FOOD SAFETY PARTNERSHIP VIDEO CONFERENCE
OCTOBER 21,2009
.. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TODAY TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT OUR LOCAL RESPONSE TO AN OUTBREAK OF
HEP ATITS A THAT OCCURRED IN OUR COMMUNITY MAY
2007
." AS STATED, MY NAME IS DARLENE MECHTENBERG. I AM
A REGISTERED NURSE AT MURRAY COUNTY MEDICAL
CENTER IN SLAYTON, MINNESOTA
.. HEAD OF INFECTION CONTROL! EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND I
Ai\t! INVOLVED IN MANY SAFETY INTIATIVES WITHJ;N OUR
MEDICAL FACILITY ;.LC{ cur '0.( U <! /!It. /)J~ ~. .
.. I HAVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE FROM
AUGUST ANA COLLEGE IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
.. I HAVE BEEN A REGISTERED NURSE FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS
DEMOGRAPHICS ABOUT SLAYTON:
·,····'··.·SMALLRURALCOMMUNITY IS SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA
.. 2100 RESIDENTS OF SLAYTON
.. SLAYTON IS THE COUNTY SEAT OF MURRAY COUNTY
.. POPULATION OF THE COUNTY IS APPROXIMATELY 9000
.. MAIN INDUSTRY IS AGRICULTURE
.. T.Y. COVERAGE AND LOCAL NEWS IS REPORTED MAINLY
BY KELO AND KSFY T.Y. STATIONS FROM SIOUX FALLS,
SOUTH DAKOTA SINCE WE ARE ONLY 75 MILES FROM
SIOUX FALLS.
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\" MURRAY COUNTY MEDICALM CENTER EMPLOYES ROUGHLY
J!"140 EMPLOYEES OF WHICH 26 ARE EITHERRN'S OR LPN'S
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MURRAY COUNTY CLINIC WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE
HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES 2 FAMILY PRACTICE MD'S, 2 NURSE
PRACTIONERS, AND 2 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
THIS IS OUR STORY:
WHEN A YOUNG MAN PRESENTED TO OUR MEDICAL CLINIC
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IN MAY 2007 WITHPASTROINTENSTINAL SYMPTOMS HE WAS
SEEN BY LESLI KRAMER ONE OF OUR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.
LESLIE HAS PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERIENCE AND AT ONE TIME
WAS A CONSULTANT FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH IN FOOD! FOOD BORNE ILLNESS PROGRAMS BEFORE
SHE BECAME A PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT. IMMEDIATLEY SHE
QUESTIONED THE YOUNG MAN ABOUT WHERE HE WORKED
AND IF THERE WERE OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT WERE ILL WITH
THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HE SHARED THE FACT THAT HE
WORKED AT THE PIZZA RANCH IN SLAYTON AND OTHERS THAT
WORKED THERE WERE ILL WITH THEN SAME SYMPTOMS.
WITH THIS HISTORY, LESLI IMMEDAITEL Y ORDERED THE LAB
TESTS FOR HEP ATITS A AND HER SUSPICION WAS CONFIRMED .
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WE 'HAD APOSITIVE CASE OF HEPATITS A IN AN EMPLOYEE OF
PIZZA RANCH IN SLAYTON. THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH WAS IMMEDIATEL Y NOTIFIED AND THE PROCESS OF
DEALING WITH A FOOD!BORNE ILLNESS! OUTBREAK WAS
STARTED.
THROUGH EARLY DETECTION AND INTERVENTION WE FEEL
THAT A POSITIVE OUTCOME WAS ACHIEVED, EVEN
THOUGH WE NEVER WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE.
~WHAT PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE IS THAT AN INCIDENT
LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY FOOD SERVICE BUSINESS
ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE.
THE PIZZA RANCH IN SLAYTON WAS ONE OF THE FAVORITE
RESTAURANTS THAT W AS FREQUENTLY VISITED BY THE
RESIDENTS OF SLAYTON AND ALSO THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES. ALSO THE PIZZA RANCH WOULD tvlAKE AND
DELIVER PIZZAS TO FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND
ALSO OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY. AT THIS PARTICULAR
TIME THE PIZZA RANCH HAD FURNISHED PIZZA TO A LARGE
AREA CROSS COUNTY MEET THAT INVOLVED STUDENTS FROM
MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. ALSO A FOREIGN EXCHANGE
STUDENT LIVING IN SLAYTON AT THIS TIME HAD HER PARENTS
VISITING FROM AUSTRALIA AND THEY HAD EATEN AT THE
PIZZA RANCH AND THEY HAD RETURNED HOME TO
AUSTRALIA.
TRAVELERS GOING THRU SLAYTON EN ROUTE TO CHICAGO
SURVEILLANCE DID WE RALIZE WHAT A LARGE
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA WE WERE DEALING WITH ... THE
OUTBREAK WAS NOT JUST CONFINED TO MURRAY COUNTYI
SLAYTON RESIDENTS, BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND
EVEN TO AUSTRALIA..
