December 2006
 |
Greetings Southwest District!
Can you believe it’s December already-the final month of our 2006 wellness campaign? I can hardly believe how fast the year has flown by. The evidence of the campaign’s success is scattered throughout the district and I am so proud of both your individual and our collective accomplishments. I applaud your actions- making the necessary lifestyle changes to improve your health and well-being. Many of these changes were not easy, but we have emerged the better for making them- many of us look years younger, feel better, and probably respond better to our surroundings. With the upcoming holiday gatherings and celebrations, I want to encourage you to hold on to the goals you set for yourself as you embarked upon this wellness journey nearly a year ago. Please do not lose sight of your wonderful accomplishments. You are almost there; you can do it!
For those of you who didn’t really get hooked this year, believe that you will achieve your wellness goals in 2007.
This is the perfect time for all of us to think about what we would like to accomplish during the 2007 wellness campaign. Take the time to reflect on what went right this past year and let that serve as motivation. At the same time, it is equally important to make a mental note of what were the saboteurs and begin to strategize about how to effectively keep them at bay. Let’s prepare to enter into Hooked on Health 2007 reenergized and with a renewed commitment.
I am so pleased to inform you that the planning is well underway and the 2007 Hooked on Health kick-off event will be a spectacular, fun –filled, informational day. It is scheduled for the first Friday in January (5th) at the Norman Park Baptist Assembly. I know you will agree that this smoke free sprawling facility is a wonderful site to host the event. Please remember that this is a district-wide training activity and you are expected and required to remain on the premise throughout the scheduled day. A nutritious lunch will be provided.
We will start out the morning (9:00 am) in the main auditorium with a word from Dr. Lesa Walden-Young, the director of the Live Healthy Georgia campaign. The Live Healthy Georgia campaign aims to reduce chronic disease in Georgia by promoting five key messages:
- Be Active
- Get Checked
- Be Smoke Free
- Eat Healthy
- Be Positive
Throughout the day we have access to multiple meeting rooms, the gymnasium, and the grounds for a wide- array of wellness activities. Phlebotomists will be on site for glucose, cholesterol, PSA (Prostate cancer screening), and TSH (Thyroid hormone) screening at a reduced rate. Please do not eat after midnight if you plan to have glucose and /or cholesterol screening. Blood pressure and osteoporosis screening will also be available.
A 2007 light-blue colored Hooked on Health t-shirt can be ordered in either short or long sleeves. The design will essentially remain the same. You may order and purchase the 2007 t-shirt to wear or you may wear last year’s shirt to the kick-off. David Cooper will be sending out additional information regarding the t-shirt within the week.
District programs and health departments may display a poster board highlighting their Hooked on Health successes. I would like to emphasize that this is completely optional; so, do not feel any pressure to be creative. I know some of you may be disappointed that there will be no skits at this year’s kick-off event (ha-ha). Since there are no skits, the Hooked on Health trophy will be presented to the individual with the greatest Hooked on Health success story. Please send nominations to David Cooper by December 15th.
January 5th is just around the corner. I’m looking forward to spending that day with all of you: being active, positive, smoke free; eating healthy; and getting checked. Hey, that’s Live Healthy Georgia and Hooked on Health all in a day’s work! ….Until then, have a safe and happy holiday season!
Jacqueline H. Grant, MD, MPH, MPA
