American Heart Association Deems Two Tyler Employers 'Fit-Friendly' Places
Greg Junek
Trane and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler picked up awards last week as two of the 2008 Fit-Friendly Companies named by the American Heart Association.
The awards were presented Tuesday in the McDonald Room at East Texas Medical Center.
Trane received the Gold Award and UTHSCT received the Gold and Community Innovation Award by demonstrating their commitment to their employees’ fitness by promoting a “fit-friendly” workplace that provides walking routes; promotes walking programs, online newsletters and tracking tools to motivate employees; and allows staff to wear athletic shoes on designated “sneaker days” to promote walking at work during lunch and break time.
The AHA Start! Fit-Friendly Companies program is available to all companies who apply and are accepted.
“The Start! Fit-Friendly Companies program is easy to implement and not only can improve employees’ health and wellness, but also has proven, positive effects on the bottom line,” said
Amanda Pitre, Tyler/Longview corporate market director. “It’s a simple solution to a growing and sometimes staggering problem – holding down health care costs.”
According to AHA information, many adult Americans spend most of their waking hours at work, and many are in sedentary careers, thus raising their risk for many medical problems, among them obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. But the Start! Program helps those employees start walking, an activity that has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity because it is free and easy.
“Studies suggest that implementing a worksite physical activity program and promoting a culture of physical activity can help companies increase productivity and reduce absenteeism, turnover rates and costs,” Ms. Pitre said. “A recent study showed that for every dollar an employer invests in wellness, up to $1.65 in health care expenses can be saved.”
A second list of 2008 Fit-Friendly companies will be distributed in September, following review of those companies that submit by the July 15 application deadline. For more information, call 903-323-8804 or visit www.heart.org/start.
Cleaner Bus Power
While we’re out walking, it would be nice to know that the fumes spewed forth by vehicles were a little bit less toxic.
Michael Williams, chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, will lead a seminar in Kilgore, from 10 a.m.-noon to explain how propane school buses reduce emissions for riders and cut fuel costs for districts’ taxpayers.
The Kilgore stop, at the Texas Education Agency Education Service Center at 1909 N. Longview St., is the first of Williams’ “Breathe Easy Tour,” which will visit seven Texas cities throughout the week.
Also participating in the interactive seminars will be area school district board members, superintendents and business officials.
Don Paull, president of the Texas Blue Bird distributor Capital Bus Sales, of Leander; and Curtis Donaldson, president of propane fuel system manufacturer CleanFUEL USA of Georgetown, will also participate.
The seminar will seek to explain propane buses’ environmental advantages and explain federal and state rebates of up to $30,000 per bus toward purchase and fuel costs. Participants may also ride with Williams on Blue Bird’s ultra-low emissions, full-size propane school bus.
The RRC promotes the use of propane as an environmentally beneficial alternative fuel through its Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division.
Still The Mayor
Since I’ve been in Tyler, a whole 17 years at the end of last week, the city has only had three mayors — Smith Reynolds Jr., Kevin Eltife and Joey Seeber. As a city hall reporter I covered the first two, but all three have had admirable qualities, and the people must have been satisfied with them since they allowed them to remain in office for the maximum limit of three two-year terms.
Smith Reynolds Jr., Kevin Eltife and Joey Seeber. As a city hall reporter I covered the first two, but all three have had admirable qualities, and the people must have been satisfied with them since they allowed them to remain in office for the maximum limit of three two-year terms.
Which brings us to the annual “state of the city” address the mayor gives each year during a Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce quarterly meeting. On May 21, the mayor is scheduled to give the address to the chamber. But this year, the name of the mayor on the invitation was replaced with “newly elected Tyler mayor.”
Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce quarterly meeting. On May 21, the mayor is scheduled to give the address to the chamber. But this year, the name of the mayor on the invitation was replaced with “newly elected Tyler mayor.”
The chamber, of course, does not want to be presumptuous on who will win the seat in the May 10 city election.
But in case no candidate receives a majority and there is a runoff, Seeber would continue to hold the mayor’s office until the winner is determined, and he would deliver the address. He mentioned this in the last chamber board meeting, and Sharon Guthrie, Tyler communications director, confirmed it.
Sharon Guthrie, Tyler communications director, confirmed it.
“Joey remains mayor until a new mayor is appointed,” she said.
Votes will not be canvassed until May 21, and the council will determine whether a runoff election would be conducted at that time. By late last week, a date for a runoff, if it is needed, had not been determined, Ms. Guthrie said, although it might be determined by the week’s end.
Ms. Guthrie said the city is communicating with the candidates that the winner will have the opportunity to give the state of the city address, literally immediately after being sworn in at the city council meeting that morning.
The chamber luncheon will start at 11:30 a.m. May 21 at the Rose Garden Center.
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