Wellness Committee

Chairman: 
Kent Jones, Bost Inc.

The Wellness Committee creates a community-wide wellness culture and initiative, including awareness, education, programs and competition amongst member companies to promote a healthy Greater Fort Smith Region.

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Wellness Committee News

CHAMBER ANNOUNCES WELLNESS WEEK: OCTOBER 1-7

The Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care Division announces Wellness Works! Wellness Week 2012.  Wellness Week 2012 is scheduled as October 1 through October 7, 2012 and is an effort to heighten the awareness and share the benefits of wellness in the workplace.  

In Fort Smith 30% of adults and 20% of preschool children are obese.  Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.  The Chamber’s Health Care Division has been established to promote health awareness, encourage prevention of disease and support improved healthcare in Fort Smith.  

The Chamber is encouraging the community to participate during the first week of October to promote wellness in Fort Smith.  Ideas for participation for businesses, churches, schools and families are listed below.  Be creative and have Wellness on your mind the entire week.  Additionally, we’d like participants to share their progress, stories and photos with us through tagging the “Fort Smith Regional Chamber” page on Facebook and Tweet the Chamber @FtSmithChamber with the hashtag #FSWellnessWeek.

Quick ideas for participation:

Monday, October 1 – Wellness Works
    Commit to making wellness a priority
     Form a committee of employees to talk about how your workplace can promote wellness
    Develop incentives to encourage participation
    
Tuesday, October 2 – Nutrition
    Plan a healthy staff lunch with a healthy recipe exchange
    Post nutritional information on your vending machines
    Make drinking water readily available

Wednesday, October 3 – Fitness
    Walk out day – everyone get up and go for a short walk
    Share information on local fitness clubs and any incentives for membership that you offer
    Form an exercise group

Thursday, October 4 – Check Ups & Vaccines
    Participate or host a screening event
    Host lunch and learn program on the importance of family wellness checks
    Inform employees of proper screening guidelines and ages

Friday, October 5 – Stress Reduction
    Provide chair massages for employees
    Make the break area relaxing
    Acknowledge employees for hard work and let them know their value

Saturday, October 6 – Focus on Family
    Encourage employees to spend quality time with family and friends
    Plan a co-worker picnic with family activities
    Provide Saturday employees a family lunch

Sunday, October 7 – Spiritual Wellness
    Remind church employees, volunteers and congregation that Wellness Works!
    Remind church staff of the scriptural wisdom of personal wellness
    Encourage church leaders to host a sports team, fitness or nutrition class

To learn more about wellness programs and establishing a wellness program in your business contact Whitney Yoder at the Fort Smith Chamber of  Commerce at 479-783-3111.

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*The Health Care Division of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber works to support the health care industry, grow and sustain health related jobs in the Fort Smith region and provide health related information to the business members and community.  For more information on how you can volunteer within the Health Care Division contact the Chamber office at 479-783-3111.

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September 11 - Minutes

Chamber Wellness Committee
September 11, 2012
Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce



Kent welcomed the committee at 11:53, and made special note of Michelle Delawder from Reynolds Cancer Support House attending.

July minutes were reviewed and no comments or suggestions for change were made.

A proposal was made at the last Healthcare Division meeting to combine the Wellness Committee and the Healthcare Division meetings from this point on since their intents are concurrent at this point.  The consensus of the committee is to combine this but keep wellness as a priority.  All those able to attend the Healthcare Division meeting on September 12 will do so.  

Norma Meares reported the Healthy Workplace SubCommittee met and decided upon judges and to try to primarily share the info to the judges via email.  A form was developed for judging using color coding to keep the different categories separate.  The subcommittee will meet again this month to finalize the award and any further details.  To date, we have only received 4 nomination forms.

Kent proposed a weekly Wellness Newsletter coming from the Chamber.  Whitney will set up a template and Jeanne and Kent will work to feed the text/photos to her regularly.  This newsletter can be used to feature events, news and highlight winners and companies that have submitted information to the committee.  Holly suggested contacting St. Edwards for a judge nomination.  Whitney will contact the Hot Springs Chamber about outside judging.  An email was sent to Bob Moody asking Congressman Womack about the possibility of his judging.  

Michele and Whitney spoke about the Wellness Works week.  Information was distributed at the September First Friday Breakfast.  A proclamation has also been developed and emails will go out to the membership daily to promote the week.

Michele Delawder also spoke about the upcoming White Out Lung Cancer month in November.  Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer in the world but is 87% preventable.  Michele would like the committee members to place white ribbons on business doors, have brochures/pamphlets to hand out and let all employees know about lung cancer.  There are speakers available for smoking cessation and screening/prevention presentations.

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September 11 - Agenda

Chamber Wellness Committee

AGENDA
September 11, 2012
Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce
 

1.    Welcome/Introductions
2.    Review of July minutes
3.    Discuss combining with the Health Division for one committee (chair, vice-chair, secretary needed)
4.    Updates
a.    Norma Meares - Healthy Workplace Award
b.    Kent Jones - Chamber Website – Events/Information/Meetings/Resources/Etc.
c.    Michele Delawder - "Wellness Works" Week
5.    Other Items
a.    Possible Health Newsletter from the Chamber?
6.    Future Meeting Dates/Locations

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