Longfellow Life 
 Our Monthly Newsletter  

Beginning in June, the Longfellow Management Team has been working with a management consultant, Alicia Korten, with the express purpose of making Longfellow the best club we can possibly be, and to provide extraordinary customer service every day. 

At our Management Retreat in June, we began the work of developing a set of core values, and finding ways to deepen and further integrate these core values into the life of Longfellow.  During this process we discovered that Longfellow is indeed fortunate to have a staff that already embodies the essence of our core values, and we've learned that we can do an even better job.  This work has been inspirational for our Management Team and is becoming a game-changer for The Longfellow Clubs.  Over the next few weeks we will be announcing our newly established core values and our plans to bring them to life. 

We have decided to focus our initial efforts on the core value we've named "Make Longfellow Sparkle".  In order to make Longfellow clean as a whistle, to shine and glow, we've crated the Sparkle Breakthrough Project.  This is an audacious and exciting project and we've engaged our staff on a daily basis.  We welcome your feedback and suggestions, and below we've listed some of the  things we've done and are planning to do to make Longfellow Sparkle:

• The new Longfellow HVAC units and hi-tech energy monitoring system was a big hit this summer keeping the club cool and reducing energy by 15%
• We have ordered a brand new air structure over the pool which will be installed in early October. 
• Longfellow has a sparking new look with a beautiful dark blue paint job on the outside walls
• The Longfellow gardener, Suzen Perry, has helped beautify our outside and has planted a beautiful new garden on the far side of the parking lot with a wide diversity of native plants
• The Studio Two floor has been refinished so it is a sparkling and shiny space, as well as installing a new sound system 
• We will be re-painting all the walls in the club with a color scheme that fits nicely with our club logo
• We will be ordering new furniture for the tennis lobby, as well as new rugs throughout the club.
• And most exciting news yet!  We have received the building permit to completely remodel the Women's Locker Room and we will be making a similar upgrade to the Men's Locker Room too! 

Check Out Longfellow's Facebook Page by LIKING Us!

The Longfellow Facebook page continues to gain interest as more and more people "like" it. You can find us on Facebook under "The Longfellow Clubs - Wayland and Natick."  "Liking" the Longfellow page means you'll have access to an excellent resource to support your health and fitness goals and give you a boost of inspiration.

Al Steinroeder and Will Spector  

End Successful Junior Tennis Career on High Note!

Laury Hammel (center) with Al Steinroeder (l) and Will Spector

Longfellow has been training nationally ranked juniors for forty years, and two of Laury Hammel's students, Will Spector and Al Steinroeder, have been two of Longfellow's best juniors ever!  Will has trained at Longfellow since he was nine (with Laury) and Al since he was 12 (under Laury and Jason Hammel).   These two outstanding players and scholars have done it all in their junior tennis careers, and here are just a few of their highlights:

• They have both been ranked #1 in their age division in New England.  At one point Al was ranked #1 in both the Boy's 16's and Boy's 18's division at the same time. 
• They have both been ranked in the top 50 in the nation (Al was in the top ten). 
• They have both represented New England in national team competition
• They have both won the Mass State High School individual championships, and led their high school team to the state high school team championships at least twice.
• They were both highly recruited college prospects and will both be playing tennis for an Ivy League school this fall - Al at Harvard and Will at Brown. 

Most important, these two former juniors are great guys who are always respectful and respected by their peers, other parents, coaches, and tennis officials throughout New England.  They both worked in the Hammel Tennis Camp this summer and served as wonderful role models and sources of inspiration for up-and-coming young players. 

Al and Will have developed outstanding all-court games where they are equally good at defense and offense, and they can hit balls forever from the baseline (both topspin and slice), pound forehands, chip and charge, and serve and volley.  The vast number of tools they possess in their tennis tool box together with their intuitive knowledge of how to use these tools has confounded their opponents for years and make them exciting player to watch. 

