Check Out Our New Television Commercial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk_mMBWa2T1HQQ2_RDvcxYA

How to Use Our Matrix Selectorized Machines

View the videos on our YouTube channel for instructions on how to use the 9 new Matrix Selectorized pieces of fitness equipment we recently installed in our fitness center. The videos feature personal trainers Rob Ordaz and Megan Rupiper.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk_mMBWa2T1HQQ2_RDvcxYA

Celebrating Veterans

In honor of Veteran's Day on Tuesday, November 11, we want to introduce just a few of our members who served our country.

Jack Moore enlisted in the Navy in 1951 during the Korean War. He spent almost four years on a destroyer escort DE341 as a Machinist 2nd Class working in the engine room, boilers, and evaporators. During the warm months, Jack was stationed in Florida with the ship. When the weather turned cold, the ship went north, and so did Jack. When they reached Boston, Jack volunteered to play basketball. "I would have volunteered for anything just to get off that ship," said Jack. He played for three seasons for the Northern Atlantic Fleet.

With his strong desire to get off that ship, Jack turned around and got right back on, working as a river boat captain along the Illinois river throughout his career. 

All of his memorabilia from his time in the Navy was lost during a tornado in 1990 that hit Plainfield, IL and destroyed his home. 

Jack has been a Pearce member since 1995. He usually comes in three times each week to walk the track, exercise, participate in Meals on Wheels, and visit with friends. 

Carl Carr joined Pearce in 2002 after his career with Cat. He also enlisted in the Navy, serving from 1958 to 1961 as an airman. 

His job was to prepare parachutes and survival gear. He was stationed in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis; on a ship in Greece in 1960 that caught fire, killing 10 people; and spent most of his time in the Mediterranean Sea.

Of all the places he saw, the French Riviera was his favorite because of the magnificent beaches and the wonderful "entertainment." Carl declined explaining exactly what "entertainment" meant! 

Pearce member Frank Cramer got one year of college completed at the University of Illinois before he enlisted in the Navy Air Corp at the height of World War II in 1944. As a Seaman 3rd Class, Frank was stationed at nine different bases throughout the US over two years. 

When the chance came in 1946 to get out, he took it and returned to college. Frank finished his general engineering degree on the GI Bill and went on to serve as a county engineer for Marshall County for 30 years.

In 2010, Frank's granddaughter escorted him on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC.

Annual United Way Giving Campaign

Employers throughout the area are presenting their employees with the opportunity to donate to the Heart of Illinois United Way by signing up for automatic payroll deduction. Please consider making a donation to help meet community needs.

Summer Camp Donation to Pearce

Last week, Pearce received a donation of $650 from 3 Sisters Summer Camp Music Festival to be used to support ongoing operations at Pearce. This program was created by regional promoter Jay Goldberg about 10 years ago as a way to give back to non-profit organizations in Chillicothe.

People who purchase Summer Camp tickets either online or at the box office can choose to pay an extra $1.50 to support Chillicothe non-profits. It is not simply a cost of the ticket. The purchaser is making a choice to support the community.

All of the money that is raised is then divided equally between all the organizations that have applied for a distribution. 

Spinning Got Spooky

Spinning instructor Kelly Buffum held a costume contest during her Friday morning Spinning class on Halloween. The 2 most creative costumes, Robin and Jane Fonda, won a free 8-punch Spinning punch card.

25th Anniversary of Pearce Community Center

Pearce Community Center will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2015.

If you would like to send your best wishes, sign our card! For only $25, your typed name will be added to a page in our new 2015 Program Information Guide coming out December 29, 2014. 

Purchase at the front desk during normal business hours.

The deadline to participate is Monday, December 1, 2014.

And THANK YOU for helping make us great for 25 years!

Spooktacular Fun!

Again this year, Pearce celebrated Halloween with its popular Spooktacular event. Ghosts, goblins, witches, vampires, monsters, and a variety of other spooks enjoyed inflatables, carnival games, a cake walk, the a-MAZ-ing maze, and dinner. Here's a BIG, HUGE THANK YOU to ALL volunteers who donated time and baked goods to make this event a success.

November Member of the Month

As a probation officer, November Member of the Month Brian Long finds that coming to Pearce is the time when he can forget about dealing with the criminal and delinquent behavior of others. His Pearce time allows him to burn off stress and maintain his fitness, critical if he must make an arrest.

Brian keeps fit by running. You can find him on a treadmill or a rowing machine in the Cardio Room; participating in the Core group exercise class; or running half and full marathons. He has also run in Pearce’s annual Run For the Health of It 5K race and coached a Pearce youth soccer league. He does sit down from time to time to watch Cardinal’s baseball.

Aside from fitness, Brian trusts Pearce to provide exceptional care for his son in the Before and After School Care and Summer Camp programs.

Given his profession, Brian believes that it’s not about how hard you’re hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

“Become a Foundation Member, and ensure that Pearce will be a place our community has for future generations.” Brian Long

Holiday Basketball Camp with Coach K

Pearce Community Center will host Inner Circle Sport’s Champions of the Court Basketball Camp Monday and Tuesday, December 29 and 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The camp is designed for children ages 6 to 18.

Campers will be coached on technique, conditioning, and overall fundamentals of the game by the professionally skilled staff of Inner Circle Sports Inc. including Coach Ahmed Kabba. Coach K has worked with some of the most elite coaches and has coached at top camps around the country that have been ranked #1 by Sports Illustrated Kids. Focus areas will include dribbling and ball handling; shooting; finishing in the paint; footwork; position development; defense; and speed and agility. Kids will learn shooting including proper form, balanced footwork, defensive reads, and getting a shot off the dribble via attack and shoot moves.

The cost of the two-day camp is $125 per camper; $95 per camper with a team of seven or more.

Space is limited and advance registration is required. Visit www.teamicsports.com to learn more and to register.

It Could Be The Difference Between Life and Death