Kentucky Association of Fitness Professionals -- Kentucky Association of Fitness Professionals

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Date Posted: 16:00:11 09/10/06 Sun
Author: J.R.Smith, President KAFP
Subject: Kentucky Association of Fitness Professionals

Welcome!

This forum is for anyone desiring to learn more about the exciting new developments taking place in the fitness industry in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Association of Fitness Professionals is just one of those developments. The KAFP is a professional alliance for all fitness professionals that desire to come together for a common purpose which is to further the professional status of the fitness industry in Kentucky.

Any fitness professional which is certified by any organization that is recognized either by the NCCA or the NBFE is eligible for membership to the KAFP. Any fitness professional that is purusing certification by an organization is eligible for an associate membership for up to one year until such a time that they have earned their certification. If certification has not been earned from the one year anniversary of joining the KAFP, the associate membership will be annulled.

The KAFP is currently providing a free membership to all fitness professionals in Kentucky in order to build a foundation. The KAFP is already recognized in Frankfort by the state attorney general's office and Senator MaGaha has been working with myself in establishing the KAFP with assitance in guidance and meetings with state legislators in Frankfort.

It is our hope, our dream, our vision that the KAFP will be successful and that we provide all fitness professionals in Kentucky an association in which they can join and grow as a professional and as an indivdual. We will be offering annual conventions, workshops, CEU's, quarterly industry journals, web site presence, video workshops, business assistance, and the possiblity of offering some form of technical school program which will be be approved by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA), The Kentucky Dept. of Education and the US Dept. of Education.

The educational portion is something we know will take some time, possibly years to put together, but this shows you our level of dedication to the fitness industry and individual working in that industry.

Currently there are several states that are enacting legislation that will require personal fitness professionals to carry as a minimum requirement a bachelor's degree and state licence in order to practice as a fitness professional. We do not agree that allowing states to dictate to the fitness industry on how to carry out our day to day business activities. Unfortunately the fitness industry is still fragmented with various certifying bodies arguing who is the best and certifying agencies claiming to be the gold standard.

We at the KAFP believe that the best defense in the protection of our industry is to become unified and place a voice in Frankfort that will fight for the rights of the fitness professional in Kentucky. Currently we have been told that Kentucky will acknowledge the KAFP if we can get the membership base in which to provide to the state. From there we will be filing the necessary papers to become a non-profit agency in Kentucky.

We already have momentum on our side and have laid the necessary ground work in Frankfort, but much much more needs to be done and we need your help. The first year of membership to the KAFP is absolutely free. But the second year will require membership dues to be paid to continue membership. At this time, membership fees have not been set but there will be a distinction between the different levels of membership and benefits will vary greatly between membership levels as well.

Currently we are offering these memberships:

1. Associate Member: any fitness professional not yet certified but is working toward certification with an agency that has or is working toward their NCCA accreditation or is a provisional affiliate of the National Board of Fitness Examiners;

2. Professional Member: any fitness professional that has one or more certifications with an NCCA accredited agency or NBFE provisional affiliate.

3. Registered board member: any fitness professional that has sat for and passed the NBFE board exam.

4. Corporate Member: any business, health club, fitness center, rehab or physical therapy, chiropractor, massage therapist or wellness center can become a member and support the industry and enjoy the benefits.

This is an exciting time for us in Kentucky. While the rest of the states in the US are attempting to legislate the fitness industry we are beginning to govern ourselves. The KAFP is the very first organized association of its kind in the US and we are very proud of that, but pride will not get the job done. It will require a lot of hard work, time and dedication to bring the fitness industry to a level of professionalism and recognition that other professions already enjoy. Professions such as the physical therapy, nurses, physicians, CPA's, teachers and others. These professions work tirelessly to help their members grow, protect their interests at the state and national levels and provide job security and protection of incomes. Our vision is to do just that.

I hope you will join with us and become a member of the KAFP. You will become a part of history by becoming a member of the KAFP. We will be non-biased and neutral showing no favor to any one certification. We will make no attempts to push any individual to puruse any certification over another. We will encourage any and all fitness professionals to take the national board exam but we will not push any fitness professional to do so.

Currently we understand that Kentucky is "informally" recognizing the National Board of Fitness Examiners as a minimum requirment to practice in the state of Kentucky but as of now, it is informal. We intend to keep our friendly state government out of the affairs of the fitness industry and push to have as the only minimum state requirements in Kentucky is certification from an agency that is either NCCA accredited or NBFE provisional affiliate. We have a professional stand on that and why we will push for that in Kentucky, which will ultimately protect you the fitness professional and the private citizen looking for professional assistance. All too often, there are those who desire to "fly under the radar" of professional certification and attempt to become a highly paid fitness professional only to creat more harm to the client, which ultimately hurts you the professional with bad press and avoidance from the general public thinking all personal trainers simply do not know what they are doing. This all because of those who have violated the trust of an unsuspecting client.

Professional association with the KAFP, earning your certification with an agency accredited by the NCCA or a provisional affiliate with the NBFE is the only way to insure our industy will remain professional, earning professional fees, getting health referrals from health care providers as well as creating an industry that will help get Kentucky healthy and reduce our status as one of the unhealthiest states in the USA.

For more information on becoming a KAFP you can contact me:

J.R.Smith, c.f.t., c.s.p.n., NBFE board registered

President KAFP

Email: www.kafp2day@hotmail.com

Cell Phone: 606-271-0981

Here is to a healthy Kentucky and a prosperous and thriving fitness industry in Kentucky and to the professionals who work it every day.

Yours in Health and wellness,

J.R.Smith

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Replies:

Re: Kentucky Association of Fitness Professionals -- Keri Kaeding, 07:22:33 09/11/06 Mon
Re: Kentucky Association of Fitness Professionals Part 2 -- J.R.Smith, KAFP President, 08:18:00 01/06/07 Sat