State of California
   
   M E M O R A N D U M
   
   REFERENCE CODE:
   PML 97-006
   
   DATE:
   March 3, 1997
   
   TO:
   Personnel Officers
   Wellness coordinators,
   Health and Safety Officers
   
   
   FROM:
   Department of Personnel Administration
   Benefits Division
   
   
   SUBJECT:
   Employee Health and Fitness Day in California
   
   
   CONTACT:
   Marie Pereira, Benefits Division
   (916)324-9365  CALNET:  454-9365
   Office Vision:  DPA(MXPEREIR)
   INTERNET:  MXPEREIRA@SMTP.DPA.CA.GOV
   
   
   The California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and
   Sports and the National Association of Governor's Councils
   are presenting the 9th Annual National Employee Health and
   Fitness Day (NEHFD) on Wednesday, May 21, 1997.  In
   recognition of NEHFD, Governor Pete Wilson has proclaimed
   this date as the "Employee Health and Fitness Day in
   California".  (Please refer to the attached copy of the
   proclamation.)  The Governor is asking all State
   departments and other public and private sector employers
   to support the participation of their employees in special
   health activities at the work site.  Involvement in these
   kinds of events is consistent with the statewide wellness
   program being developed by the Department of Personnel
   Administration (DPA) through the direction of Governor
   Wilson's Executive Order W-119-95.
   
   DPA encourages the management and staff of all departments
   to support promotion of the physical fitness of the work
   force by organizing healthy, fun, and noncompetitive
   activities.  Although participation in these activities is
   voluntary, experience has shown that employees enjoy fun,
   creative and convenient on-site wellness events.  This is
   especially true when departments allow lunch and break
   period flexibility for optimum employee participation. 
   Many state departments provide these kinds of activities
   periodically throughout the year.
   
   The following are a few activities for your consideration.
   
   o Group walking  
   o Group stretching exercises 
   o Low-fat snack "taste test", or a bake sale (ask
   employees to bring their favorite with recipes to share)
   o Stair walking
   o Brown bag presentation by health professional
   o Noontime aerobics 
   o Health videos
   
   NEHFD Promotional Kit
   
   State departments may purchase a coordinator's kit for use
   as a resource to support National Employee Fitness Day,
   May 21, 1997.  The cost of the kit is $15.00.  The kit
   contains activity suggestions, posters, information about
   a contest to win a heart rate monitor, and available
   incentive products such as tee shirts and water bottles. 
   You can request this kit by calling (317) 237-5630 or
   faxing (317) 237-5632.
   
   American Heart Association Walking Kit
   
   The American Heart Association has developed a prepackaged
   walking program called "Walk Your Way to a Healthy Heart." 
   To help encourage your employees to start a walking
   program, the kit contains everything you need to give a
   walking clinic including:
   
   o awareness poster
   o planning materials(implementation timeline, budget
   planning worksheet)
   o promotional materials(poster/flyer,newsletter article)
   o instructional materials (step-by-step lesson plan,
   handout copy masters,slides)
   o evaluation materials
   o tips sheets of starting the walking club at your work
   site
   
   The asking price for this kit is $12.00 plus shipping and
   handling.  As a special offer for state departments, the
   American Heart Association will provide the kits for
   $7.10, plus shipping and handling.   In the Greater
   Sacramento area, you may call 446-6505.   For areas
   outside of Sacramento, please contact the local chapter of
   the American Heart Association.
   
   May 21, 1997 Health and Fitness Fair
   State employees in the Sacramento area are invited to
   participate in a special Health and Fitness Fair on the
   West side of the State Capitol on May 21, 1997 between
   11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Pepper Von of the Step One
   Sacramento Dance and Fitness Academy will be the master of
   ceremonies for the special 12:00 noon program that will be
   part of this event.  There will be brief presentations by
   persons recognized for their contributions to health and
   fitness, Olympians from the local area will be introduced,
   and there will be energetic athletic demonstrations
   showing that fitness is fun.
   
   This fair will include more than 60 booths providing free
   health screenings, health education, demonstrations of
   exercise equipment and fitness activities, and free
   samples of foods and drinks of various kinds.  Any
   department interested in having a free space for a health
   and fitness oriented booth at the fair can call Jim
   Purvis, NEHFD Director for the Governor's Council on
   Physical Fitness and Sports, at (916) 654-9514, CALNET
   464-9514.
   
   If you would like additional information or have specific
   questions regarding the statewide effort, please call
   Marie Pereira at(916)324-9365 or CALNET 454-9365.
   
   
   
   
   Patricia Pavone, Chief
   Benefits Division
   
   cc:  Department Directors
   
   Attachment will be mailed with hard copy of PML.