MARCH FEATURE OF THE MONTH -- CLUB ROUND

Written By: Raqui Founder of www.largeincharge.com

Back in the days there was the Tree House. The Little Rascals had The Woman Haters Society.  Now Plus Sized people of Illinois has Club Round, a place where Plus Sized people can get together, and have fun while being educated on how to live an active fulfilling life. 

Lisa  Breisch an Amazing and knowledgeable woman has taken the bull by the horns so to speak and put her money where her mouth is, and created an amazing resource .  She has physically created a place for all people of size to come together and enjoy there lives and each other.

Lisa along with her dedicated staff (which varies in sizes) they take size acceptance to another level with there daily and weekly activities that promote love of self no matter what size or shape you are.

Interview with Lisa  Breisch of Club Round

LargeInCharge.com: What is your name, your company, and title?

Club Round: A Clubhouse for Round People

Founder: Lisa A. Breisch, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist

LargeInCharge.com: What type of service do you provide for the Plus Sized Community?

Club Round: Club Round is a Clubhouse where people of all sizes and ages may come together in unity for fun, support, and health. Club Round Clubhouse offers activities for plus size adults, teens, and children. We are a size friendly group of people where body size is accepted and appreciated.

LargeInCharge.com: Does your company have a slogan or motto?

Club Round: Yes, Club Round Clubhouse follows the Health At Every Size philosophy and believe that ...Every Body Is A Good Body, No matter the Shape, Size, or Weight.

LargeInCharge.com: Where is your company based?

Club Round: A Clubhouse for Round People is located in Loves Park, IL which is a suburb of Rockford, IL at the border of Illinois and Wisconsin.

7120 Windsor Lake Parkway
Suite 202
Loves Park, IL 61111
815-639-0312

website: www.clubround.club.officelive.com

LargeInCharge.com: Your Company is quite unique from other resources for Plus Sized People, can you tell us how that is so?

Club Round Clubhouse is Illinois' only physical location dedicated to providing size acceptance support, education, and fun to plus-size children, teens, and adults.

LargeInCharge.com: Who works with you in making company the best out there?

Club Round: Networking with other local size acceptance venues such as Linda's Big Connections, Abundia, Chicago BBW, BIGWORLDWEAR, as well as international size acceptance groups such as NAAFA, ISAA, and Dimensions. I firmly believe that all size acceptance groups need to support and encourage each other.

LargeInCharge.com: Tell us what made you decide to create Club Round?

Club Round: In 2001, I earned my doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology and in 2006 went into my own private practice. I am a generalist practitioner for ages 2 on up and work with families, couples, and individuals. In 1996, I wrote my Master's Thesis, "Negative Effects of Dieting and it's Etiology in Eating Disorders." I followed up in 2000 with my Doctoral Dissertation, "Size Acceptance: The New Ethical Treatment of Obese Patients in Therapy." I wanted to expand my size acceptance emphasis and created Club Round Clubhouse for that outlet.

LargeInCharge.com: Why did you feel their was a need for a place like Club Round for people of size?

Club Round: Rockford, IL has no size acceptance resources, groups, or on-line clubs. So I wanted to go out on a limb and stretch for a physical location and make size acceptance a known entity in the Rockford, IL area. In 2007 Club Round opened its doors and in 2008 became a member of Rockford's Chamber of Commerce. Since then, we have been interviewed on local TV, have had radio advertisements, and advertisements in all of Rockford's major newspapers.

LargeInCharge.com: Do you have any experience in running an establishment like this before?

Club Round: To share some history, I'm personally and professionally dedicated to size acceptance first of all. I'm 5'6" and weigh 360 lbs. I've been a BBW all my life. In my 20's I was introduced to size acceptance by my previous mentor, Dr. Cheri Erdman, who taught Body Image and the Larger Woman classes at the College of Dupage in IL. I then attended the Abundia Retreats, which are retreats led by size acceptance therapists for plus-size women. I became involved with NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance) first as Chicago NAAFA's Secretary and then on to President for five years. I also became an officer for ISAA (International Size Acceptance Association). I had then also became involved in the local BBW dances.

LargeInCharge.com: Are your staff people of size? or do you have smaller counter parts working at Club Round?

Club Round: Club Round's staff are of all sizes. "Big Momma" which is me is the largest, then we have one therapist who is about 240 lbs, another therapist who is 150 lbs, one clinician who is about 210 lbs, and our receptionist who used to weigh 325 lbs but lost weight through illness and is now about 190 lbs. But, we are all size accepting and preach and teach size acceptance. Our ages also range from age 24 to age 76.

LargeInCharge.com: What has been the reaction you have gotten from People of Size about Club Round?

Club Round: We've had really positive reactions from veterans of size acceptance as well as people who have never heard of the notion. We have had a few people think we did weight loss work, but when it was explained to them what we actually did....we received some silence and some comments such as, "so you accept fat?"

LargeInCharge.com: How long has your site been active? And do you get a lot of positive feedback?

