February Member of the Month, Barry S
What brought you to Island Rec? It is close, convenient, and a good value
What’s your favorite part about Island Rec? Great facilities and staff
What’s your preferred type of exercise here? Lift, cardio and stretching
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? Oh, so many great places
Where were you born? Cincinnati Ohio
What do you do for a living? Retired
Got any hobbies? What are they? Travel, family, golf, and community activities
December Member of the Month, Eula C.
What brought you to Island Rec? Continuing physical therapy after back surgery with Julia.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? The friendly staff, and the equipment.
What is your preferred type of exercise here? Anything that helps strengthen leg and back muscles.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? My daughter's food truck. Authentic Bites.
Where were you born? I was born on Hilton Head Island.
What do you do for a living? I am currently retired. I was a teacher, and did some years doing upholstery.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? Games on my tablet and spending time with my younger nieces and nephews.
Tell us a random fact about yourself. Houseplants. I love growing and maintaining them.
November Member of the Month, Laverne B
What brought you to Island Rec? My doctor recommended that I join to stay active and it is also a good way to get exercise.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? The exercise equipment
What is your preferred type of exercise here? Walking
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? Skull Creek Boathouse
Where were you born? Savannah, Georgia
What do you do for a living? Retired
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? Singing and Cooking
Tell us a random fact about yourself. I am a Scorpio
September Member of the Month, Jean C & Peter L
What brought you to Island Rec? Many of our patients have spoken about what a fabulous place the Rec Center is…and sure enough it is!
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? Staff is clearly one of the most wonderful aspects of the Rec Center
What is your preferred type of exercise here? Favorite activity: walking the track & erging
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? Il Carpaccio
Where were you born? Hannibal, Mo., and Brunswick, Ga.
What do you do for a living? Retired from medical practice
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? Hobbies: cooking, gardening, music and travel
Tell us a random fact about yourself. We have three daughters and we enjoy working by at VIM.
July Member of the Month, Rick F
After a serious leg injury after my medical rehab was completed I wanted to continue my recovery and workouts at the Island Rec, because I wanted to support a local community facility. I enjoy the friends I have made at the center and that makes it a pleasant experience.. I was born in Aiken, SC and I am now retired. I enjoy cruising with the ABC boat club as well as fishing on my own. I went to High school in Miami Florida.
June Member of the Month, Issac
What brought you to Island Rec? Someone close to me told me about this place
What is your favorite part of Island Rec? The second floor has a wide variety of machines for exercising.
What is your preferred type of exercise here? Lift weights
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? Okko restaurant.
Where were you born? I was born in Toluca, Edomex.
What do you do for a living? I came to Hilton Head to practice my English and also help older people, in August I will take a flight attendant course.
Do you have any Hobbie? So what? Yes, I like to go for a walk listening to music and also hang out with friends.
Tell us a random fact about yourself: I like to travel and meet people from different places.
April Member of the Month, Julieta Z
What brought you to Island Rec? My desire to continue training with weights in a different place.
What is your favorite part of Island Rec? My favorite part is the top and the basketball court
What is your preferred type of exercise here? Lift weights
Where were you born? I was born in Guerrero.
What do you do for a living? I am a High School Student, I love training at the Rec, I run at dawn, read personal development books and apply them in life, improve my habits, meditate, write, and I have a passion for baking so I constantly keep learning and delivering dessert orders.
Do you have any Hobbie? So what? My favorite hobby is reading personal development books, the mind is like a muscle that must be trained every day by giving feedback on what has been read and continuing to move forward. I am sure that learning is part of growing personally.
Tell us a random fact about yourself - Every day I decide to develop my potential, my desire to grow, and get out of my comfort zone. Although the changes do not arise overnight, I continue to enjoy the process and learn from the "discomfort" of life.
March Member of the Month, Jody M
What brought you to Island Rec? V.I.M referred me to the gym to help me get into shape for my diabetes
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? I like how everyone is friendly and nice. No matter who I talk to or how many questions I ask someone is always there to guide me and talk to me
What is your preferred type of exercise here? My favorite exercise would be water fitness. I love the water.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? I just moved out here from Atlanta, GA I haven’t really gotten a chance to explore that many restaurants.
Where were you born? I was born in California but raised in Atlanta
What do you do for a living? I am a cook at the South Carolina yatch club.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? My new hobby is the gym
Tell us a random fact about yourself: A random fact about me is I know how to play the violin.
