Hello to all,
How true it is that the older you are the faster the time goes. It seems like we just got over SRD and now I am planning my trip to IRD. I am really looking forward to it; I have never been to Florida. I wish many of you could go, it is quite an experience. This year I have both of the Area Captains and our state queen going. Pat Rael is planning a Fall Rally sometime in August try to attend so we can tell you all about our trip and share with you some of the things we learn at IRD. I will have more on that Rally later.
Now remember our challenge, we get a ticket for every new member that joins our chapter between 2009 SRD and 2010 SRD. Tickets will be entered for a drawing at IRD in 2010. Winning chapter gets $250.00 for their treasury. That’s a win, win situation. Chance for money for our club and new members to help our club grow.
On June 20th we have a Rally in Alamogordo. I have sent all of you an invitation and Nancy has also sent one to all her chapters. I really hope many of you will attend. Nancy has planned a full day of fun, awards, and motivation. We will also have an SRD meeting after the rally. If you wish to help at our SRD in Roswell, let us know. Good time to get together and make some plans. SRD 2010 will be in Roswell April 23 & 24, 2010. SRD letter will go out in November.
Thanks to all chapters that got their by-laws in on time. Very few chapters were late and I have 7 chapters that have not replied. Also this week I send out the assessment. Remember it is due August 1st. If you have a question, please call me or email me. The day will come when our SRD attendance goes back up to 300 and then we can drop the assessment.
Now that summer is here, are you taking advantage of the nice cool mornings to go out and walk? Try it; it will make your day. For those that work, try a walk after dinner.
So much going on right now with the children out of school, and vacations being planned. Try not to miss out on your TOPS meetings they are very important to help us stay on track.
Check out your June issue of TOPS news, a special offer for “TOPS’ Quick & Easy Meals and Menus” cookbook. The offer is for the discounted purchase of $ 14.95 - a savings of $ 4 per book with a free “updated” exchange recorder (note shipping charges do apply). This offer expires August 31, 2009.
Enjoy the weather, be careful of too many picnics and think thin.
Paula
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL BORN IN THE MONTH OFJUNE!
New Members:Welcome to TOPS, We are glad you are here.
TOPS#NM55, Las CrucesRachael Adamson
TOPS#NM99, AlamogordoAnita Austin
TOPS#NM203, BelenFrances Evans
TOPS#NM216, AlbuquerqueJosie Short
TOPS#NM359, AlamogordoKristy Bougteb
TOPS#NM395, AlbuquerqueJulie Ross , Charlotte Penny, and Lisa Driscoll
Welcome TOPS#NM402, Alamogordo:Diana Calkins, Michelle Nelson, Mary Wolford, Bobbie Harrington, Terri Liddle,
Grace White and Lois Knowles
Best Losers of the Month forMay:
TOPS#NM16, AlbuquerqueLois Ross4.00 lbs
TOPS#NM30, ArtesiaRuth Eberle3.75 lbs
TOPS#NM55, Las CrucesShirley Madrid3.75 lbs
TOPS#NM99, AlamogordoAnita Austin2.25 lbs
TOPS,NM104,Los AlamosJoanne Rupprecht1.50 lbs
TOPS#NM110, RoswellMarie Towler 14.00lbs
TOPS#NM154, Rio RanchoMarie Dierke 24.75lbs
TOPS#NM175, RoswellBetty Good5.25 lbs
TOPS#NM203, BelenBerlinda Sanchez1.75 lbs
TOPS#NM216, AlbuquerquePat Shepardson8.75lbs
TOPS#NM219, Las CrucesAlda House1.50 lbs
TOPS#NM227, AlbuquerqueBeverly Weeks5.00 lbs
TOPS#NM240, SandiaParkDon Frazier10.25 lbs
TOPS#NM275, FarmingtonTerry McCaw3.75 lbs
TOPS#NM298, Santa FeKate Lettenberger9.50 lbs
TOPS#NM331, AlbuquerqueWendy Johnson6.50 lbs
TOPS#NM339, AlbuquerqueCarol Bailey6.50 lbs
TOPS#NM340, LovingtonJuanice Robinson4.00 lbs
TOPS#NM354, San LorenzoJosie Hawn2.25 lbs
TOPS#NM359, AlamogordoKristy Bougteb 3.75lbs
TOPS#NM368, DemingTrisha Speer7.00 lbs
TOPS#NM390, Las CrucesLisa Griz7.00 lbs
TOPS#NM395, AlbuquerqueDanna Lawson6.00 lbs
TOPS#NM402, AlamogordoLois Knowles3.50 lbs
KOPS Below Goal:
TOPS#NM16, AlbuquerqueHeather Darby
TOPS#NM30, ArtesiaLouise Daugherty
TOPS #NM55, Las CrucesCelia Anaya
TOPS#NM99, AlamogordoLoretta Bean, Barbara Carpenter, Claudie Guthrie,
Mary Lou Kounter
TOPS#NM154, Rio RanchoMarie Evanoff, Terry McAleer, Leona Pease, and Jackie Decker
TOPS#NM216, AlbuquerqueBeatrice Payne, Eva Allen, Barbara Ann Simon
TOPS#NM219, Las CrucesAnne Gordon and Ina Wohlenberg
TOPS#NM227, AlbuquerqueGrace Brooks, Martha Baum
TOPS#NM240, SandiaParkBelle Roberts, Shirley Frazier
