Congrats Judy!

Congratulations to Judy Mont of ALS who won the barbeque tools! Thank you to all who reported your Round 3 points! And....a BIG THANK YOU to all who participated in Project APPLE. Keep up those healthy habits!

Post-Participation Surveys

It's hard to believe, but officially, all grant activities for Project APPLE must end next Friday, August 15.

If you were a participant in Project APPLE, please complete the Participant Post-Participation Survey by next Friday, August 15.

If you are a director of a library which had staff participate in Project APPLE, please complete the Director Post-Participation Survey by next Friday, August 15.

Links to both surveys can be found on the right side of the Project APPLE homepage (this page).

Final Points Reporting Due next Wednesday

Congratulations! You've made it through the program. We hope enjoyed Project APPLE and have taken advantage of the opportunity to improve your health and wellness. We also hope you will continue with these healthy habits in the future!

Please complete the survey via the link below by August 13. Report your progress for the final third of the program - weeks 17 through 24 only. You must press the "Done" button at the bottom of the page to submit the survey.Respondents will receive a new Project APPLE water bottle. In addition, all respondents will be entered into a drawing to win set of grilling tools...perfect for those late summer barbeques!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=IDuL_2fsVEuZ7DMX6qUo_2fWgA_3d_3d

Dinner and a movie?

Planning on eating out this weekend? Check out this interesting article...
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/11230/americas-bestand-worstrestaurants/

Going to the movies? Popcorn may seem the healthy choice, but it can be deceiving. Read this before you hit the concession stand...
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/8224/6-worst-things-to-eat-at-the-movies/

Congrats Diane!

Congratulations to Diane Soffietti of Fondulac Public Library District who won the Stack-N-Store! Thank you to all who reported your Round 2 points!

3 days left to register for ALS Wellness Day with Sharon Weinstein!

Registration for July 22's ALS Wellness Day with Sharon Weinstein closes this Thursday, July 17.

OWNERS…what does that word have to do with your health and well-being?
A great deal – because you now have the chance to take control of your OWN health.
- Are you stressed?
- Do you work long hours? At work? At home?
- Are your responsibilities expanding?
Join us as we explore the world of workplace wellness and see the impact on your life!Register today on CLeO!

Summer's here, and the sun is hot!

The health of your skin is important, too! If you have some "burning" questions about sunscreen, check out this article from Mayo Clinic.

http://health.yahoo.com/skinconditions-overview/sunscreen-answers-to-your-burning-questions/mayoclinic--E4C20159-E7FF-0DBD-17FA14F92F426CCD.html

Time to Report Points and Reap Rewards!

Congratulations! We are now over two-thirds through the program. We hope you are enjoying Project APPLE and have taken advantage of the opportunity to improve your health and wellness.

Please complete the survey below before July 18. Report your progress for the second third of the program - weeks 9 through 16 only. You must press the "Done" button at the bottom of the page to submit the survey.

Respondents will receive a new bookmark. In addition, all respondents will be entered into a drawing to win a stack-and-store food storage system (stackable plastic food containers)...perfect for rounding up fresh and healthy snacks!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kyclat6_2fc2lW4oEDuJfUWg_3d_3d

Interesting article...

Looking to institute your own wellness campaign? Check out this article from the latest issue of InterBusiness Issues.

"Achieve Optimum Health Through Wellness Planning"
http://www.peoriamagazines.com/ibi/2008/jul/achieve-optimum-health-through-wellness-planning.

Happy reading!

ALS Wellness Day: A Day with Sharon Weinstein

Join us on July 22 from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM for ALS Wellness Day!

OWNERS…what does that word have to do with your health and well-being?

A great deal – because you now have the chance to take control of your OWN health.

- Are you stressed?

- Do you work long hours? At work? At home?

- Are your responsibilities expanding?

Join us as we explore the world of workplace wellness and see the impact on your life!

Register today on CLeO!

Objectives:

- Discuss the state of the environment and need to take ownership of one's health

- Identify steps that an employee can and should take to enhance health and wellbeing

- Describe methods used to increase wellbeing during the workday

- List action steps needed to improve one's health

Lunch is included.