February Member of the Month, Sydney W
Sidney has been attending the Rec Center's Adapted Summer Program since we moved here in 2010 and it has been something she has looked forward to each year. Since she turned 21 this past December, she will no longer be eligible to attend the camp so we found another way to continue enjoying the Rec Center, and we started our "Adaptive Membership." Sidney's favorite thing to do at the fitness center is the stationary bike with the "virtual environment" screen (she likes to look for the rabbits), but she also likes using the weight machines. Sidney participates in Special Olympics kayaking, bocce, golf, swimming, and plans on trying pickleball later this month.
November Member of the Month, Paige B.
What brought you to Island Rec? My husband and I were looking for a gym when we moved here permanently in 2020. We were impressed with the Rec Center’s friendly staff and clean facilities.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? I have met so many great people at Island Rec. They make working out fun!
What is your preferred type of exercise here? My favorite classes are Debbie’s boot camps on Monday and Wednesday evenings. They are hard work outs, but very rewarding!
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? We love to go to Hinoki for sushi and Nunzio for Italian.
Where were you born? I was born in Indianapolis, but my father was in the Army so didn’t live there long. We moved around quite a bit growing up.
What do you do for a living? I am retired now, but I spent most of my career working as a trader for an investment firm that specialized in Emerging Markets.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? I love to fish and travel in our RV with my husband, Steve.
Tell us a random fact about yourself. I am an avid soccer fan and have played in various recreational leagues for 25+ years.
October Members of the Month, Michael H and Dawn G
What brought you to Island Rec?
My wife Dawn and I work out about 2 hours a day. We needed a facility that offered weight training, pool and cardio etc. We found the Rec Center online when exploring workout venues on the Island.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec?
We always get a great greeting from the staff! Also, the assortment of exercise possibilities is endless
What is your preferred type of exercise here?
Weights, power walking, calisthenics and the pool
Do you have a favorite local restaurant?
Fig and Olive in Bluffton. Family owned and the chef is from Lebanon.
Where were you born?
New York City…Da Bronx!!!
What do you do for a living?
I am a retired Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, and a University Professor at the University at Buffalo, NY. My wife is a retired Psychologist, with a PhD in Psychotherapy.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what?
Let’s see, I hold two black belts in the Martial Arts, I am a Ham radio operator, I am a Master Scuba diver, I hold a Merchant Marine “Captains Lic for 200 ton vessels. I also lived aboard a sailboat for years up and down the East Coast. I am a pretty good cook and wine person
Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I am 72 years old, and can score 100% on the ARMY or Marine PT tests. I also have eight children (all mine!) 5 of whom have served in our country’s military forces with several in combat areas.
September Member of the Month, Marcella B
What brought you to Island Rec? I was looking for a convenient place to workout that had all the equipment I would need for a well-rounded exercise routine.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? The staff is terrific! Super nice and friendly! They always take the time to say hello and goodbye on my way in and out.
What is your preferred type of exercise here? Right now I primarily walk on the walking track and stretch, but I see using the elliptical machine in my future! ;-)
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? I don't have any one favorite local restaurant, but I really like to spend time in my own kitchen cooking and baking.
Where were you born? Born in New Jersey.
What do you do for a living? I work for the Town of Hilton Head Island in the finance department.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? I love to travel!
Tell us a random fact about yourself. In my twenties, I was a certified group fitness instructor!
August Member of the Month, Larry W
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? -meeting other members of all ages, plus a great staff
What is your preferred type of exercise here? -shooting baskets, weight machines, walking track, shooting more baskets…
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? -both Kenny B’s & Hudsons
Where were you born? -Springfield, the capital of Illinois
What do you do for a living? -retired after a career in environmental & agricultural work
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? -gardening, growing vegetables, traveling, beach walking, biking, and kayaking
Tell us a random fact about yourself -I love cats, young & old but especially kittens
July Member of the Month, Mary Ann H.
What brought you to Island Rec? After moving here, I needed to get back to working out. The Rec Center facility was so close, very new, clean, and had a variety of classes that I liked.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? I love the classes and instructors, and I have met many new people who love to workout that make it fun!