Club Round: Club Round Clubhouse opened our doors in 2007. We have a website and a yahoo e-group which is clubround@yahoogroups.com  We have received very positive feedback from those who have attended our workshops, therapy groups, game nights, dances, and movement classes.

LargeInCharge.com: Who came up with the name of your company?

Club Round: I did. It was hard to come up with name but I wanted it to convey the notion it was mostly for big people, to be easy, simple, and to roll off the tongue easily.

LargeInCharge.com: Tell us more about your creation of your company and the activities you provide?

Club Round: Club Round Clubhouse which means we are a central location that is open to plus size people and their supporters. The Clubhouse has the following accommodations: Dance floor, exercise area, several social common areas, a balcony for sitting outside, a private bathroom, size friendly seating (armless heavy duty chairs and comfy couch), free parking, non-smoking, and non-alcohol serving. We provide door prizes, snacks, and beverages at all our events.

LargeInCharge.com: Does your company service the whole community or only the Plus Sized Community?

Club Round: Club Round Clubhouse is open to the entire community. You do not have to be a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) or a BHM (Big Handsome Man) to attend events. We are open to people of any size as well as FAs (Fat Admirers) and family and friends who support their large loved ones.

LargeInCharge.com: Do you know of any other establishments such as yours that is run by the plus sized for the Plus Sized community?

Club Round: No, not a Clubhouse. One other special feature that we have is that there is no smoking and we do not serve alcohol beverages and are not connected to a hotel. Club Round Clubhouse is an entity all it's own.

LargeInCharge.com: What makes the services you provide better than the rest?

Club Round: I wouldn't necessarily say "better than the rest" as there are all different types of size acceptance organizations and clubs out there and people get various needs met from those. But Club Round is founded by a Clinical Psychologist and we provide both therapeutic activities as well as fun and fun only events.

LargeInCharge.com: What were the things that concerned you when you thought of making a establishment like Club Round?

Club Round: One of the issues that concerned me at first was attendance. An individual has to be accepting of themselves enough to be associated with a size acceptance establishment. So, being that Rockford, IL did not have any resources on size acceptance I was leery at first. But, we have a large e-mail membership, VIP members, and yahoo group members.

LargeInCharge.com: Is Club Round a membership facility or is it a walk in type of set up?

Club Round: Club Round has both VIP Memberships as well as entrance only options. Most of our events are $15.00 at max, unless they are therapy groups. We provide VIP privileges such as immediate notification of events, VIP Members Only events, a free pass to bring a friend, and discounts at all events. The cost of a VIP Membership is $25.00 for one year.

LargeInCharge.com: What are the price ranges for your activities?

Club Round: Dances for either adults, teens, or children are $15.00. Game nights, craft, and scrapbooking events are $5.00. Our movement classes are $8.00 per class ($6.00 if registering in advance), nutrition and dietician services $65.00. BBW Book Club free (donations accepted). Redneck Bingo $15.00.

LargeInCharge.com: Do you have a Financing program for your customers, do you accept insurance or other forms of payment?

Club Round: Yes, for our clinical services such as individual therapy or group therapy we accept insurance and also have a sliding fee scale. For our fun only events, we will discount or waive the fee due to hardship or if a person is volunteering to help us set up, etc.

LargeInCharge.com: What is your most popular service?
 

Club Round: Our support groups and Redneck Bingo.

LargeInCharge.com: Do you have any plans to expand to other areas?

Club Round: No, not at this time in terms of physical location. But we just began providing services to the large individuals of the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) community. We had a meet and greet for plus-size lesbians and bisexual women. We will be expanding our services in other aspects but at the same location.

LargeInCharge.com: When picking your location what did you keep in mind?

Club Round: Accessibility to the Rockford, IL area. Easy access from the major streets and bus lines.

LargeInCharge.com: If someone has a problem at Club Round how do you handle the situation?

Club Round: If there was a problem of any kind, staff are always at hand...whether it is to help someone up the steps or bring in items. Luckily, we have not had any major problems such as fights, etc. I think the lack of alcohol helps to keep a more civil atmosphere. LOL

LargeInCharge.com: I understand you service children and adults? What type of services do you have for each?

Club Round: We have dances and game nights for teens ages 13-17 that are monitored. We have dances and game nights for kids ages 8-12. We also have our movement classes that are open to any age.

LargeInCharge.com: What are you most proud of through the creation of Club Round?

Club Round: I'm ESPECIALLY proud to see the smiles and happiness eminate from chubby kids that there is "a place for them" where they won't be teased or laughed at because of their weight. That they receive the message that all bodies are good bodies at an early age ... and that they see fat, happy, and healthy adults having a good time as well...and being non-judgmental and supportive of them, "just the weigh they are." It makes me think of myself when I was a chubby little girl and wishing I had a place to go to where I could play with other chubby kids who were just like me....without anyone thinking or saying, "you're too fat" or "you're too fat to do that, wear that, be that..." And, for the plus size teens who come and say, it is nice to be at a place where you won't hear "you have a pretty face but you need to lose weight" or "you won't get a boyfriend if you're fat."

LargeInCharge.com: How can the readers of LargeInCharge help to support your company?