Well SRd is over for 2009 and looking forward already to 2010 SRD in Little Rock.
First off I would like to take this time to thank all the officers for stepping up to the plate and holding an office. I look forward to working with all the returning officers and meeting all the new ones.
Your field staff went to several chapters and done your installations. I know I had a great time meeting with the chapters and I’m sure from what the a/c’s had to say they enjoyed their selves also.
Would also like to thank all the Treasurers for sending in their end of the year audits. It was amazing to see how many I have received without even having to remind anyone. CONGRATULATIONS.
To all the chapters that have been sending in their monthly chapter reports, I just want to say THANK YOU. It is really enjoyable reading about what you are doing in your chapters with the good programs, great weight losses and how much fun you must be having.
If you haven’t gotten in touch with your field staff yet in scheduling a visit from us, please do so soon. Everyone is chomping at the bit ready to present their new a/c program “Time to Change”
Here are some stats that were received from headquarters on how we did as a whole during 2008.
170,550 members
7,496 chapters in the United States, 1,541 chapters in Canada and 2 chapters overseas.
861,535.70 pounds total weight loss which figures out to be 430.77 tons. Average weight loss per chapter 95.34 pounds.
24,001 total members who have earned the status of KOPS after reaching and maintaining their goal weight for at least one year.
4,907 KOPS registrations for new and reinstated KOPS
1,950 Merit awards were given to members who maintained their KOPS status for 5 to 50 years.
159 members who lost at least 100 pounds, earning them the Century Club Awards.
Pretty good figures I believe for 2008. Let’s see if we can better those figures for 2009. I have not received any stats for Arkansas yet. As soon as I do I will let you know.
On the $250.00 prize money that will be given away at IRD 2010. It runs from the end of our SRD April 27, 2009 until April 19th 2010. So let’s see how many new members we can get in that period of time for Arkansas. If all 97 chapters in Arkansas gets new members say every month of the time period, look how many pieces of paper we will have in that drawing. Our chances are as good as any other state. So starting April 27th, 2009 let’s really start beating the bushes for new members or those who have been out for a year or better. One ticket for each chapter sending in a new member.
There is still time to consider going to IRD in Orlando. We
Are going to have a great time down there. Plenty of sun, lots
Of things to do and be inspired with all the wonderful losers.
I have the honor of being the Chairman of the Division winners and let me tell you there will be some great stories and beautiful people receiving these fantastic awards. So come on down and help us have a great time. Make Arkansas proud. We normally do not have too many attendees at IRD, so let’s set a record. All of the area captains will be going and of course I will also. So we are looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces.
While at SRD in Eureka Springs last weekend, someone handed me a kind note telling me what a wonderful SRD it was and how they really needed the inspiration and motivation that they received. Please contact me, I would really like to keep in touch with you throughout the year and see how you are doing. This also goes for anyone else in our membership that would like some encouraging words from the field staff in their struggles with their weight. That’s what we are here for.
I promised to tell you in this newsletter about where we would be staying in Little Rock for our 2010 SRD. Well here goes. We will be at the Double Tree Hotel which adjoins the RobinsonCenter where we will be holding our convention. The rooms are more than we have paid in the past, but I cannot get any rooms in Little Rock for less than $100.00 The room prices are as follows:
Single or Double $122.00 per night plus tax. Three or four to a room $132.00 per night plus tax. I know that sounds high, but if you divide that price by 4 which is how most of our members stay, it figures out to be ONLY $33.00 per night per person. Now come on that isn’t bad. There will be no charge for self parking at the underground parking garage. The RobinsonCenter is connected to the Doubletree so it will be very convenient for all of you.
The dates are April 16th & 17th, 2010. The theme is “Flip Flopping from TOPS to KOPS”, it’s a beach party. We have some special things planned in honor of our special guest MS. BARBARA CADY, PRESIDENT OF TOPS, will be with us. So please make arrangements to come and join us and meet Barb. We have never had the pleasure of the President of TOPS Club, Inc., being at one of our SRD’s, so please join us.
Now for an update on our great SRD. I believe everyone had a fantastic time. I haven’t heard anything different.
We crowned our new 2008 State Queen, Candace Humphrey’s of AR482 Hot Springs. She lost a total of 92 pounds. Our Runner-up Queen is Rebecca Waggoner of AR408 Morrilton with a lost of 84.00 pounds.
Our King John Teague of R402 Conway with a loss of 114 pounds was unable to attend because of illness.
To see a list of our division winners go to and click on Arkansas. We have everything listed on the site.
We had a Mother and Daughter graduate together which was something special. A wife who graduated and joined her husband as a KOPS. A special lady by the name of Laverne Westfall of AR318 Mountain Home who was honored as a 40 year KOPS. Plus some of her family came from California to surprise her and see her receive her awards. All in all, this SRD was so special in so many ways. To those of you who could not attend, you missed some special times. Our workshop speakers were very good and our motivational speaker was Ron Azzu, past InternationalState King of 2004 from Massachusetts. Ron is also an Ambassador for TOPS.
Attached you will find the May press release. If you can, would you see if you can get it published in your local paper. AR294 over in FairfieldBay has been having great luck getting the paper to print these releases. So just keep trying and maybe one of these days we will get lucky.
How is your chapter doing on the “Walking to Orlando”? Our time is almost up. Don’t forget to send your chapter’s walking into headquarters right after May 31st. Send to the following address: TOPS Club Inc., P.O. Box 070360, Milwaukee, Wi., 53207-0360 and mark the envelope “Walking challenge”
Guess that is all for this month. Now that the weather is getting nicer, try to get some additional walking in and watch those pounds just melt away.
Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend. Don’t forget to make good food choices and above all have fun.
Hugs
Marcia