TOPS#NM298, Santa FeRosemary Duck, Elna Strand, and Emme Lyon
TOPS#NM331, AlbuquerqueDeora Odoms, Mary Upson
TOPS#NM340, LovingtonJane Hester
TOPS#NM359,AlamogordoVirginia Scarbrough, Ed Scarbrough, Jerry Austin, Cece Szewczyk, Gloria Wohlert
TOPS#NM390, Las CrucesEd Warner
KOPS in Leeway:
TOPS#NM99, AlamogordoNancy Montgomery
TOPS#NM331, AlbuquerqueAnn Ortega
TOPS#NM340, LovingtonMava Johnson, Frances Norgaard, and Imojune Patman
TOPS#NM354, San LorenzoPaula Norero
TOPS#NM359, AlamogordoFrank Smith
Programs/Contests/Special Activities by Chapter:
TOPS#55, Las Cruces
April 22 and May 6, No gain meeting. We held a garage sale for our SRD fund and made $180.00. Our “Weigh-to-lose” 6 week team contest ended. Each member paid $2.00 to join and would pay $.50 per gain. Helen Lara, Team 1, won Best Loser of her team with a 8.75 lb loss and the chapter presented her with a $10 award. All collected money was divided equally amongst her team. Shirley Madrid, Team 2, was presented $10 award for losing most on her team.
On May 17, we were saddened at the death of Marie Fuller. She had been in TOPS for more than 20 years and a 17 year KOPS. She held the offices of Leader, Co-Leader and Treasurer.
TOPS#NM154, Rio Rancho
Mary Sterk discussed how Americans can eat better by simply buying fresh fruits and vegetables.
Terry McAleer discussed possible causes of Throat cancer.
Lola Stude gave a talk on flowers for the soul.
Semi Annual rummage sale was a success.
TOPS#NM175, Roswell
Contest "On The Ball" will run until July 4th. A sphere was decorated with 4th of July colors with each chapter member represented by a flag placed on the top of the ball with their name attached.Each member will pay $1.00 to join contest. Each member's flag will stay on top of the ball unless they gain. Once they gain, flag is removed & cannot return to the top of the ball. Last flag (or flags) remaining at end of contest isthe winner & will win the pot.
Frieda Parks & Betty Goode received awards for completing the Presidents Challenge of walking 1000 miles from Chicago to Orland.
TOPS#NM219, Las Cruces
We had a diabetic educator, Dolores Gibson, give a talk on diabetes. She told some interesting facts on diabetes, history, past attitudes and current attitudes, as well as new treatments and ways to help control diabetes. She demonstrated different foods and we played a “guessing calorie” game. She encouraged us to work out a good everyday food plan.
TOPS#NM275, Farmington
Read Dear John letters and are gong to write some of our own and read them next week.
TOPS#NM298, Santa Fe
We incorporate some exercise as part of our programs. Kate Lettenberger took a 50mile bike ride with her 13 year old daughter for the Bikathon.
We had a lesson on “Slowing down”.
No Gain meeting May 28.
TOPS#NM331, Albuquerque
This month we got note cards at each meeting and sent notes to members we don’t normally correspond with. Joanne and Bard did a 5K walk for the zoo, and Leslie did a 10K run.
Joanne went over the meaning of commitment and gave us papers to write the number of pounds we could commit to lose by the end of the year. She kept a copy and we are to keep one where we can see it.
We have already raised enough money for entire group to go to SRD. We are also trying to raise money for as many as can, to go to IRD in 2010.
Debbie Potter had her husband draw three possible designs for our quilt square for next SRD. We have voted and one is approved.
TOPS#339, Albuquerque
For many animals of the African savanna, south of the Sahara, the lower branches of the trees provide much of their food. Not so the giraffe. Because of its long, graceful neck, it can reach the abundant, tender foliage at the top of the acacia and mimosa trees. There it finds good, nutritious food. There is a parallel in this for TOPS #NM339 of Albuquerque. A beautiful two-inch, gold colored metallic pin is given to the Best Loser of the month. Just as a giraffe stretches to reach its nutrition goal, so do conscientious TOPS members stretch to reach their goal weight. After receiving the pin, the winner and Chapter Leader, Ann McCoy do the “giraffe walk,” the description which will be left to the reader’s imagination. The pins have an interesting history. More than 50 of them were donated to the Chapter several years ago for a rummage sale. Ann thought they would be appropriate for awards of some type, and the Chapter kept them. Now they’re being given monthly. Carol Bailey, best loser for April, recently received hers.
