Thank you for a thought-provoking article this morning on fitness facilities ("Triangle attracting fancier health clubs," Business, Dec. 29).

I turn a critical eye towards the ads promising us the answer to our New Year's fitness resolutions. I am especially critical of membership drives, specialized equipment and poor results. First, membership drives with low introductory prices will likely benefit the facility more than the patron.

I would be concerned that facilities cutting their fees will be next cutting their services, staff and upgrades as well. I would question why one facility is offering an end-of-the-year deal too good to be true while a neighboring facility can operate on the same fees and services throughout the year.

One facility not mentioned in your article is the YMCA, a nonprofit organization with serious commitment to the Triangle community. It has the same fees year round and maintains high-quality services that are not impacted by membership numbers.

Another kudo for the Triangle Area YMCA is it offers assistance, through private and corporate donations, to any individual or family in need. This is not marketing ploy. They do this quietly without fanfare.

My second concern is the misplaced focus on specialized equipment. When I look across the impressive array of machines, it reminds me of an arms race between facilities. We lose sight of the fact that we already have the best piece of fitness equipment available to all of us -- our bodies. You don't have to wait to use it. You don't have to wipe off the previous person's sweat, and the settings are customized to you. Simply start walking, running, biking, swimming, or shooting hoops with your family.

Alisa Wright Colopy

Fit & Able Productions, Cary

Avoided spending is not really savings

I read Sue Stock's column about all the money you can save by purchasing items on sale and using coupons ("Savings so big, they surprised a coupon queen," Work&Money, Dec. 30). My wife and I are avid coupon clippers as well and hardly buy anything that is not on sale. I think our "savings" are more than $5,000 a year.

However, I don't look at this money as actually being saved. I could see using the word save if you have set money aside, purchased the item at less than what you saved and then putting the balance in the bank. Who does that?

I call it avoiding spending more than you have to.

Thanks for your columns; I read them every week.

Ed Hryn

Fuquay-Varina

Tax savings is often forgotten

Nice article about how a little effort can result in dramatic savings. However, you missed an important element of frugal shopping: the total dollars saved! Assuming a 28 percent tax rate, you actually saved $5,781. That is how much you would have had to earn to net the $4,517 you pocketed. Please don't tell the IRS, or it may require each of us to declare our coupon and frugal shopping rewards as income!

Brian Rogers

Cary

Congregation focuses on saving energy

I enjoyed your article on geothermal heat pumps ("Energy underground," Business, Dec. 20). I wanted to let you know of an effort we've started at our church in Chapel Hill. We're calling ourselves the "Environmental Communications Committee." One of the things we're doing is preparing comments on an environmental subject each month to give our church members some ideas on how to take action to improve our environment, and in many cases to reduce our carbon footprint.

Our first idea was on lighting. We thought December was a good month to feature lighting use in our homes as it's the month of the winter equinox. This month, we are going to feature ways to reduce home heating needs. We thought January was a good month for this subject as it's typically the coldest month of the year.

I grew up in a family that owned a fuel oil distributorship in the Northeast and worked in the business for a year or two before going to work for the pipeline company, doing mathematical modeling and managing relationships with power companies. I've been in many homes to see firsthand the opportunities for improvement in home heating energy use.

Rich Leber

Chapel Hill

Program offers help to Medicare seniors

I certainly enjoyed your article concerning the services provided by pharmacist in the retail community ("Personal service at your pharmacy," Business, Dec. 21). It was refreshing to see an article explaining personal services that are available. It is encouraging when the media recognizes what pharmacist can offer to the health-care community. I was a little disappointed, though, that the article did not mention the program implemented by the Health and Wellness Trust Fund through the N.C. Office of Rural Health and Community Care. The Program is called ChecKmeds NC, a Medication Therapy Management program offered to all seniors in North Carolina who are enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Program. The program is free to seniors and open to all pharmacists who wish to participate.

It is designed to identify and educate Medicare recipients who might be at risk for adverse health events. It provides face-to-face, patient-specific services exclusive of medication dispensing. It provides education and training to enhance a senior's understanding and use of medications. The program has a network of 290 participating pharmacies in North Carolina, including Kerr Drug Stores and independent pharmacies.

Vince Stevens Business Officer, N.C. Office of Rural Health & Community Care, Raleigh