AEA E-News – April 2010
Editor Mark Grevelding
AEA E-News is designed to provide you with the information you need to know in a condensed and concise manner, as well as familiarize you with all that the AEA website has to offer!
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IT IS FINALLY APRIL!
UP FRONT - IAFC & AEA History According to Angie
Okay, so last month you wrote in that you LOVED hearing Angie dish up some dirt on the past. So at the risk of being unoriginal, I went back to the source for more colorful and insightful recollections from the woman who has been there, done that and seen it all.
Angie takes us back to the origins of AEA, the creation of IAFC and of course she reveals some candid IAFC memories as only she can! And yes, that is Julie See, Ruth Sova and Angie Proctor in the vintage photo above. To find out who the AEA trainers were in the vintage IAFC photo, scroll down to the end of Angie’s IAFC/AEA article.
How did the concept for IAFC originate?
Well, as mentioned last month, IAFC was originally the Aquatic Exercise Conference and the first one was in Chicago in April 1988. In 1990, the conference name officially changed to the International Aquatic Fitness Conference (IAFC).
Ruth Sova had traveled across the USA and overseas and realized that the company she created as the “USA Chamber of Commerce in Aquatic Fitness” needed to host an event where presenters from all over the USA could share their knowledge in one location. The first conference had 43 presenters in 1988 and over 200 delegates from a few countries, mostly United States, Canada, Japan and Australia. In 1993, Ruth kicked it up a notch and truly made it international with more international presenters than ever. There was a strong contingency from many countries including Japan, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. She was a success in bringing the aquatic fitness world together at one event in one location!
Then, in 1994, the first year AEA relocated to Florida, I took over IAFC management. Well, yes I was “different” and although the conference was already in planning stages prior to the change in management at AEA, I decided to shake things up a bit. I was warned over and over again to be very careful and I pretty much ignored everyone! I did change things up, at least what I could, and we ran our first successful conference! It was my parents first time at IAFC and up until that week in May in Minneapolis for IAFC 1994 they had NO CLUE what I did for a living with AEA and thought I was crazy to work in the fitness industry. “I was throwing my life away,” my father often reminded me. After being a part of IAFC and starting to see the fitness industry growing, he never ever questioned me again regarding AEA or my profession. Mind you, he still gives me advice and drives me crazy with my style versus his style but he always pitches in. AEA grew into the step-child of the Proctor family.
To this day, I still feel that IAFC provides an amazing educational venue for aquatic and land fitness professionals and anyone involved in the health and fitness industries. We try to make it a family environment, relaxed and fun. I think the crew and staff members, AEA personnel, sponsors, presenters and exhibitors make this happen! There are so many fantastic people that give so much back to the association. It always astounds me! The presenters are amazing and dedicate nearly a whole week to make sure the delegates from around the world get a bang for their buck! Like Julie says, it’s the opportunity for the world to come together in a comfortable atmosphere where they are treated like family and friends.
Before going on, Angie shares a little history that many AEA members may or may not know.
In 1993, Ruth approached Julie and me and said she’d like to pass the reigns of running AEA to us. Her primary focus was turning towards aquatic therapy, hence the birth of the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute (ATRI). It was a hard decision for Julie and me, but very exciting and we were so honored. At the time, I owned a restaurant in Florida and was also a full time fitness director at a club. Julie owned a club in West Virginia. It was also the second year of our growing company, Innovative Aquatics, which had us on the road quite a bit. Julie’s mother was dying and she couldn’t really focus and just told me to make whatever decision I felt best and that she would stand by me. We consulted with some friends and colleagues, Pat Fossella and our dear departed friend, Kim Huff. Pat and Kim were just conference groupies at this point, but they were great supporters of both Julie and me. With their support and dedication to help us, we accepted Ruth’s very SCARY offer.
The beginning of 1994 was the scariest and hardest year for both Julie and me in this industry. Ruth had made two “little AEA Trainers” the president and executive director of AEA. The industry took this pretty hard and we lost members. We lost the “Ruth Groupies” and, wow, the slamming we got from the people with “20 years plus experience” in an industry that had barely risen out of infancy, well let’s just say it was rough. Ruth, Vicki, Gina, Barbara and others from the old AEA helped us in so many ways to make the transition but it was still very difficult. We were so naive and we really didn’t understand why people disliked us; people who didn’t even know us. Well, actually some did know us and, unfortunately, even some friends turned to enemies!
