Presented by
Kristi Von Ruden, RD, LD and Courtney Eby, RD, LD
Northfield Hospital Medical Nutrition Therapy

Four TUesdays in February
6:30-7:30 pm

Join us.  See the Hospital Nutrition Flyer for more details!

January 14, 2010 – Press Release

Healthy Rice County: Achieving Wellness in the Workplace Coalitions Forming to Help Worksites with Employee Wellness

Rice County Public Health is pleased to introduce Healthy Rice County: Achieving Wellness in the Workplace. The purpose of Achieving Wellness in the Workplace is to engage employers in developing or enhancing worksite wellness. The goal is to build a culture of health at the workplace that supports healthy behaviors. A team of wellness experts will provide consultation through two new employer coalitions for both the Faribault area and the Northfield area.

This project is funded through the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) which was established under a 2008 Minnesota State Legislature appropriation of $47 million. All 87 counties and eight tribal governments are receiving funding over the next one-and-a-half years through grants and technical assistance to help lower the number of Minnesotans who use tobacco, or who are obese or overweight.*

Employers are being recruited now to participate. Whether your organization has an employee wellness program in place or is new to this type of work – you are invited to learn more and participate. The project runs from early 2010 through June 2011. The registration deadline is February 26, 2010.

Ideal characteristics of participating organizations

The project is ideal for organizations that have a high-level leader who actively supports employee wellness activities. Each organization will provide a primary contact and form an internal workgroup(s) to help with planning and implementation.

The coalitions will meet monthly. Organizations will participate in a formal planning process, and receive guidance to enact/enhance polices and make healthy improvements at the worksite. The commitment to perform these activities and the ability to influence initiatives, policies and communication in the workplace is also important.

Through a formal Request for Proposal process, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota was selected to facilitate and lead this worksite-based project and the Northfield Area Family YMCA was selected to provide worksite technical assistance and implementation guidance.

January 28th, 7:00 at St. John’s Lutheran Church (500 Third St W, Northfield).

Dan Habib’s award-winning film Including Samuel examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities.  The documentary chronicles the Habib family’s efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives, and also features four other families inclusion experiences, plus interviews with teachers, parents, and disability rights experts. This 58 minute documentary will be allowed by facilitated discussion groups for youth (ages 6-12), teens, professionals, businesses and parents (CEU’s available).

Any questions contact Lisa Malecha at 663-8806 ext.203/lmalecha@artech.k12.mn.us. For FREE childcare register at www.northfieldymca.org or call 507.645.0088. Please call to register for childcare by January 25th, so appropriate staff will be available – THANKS!  This event is supported in part by the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, with funding fromthe Northfield Area United Way and SAMHS.

More details from the Star Tribune click here.

The Northfield Hospital is offering a series of 4 classes on nutrition for only $40!

Tuesday November 3 – Portion Sizes & Label Reading
Tuesday November 10 – Fats
Tuesday November 17 – Fiber & Sugar
Tuesday November 24 – Emotional Eating, Stress Hormones, Restaurant Eating & the Holidays

For more details contact Nancy at 507-646-1035 (moen@northfieldhospital.org) or view the attached Hospital Nov Food Series Flyer

Open Swim (lap swimming, water walk or just enjoy the water!)
Family Swim
Aqua Fitness (Water Exercise)

Please see the Y’s Swimming Brochure Flier or our website (www.northfieldymca.org) for more details!

Legislators are the people who are in the forefront of the legislative process. They represent the people of the state and try to come up with ways that the government can serve them better—they make, change or get rid of laws. You get a chance to come up with your own good ideas for legislation and use your debating skills to get your bills passed. Your primary focus is legislation but you also get to speak and debate in groups on the floor of the House or Senate and in committee. Bills that receive legislature approval will be sent to the Youth Governor or Youth Lieutenant Governor for signature.

If you enjoy speaking in front of small groups, if you are a hard worker and a problem solver… you may want to consider being in the COURT PROGRAM
9th -12th Grades
Court of Appeals (grades 9 & 10)
Supreme Court (grades 11 & 12)

The Court program gives you a lot of time to examine issues (our fancy word for arguing!). As an attorney, you represent one side of a case and try to convince a panel of judges that your take on the law or constitution is the correct one. If you become a judge, you get to listen to the arguments of others and poke holes in them with your piercingly intelligent questions. It’s all about the analysis! The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals hearings are held in the Judicial Center in the Capitol Complex. Each youth lawyer sits on the bench as a Justice or Judge at least once.

If you enjoy working on a team, if you are responsible and resourceful…You may want to be a CABINET MEMBER
9th-12th Grades
Lieutenant Governor’s Cabinet (grade 10)
Governor’s Cabinet (grades 11 & 12)

As a Cabinet member, you and advise the Youth Governor or Lt. Governor on legislative and administrative questions. You also serve as the Executive Branch liaisons to the joint committees of the Houses and Senates. You will provide written reports on the current status of your department, based upon actual information. Departments range from Transportation to Education. Finally, you provide your opinions in writing on any legislation currently under consideration which may affect your department and the Governor or Lt. Governor’s political platform.

