Fitness is Fun!
September 2005

Greetings from the office of the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program! You have received the September 2005 issue of Fitness is Fun, the official e-mail distribution of the President's Challenge. These monthly e-mails will keep you updated on our program, activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and other current information pertaining to health and fitness.

GOVERNMENT/PCPFS NEWS:

The thoughts and prayers of the President's Challenge, along with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, are with the individuals who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

PCPFS 50 Year Celebration
The PCPFS Council members, Science Board, and staff are getting ready for 2006, the 50 year celebration of the creation of the PCPFS, originally known as President's Council on Youth Fitness. We encourage national, state, local, private and public organizations, industry, volunteer groups to join us in highlighting the benefits of a fit and active lifestyle and all of the great model programs at the grassroots level! If you'd like to find out more, please don't hesitate to call Chris Spain at the President's Council Physical Fitness and Sports 202-690-9000.

Surgeon General Issues Call to Action
The U.S. Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, has appealed to all Americans to help increase the quality of life for people with disabilities through better health care and understanding. This first-ever Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities was issued on the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The four main goals of the Call to Action are to increase understanding nationwide that people with disabilities can lead long, healthy, and productive lives; to increase knowledge among health care professionals and provide them with tools to treat the whole person with a disability with dignity; to increase awareness among people with disabilities of the steps they can take to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle; and to increase accessible health care and support services to promote independence for people with disabilities.

Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, issued a statement in support of Dr. Carmona's initiative, emphasizing the role that physical activity can provide significant health benefits to those who engage in 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) is currently working with the Health and Human Services Office on Disability though the 'I Can Do It, You Can Do It' program which pairs children with disabilities with mentors to help young people become active. For the complete Call to Action press release, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2005pres/20050726.html For information on the 'I Can Do It, You Can Do It' program, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/od/physicalfitness.html.

Healthy People 2010 Midcourse Review in Progress
On behalf of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is soliciting the submission of electronic comments for consideration on changes and revisions proposed to the Healthy People 2010 objectives as a result of the Midcourse Review process. Healthy People 2010 is a comprehensive set of national health objectives, based on science, for the first decade of the 21st century. The Midcourse Review, conducted at the midpoint of the decade, is the process through which the Healthy People 2010 objectives are reviewed by HHS, the lead agencies for the Healthy People focus areas, and other experts, to assess the data trends during the first half of the decade, consider new science and available data, and make changes that ensure that Healthy People 2010 remains current, accurate, and relevant.

The public is invited to comment through the Internet Website on: objectives and sub- objectives. Written comments received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered by the lead agencies for the objectives to which they pertain. The proposed revisions to Healthy People 2010 objectives can be viewed and commented on at http://www.healthypeople.gov/data/midcourse. Written comments must be submitted via the Internet website by the close of business Eastern Standard Time on September 15, 2005.

INShape Indiana
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' INShape Indiana allows you to register as a participant in the initiative and update a brief health profile every two weeks. Over time the success you have in your fitness quest will be recorded in this profile. The goald of INShape Indiana is to improve the amount and quality of physical activity in which Hoosiers engage, increase the level of fruit and vegetable consumption, decrease the use of tobacco, and lower the average weight of those who have made a commitment. The Web site, http://www.in.gov/inshape/index.html, has information about nutrition, physical activity, tobacco and also includes several success stories highlighting individuals and businesses that have made positive changes in their health.

Wisconsin Governor's Challenge 2005 Fall Edition
Wisconsin educators have a new way to encourage students to be physically active. The Fall Edition of the Wisconsin Governor's Challenge allows students to receive the support of participating schools and educators as they work their way to logging either 30 or 60 minutes of activity per day, five days a week for six weeks. When the Challenge wraps up in December, every participating student will be rewarded with a free certificate and gift. In addition, elementary and middle school students whose school had at least 25 participants will be eligible to win a Trek bike. Every high school student who participates will be entered in a statewide drawing for scholarships, personal exercise equipment, and more. For more information about this free program co-sponsored by the Office of Governor Jim Doyle and Trek Bicycle Corporation, visit http://www.wisconsinchallenge.org.

Arkansas Community Center to Promote President's Challenge
Many communities struggle with introducing fresh ideas to keep individuals healthy. Judy Morgan, a water arthritis class leader at Quapaw Community Center, has thought up an idea of her own. With the help of a grant, the community center will dedicate one computer specifically to The President's Challenge. Judy, along with another community center volunteer, will donate a few hours per week to show interested individuals how to get started with President's Challenge programs online. The center also has informational brochures to distribute to help people along. This service will be available to both community center members and non-members alike, as Judy is mainly concerned with getting the city of Hot Springs, AR, active. Judy has even set up an incentive for the first few individuals that reach the Presidential Champions Bronze Award by providing awards. She hopes to inspire people to become active and also to inspire local businesses to offer similar opportunities to their employees. For any questions regarding Quapaw Community Center's efforts, including recommendations on how to start your own President's Challenge information center, please E-mail Judy at jamjo37@yahoo.com.

REMINDERS:

President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Honor Award
The PCPFS Honor Award is given annually to an individual who has made a major contribution to the advancement and promotion of the science of physical activity, in addition to being an advocate of the mission of the PCPFS. Nominations from individuals and organizations are welcome. The nominations will be screened and finalist(s) recommended to the PCPFS Executive Director by a committee of former honor award winners. Nominations for the 2005 Honor Award should be submitted to the PCPFS office no later than December 1, 2004. You may download the form at: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/news_research/announcements/SportsAwardApp.pdf.

President's Challenge State Champions
Each year, President's Challenge honors three schools in each state for their accomplishments in physical fitness. State Champions are determined by the number of Presidential Physical Fitness Awards earned relative to the school's total enrollment. State Champion winners for 2004-2005 will be announced October 1st. Thanks to all the schools that have entered. To view last year's winners, please visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/educators/school_recognition/state_champs_03_04.aspx.

SPECIAL THANKS

We would like to extend a special thanks to all of the President's Challenge Advocates. Please visit the Advocates area on the http://www.presidentschallenge.org/ web site to see how companies, organizations and groups are making a difference with the President's Challenge.

FEEDBACK

We would like to hear from you. If you have any topics that you would like to see addressed in Fitness is Fun or any comments regarding this list, please let us know. You can provide them by emailing us at preschal@indiana.edu.

To view past issues of Fitness is Fun visit our website: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/. Enter the site by choosing the appropriate category, then click on "news/research".

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Fitness is Fun! September 2005

Fitness is Fun!
September 2005