Ruth had always been my mentor and still is in many ways today. She guided us as best as she could, but I’m sure at times she thought I was acting like a wild and crazy woman (child), taking too many chances and trying too many new things so early in the change in management. I think she probably had nightmares that I was running her baby into the ground! Maybe she still does! We made it through the first year –barely. We had to borrow money from friends at 0% interest. I took a minor salary, I think it was $10,000 per year and Julie worked for free that year and for many years that followed!
After a rough first year, the “odd numbered years” became our favorite at AEA and 1995 was our banner year! That was our first conference to manage by ourselves and with membership changes and a doubling in numbers after a bad year; it was onward and upward from that point on. This was the big year of change in the AEA certification and many more areas of the association. We quickly grew in 1995.
Still to this day, I feel that IAFC 1995 was the big turning point for our annual conference. The conference had 750 people from over 25 countries! IAFC offered 27 pre-cons - whoa, those were the days! The conference itself went from about 65 sessions to over 130 sessions. Format, schedule and style changed, meals were included (to this day, people still yell at me for this one) and wow, the host site was the famous Biltmore Hotel which had just recently re-opened up and we were one of their first conventions. The Biltmore Hotel was the famous hotel of Al Capone’s back in the gangster days. All the AEA Trainers stayed in his famous suite on the top of the hotel that year. What a group that was!
Okay, enough history. Let’s get down to some nitty gritty.
Name an IAFC moment that you still have a hard time finding funny?
Keynote speeches and I’d prefer not to mention the years. I found many years not too funny! These are a pet peeve of mine and maybe one day the keynote speeches will come back. Maybe, but I highly doubt it. I think Len, Julie and a few others would agree with me on this one!
Please reveal at least one IAFC moment that you probably shouldn't reveal?
Well, it would have been IAFC 1994 in Minneapolis. I was getting ready to teach the first class of the day and we were in the large pool at the University. One of our sponsor representatives at the time was a little bit pushy at 6:30am in the morning and I had to teach at 6:45am. There were probably 200 or so people in the water and on deck. I had the microphone on and was ready to get started and she came up to me right on deck/stage and started yelling at me with regards to equipment issues. Okay, yes, I was the conference planner but at this moment I was a presenter. Anyway, I turned to my class in the water and said “excuse me for one moment, keep jogging and I’ll be right back.” Well, I THOUGHT I turned my microphone off. I took the woman in the locker room that was right behind me and we were screaming and arguing like you wouldn’t believe. Many four-letter words had escaped from me that morning as I was so angry and she was acting like such a child. I actually thought we were going to get into a fist fight! Needless to say, we settled and I returned to deck to the shocked faces in the pool and the awkward silence on deck. That’s when I realized my microphone wasn’t in the off position! I just stood there speechless and then the pool and deck just erupted in applause and laughter. I’m sure some attendees today still remember that moment! I think it was the highest scoring evaluations I had ever received for a class!
Share an IAFC experience that moved you to tears?
The very first KPH Class Finale we hosted at IAFC 2008. The attendees, presenters, staff and crew were just so amazing in their support of the class that we put together on behalf of Kim Huff, who was AEA’s Marketing Director before she passed away in July 2007 of ovarian cancer.
Name one person you wanted to murder at IAFC and why?
Oh, that’s easy. It would be Donna Blackmon. Her and I would always start out each IAFC setting up registration and we’d never see eye-to-eye. Not a year went by that we didn’t have a fair amount of screaming matches that made people run out of the room! We are much better now and we both behave! I love you Donna!
Last year, the big surprise was your wedding. What surprises do you have in store this year?
Well, if I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise now would it? Honestly, I’m hoping the AMAZING line up of presenters and classes are going to make this one of the best educational conventions yet! The presenters are fantastic!
If you could write your favorite memorable experience of IAFC 2010 now, what would that memory be?
This is an easy one too! Sunday Morning, April 25 at 7:00am when I get in my SUV and drive home to sleep for a week and then start the next process for IAFC 2011 all over again!
Thank you Angie, we’ll be sure to check back in with you for more candid trips down memory lane.
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Did you guess who the trainers in the picture were?
Answer: Laura Ribbins, Mushi Harush, Marti Boutin, June Lindle-Chewning and Sandy Stoub
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THIS IS IT! LAST CALL!
