GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR HEALTH FAIR

     Although it was a cool and rainy day at the start, the weather for our first-ever Health and Wellness Fair took a turn for the better in the afternoon when the temperature went up a little and the sun came out.
     And although some people said they didn't know we were having a health fair, it was publicized through over 40 different media outlets.
     All in all, we were very pleased with the turn-out of the fair and have received positive feedback from a good number of our patrons.
     We had 18 healthcare services participating at 13 stations, which included the bloodmobile center located right outside our front door.  And there were at least 34 healthcare providers who manned those stations during the day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
     In order to critique the health fair afterwards, we asked our providers to answer a very short survey regarding Attendance, Preplanning Communication, Management of the Fair, Booth Space, and Publicity.  We also asked them for suggestions, to estimate the number of participants they interacted with during the day, and whether they would participate in another fair, if we had one.
     It's nice to say that all but one provider said they would be glad to join us in another health fair.  The one that didn't say yes said "maybe."  I certainly couldn't blame that person, who had traveled at least an hour and a half from Tallahassee to Moultrie for the event, and who felt there should have been more communication between the initial agreement to participate and the date of the event.  So, the "maybe" was a reasonable comment from that person and good to know as their only suggestion.
     The number of participants the providers interacted with, of course, depended upon what each visitor was interested in.  Ten-minute massages while sitting in a special chair were given to approximately 150 visitors, while a special counseling provider saw only four to five people.  The blood center saw 31 people, while the health department saw only thirteen.  Where some providers did hands-on hearing checks and posture/feet checks, some had pamphlets and service information to distribute.  Some providers gave out candy and some gave pencils.
     Suggestions from the providers ranged from "have flu shots at the fair" to "give out door prizes."  Other suggestions encouraged us to "send invitations to participants" and have "a shorter time period, like 9 a.m. to 12 or 12 to 3 p.m."
     But then we had comments, such as "you had a lot of good vendors" and "I just want to thank the library for the chance to get our name out to the commuity."  Others offered to post any publicity fliers, posters, etc. in their offices.  Another stated, "The fair is an excellent way to get resources out to the public.  The people who did come by were very interested."
     To the following we give our big Thank-You:  Colquitt Regional Medical Center, University of Georgia Extension Office, Dr. Joseph H. Berger's office, Southeastern Community Blood Center, Anytime Fitness, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Alzheimer Association's Southwest Georgia Regional Office, Moultrie Medical Weight Loss Center, Colquitt County Health Department, Pharmanex, and United Hospice.
     Our biggest thanks go to our co-sponsor Chiropractic Solutions, who manned two stations, and to our MCCLS Friends for their help during the day.
     Like I said earlier, although the weather was a factor we couldn't control, we were very pleased with the turn-out of the fair.  It does show that the community is interested in their health needs and well-being.  And it does encourage us to hold another Health and Wellness Fair.  Just when...well, that's something we're going to be working on.  You might say this is an event...to be continued.

YOU'RE INVITED TO A HEALTHY LIFE

     On Thursday, January 17th, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until 3 p.m., we will open our doors to our very first Health and Wellness Fair here at our library.
     Co-sponsored by the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library and Chiropractic Solutions from Thomasville, we're inviting you to our Health and Wellness Fair with the hopes that you will be encouraged to engage in a more healthly lifestyle.
     We invite you to join us with questions regarding your health, wellbeing, and community resources.  Medical and community health professionals from Moultrie, Thomasville, Tifton, and Tallahassee will be present to provide useful information related to health and wellness, as well as provide many health checks.
     Stations will be set up in the library auditorium where you can obtain information about:

• Colquitt Regional Medical Center's Home Health, Hospice, Life Line, and Rehab Center.  They will be giving body mass index checks and glucose screenings, along with many informational handouts.
• The University of Georgia Extension Office will have nutritionists present to help you with dietary questions and needs.
• An ear-nose-throat professional from Dr. Joseph Berger's office will be present to give hearing checks.
• Health professionals from Anytime Fitness and Chiropractic Solutions will be available to give posture and foot checks, talk about fitness, and give 10-minute massage therapy sessions (the therapy will be held in the Classroom).
• A physician will be present from Eye Savers, Tallahassee and Thomasville, to give eye checks.
• Health professionals from Dr. Todd Trebony's Internal Medicine and Weight Loss Center will be available to give blood pressure and body mass index checks, and...
• A health professional from Pharmanex, Thomasville and Waycross, will provide antioxident screenings.

     In the adult reading area of the library:

• A health professional from the Colquitt County Health Department will be available to discuss health information and services by the health department.
• A member of the Alzheimer Association, the Southwest Georgia Regional Office in Tifton, will be on hand with information about their services, and
• A health professional from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will provide information about their services.

     The Southeastern Community Blood Center from Thomasville will have its blood donor bus parked in front of the library.  Donors are asked to register ahead of time at the library's front desk.  You must be 18 and weigh at least 110 pounds to donate blood.  They are giving prizes and some of them are BIG.
     So, join us tomorrow at our Health and Wellness Fair and put your health first!

DITCHING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS?

     Do you know that there's a specific day for ditching any New Year's Resolutions you might have made on January 1st?   Yep, that's right.
     It's always January 17th!
     There's a sign-up sheet on the table in our Processing Room where staff members can write down a New Year's Resolution they've made, or a couple of them, if they want.  They've been asked to share their resolutions in order to help the rest of us know we're not alone with this resolution thing!  And that we are all there to encourage each other throughout the year.
     One person wrote down they are going to "run a half-marathon by December 31, 2013."  Another person said they are going to "(1) read daily devotions" and "(2) be a better me."  A third person said they are going to "(1) take an inspirational Artist Date every other week" and "(2) smile more."
     Now, those don't sound too hard to do.  But we've all heard on the news lately that most everyone who makes a resolution on January 1st breaks it about the second week in February...and probably never thinks of it thereafter.
     Some people think that for many of us, New Year's resolutions hang heavily over our heads and become a burden, and perhaps they weren't such a good idea after all.
     But some of us have decided to give it another try.
     Lots of people will be working on losing weight.  Lots of people will be working on exercising more.  Lots of people will be trying to give up smoking.
     I've decided I'm going to eat more of my healthy food and less of my "fat" food.  I'm going to take more ten-minute intervals and walk at least 30 minutes a day.  I'm going to be more positive and less negative.  I'm going to smile more.  Yes, I'm that third person you read about above.
     My Artist Dates will be solo events where I take myself some place that will inspire me to continue writing and drawing and enjoying life.  A special time just for me.
     I'm also going to post above my computer, right in a straight line in front of my face, a sign that says, "Remember: going too fast only creates mistakes."  If I remember to slow down just a little, then maybe I'll remember to breathe, and by breathing better I'll remember to smile more.  And, hopefully, make less mistakes and also find that people are smiling more back at me.
     Well, I think that's worth working on.  So, wish me luck.
     I don't feel like I'm going to renig on January 17th and give up my resolutions.  Maybe I should make that a resolution also...don't give up!!!
     I want to encourage you not to give up also, especially if you made a few New Year's Resolutions. But if you get discouraged and feel you just cannot keep one, or two, or whatever, then remember that January 17th is on a Thursday.
     If you're local, somewhere in the Moultrie, Georgia area, stop by our library for encouragement.  We will be holding a Health and Wellness Fair that day in our library.  There will be providers here to encourage you with your weight, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), nutrition, posture, and lots more.  The time will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
     Believe me, we can really make you feel better about keeping those resolutions!!!