Soapbox Readers,
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to hygiene — and there shouldn’t be.
Today’s Fitness Centers, JCCs, YMCAs, Colleges, Universities, and Recreation Facilities face a unique challenge: delivering visible, effective sanitizing that members trust, staff can execute correctly, and leadership can stand behind with confidence. The solution isn’t choosing one method over another — it’s understanding what works best, where, and deploying each tool intentionally.
At the same time, the decisions facilities make around hygiene have a broader impact — on member safety, staff workload, sustainability, and the communities they serve. Smarter sanitizing isn’t just about compliance; it’s about giving back by creating healthier environments, reducing waste, minimizing risk, and reinvesting savings into programs that matter most to members.
Pre-saturated sanitizing wipes have emerged as the clear winner in front-of-house, member-facing areas, where speed, simplicity, and perception matter most. They deliver consistent chemistry, reduce cross-contamination risk, protect equipment, and create a clean, professional experience members can see and trust.
Traditional spray-and-cloth systems continue to play an important role behind the scenes, supporting heavy soil removal, deep cleaning, and staff-only applications where longer dwell times and targeted disinfection are required.
This side-by-side comparison outlines a smarter, hybrid approach — one that balances effectiveness, compliance, cost control, and sustainability — helping facilities reduce liability, elevate the member experience, and give back by doing more with less.
“The need is great and so are the opportunities to make a difference.” – Paul Newman
– John & Shannel
Testimony, A Longstanding Partnership Built on Trust, Service, and Results

The “magic” behind Sunset Athletic Club really comes down to longevity. The property was originally purchased in 1975 as a racquetball club, and the facility was built and opened in early 1977 at just 22,500 square feet. Nearly fifty years later, some of us who were here in the early days are still here today. That continuity speaks volumes about the culture we’ve built.
Over the years, we’ve grown right alongside our community. Sunset has completed six expansions, the most recent in 2023, and today the club encompasses approximately 175,000 square feet. Each phase of growth was driven by member needs and community demand, not by chasing trends.
Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Many members of our staff—from management on down—have been with the club for 20 to 40 years or more. They are a talented, dedicated group who genuinely care about our members and take pride in delivering a consistent, high-quality experience.
We’re a high-touch, people-first organization. As a single-club operation, we’re able to connect person-to-person on most matters rather than relying on corporate-style responses. While we absolutely have our rules and policies, we lead with approachability, relationships, and trust.
Junior programming is another cornerstone of Sunset Athletic Club. We offer extensive opportunities including summer camps, climbing camps, summer swim teams and meets, junior and high school racquetball and tennis programs, and more. We also host tournaments across multiple disciplines, including handball. Supporting youth and families has always been central to our mission.
Our commitment to the community runs deep. We’re actively involved up and down the street—working with schools, sponsoring fun runs and the Saturday market, supporting churches, the library, and the local business association. When possible, we also make our event space available to community groups, sometimes rent-free, because giving back is simply part of who we are.
That same philosophy extends to our relationship with A1/Petra-1 and with you personally. Like Sunset, it’s been a long-term relationship that has been terrific for both the club and our members. With A1/Petra-1, you’re not a number on a spreadsheet—you’re treated as a valued client and a friend. While issues are rare because A1/Petra-1 is extremely reliable, when something does come up, the response is immediate, knowledgeable, and solution-oriented. You’re truly “Johnny on the spot” with service and answers.
Best regards,
Chuck Richards, Owner
Sunset Athletic Club


Innovative Solutions for Fitness and Recreation Organizations

As we kick off the first newsletter of the year, it feels like the perfect time to talk about productivity and how we set ourselves up for success. If you work in fitness or any fast-paced, people-driven industry, you know the feeling. You wear a lot of hats. Coach. Leader. Problem solver. Email responder. Occasionally, the person who fixes the printer. Productivity is not optional. It is survival.
Over the years, I have read countless books and listened to endless podcasts on productivity. Everyone has a system. Time blocking. Inbox zero. Early mornings that feel a little aggressive. What I have learned is this. The best system is the one that works for you.
Here are a few habits that have made the most significant difference for me and might be worth experimenting with this year.
First, have a simple email system. Decide how often you check it, respond quickly when you can, and either schedule tasks or delete emails instead of letting them linger.
Second, write clearer to do items. Instead of vague notes, be specific about what needs to be done and by when. Future you will thank you.
Third, calendar what matters. Meetings, workouts, learning time, and even rest. If it is important and not scheduled, it usually gets skipped.
Finally, block weekly admin time. One dedicated hour to clean up email, review your to-do list, plan the week, and clear digital clutter can change how the entire week feels.
For me, tools matter. I use a Clever Fox Planner, the Any.Do app for tasks, and Trello to organize projects and ideas. They are simple, but they work for how I think.
I would love to hear from you.
What tools or systems have been game changers for your productivity? Click here for more info and to contact us.


Newsletter edited and produced by Megan Shellman-Rickard, Simple Synergy Consulting. Discover what our company can do for your organization: https://www.simplesynergyconsulting.com/




