To the editor: I go to Total Fitness five days a week and only miss days where I have a conflict. I know it has helped my heart as well as my lungs and overall well being. It is run daily by knowledgeable and friendly folks and the participants are friendly and overall good people. So, besides the health benefit, which makes my cardiologist smile, it also serves as somewhat of a social outlet. Wrote this part so you would know where I was coming from. We know how beneficial a social outlet can be as a result of the covid isolation. Medical people understand the benefits.
I understand a decision to cut out a department not financially viable. We all, excluding the Federal Government, have budgets to adhere to. My biggest complaint is with all these folks going to Total Fitness, I venture to say none of them knew the gym was losing money – I did not.
In fact, we still do not know how much. And, we all come from varied backgrounds, and I would also venture to say collectively we would have enough smarts to come up with some alternative ideas to allow it to operate in the black instead of the red. But, we were not given the chance for input/help. I know myself, who is so fortunate to have my membership paid for by my insurance, would have gladly contributed an additional monthly fee to keep the gym open.
Yes, there are two other alternatives in Cornelia which my insurance will pay for but I will not be driving there on a daily basis to join another fitness center. It will not be convenient for me to do so. I hope the powers that be will reconsider, or at the very least, keep us open with an extension to give them some time to solicit ideas from the existing employees and members and perhaps, yes perhaps, even come up with a solution which will be a win-win for the hospital as well as the community. Thank you for listening.
Barbara Nellesen
Clarkesville