Join the Presidential Fitness Partners in May
ark the month of May on your
calendar and join us in celebration.
Since 1983, May has been
observed as National Physical Fitness and Sports
Month. Individuals and organizations everywhere
have joined in the fun to promote awareness of the
value of physical activity in the pursuit of happier,
healthier, more productive lives. To further this
vital mission, the President's Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports reached out in 1994 to both
public and private organizations to form the
Presidential Fitness Partners in May. By working
together in this partnership, our individual health
and fitness messages will achieve increased public
resonance.
Let's move Americans to move themselves in a
healthier way this month (and throughout the year).
Here are some tips for reaching out during National
Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
HOW TO GET STARTED
ne agency in your area such as a school,
company, recreation department, or club
should assume leadership and pull together
representatives from other local agencies to
help. A series of planning and organizing meetings
should be held to discuss responsibilities.
Committees such as publicity, program
development, fund-raising, etc., should be selected.
Keep them small and efficient. A lot of work is
required to stage a successful fitness month
celebration; therefore, everyone selected must be
willing to devote time and make a commitment.
FINANCING THE CELEBRATION
t has been demonstrated that a two- or
three-day program can be staged effectively
with little cost. The effort would certainly he
helped if each cooperating agency would
provide some financing for preliminary
planning purposes. Additional funds may be
solicited from local businesses.
The following guidelines may make a
fund-raising solicitation more productive.
1. Develop an itemized budget plan with full
explanation.
2. Select/appoint a committee of no more than
three people to execute the fund solicitation
plan.
3. Select a list of companies to be solicited from the
local telephone business directory.
4. Contact these businesses early. Ask each to
contribute an equal percentage of the total budget.
5. Establish and maintain a bank account and
expense ledger for these funds.
6. Offer some type of benefit to each contributor,
such as recognition in the official program and in
public advertisements.
THE PLAN
National Physical Fitness and Sports
Month event plan should include the
following elements:
1. Begin planning far enough in advance.
2. Get early commitments on location and space,
particularly in areas such as shopping malls.
3. Decide which activities will be included.
4. Develope a schedule of events.
5. Obtain official proclamations from the
governor and/or the mayor or appropriate
officials.
6. Solicit the assistance of as many local
organizations as possible.
7. Form committees and delegate responsibilities.
8. Solicit sponsorship and financial support from
local business and industry.
9. Include the media in all planning and provide
frequent and continuous information on progress.
Work closely with the media and try to get as
much publicity as possible.
SUGGESTED EVENTS
ommunity agencies have sponsored a
variety of fitness events that have
proven successful including:
1. Fitness/Health Fair A special celebration
with participating groups such as the local
medical association, heart association, chamber
of commerce, business and industry, educational
institutions, or clubs. It may be conducted at
local malls, in shopping centers, schools, or
designated recreation centers.
2. Fitness Festival An organized series of
fitness activities involving school, recreation,
business and industry, and/or other sports and
fitness agencies. Outstanding fitness activities
may be highlighted or new fitness programs
introduced to the public, that can then be carried
out on a long-term basis.
3. Fitness Talks/Lectures/Film Showings/
Television Create increased awareness of and
participation in local fitness activities by inviting
national/state experts, local physicians, health
officials, and fitness professionals to participate
in talk and lecture programs, film discussions,
and/or television shows.
4. Distance/Fun Runs/Fitness Walks Many
agencies and groups promote such events as part
of their regular fitness programs, and these may
be tied into Fitness Month. Assistance may be
available from local running clubs or such
groups as the National Road Runners of
America. It is extremely important, however, that
necessary precautions for emergency care be
observed in planning and conducting distance
runs.