AS A NURSE WORKING IN A SMALL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
WE WEAR MANY "HATS" IT JUST HAPPENED THAT I WAS
WORKING THE 3-11 SHIFT ON THE MEDICAL FLOOR WHEN
THE STORY "BROKE" ON OUR LOCAL T.Y.STATION OUT OF
SIOUX F ALLS. THAT IS WHEN THE TELEPHONE CALLS
STARTED COMING INTO OUR HOSPITAL AT ABOUT 10:15 AND
CONTINUED WAY PAST MIDNIGHT. I STAYED AT THE
HOSPITAL UNTIL THEN AND
FIELDED ALL THE CALLS. WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR CEOMEL SNOW AND OUR MARKETING DIRECTOR I WROTE A
"SCRIPT" ABOUT HEP ATITS A-- THA T WAS PRECISE, COULD BE
EASILY UNDERSTOOD BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND WAS TO
THE POINT. I USED THIS SCIPT THAT EVENING AND IT WAS ALSO
USED THE NEXT DAY BY THE RN'S THAT WERE FIELDING
THE TELEPHONE CALLS. I KNEW FROM ALL
THE PHONE CALLS THAT I HAD ANSWERED THE NIGHT THE
STORY BROKE THAT OUR HOSPITAL SWITCHBOARD WOULD BE
OVER WHELMED WITH PHONE CALLS THE NEXT DAY. OUR CEO
ALSO REALIZED TI-:IE MULTITUDE OF CALLS OUR HOSPITAL
WOULD RECEIVE AND HE CONTACTED THE PHONE COMPANY
AND
THEY WERE ABLE TO BE AT OUR FACILITY EARLY THE NEXT
MORNING AND THEY PLACED 2 EXTRA DIRECT PHONE LINES
INTO OUR HOSPITAL. THESE LINES WENT DIRECTLY TO THE
DIRECTOR OF NURSES OFFICE WHERE 2 R.N. MANED THESE
LINES FROM 7 AM UNTIL 5 PM AND THEN THE CALLS WERE
DIRECTED TO THE MAIN NURSES STATION WHERE AN RN WAS
AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES TO ANSWER THE PUBLICS
QUESTIONS. THESE NURSES USED THE SAME SCRIPT THAT
WAS INITAILLY WRITTEN BY MYSELF THE NIGHT THE STORY
PUBLIC IS OF UT MOST IMPORTANCE WHEN YOU ARE DEALING
WITH A HEALTH CRISIS. WE ALSO TOOK DOWN EVERYONE'S
NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ASSURED THEM THAT
IF WE WOULD LEARN ANYTHING MORE ABOUT HEPATITIS A
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OR THE OUTBREAK WE WOULD LET THEM KNOW. I BELIEVE
THIS SMALL TASK RELIEVED THE PUBLIC'S MIND AND
PREVENTED A "STATE OF PANIC".-IT MADE THIS CRISIS MORE
PERSONAL-POSITIVE COMMUNICATION WAS ACHIEVED
BETWEEN OUR MEDICAL CENTERlNURSES AND THOSE
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RESIDENTS THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE OUTBREAK. . A
SMALL COMMUNITY THE HOSPITAL IS THE CENTER OR WE
COULD CALL IT THE "LIFELINE" FOR ALL MEDICAL QUESTIONS
AND ADVISE. THE GENERAL PUBLIC LOOKS TO THE HOSPITAL
FOR GUIDANCE IN A MEDICAL CRISIS AND TRUSTS THOSE WHO
WORK THERE. THE PUBLIC KNOWS THE NURSES PERSONNALLY
BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THEM OR THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.
MOST
INDIVIDUALS LIKE TO "TALK TO A REAL LIVE PERSON INSTEAD
OF AN ANSWERING MACHINE OR A "HOT LINE" .
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OUR CEO CONVEYED TO OUR STAFF THAT THEY WOULD BE
COMPENSATED(WAGE WISE) FOR ALL THE EXTRA TIME THAT
WAS SPENT ON THE OUTBREAK ... HE REALIZED THAT THERE
PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PAY THE
STAFF TIME-BUT HE WAS WILLING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
AND COMPENSATE OUR STAFF FOR ALL THE TIME THEY SPENT
TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY AGAIN
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WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY WORKS
TOGETHER IN A CRISIS. AS HEAD OF INFECTION CONTROL IN
THE HOSPITAL ./
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~I LINED UP CLERIC::~OLUNTEEERS TO HELP WITH
THE PAPERWORK AND TO BE USED AS USHERS AT THE
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DISTRIBUTION SITE. MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT FROM THE
HOSPITAL ALONG AND THE COUNTY WERE ABLE TO SET UP
SCREENED INJECTION SITE AREAS FOR PRIVACY FOR THE
PERSON RECEIVING THE INJECTION. LOCAL RED CROSS
VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED SNACKS AND MEALS
FOR ALL THE VOLUNTEERS. THE MASS DISTRIBUTION SITE
WAS SET lJP AT OUR COUNTYS FAIRGROUNDS IN THE NEW
4-H BUILDING WHICH HAD AMPLE SPACE TO HANDLE THE
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INDIVIDUALS THAT NEEDED THE INJECTION. THERE WERE
ENOUGH BATHROOMS AND A LARGE STAINLESS STEEL
KITCHEN WHERE THE FOOD WAS PREPARED AND SERVED.
