being able to utilize my knowledge in public relations to the benefit of the JCC and the greater community to promote Jewish books, authors, film and visual arts.

Relationships.
After completing the Book & Arts Fair in 2006, I was asked to chair the JCC Arts & Culture Steering Committee, which oversees Dance Month, Jewish Book & Arts Fair, Jewish Music Festival, the Deutser Gallery/Art Committee and Jewish Film Festival. Thanks to relationships I’ve nurtured throughout my life and public relations career, I was able to tap into new people and resources to promote collaborative programs with the JCC. New additions to the committee brought varying perspectives and new relationships were forged. I relied heavily on the support of the JCC staff and treasured the partnership with JCC Arts & Culture Program Director Marilyn Hassid.

Appreciation.
My term is up this spring and it was time to thank everyone for their incredible service. The incoming chair, Barbara Winthrop Rose, decided she wanted to host my last committee meeting as chair at her home to make it more special. I conducted the regular business meeting, then went around the room to thank everyone in attendance for something specific they had done during my tenure in support of JCC Jewish Arts & Culture. To my astonishment, Barbara presented me with a gift from the committee signifying their appreciation of my work. It was such a meaningful tribute; my heart swelled. The gift is an exquisite Michael Aram tray with the artist’s signature olive branch sculpture. It was such a moving experience — to be thanked for doing what brings one joy and meaning is a thrill beyond words.

So there you have it. The story of my Inner Rock Star.

Branding and Promoting a Basic HOA Seminar: AMI Boot Camp

April 24th, 2010

Earlier this spring, Association Management Inc. (AMI), a Houston-based homeowners association (HOA) management company, retained Susan Farb Public Relations to promote a free seminar the company was planning to do in Kingwood, Texas. The goal was to help build AMI name recognition in the Kingwood market and generate new business opportunities in the north Houston suburb. The plan was to host a series of free seminars directed to individuals who currently serve as board members of their homeowners associations, starting with “The Rules & Regulations of Being a Director of the Board of a Homeowners Association (HOA).”

What a mouthful of a title!

Susan Farb Public Relations’ initial response was that name wasn’t going to fly; it was too cumbersome and sounded like a tedious continuing education class. Another strike against the initial plan was that the series of courses would be held at an airport hotel.

AMI charged Susan Farb Public Relations with branding the seminar in a way that would garner Kingwood-area publicity and, in turn, generate interest amongst area HOA board members to attend. AMI’s attendance goal was 30 HOA board members, which included existing client communities, as well as board members from prospective communities.

Action plan: Susan Farb Public Relations took the HOA “basic training” theme and recommended naming the sessions the “AMI-Kingwood HOA Boot Camp.” AMI upgraded the venue to a country club and custom-designed an invitation with military camouflage as the background to carry out the boot camp theme. (graphic designer: Uri Kelman.) Invitations were mailed to existing client board members.

Results: Advance publicity included articles and listings in Kingwood-area newspapers and Kingwood-specific websites as well as in the Houston Chronicle business section. Susan Farb Public Relations optimized the release and posted it online.

Surpassing the Goal – The AMI Boot Camp signed up a legion of 38 attendees for the company’s first-ever Kingwood seminar, led by AMI Chairman/CEO David Regenbaum. Of those 38, 23 were new prospects. Three communities represented at the event requested proposals from AMI with regard to managing their communities.

Susan Farb Public Relations coverage from the local Kingwood newspaper. The reporter attended the Boot Camp and wrote a positive news article about the AMI Boot Camp that was published in print and online. The article announced there would be additional seminars, which generated phone calls by additional HOA board members who wanted to sign up. The AMI Kingwood office is now “on the map” in the homeowners association management business in its home community.

AMI now plans to expand the Boot Camp concept into its other offices, such as The Woodlands, starting this summer, and Susan Farb Public Relations AMI Logoplans to apply its PR Fairy “magic” to these new markets as well.

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