Monday, April 13, 2009

It's never too late to Start! (exercising)

Last week, a team of IHRSA staff members attended the American Heart Association's National Start! Walking Day Rally in Boston. The event was a part of Start!, the AHA's campaign to educate Americans about the benefits of walking and to motivate people to be more active every day. The event was also sponsored by Fitcorp, an IHRSA member.

The rally included speeches by local celebrities, success stories of people who have begun to exercise and lost weight or learned to manage chronic disease. Several local organizations were awarded the title of AHA Fit Friendly Company, which is a designation received by organizations who promote wellness amongst their staff. IHRSA was amongst the companies recognized for their healthy work environment and efforts to keep their employees fit. The event ended with a walk across Boston.

The Start! campaign is a powerful example of a successful national health promotion campaign. In only 3 years, Start! has hosted over 450 corporate events nationwide, including the Boston Heart Walk last fall, which several IHRSA staff volunteered at. AHA Heart Walks bring together different types of organizations, including health clubs (Sports Club LA, an IHRSA member, was there last year). Start! also has over 3,000 companies participating in the Start! Walking Program (IHRSA is one) and over 52,000 consumers are registered on the Start! online community, which features a walking tracking tool, food diary and social networking features, allowing people to find 'sole mates' - or workout partners.

IHRSA is currently preparing for our own national health promotion campaign, called Get Active America!. This program helps IHRSA clubs to reach out to their local communities and welcome new guests. Participating clubs host events and programs showcasing their staff, equipment and amenities. The program has two parts: Bring a Friend, where members invite a guest (May 11-14) and Open House, where the club is open to the public (May 15-17). This program has been successful at increasing foot traffic, membership and helping clubs receive media attention.

We at IHRSA believe that one of the best things you can do for your club is to increase your visibility in the community and participate in programs such as Start! and Get Active America!. Not only do these programs show your current members and community that you care about their health, but they also help your club attract more prospective members.

To learn more about IHRSA's 6th annual Get Active America! program or to enroll, please visit www.ihrsa.org/getactiveamerica

To join the online Start! community, visit mystartonline.org

To learn more about IHRSA Health Promotion efforts, visit www.ihrsa.org/wellnessresourcecenter and never hesitate to email me at kh@ihrsa.org


Sincerely,

Katie Horne
Health Promotions Program Coordinator

No comments:

Post a Comment