Sharon Weinstein, of Core Consulting Group, LLC, will be presenting this one-day workshop to enhance your knowledge base, skills, and abilities related to wellness in the work environment. Sharon is an energetic, motivating and highly skilled consultant specializing in workplace wellness, corporate training programs and motivational speaking presentations. To learn more about Sharon, please visit http://www.corelimited.com/gen_bio.asp?bioID=6&page=staff

Save the Date!

We have one more big Project APPLE event coming your way. Save the date of July 22 and plan to be at ALS for an all-day session with international wellness speaker Sharon Weinstein. We'll have five hours of wellness presentation and discussion. The tentative objectives include:

1. Discuss the state of the environment and need to take ownership of one’s health
2. Identify steps that an employee can and should take to enhance health and wellbeing
3. Describe methods used to increase wellbeing during the workday
4. List action steps needed to improve one’s health

Keep an eye out for more announcements and for registration in CLeO!

Wellness in the Workplace: Where Do You Start?

Offered in three locations! Register on CLeO today!

Monday, May 19, 1:30-3:30 pm @ Normal Public Library
Wednesday, May 21, 1-3 pm @ Alliance Library System, East Peoria
Tuesday, May 27, 10 am-12pm @ Macomb Public Library

"Wellness in the Workplace" and library workers' health are not only topics of importance for ALA President Loriene Roy, but also for your library!

Directors: No matter how small or how large your staff is, you need to make wellness a priority and have plan in place at your library.

This presentation will be centered on the concept of introducing a staff wellness program at your library. We'll discuss why wellness is important, and you will be given concrete examples of area businesses that are making small changes for big physical and financial rewards. Learn how to establish a plan, start your own program, and set your organizational goals.

Directors (or director-assigned leaders) should come prepared with ideas and questions. Follow-up workshops will be scheduled and planned based on the discussion and participation in this workshop.

Take advantage of this wonderful, free opportunity to learn how to improve your library workplace and offer an additional benefit to your staff's lives. Our instructor, Michelle Williams, is Manager of Wellness and Disease Management Programs for Methodist Medical Center.

Don't forget to ssstttreeeetttchhh!

Stretching should be an important part of anyone's work day. Check out this link to learn more about stretches you can do at the library or in the office:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stretching/WL00030

For You and Your Patrons

The magazine Woman's Day is calling for articles on the topic: "Has the Library Positively Impacted Your Health?" Woman's Day is taking submissions up to May 11th, and winners will be in the March 2009 Woman's Day issue. For more information about the contest, click here.

Reporting starts Monday!

Don't forget to add up your points for the first 8 weeks of Project APPLE and report them before April 21 via the survey.

Time to Report Points and Reap Rewards!

Congratulations! We are almost one-third through the program. The ALS Health & Safety Committee hopes you are enjoying Project APPLE and have taken advantage of the opportunity to improve your health and wellness.

Please complete the survey below between April 14 and April 21. Report your progress for weeks 1 through 8 only.

Respondents will receive a new pedometer and calculator to help them track their steps and their points. Many thanks to Kuhl & Company and the American Red Cross for their donations!

SURVEY
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8bFUp0EICNfi0jFqOxpmjw_3d_3d

Heart Healthy Recipes

Enjoy these heart healthy recipes from our program instructors at U of I extension. If you try any, please leave a comment to let us know how it turned out!

Do you have a favorite heart healthy recipe or a whole cookbook of healthy recipes that you can't live without? Share with us in the comments section!

http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/cepdf/ProjectApplehearthealthyrecipes.pdf

Programs Available to View Online

We were able to record the same program held in East Peoria on April 1 in WIMBA. You can view the slides and hear the audio from your desktop at your convenience!

PROGRAMS

Interpreting Food Labels
http://208.185.78.171/launcher.cgi?room=il_ALS_2008_0401_1904_46

Intentional Harmony: Managing Work and Life
http://208.185.78.171/launcher.cgi?room=il_ALS_2008_0401_2002_55

WIMBA INFORMATION

Run the WIMBA setup wizard on the main screen at:
http://208.185.78.171/launcher.cgi?room=il_ALS


To download a WIMBA participant's guide, visit:
http://il.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=14682

HANDOUTS

For Interpreting Food Labels

• PowerPoint presentation
  http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/cepdf/ProjectApplefoodlabels.ppt
• What’s on a Food Label?
  http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/fntr2/l883.pdf
• Nutrition Label
  http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/cepdf/ProjectApplenutritionlabel.pdf

For Intentional Harmony

• PowerPoint presentation
  http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/cepdf/ProjectAppleintentionalharmony.ppt
• More handouts coming soon!