Their exceptional tennis skills enabled them to have a fantastic summer where they were key factors in the New England Junior Davis Cup Team's fourth place finish in the nation.  This impressive performance was followed by their most successful results to date at the legendary National Boy's Tennis Championships at Kalamazoo, MI this past August.  They used their considerable tennis skills to out-fox and out-play their opponents, enabling them to win five matches each against the toughest competition in the nation. Will was in the quarter-finals of the back draw and had only lost one match in the tournament, when after being in Kalamazoo for nine days, the boys and Coach Laury decided they had had enough--it was time to call it a day, declare victory, and go home. 

We're so proud of Al and Will's many accomplishments, and these two fine young men will be sorely missed around Longfellow.  However, many of us will be following their college tennis careers, and we look forward to them doing some teaching at Longfellow next summer. 

Longfellow Opens Our Doors to Our Neighbors in Need

Hurricane Irene hit the Metro-West area hard, leaving thousands of homes and businesses without power.  Fortunately, our Wayland and Natick clubs only lost power for a few hours and the bubbles stayed sturdy against the high winds and flying debris. 

Longfellow welcomed all folks in our community (Longfellow members or not) who were without hot water and/or electricity and needed a hot shower or just a relaxing place to read or work on their laptops using the Longfellow WiFi.  One whole condo complex in Wayland was without power or hot water and Longfellow opened the doors for them.  We've welcomed the community in the past after storms took out the power of our neighbors, and we will continue to be there for our neighbors when the need arises.  Serving the needs of our community is what Longfellow is all about!

Longfellow Says Goodbye to Two Good Friends

Peter Rhome

This summer Longfellow lost two people who have been active and

John Rhome

enthusiastic members of the Longfellow community.  In July, Peter Rhome passed away in his sleep.  He began coming to Longfellow when he was a young child and he had rarely missed a day since.  Even though Peter had several challenges in his life, he was a force of nature and we miss his distinctive and enthusiastic voice.  Many Longfellow members and staff were present at his memorial service which was a true celebration of Peter's life. 

Just a few weeks ago, Peter's father, John Rhome, who was in his nineties and had been experiencing various physical difficulties, passed away after living a long and active life.  John was a long-time and very enthusiastic tennis member who always brightened our day.  They both will be sorely missed. 

Calling All Runners!!!

Anne Bell (l) and  Dean McNabb

Dean McNabb (a highly successful triathalete) is one of Longfellow's most active members, and enthusiasm is his middle name.  In partnership with Personal Trainer, Anne Bell, (Longfellow's own Early Bird Extraordinaire), they are starting the Longfellow Runners Club, Longfellow's own running team.   

The mission of the Longfellow Runners Club is to bring together fellow athletes who share a desire to run in a positive, enjoyable, and fun atmosphere while promoting the healthful benefits, both physical and mental that running can provide. 

The initial program is scheduled for early morning runs with regular weekday runs from the club at 6:00 am, and a Sunday morning run at 7am.  There is a small fee of $20 for one year that covers organizational costs and pays for the soon-to-be-highly-coveted Longfellow Runners Club T-Shirt. 

Everyone is welcome! Anyone interested in joining Dean and Anne please add your name to the sign up sheet on the Cardio Room Bulletin Board.

Dan Bishop, OTC is a highly respected Orthotist who has been helping people prevent and heal lower extremity injuries for many years.  Dan has created custom-made orthotics for Longfellow members and staff that have made a big difference in their ability to move during sports and exercise. 

If an athlete is wearing the proper orthotics, many sports injuries can be prevented including the following:

• IT Band injuries (Hips and quads)
• Patella tendon injuries (knee)
• Shin splints
• Achilles injuries
• Ankles injuries
• Foot injuries - Plantar fascitis, metatarsal pain, Neuromas

Don't miss out on this free potentially life-changing seminar by Dan Bishop, OTC:

Thursday, September 22, 1:00 pm in the tennis lobby at Wayland 

Positive Spin for ALS Bike Ride  

re-scheduled for Sunday, September 18th!

Laury and Carolee Hammel Tear Up the Courts in Seattle!  

