PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
by John Ossowski

Well, the winter wasn’t all that bad, now was it! Yet it was long enough. As we move into spring and summer there will be plenty of opportunity to shed the few extra pounds that appeared during winter hibernation. This edition of the RA News again offers the members a very wide range of sports and recreation opportunities to suit the needs of all. Outdoors there will be softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis and swimming. Indoors there will be nearly fifty activities of a sports, recreation and social nature.

This edition not only provides a guide to the wide range of activities but also a number of articles on health and wellness for your review and consideration.
The LifeFIT Canada division of the operation continues to grow. Several months ago they took over the operation of the fitness centre at Telesat and we are pleased to be providing fitness and wellness programs to employees of this great organization. The LifeFIT Canada fitness centre at the Rideau Tennis Club continues to grow as the LifeFIT team is aggressively promoting memberships at this location. If you live in the area of the Rideau please remember to check out the services provided at this first class operation.

The softball, soccer and volleyball leagues are filling up quite quickly so we would recommend that you and your teammates not procrastinate but get together soon in order to secure a place in one of our outdoor sports. Please remember, time flies!

Happy Campers! For over fifty years, the RA has been providing a range of summer camps for the families of members and friends. The RA Camps are much more than child care. They offer the opportunity for your little (and medium sized) campers to get out of the house, meet new friends, develop valuable social skills and –most of all – have fun in a very healthy sports and recreation environment. We encourage early registration as the demand will once again be very high.

For parents wishing to include tennis in the children’s summer activities, there is also the summer camps at the Rideau Tennis Club. The tennis professionals are excellent and there is much to keep the children happy and productive including swimming in the Club’s outdoor pool. Again, this is a summer program in very high demand, so register early.

As you settle down and scroll through this edition, you will probably note that you have no excuse but to return to the RA this summer. As mentioned earlier, there are over fifty activities available so we leave you very little excuse but to end your hibernation and just do it!

And, of course, there is a silver lining at the end of every workout or game and that is the ritual visit to the Fieldhouse Bar & Grill. This full service restaurant has an excellent reputation for food quality and service. No better place to be to wind down after beating yourself up on the fields or in the gyms.
See you at the RA this summer, it’s the place to be.