Beardstown, Quincy cancelled

Due to low registration, the Project APPLE programs scheduled for Thursday in Beardstown and Quincy have been cancelled.

Bloomington, Galesburg cancelled

Due to low registration, the Project APPLE events this week at Bloomington and Galesburg have been cancelled. The Tuesday evening program in East Peoria will take place as scheduled and is open to all ALS member libraries' staffs and volunteers. We are going to attempt to record the session via WIMBA, so that it will be available to listen to at a computer desktop at a later time (for those who cannot make it).

Registration for the Beardstown and Quincy events is still open. Everyone is encouraged to register via CLeO. If minimum registrations are not met, the programs will be cancelled.

Project APPLE is hitting the road again!

Please join us as we hit the road again bringing programs on health and wellness to a location near you! Register on CLeO today!

April 1 - 1:15-4:15 pm at Bloomington Public Library
April 1 - 6-9 pm at Alliance Library System, East Peoria
April 2 - 9 am-12 pm at Galesburg Public Library
April 10 - 1-4 pm at Beardstown Houston Memorial Library
April 10 - 6-9 pm at John Wood Community College, Quincy

This month’s program includes the following:

INTENTIONAL HARMONY
The stresses of out-of-the-home work and the needs of personal and family life can have serious effects on emotional and physical well-being and on relationships with family members. Participants will receive hand-outs and develop personal strategies, leaving the session with a personal plan to minimize the effects of stress spilling over from work to personal life.

INTERPRETING FOOD LABELS
Deciphering the food label can be confusing at best. We will dissect the label and look at terminology used on the label such as % Daily Value. Labels and the Nutrition Facts Label are valuable sources of information for the consumer. Sodium, carbohydrate, and fat will be emphasized.

Any staff member or volunteer of an Alliance Library System member library can attend the educational seminars, regardless of their participation in the tracking program.

All attendees must register on CLeO, though, so sign up today! (Unfortunately, programs without at least 5 people registered will have to be canceled. Any registrants will be notified email through CLeO.)

Wondering about water?

We all know water is important to our bodies. But, as we progress through Project APPLE and set our goals, are you wondering about how much water you should be drinking? Check out this article from the Mayo Clinic and use it as a guideline when setting your water goals!

Also, keep filling in your tracking logs and check back soon for our first participation prize.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/water/NU00283/METHOD=print

Wellness Fair is Tomorrow!

Just a reminder that the ALS Wellness Fair is tomorrow from 9-1. Join us for free health information and speakers, as well as a bake sale and door prizes!

Our speakers are:

10 am: Non-Medicated Solutions to Headaches, Migraines, & Stress by Joseph & Hishon Chiropractic & Acupuncture

11 am: Posture & Ergonomics by IPMR

Don't forget to give yourself 5 Project APPLE bonus points if you attend.

We hope to see you there!

It's Not Too Late!

After years of inactivity, can just starting to exercise in your 40s or 50s really make a difference? YES!! People who start working out in their forties or later reduced their risk of heart disease by 55%. Read the whole story at: http://www.med.nyu.edu/patientcare/library/article.html?ChunkIID=130674

Chocoholics Unite!

Many here at Alliance Library System are familiar with "Genna's cake." While my baking abilities do not begin to rival that of our resident gourmand, Executive Director Kitty, I do have a handy little trick up my sleeve to whip up a healthy (ok, healthier than normal) and quick cake. I can't take credit for inventing this, as I've seen it listed many places. Nonetheless, everyone seems to enjoy it...and feels a little less guilty about enjoying CAKE!

You will need:

1 box cake mix
(My favorite is devil's food, but this recipe also makes a wonderful spice or carrot cake recipe.)

1 15 oz. can solid pack pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat the oven to the temperature on the box. Spray your 13x9 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Mix the two ingredients together. That's it! Don't add anything else that may be mentioned on the box, such as eggs, oil, or water. The mixture will be very thick. You will be tempted to add in other things to make the batter smoother. Just trust me...don't!

3. Spread the batter evenly (evenly as you can) into the pan. Place in the oven and bake as directed. (Of course, all ovens differ a little. Rely on the time-tested toothpick test.)