If you enjoy debate, working independently and if you are assertive…You may want to be a LOBBYIST
10th-12th Grades

A Lobbyist is the person behind the scenes who pushes bills through the legislative process. Lobbyists represent clients, and they try and get certain bills to pass or fail depending on how it affects the client’s interests. You can use all your debating and negotiating skills to convince legislators to think your way or you can organize campaigns about legislation to reach whole groups. Your primary focus is still legislation and you also get to use your debating skills.

If you enjoy writing, meeting deadlines and if you are a creative thinker…You may want to consider being in the MEDIA CORPS
10th-12th Grades

The media plays a vital role in the way the government runs, how the people get government information, and there are a variety of jobs to choose from. You could be the journalist who discovers the big scoop about a controversial bill, or you may want to run a feature on personalities or social aspects of Model Assembly. You could be a photographer or a video editor, or even try your hand at advertising. You could interview legislators on a particular bill for a television or radio broadcast. The Media Corps is a great place to be, plus you get a great picture of all the different parts of Model Assembly.
Newspaper
Participants write, edit, design and print daily newspapers during the Model Assembly Session.
Television
Participants tape, edit, and produce nightly newscasts. They are also responsible for coverage program events and for producing a final, summary broadcast of the Model Assembly. TV news participants must take part in several training and accreditation events before the Model Assembly Session.
Radio
Participants produce radio news and entertainment programs for broadcast at the conference hotel during the Model Assembly Session.

If you are an 8th grader… you will be a member of the LEADERSHIP CORPS
Students will be introduced to each aspect of the Model Assembly and have a chance to learn, up-close, the inner workings of state government. Like a “sampler platter” of YIG, students will have the opportunity to participate in skill building and leadership development activities that will enhance their role as active citizens . . . meet new people . . . and have fun the whole time.

If you enjoy being in charge, if you are enthusiastic and have good people skills… You may want to be a YOUTH ELECTED OFFICER OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL in your particular program area
9th-12th Grades

Youth officers for the program are elected by participants at the end of the Model Assembly Session. Youth officers preside over the Model Legislatures, Courts, Executive Branch, Lobbyists and Media, while supporting program areas during the Model Assembly Session. Some appointed positions include: Floor Leaders, Committee Chairs, Commissioners, Administrative Assistants, Presiding Judges/Justices, Copy Editors, Assistant Managers and Election Officials.

(ages 3 - 10)
This program has been an overwhelming success. Once your kids try it, they’ll be asking for more! We call it the Kids Night IN and Parents Night OUT program!

Kids get their own special night away from parents, and parents get a night without the kids. The evening of fun activities to includes crafts, games, movies and much more. Dinner is included in the price of the program and will be served at 6:30 pm. Watch our website for additional Kids Night at the Y offerings.

Exciting Themes to Come! Check back for details!

Friday, September 18th – Shiver Me Timbers – Pirate Fun,  Location: National Guard Armory
Friday, October 9th – Crazy Fall Fun
Friday, October 30th – Halloween Party! Location: National Guard Armory
Friday, November 13th – Wild Wild West
Friday, December 4th – Under the Sea
Friday, December 11th – Winter Wonderland
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Dinner served at 6:30
$10 each for first 2 children (Members), $5 per additional child
$15 each for first 2 children (Non-Members), $10 per additional child

Family Night Flier!

Please register in advance at www.northfieldymca.org or by emailing info@northfieldymca.org or calling 507-645-0088.  Thank you!

Hello Everyone,  We have our summer staff hard at work on summer curriculum and the Day Camp team has finalized the Day Camp themes (listed below).  For full details, visit the “Day Camp” tab under “Camps” on our website (www.northfieldymca.org) or call 507-645-0088.

Weekly Themes for Day Camp

Nuts for Nature (K-2^nd)     June 15-19

Are you nuts for nature? Discover all about the weather, trees, birds, animals, preserving our environment and more! Take a hike, go bird watching, plant flowers and scavenge for critters. Includes outdoor activities and nature crafts using Earth’s materials.

Captain Planet (3^rd-5^th)     June 29-July 3

Discover what is being done to conserve our natural resources and to save endangered species. Learn how you can help through reducing and reusing every day materials. Find an appreciation for nature through experiences such as hiking, creating with nature, scavenger hunts and more. Also includes group games to foster team building skills and sportsmanship.

Into the Wild (K-2^nd)     July 13-17

Learn about animals and their unique habitats around the world such as tropics, prairie, arctic and dessert.  Discover what you need to survive outdoors including how to build a tent and cook outdoors. Focus is on outdoor education and team activities. 

Y-Lympics (3^rd-5^th)    July 27-31

Participate in Y-Lympic outdoor adventures such as relays, scavenger hunts and group games. Focus is on discovering the outdoors, physical fitness and team building activities. Incorporates hands on learning about the surrounding environment specifically wild plants, critters and forest ecosystems.  

Our Planet Extreme (K-2^nd)    August 10-14

Learn about extreme animals that slither, crawl and fly. Daily activities are oriented around natures’ coolest, weirdest and strongest including crafts and games. Prepare to be amazed.