The Project 435 initiative to get members of the fitness industry to communicate for the industry to their members of Congress now has 244 of the 435 Congressional districts covered, which is a little over 50 percent, according to coordinator Kevin McHugh, COO at The Atlantic Club.
Project 435 is an initiative of the National Health and Fitness Alliance (NHFA), which began recruiting volunteers in March. The volunteers would be trained by NHFA. Each month, the NHFA will send the volunteers professionally prepared communication that the volunteer will personalize and forward to their representative since members of Congress respond better to their own constituents, according to McHugh. The goal is to ensure the fitness industry is speaking with one message: that exercise is essential and is a critical part of the healthcare continuum.
The advocacy is meant to be long-term and not just related to the COVID-19 pandemic, McHugh said.
The initial enrollment deadline is April 30.
So far, volunteers have come from a variety of segments of the industry including commercial clubs, studios, medical fitness clubs, YMCAs, JCCs as well as fitness professionals who operate their own businesses, according to McHugh.
Four states have no one who has volunteered: Oklahoma, which has five districts; North Dakota and South Dakota, which have one district each; and West Virginia, which has three districts.
States with more than 50 percent of their districts needing a representative are:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Texas
- Washington
The following states need just one more district covered:
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Massachusetts
The following states have all of their districts covered:
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Wyoming
- Vermont
To volunteer, fill out an application here.