The result is a dense, moist, and healthier cake that has less fat and more fiber! Enjoy!

As far as toppings go, a little fat-free Cool Whip or RediWip is always good. Or, top with your favorite frosting. If you have a healthier frosting recipe you've used and like, share it with us in the comments section or email it to projectapple@alliancelibrarysystem.com.

Wellness Fair is Fast Approaching

Don't forget to mark your calendars to join us for the Wellness Fair on March 12 at Alliance Library System in East Peoria. The fair will last from 9 am - 1 pm and includes free admission, free speakers, and free health screenings. ALS members are encouraged to register on CLeO (although it's not required). It's also open to the public, so feel free to bring friends and family to take advantage of this opportunity. Stay tuned for more details!

Great News about Exercise!

Sure you knew that exercise leads to more energy and less weight, but did you know that even 30 minutes of moderate exercise just five days per week can reduce your chance of having a stroke by about 40 percent? This is great news, and just one more reason to keep moving. The weather is supposed to be warming up this weekend...use the opportunity to get some fresh air and go for a brisk walk!

Check out the full story at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_61435.html

Tell us about your plan to get moving this weekend! Click on the comments button to share your thoughts.

Tomorrow's Beardstown event cancelled

Unfortunately, due to low registration, the Project APPLE event scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Beardstown has been cancelled. The evening event in Quincy will proceed as planned, though, so please feel free to join us at John Wood Community College. See CLeO for details and to register.

Thanks for your understanding.

Urgent call for in-person program registrations!

Hi all! Hope you are having a healthy day today!

A minimum attendance of 5 people will be necessary for an in-person Project APPLE program to proceed as planned. SO....if you are planning on attending a Project APPLE program, please (please, please) sign up on CLeO ASAP (or if CLeO is "broken" at the moment, just call or email Genna...contact info in the right column).

The next programs are scheduled to be held in Beardstown and Quincy this Thursday, February 28. CLeO registrations will be accepted through the end of the day Tuesday, February 26. If the minimum amount of registrants is not reached by Wednesday morning, very unfortunately, we will have to cancel the program.

Registration has been extended!

Registration for the total health tracking portion of Project APPLE has been extended through February 29. See the Participation and Registration Information link in the right column for more details on how you can join.

Your two cents...

Feel free to post comments and add your feedback in the comments section of each post. If you have new ideas or handy tips, share them! They will appear to all readers who choose to read comments. If you have suggestions or content for new posts, please contact Genna Buhr (contact info is to the right). Of course, please follow obvious etiquette (be courteous and respectful, no profanity, etc.). We look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Setting Your Goals

Are you wondering how many fruits and veggies you should be eating everyday? Are you asking yourself how much exercise do you really need? Visit www.mypyramid.gov and personalize your "MyPyramid Plan" to learn more about what's recommended for you. Also, check out the cool MyPyramid podcasts available in a variety of audio formats.

Project APPLE is here! Register TODAY!

Click on "Project APPLE Participation and Registration Information" in the column to the right to find out more about this exciting project.
All participants should print a copy of this document.

What is Project Apple?
Project APPLE (Alliance Partners Providing Lifestyle Excellence) is a voluntary, non-competitive wellness initiative project that focuses on providing education, activities, and support through educational seminars, a wellness fair, and a total health program that encourages physical and mental well-being, as well as healthy choices.

Who can participate?
Any staff member, full or part time, or volunteer of an Alliance Library System member library can participate voluntarily in Project APPLE.

Why should I participate?
Through active involvement, participants can expect higher energy and healthier lifestyles. Libraries may experience reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, improved employee morale, and lower health insurance costs. Plus, there are some fun incentives along the way!

When is Project APPLE?
Project APPLE activities run from February 2008 to August 2008. More detailed information is available in the downloadable information booklet in the links at the right of this page.

Where is Project APPLE?
Project APPLE is a system-wide initiative that takes place where you are! The total health program is your personal health tracking plan...track at home or track at work! Email updates and health information will be delivered directly to your inbox. Educational seminars will be held at five locations throughout the system.

What does it cost me?
Besides a little time and some effort, nothing! There is no fee to participate in Project APPLE, because it is a grant-based project. Thanks, LSTA!