IAFC April 20-24 Orlando, Florida
There are still spaces left in the conference sessions and rooms waiting for you at the Wyndham Resort in Orlando.
Join us for the most anticipated aquatic fitness event of the year. With over 160 exciting sessions and the world’s top presenters, IAFC 2010 is destined be the biggest and best conference yet!
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WHAT’S NEW
NEW! Online Education is Available on the AEA Website.
Oh boy, thought you had enough CECs but are short? Good news! AEA has revamped its approach to online education and opened it up to ALL AEA certified professionals. You can collect CECs in the comfort of your own home. Simply log onto the computer and immerse into AEA Online Education!
- Purchase the program, download the PDF and read it at your leisure.
- Sign in and begin.
- Complete the online quiz form!
- Enjoy instant grading & scoring!
- Automatically track your CECs!
It’s now easier than ever to earn quality education at AEA at very affordable prices. AEA members save even more!
Click here to check out the NEW Online Education Opportunities
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NEW! AEA Unveils a New & Green Approach to Evaluations for IAFC and Weekend Events.
Heading to IAFC or a springtime Weekend Event? If so, you will notice a whole new method for evaluating the courses and presenters. AEA continues the march towards a greener environment with all new online evaluations. For all future AEA events and conferences, paper evaluations will no longer be given out. Instead, an email will be sent to attendees after the event with an invitation to fill out an evaluation online. Attendees at select events were the first to test out the new system. So far so good! The returns have been pouring in and the participants seem to like having the extra time to reflect and put more thought into their comments. Not to mention that filling out an online evaluation makes you eligible for some exciting prizes. Weekend event evaluations take approximately 10 minutes to complete and are very easy to follow! Yes, we really want you to fill out these evaluations and we are making the reward “greener” with prize drawings.
The IAFC 2010 conference online evaluation survey was recently completed and is ready to launch for the big event! This detailed evaluation was created by Donna Blackmon, AEA’s Assistant Director of Administration. The undertaking was enormous given the amount of conference sessions but Donna did an awesome job and we think all IAFC attendees will agree! The conference online evaluation survey will take longer to complete, but the time you spend will be worth it! Because of your responses, the industry and events hosted by AEA will continue to thrive and improver each year!
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AEA WEEKEND EVENTS
May-June Events
Good news for the Bay State. A weekend event was recently added for Franklin, MA (Boston area) on the weekend of June 26 & 27!
Below is a listing of all events for May-June.
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May 7
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Webster NY
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Certification (& provider workshops) with Mark Grevelding
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May 14 & 15
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Anchorage AK
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Certification & Workshop with Laurie Denomme
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May 15 & 16
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Gardena CA
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Certification & Workshops with Mark Grevelding
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May 22 & 23
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N. Myrtle Beach SC
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Certification & Workshops with Mark Grevelding
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June 5 & 6
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Plymouth Meeting PA
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Workshops with Judi Powers
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June 6
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Rye NY
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Certification with MaryBeth Marotto
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June 11
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Spokane WA
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Certification (& provider workshops) with Pauline Ivens
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June 26 & 27
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Wyckoff NJ
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Certifications & Workshops with MaryBeth Marotto
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June 26 & 27
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Amarillo TX
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Certifications & Workshop with Teresa Triche
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June 26 & 27
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Franklin MA
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Certifications & Workshop with Seth Snider Copley
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Events after July 1 will start being added to the calendar at the end of April.
Rumor! Word has it that a cherished Northeast Regional Conference may return to the schedule in November 2010. It has been seven years since AEA has been here. Can you guess the city?
The rumor mill is also pumping out innuendo regarding a regional return to the Pacific Northwest. Can you guess which city?
Stay tuned to the June edition of E News for further details.
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I want to host an AEA Weekend this Fall!
AEA sets up weekend events by request only. If you are interested in hosting an AEA event at your facility and would like to receive a host request form, please email Mark Grevelding, AEA’s Programs & Promotions Coordinator: mark@aeawave.com
NEW! Everything and anything you need to know about hosting an event is posted on the website under the revised FAQ section.
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WHO’S WHO
The IAFC Icon
Okay, so she occasionally takes a cat nap in a chair, but jeez give her a break. At IAFC, she routinely puts in 12-14 hour days making sure that everything goes smoothly in the pools. Pat Fossella is truly an IAFC icon. She is the Boss Lady of the conference pools and even the ultimate Boss Lady (Angie) doesn’t like to mess with Fossella’s pool control. Pat is also the Boss of the Board, serving as AEA’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. 