Never Give Up! All of us at one time or another have heard the expression, “Never give up.” TOPS NM #339 has a member who is a perfect example of what that term really means. On October 5 of last year, Tillie Quintana was returning to Albuquerque from Las Cruces where she had participated in the 55th reunion of her high school class. Near Socorro, she passed a car on the left, and before she could pull completely to the right, she saw another car was bearing down on her from the rear at high speed. She pulled sharply to the right, lost control and her car rolled. Tillie had seriously hurt and was flown by helicopter to the UNM hospital. There she was treated for injuries to her head, spine, neck and arm. In a coma for over a week, she gradually came to and immediately started intensive physical therapy. Over the course of two and a half months, she learned to walk again. During this time, the members of #339 were kept informed of Tillie’s progress by Gloria Sotelo, and sent her cards as often as possible. In early January, #339 welcomed Tillie back with open arms. She was using a walker then, but gradually progressed to a cane. Now, our spunky Tillie is walking on her own and driving her car. When faced with incapacitating injuries, Tillie fought back and “never gave up.” She’s truly our heroine.
PROGRAMS: 5/7 – Taboo foods in different cultures – Ann McCoy, 5/14 – Dancing as an exercise – Ann McCoy, 5/21 – Report on a trip to the Amazon area of Peru taken by Sally Van Nostrand. Her group brought school supplies to isolated villages and helped the people of another village built a bakery and drinking water purification device. 5/28 - Program from TOPS book – Stress Management – Juanita Mathews
TOPS#NM340, Lovington
May 4 and May 10 were no gain meetings.
We started a Fourth of July contest this month. We have three teams, KOPS will be team captains. Each has an American Flag. Rules are: If a member loses weight, Turtles, or stays within Leeway they will earn a star for their team flag. Staying for meeting earns another star for team. The team with most stars by July 4th wins the contest.
TOPS#NM359, Alamogordo
Had an interesting program on what to eat and what not to eat. And another program on Vitamin D deficiency.
Contest: Ignite your Motivation. Cute little firecracker cans were made and decorated for each member wishing to join contest. They have a measuring tape in the end, with every pound lost; an inch of tape is pulled out. A member may present a short program for an extra 5 inches. The person losing the most weight by contest end is the winner. KOPS get to pull an inch for every pound below goal and an extra five if they give a program.
Congratulations to Ed Scarbrough for making his 16 year KOPS and Jerry Austin for making his 5 year KOPS.
TOPS#NM390, Las Cruces
Cheryl gave a nutritional program showing how certain fruits and vegetables are used to manage weight.
Contest: When one gains they must bring in a canned good to help out the church. At the end of the contest the food is donated to the church in that members name. We win both ways.
Nancy Nunez broughtin a new tool used on the Biggest Loser to track every calorie burned 24/7.
TOPS#NM395, Albuquerque
May 27, 2009 we had special guest Barbara Ann Simon Winner Division9 as our speaker. She shared with us her journey as a TOPS member and now a member of KOPS. We really enjoyed her message and wish to thank her again.
We had a two month contest for the biggest loser of April and May. We based the loss on percentage of body weight lost. We presented the winner with a $50 grand prize to be used for a facial, pedicure, or other type of special treatment. Danna Lawson and Priscilla Ortega tied with a 2.85% loss. Third place was Bridgett Blowers with a 2.66% loss. We flipped a coin so that the prize money would not be split and Danna Lawson won.
TOPS#NM402, Alamogordo
The first program that our Leader, Diana Calkins, gave was about “10 Steps to Manage Weight”. Three of the steps she talked about were 1) Exercise at least 15 minutes per day. She challenged us to get out and walk around the campus on one of our 15 minute work breaks. 2) Use more filling foods to fight hunger. Diana gave us a recipe for hummus, which is filling protein snack. 3) Take a weight training class. As an NMSUA employee we get free classes. Diana said we should use one of those free classes to take the weight class.
May 13, No gain meeting
Coming Events
DesertBeach Rally in Alamogordo, June 20, 10am – 3:00pm. All you can eat salad bar ($5) and lots of fun. Christian Church, 1300 Hawaii Ave.
IRD, OrlandoFlorida, July 16, 17, 18
State CoordinatorArea CaptainArea Captain
Paula Norero, #660Patricia Rael, #6069Nancy Montgomery #6199
HC 71 Box 945PO Box 6953016 Thunder Road
Hanover, NM 88041Santa Cruz, NM 87567Alamogordo, NM 88310
575-536-9433505-690-0188575-430-0020