Longfellow Founder and President, Laury Hammel, recently traveled to Seattle to play in the USTA National 60's Indoor Tennis Championships.  Laury grew up in Salt Lake City, and his mother and father are both in the Utah Tennis Hall of  Fame. His family won the 2000 USTA Tennis Family of the Year.  Last year Laury was ranked #14 in the nation in the Men's 60's, and his sister, Carolee Hammel, was ranked #16 in the nation in the Women's 60's.  

Because the Indoor Championships is one of the few Level One tournaments that features both women and men and mixed doubles, Laury and Carolee decided that they both would enter the tournament and play mixed doubles together.  This sister and brother combination obviously needed a coach, so they persuaded their mother, Ruby Hammel, who is a highly respected tennis instructor, to travel with them and provide necessary coaching and moral support. 

The event was a big success for the Hammel siblings.  In the singles Laury lost to the #9 seed in a good match, and then he went on to win four matches in the back draw. Unfortunately he had to leave before the tournament ended and defaulted in the consolation finals.  Laury's sis, Carolee, lost to the #3 Seed, Molly Hahn, in a close match.  Molly lives in Lexington and coincidentally grew up with the Hammel kids in Salt Lake City.  She placed second in both the singles and the doubles.   

In the doubles Laury played with one of his college doubles partners, Dick Svedman, from California.  They lost to the 3rd seeded team in a very close match 6-3, 7-5.  And in the Mixed Doubles, Laury and Carolee lost in a tight match to the #4 seeds.

It was very sweet for Ruby, to return to the club where her husband and Laury's father, Lee Hammel, played tennis legend Bobby Riggs in a three set marathon match at this same Men's 60's tournament.    A good time was had by all! 

Don't Miss the Second Boston Local Food Festival on October 1, 2011!!

For the second year, Longfellow is the lead sponsor of the Boston Local Food Festival to be held on Fort Point Channel on the Boston waterfront near the Boston Children's Museum on Saturday, October 1st.Presented by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston, the Festival helps build and strengthen the Massachusetts and New England food system.

The Festival has partnered with over 130 leading food organizations, businesses, and farms, many that are actively building this exciting event.  Every effort is being made to ensure that the Festival is a Zero Waste event.

Last years Festival attracted over 30,000 people, including several Longfellow members.  It overlooks the historic Boston Harbor, and is a free outdoor autumn celebration of the many virtues of locally grown and produced food. The Festival will showcase the wide diversity of our local and New England food system, by spotlighting local farmers, food businesses, local food and health organizations. The intention is to inspire the growing and eating of Massachusetts grown food, with a special emphasis on fruits and vegetables.

The most important objective of the Boston Local Food Festival is to increase accessibility and availability of healthy local food for all. Massachusetts eaters of all ages, races, and socioeconomic levels will see, taste, and appreciate the variety of healthy, delicious food choices that local specialty crops and products make available to them in their own back yard. This unique festival will bring Massachusetts farms together with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds, organizations, businesses, and local food advocates in an informative and fun way. Come join us! 

The Longfellow Purpose

• To build a world where everyone's basic needs are met, and people experience love, happiness, and satisfaction.
• To create a model organization, through the development of successful health and recreation businesses, that works toward the fulfillment of our global vision.

• Love and care for our customer and to create a caring and compassionate culture committed to providing the highest level of customer service by exceeding expectations and saying yes if we can. 
• Support every staff member in reaching their full potential as human beings - physically, mentally, and spiritually. We engage them in the management process and make every effort to pay a living wage with fair benefits to all staff members. 
• Preserve our environment, minimize our carbon footprint, and join with others in our community to build a sustainable and just world. 
• Work closely with individuals and nonprofit organizations to promote healthy, sustainable, and inclusive communities. 
• Support the locally owned and independent business partners in our community and in our industry so that they can be financially successful and outstanding community citizens.
• Manage a profitable business that is a leader in our industry and provides a fair return to the owners and investors.