Pat has been staffing at IAFC for as long as anyone can remember. She has been a long time supporter of AEA and of Angie Proctor and Julie See. In addition to staffing at IAFC, Pat has assisted at numerous AEA regional conferences and weekend events. She calls herself a roadie and her email moniker is DaRodie. Yes, she is a Jersey Girl and lives in Cranford, NJ with her husband. Pat retired in January 2010 after serving for nearly 30 years as the Cranford Pools Facilities Manager. She was so highly regarded in her community that the long-unnamed driveway leading into the pool complex was named Pat Fossella Place upon her retirement.
So what is she going to do now that she is retired? According to a recent article written in Pat’s hometown newspaper, her and her husband plan on taking a cruise in July and then in October they will be touring Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. They also recently bought a condo in southwest Florida and they have been enjoying their first Florida winter spending time attending spring training baseball games. When I tried to interview Pat for this article, she was in a hurry because she was running late for a Bocce festival.
Of course, wintering in southwest Florida means that Pat is close to AEA’s headquarters. Close enough to currently be working part time in the office a few days a week. Yup, call up AEA and you just may get Pat on the line.
Supporting AEA has been Pat’s passion. Rumor has it that if you cut her she bleeds AEA. Her fellow supporter of many, many years was Kim Huff, AEA’s former marketing director who lost her battle to ovarian cancer in July, 2007. Kim was Pat’s partner in crime at IAFC. In fact, one of her favorite IAFC stories naturally involved Kim. According to Pat, the year was 2003 and IAFC was at the Sanibel Harbor Resort in Ft Myers, Florida. Apparently, Angie decided to play a practical joke on Pat and Kim because they had been out very late and imbibing the way only true roadies can do. Angie was a bit peeved at their late night antics given their early morning duties and so she decided to move their car (which actually was a 4Runner Angie loaned them) to a different parking lot just to give them a good scare. Well, the scare worked and the hung-over duo started making a list of things they could sell in order to pay for the missing 4Runner that they thought they had lost. Yes, the car was leased in Angie’s name! Just as they were getting ready to call the police, Angie confessed to her little stunt. Well, one good practical joke deserved another, or so Pat and Kim thought. While Angie was busy teaching that day, they emptied out her entire hotel room of all personal belongings AND crucial conference administrative materials, including onsite cash and the main AEA computer. As you can imagine, Angie was NOT happy when she returned to a completely empty room and some very valuable missing items. Let’s just say that the day ended for Pat and Kim as miserably as it had started.
While Pat says she has lots of stories, her favorite memories are simply meeting people from all over the world and making new friends each year. And like countless others, she says that IAFC is something she looks forward to all year long. We salute you Pat for your support and dedication!
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TRAINING IDEAS
New! Evolving Equipment for an Expanding Industry
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HEALTH & NUTRITION FOR YOU
Any good nutritionist will tell you that you should not completely deprive yourself of culinary joy as it can cause a total relapse from a sensible eating plan. Well, we are going to collectively try to keep hundreds of people from falling off the wagon at IAFC with an evening of culinary joy. Angie has been working hard on the menu for the Friday evening Mardi Gras celebration. And yes, for those of you who just have to eat healthy all the time, she has included some healthy, yet tasty, fare. But for those of you who feel you can justify a “free” night given all the calories burned in the pool during the day, we have got the menu for you. Check it out!
Yes, we like our food at IAFC. We do burn a lot of calories and we think it is important to fuel the energy output. The IAFC conference also includes healthy buffet lunches on Thursday and Saturday and a hearty breakfast buffet on Friday. Angie is determined to get the recipes for some of the chef’s delicious Mardi Gras dishes and she has promised to share!
Menu Friday evening:
Starters:
Mixed Fresh Tossed Salad
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Main:
Blackened Grouper with Mango Salsa
Churassca Top Round of Beef
Chicken Jambalaya
Sauces: Chimichuri, Mango Salsa and Brazilian Cherry BBQ
Sauteed Onions, Green & Red Peppers
Dirty Rice
Brown Steamed Rice
Steamed Broccoli
Steamed Cauliflower
Black Beans
Cornbread & Honey Butter
Dessert:
Mini Assorted Parfait Shooters & Mardi Gras Kings Chocolate Layer Cake
Bon appétit!
See you at IAFC! If not this year, make plans for next year!