WELLNESS CHALLENGE
OFFICIAL RULES AND GUIDELINES
This wellness program is for you. Employee wellness programs have been found to prevent obesity, cancer, heart disease, and hypertension. It is not that we do not know what we should do — or that we do not care enough to do it. We have just become frustrated, negative, and passive after years of false starts, fad gimmicks, and yo-yo diets. Many of us are now beginning to pay a high personal price for our years of inactivity and poor dietary choices.
The rules are simple:
1. Teams will be comprised of four staff members. Name your Team. (Sign up as a team or sign up individually and be assigned to a team).
2. When the last team is assembled and if there are less than 4 participants, an average of the team member’s steps will be added to their score for however many individuals are absent (not more than 2 participants). Every step necessary will be taken to avoid this situation.
3. Each team must assign a Team Leader that will be responsible for collecting and turning in monthly data.
4. Staff members must complete and return the attached entry and consent forms by August 27, 2008, and attend the Kick Off on September 16, 2008, in order to participate.
5. A physician check up is highly recommended before you begin the challenge.
6. Individually track your steps on a daily basis (form provided).
7. Submit your sheets with a Monthly Grand Total to your Team Leader on the first of each month.
8. Team Leader: Submit your Team Log to the Central Office by the 5th of each Month.
9. Winners will be announced at the Health Fair, followed by an e-mail to all Participants and a posting on the Web Site.
10. If at any time you drop out of the Challenge, pedometers must be returned to the district office. Lost or stolen pedometers will not be replaced by the district.
Earn Extra Steps:
1. Go to myuhc.com, sign up and complete the Health Assessment Survey. Just turn in a copy of the last screen “Congratualations you have completed the health risk assessment or if you have completed the assessment prior to this Challenge you can print out and send in the top half of you Personal Assessment Page (It will show your name and it will state “Review your Health Assessment Results”) to the Central Office so that the points will be added to your score. No personal data needs to be sent. Participants and Team Leaders are not to add the points. This will be done at the Central Office. Earn 2500 steps.
2. Attend Wellness Seminars (2). There will be sign-in sheets available. Make sure that you sign in so steps can be awarded. Participants and Team Leader are not to add the steps. This will be done at the Central Office. Earn 2500 steps each.
3. Doctor Visit - It is very important that you have a yearly appointment with your doctor. This can be the first indication of any concerns or changes that you may have to make in your quest for life long wellness. Just turn in a copy of your physician receipt (within the last 6 months) to the Central Office so that the steps can be added to your score. Only well and physical visits will be accepted. This does not include well women visits. Participants and Team Leader are not to add the steps. This will be done at the Central Office. Earn 2500 steps.
4. Participate in the Dollars for Scholars 5K Walk/Run and earn 2500 steps. Be sure to sign in so your steps are awarded.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the Wellness Challenge?
A: The Wellness Challenge is an opportunity to enhance your fitness/wellness level in a team environment. The challenge will last for 200 days and will involve teams with four members per team. Each team participant will track daily steps. The Wellness Challenge will start September 17, 2008, and finish on April 11, 2009. Prizes will be awarded at the Health Fair on April 29, 2009.
Q: How do I join a team?
A: If you are interested in being on a team ask your colleagues. If you cannot form or join a team sign up anyway and you will be assigned to a team at the September 16th Kick Off. If you have a specific team in mind you may also contact that team leader.
Q: How many teams are there?
A: There is no limit on the number of teams. We want everyone to participate.
Q: Who are the team leaders?
A: Anyone can be a team leader.
Q: How do I track my steps?
A: You will receive a monthly tracking sheet that you will keep for yourself and turn in to your team leader at the end of each month. Your team leader will then submit the team’s tally sheet to the Central Office. Please be sure to include your team name. The sheets are based upon individual honesty.
Q: What if the team I want to join is full?
A: At that point, you may have to consider joining a different team or come to the Kick Off and be assigned to a team. Remember there are no limits on the number of teams who can enter.
Q: What does the team with the most points get?
A: The 1st Place Team will receive $500 Master Card, 2nd Place Team will receive $250 Master Card, and 3rd Place Team will receive $100 Master Card. Each award will be split among the winning team.
Q: Are there individual winners?
A: Yes. On December 8, 2008, there will be a session on Fitness and Exercise and on February 9, 2009, there will be a session on Nutrition at the Middle School Media Center at 3:15 p.m. Attendance prizes and an individual top step winner prize (winner must be present) will be given away. Top individual winner for December 8, 2008 will be based on the total steps from September, October, and November Log Sheets. Top individual winner for February 9, 2008 will be based on the total steps from December and January Log Sheets. If top winner is not present, prize will be awarded to the 2nd highest individual and so on. Attendance prizes will also be given away at the Kick Off on September 16, 2008.
Q: How do I communicate with my teammates?
A: We encourage Team Leaders to have meetings from time to time to communicate any needed information and give the team a chance to interact with each other. Team results will be posted on www.madisoncusd12.org// each month after the results are tallied.
Q: How and where will the winners be announced?
A: The winning team will be announced at the Health Fair on April 29, 2009. The team will also be announced in a group e-mail and on the District website.
Q: How much does it cost to join a team?
A: It is FREE.
Q: How do you know if participants earned the steps honestly?
A: We hope that everyone will be honest in his or her point earnings. There is simply no other way to keep track of so many individuals.
Q: Can we earn steps seven days a week or is there a limit?
A: YES, you can earn steps 7 days a week.
Q: How long does this go on?
A: We plan for the challenge to last 200 days. We hope that the good habits that may be formed in that time will last a lifetime.
Q: Is this done by yourself or as a group?
A: Points will be earned individually but will be combined with the rest of your team for the overall team challenge champion.
Q: Are there penalty points for unhealthy eating or lack of exercise?
A: No…but there is excessive body fat, heart disease, and a wide variety of other less than great effects from eating unhealthy or not exercising.
Q: When do I turn in my step tracking sheet?
A: Submit your sheets with a Monthly Grand Total to your Team Leader the endfirst of each month. Your Team Leader must submit the Team Log to the Central Office by the 5th of the month. So be punctual.
Q: What if someone on my team drops out?
A: If a team loses a member during the challenge, that team may need to work twice as hard. There will be no replacement team members unless due to illness or injury (doctor slip required) and the Team will be responsible for finding a replacement member or see Rule #2.