The Sports Club Do Homework To Find Right Facility of West Bloomfield ALISON ASHTON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS A Great Deal Gets Even Better Newly Expanded & Renovated Locker Rooms No initiation fee during Construction (through November 11, 1095) Individual Memberships still available for just $50/month. Couple Memberships for just $85/month. Great Deal Better The Sports Club is a than any other fitness club in Metro Detroit SHOT The following kudos were de- livered on behalf of the Michi- gan Podiatric Medical Association at its annual con- ference, held this year Sept. 29 in Grand Rapids: Come see what we have to offer. The Sports Club of West Bloomfield 6343 Farmington Road, just north of Maple Road Dr. Stuart Wertheimer, Dr. Marshall Solomon, Dr. Gary Kaplan, Dr. Mathew Borovoy, Dr. Norbert Ketai, Dr. Charles Kissel, Dr. Irvin Kanat and Dr. Randy Ka- plan are recipients of MPMA's Shining Star Awards. Above monthly rate is for a three-year fitness membership. Monthly dues and initiation fee vary for shorter term memberships. months later. As a consolation I was offered use of other gyms n the chain, but none were in the immediate area. So how can you find a gem and avoid a dud? Follow these steps before paying a hefty initiation fee: • Consider convenience. Like real estate, half of a gym's appeal is "location, location, location." If it's out of the way, it's too easy to find excuses not to go. Look for a facility that's close to home or work. • Pay a visit. A well-informed staffmember should give you the grand tour. The club should be clean, well-staffed and well-main- tained. Be sure to check out any amenities that you know you'll use (i.e., swimming pool, weight room, etc.). Also try to tour the gym at a time when you're like- ly to use it. • Decide what you plan to do at the gym. A gym doesn't need to have everything if your work- out plans are specific, and you don't want to pay for bells and whistles you don't need. For ex- OT Dr. Randy Kaplan is the 1995 recipient of the Department of Health and Human Services In- spector General's Integrity Award. The award recognizes Dr. Kaplan's contributions to the education of podiatrists on is- sues of medical fraud and abuse. G2G-9880 GO W hen I joined a gym a year and a half ago, it was a nice facility, though not exceptional. But the woman who showed me around pointed out that big plans were in the works. Since then, members have welcomed remodeled locker rooms and an expanded weight room that now boasts new state- of-the-art weight machines, free weights and a fleet of treadmills, stair steppers and stationary bikes. For exercisers who are eas- ily bored, there's a row of big- screen TVs set on various channels that can be tuned in on a Walkman. With all that (plus a pool, ten- nis courts and a full aerobics schedule), you'd think I joined an expensive health club. Hardly. It's a local YMCA and I pay less than $30 a month in dues. But I haven't always had such good luck. In college I joined a gym near campus — not fancy, mind you, but convenient — only to have it close down ("for relo- cation and remodeling") a few The Shining Star Awards are given in recognition and ap- preciation for outstanding ser- vice and dedication to podiatric resident training. These doctors each have dedicated more than 10 years of their professional lives to training residents. Dr. Marc Weitzman, Dr. Jef- frey Danto and Dr. Shay Rosenfeld have been named to the board of directors of MPMA, the statewide organi- zation of physician specialists of the foot and ankle. Dr. Steven Binder completed his four-year term as secretary of MPMA. He has been a member of the MPMA since 1985. Dr. Marc Borovoy has been named immediate past presi- dent of MPMA.