[HOME]Our History
This organization was founded in 1974 by Dr. Frank Roberts who provided guidance and leadership through about 1982. At that time Dr. Fred Boyden took over and continued leadership through 2000. From 2000 through the present Sergei Ohanion has provided our leadership with the able support of George Poore and others.
From 1974 through 1992 we did our exercizes and played volleyball at the YMCA located at 1300 Foster Drive. In 1992 the YWCA on Valley Road offered a better price and we moved our physical activities to their gym. In 1998 the tide turned once again and the better deal was offered by the YMCA on Foster Drive. We used the YMCA Foster Drive gym from 1998 through June of 2006. In early 2006 the YMCA announced they would close the Foster Drive facility because of structural problems, and it would be replaced by a unit in downtown Reno without a gym. Compelled to find an alternative we compared possibilities to find that the City of Reno's NE Community Center on Valley Road (previously our YWCA gym) was available at the times we wanted and a competitive price – and thats where we now play.
During the first 10 years virtually all membership was the result of cardiologist recommendations and the program included medical monitoring, primaily blood pressure each morning before exercize and play, and pulse rate during play to substantiate the physician,s desire to gain moderately increased pulse rates. In early years medical monitoring was performed by two nurses with oversight by a physician. By 1982 experience had demonstrated success in keeping cardiovascular patients alive and preventing others of us from becoming cardiovascular patients. As a result the medical monitoring was diminished over time and eliminated in about year 2000. We continue to solicit cardiovascular patient participation as shown in the attached [letter].
Over the years the membership mix has changed, now (2006) about 40 percent are cardiovascular survivors while the rest of us are trying to stay healthy, avoid cardiovascular problems, and have fun while we are at it. Things have changed and the medical advise in the literature today, for most of us, is get winded and worked out at least three times a week. You can walk, run, lift weights, and do other boring things (but good things for you) or join us and have fun while getting moderately winded and worked out. As we say – play with us to stay with us.
This group was initially the "graduate" part of a two part Cardiac Rehab Probram. Cardiac patients would go through a 3 week to 6 month program of progressive exercise with extensive monitoring after which they would be forwarded to this "Calisthenics & VolleyBall" program.
Corey Farley wrote an article titled "Hot Volleys - Not Geezerball" on our group in 1996 which you can read by clicking here. Jason Hidalgo did another article titled "Aging Athletically" in 2004 which you can read by clicking here.
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