What is your preferred type of exercise here? Strength and Core with weights, Body Sculpt Circuits with weights, Spin, and Mon/Wed Bootcamp afternoon classes.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? Skull Creek Boathouse and for breakfast-Java Burrito Company
Where were you born? Westchester, Illinois
What do you do for a living? I am retired, after a long career as a Programmer and Sr. Project Manager in IT.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? I love to exercise, bike ride, take care of our home landscape/garden
Tell us a random fact about yourself: I worked at a farm and a bakery as my first jobs.
June Member of the Month, Blanca M
What brought you to Island Rec?
I started coming here when my children started to work out last summer and I wanted to join Them.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec?
The facilities are new and always clean. The Staff is always so welcoming. It’s open to all ages and groups offering many activities.
What is your preferred type of exercise here?
Run on the track, weight machines, steps, yoga, elliptical, etc. I have a lot of choices that I enjoy with different routines every day.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant?
Hinoki Japanese Restaurant and Olives and figs (Mediterranean food).
Where were you born?
Cuernavaca Morelos, Mexico.
What do you do for a living?
Real Estate at Home Realty.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what?
Travel, Ice Skiing, exercise, and outdoor activities.
Tell us a random fact about yourself:
My degree is CPA :) , I was a preschool teacher for 11 years, and Gymnastics National Championship in My Country.
May Member of the Month, Sue R
What brought you to Island Rec?
The facility is bright, clean and cheery. Staff is friendly and helpful. Wide range of equipment and well maintained.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec?
In addition to a good workout, I like Island Rec's involvement in the community.
What is your preferred type of exercise here?
I enjoy the pool and the eliptical machines.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant?
Any restaurant! I don’t need to cook then:)
Where were you born?
Dayton, Ohio
What do you do for a living?
I retired after many years working in an elementary school.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what?
I enjoy biking, gardening and being a grandparent.
Tell us a random fact about yourself
I’m one of 9 children in our family.
April Member of the Month, Sugar H.
What brought you to Island Rec?
It was good value and close home.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec?
Great facility, friendly staff.
What is your preferred type of exercise here?
Circuit work.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant?
Wise Guys
Where were you born?
Granite City, IL
What do you do for a living?
Just retired from 29 year with the fire department and now a project manager for a custom home builder.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what?
Hiking, kayaking - anything outside.
Tell us a random fact about yourself
I was in the first class to go from 9 through 12 at Hilton Head Island High School.
March Member of the Month, Amara H.
What brought you to Island Rec?
-We moved here 5 years ago and locating a community recreation center was at the top of my list!
What is your favorite part about Island Rec?
-I love the openness of the space and it's not over crowded.
What is your preferred type of exercise here?
-I prefer to use the weight machines and weights after my walk outside.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant?
-Hmmm...I have a few! My husband and I frequent Ruby Lee's (North End), Dockside and the Crazy Crab!
Where were you born?
-I was born in Chattanooga, TN
What do you do for a living?
-I am a customer relations officer for US Supply Corp, a local Aerospace/Defense Company.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what?
-I am an avid reader! (A true bookworm), volunteering, visiting museums & bike riding.
Tell us a random fact about yourself
-A random fact about me is that I love to do laundry! Washing, folding & ironing! :-)
February Member of the Month
What brought you to Island Rec? I started here because my daughter went to the Discovery Club (We love you, Miss Charmaine!) and I could work out before I picked her up.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec? So many things! First of all, the staff is always so warm and welcoming. Secondly, the facilities are always clean and kept up really well.
What is your preferred type of exercise here? My favorite thing to do is walk the track. I get to listen to my favorite podcasts and decompress for a little bit. I also use the weight machines and every once and while I'll do a Wellbeats class.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? Captain Woody's and Mellow Mushroom
Where were you born? Myrtle Beach, SC but I grew up in Asheville, NC
What do you do for a living? 4th grade teacher at Hilton Head Elementary (Go Otters!)
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what? Anything with my family is what makes me the happiest.
Tell us a random fact about yourself: I am a huge Elvis fan and I have been to Graceland twice.
December Member of the Month, Cuitlahuac T
What brought you to Island Rec?
What brought me to the rec was the gym I decided to start working on my weigh.
What is your favorite part about Island Rec?
The gym
What is your preferred type of exercise here?
I prefer to do cardio that is one of my favorites
Do you have a favorite local restaurant?
Fiesta fresh
Where were you born?
Guadalajara Mexico
What do you do for a living? If retired, what did you do for work.
Carpenter construction.
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what?
Play soccer
Tell us a random fact about yourself .
Enjoy playing and watching soccer