THERE WAS ALSO AMPLE SPACE FOR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH
PERSONNEL TO DO EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS TO THE PUBLIC.
TH,E WEATHER WAS RAINY ON ONE OF THE DAYS OF THE MASS
DISTRIBUTION AND THE NEED AROSE THAT THE INDIVIUDALS
WAITING TO GET THEIR INJECTION MUST HAVE A PLACE TO
WAIT OUT OF THE ELEMENTS. SEVERAL BUILDING AT THE
FAIRGROUNDS ARE USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS TO
STORE THE MANY BOATS THAT ARE OWNED BY RESIDENTS OF
MURRAY COUNTY. MURRAY COUNTY HAS A BEAUTIFUL LAKE
BY THE NAME OF LAKE SHETEK AND THIS LAKE IS A FAVORITE
VACATION SPOT IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. IT WAS NOT QUITE
WARM ENOUGH FOR THE OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR BOATS OUT
OF STORAGE SO THE BUILDING CLOSEST TO THE MASS
DISTRIBUTION SITE HAD TO VACATED TO ALLOW THOSE
WAITING TO WAIT COMFORTABLY. CHAIRS NEEDED TO BE
BROUGHT FROM OTHER BUSINESSES IN MURRAY COUNTY TO
ALLOW THOSE W AITNG TO SIT DOWN. LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROVIDED HELP WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL AND THE PARKING
OF THE MANY BUSES THAT BROUGHT STUDENTS WHO HAD
BEEN AT THAT CROSS COUNTY MEET, HAD EATEN PIZZA AND
NEEDED THE INJECTION
A LOCAL OPTOMITRIST WAS CALLED TO FIX THE GLASSES OF
ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES THAT HAD BROKEN HER
GLASSES AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE TO GIVE INJECTIONS
NURSES STEPPED UP AND EVEN THOSE NURSES THAT WERE
NOT EMPLOYEED BY MURRAY COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO GIVE INJECTIONS. THESE
NURSES WERE FROM LOCAL NURSING HOMES, HOIvlE CARE
AGENCIES, AND EVEN RETIRED NURSES THAT HAD KEPT UP
THEIR LICENSES. WE GAVE A TOTAL OF 2587 INJECTIONS IN
ONE AND ONE-HALF DAYS. ON MY WAY HOME THE EVENING
OF THE FIRS LONG DAY I STOPPED AT THE NURSING HOME AND
GAVE AN INJECTION TO ONE OF THEIR RESIDENTS THAT HAD
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OTHER OBSTACLES THAT WE FACED
WEltE:
WHEN THE
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SCHOOL BUSES BROUGHT STUDENTS TO SLAYTON FROM
NEIGHBORING TOWN TO THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER-
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PAPERWORK NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED WITH THE PARENTS
SIGNATURE. PARENTS WERE NOT ALONG ON THE BUSES. THIS
WAS A CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH-THEY NEEDED TO
FIGURE OUT HOW THESE FORMS COULD BE FILLED OUT-WAS
IT NECESSARY TO HAVE THE PARENTS SIGNATURE---COULD
THEY OBTAIN PERMISSION OVER THE PHONE. EVENTUALLY
THERE WAS A DECISION MADE AND ALL THE STUDENTS WERE
TO GET THEIR INJECTION.
MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAD NOT EATEN AT THE
PIZZA RANCH DURING THIS TIME FRAME CAME TO THE
DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND WANTED A SHOT, TI:-lEREFORE
A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE PROVIDED
BY PUBLIC HEALTH TO THESE INDIVIDUALS.
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ANOTHER OBSTACLE: WE RAN OUT OF SYRlNGES AND WE
NEEDED TO SEND SOMEONE TO MARSHALL HOSPITAL AND
ALSO TO SANFORD HOSPTIAL IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.
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UNFORTUNATELY THE PIZZA RANCH LOST A GRZAT DEAL
OF BUSINESS AFTER THE OUTBREAK AND WAS FORCED TO
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CLOSE, BUT JUST RECENTLY THE PIZZA RANCH HAS RE-OPENED
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND THEIR BUSINESS IS
FLUORISHING.
YOU MAY WONDER HOW I GOT HER TODAY TO PRESENT MY
STORY ABOUT THE HEPATITIS A OUTBREAK TO THE FOOD
SAFETY PARTNERSHIP-------IT IS THROUGH NETWORKING
IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR I ATTENDED THE MINNESOTA APIC
BASIC INFECTION PREVENTION COURSE IN FERGUS FALLS,
MINNESOTA. DURING ONE OF OUR CLASSES THE INSTRUCTOR
MENTIONED THAT THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
HAD AN "INTERACTIVE" HAND HYGIENE DEMONSTRATIONAL
TOOL CALLED "GERM CITY" THAT COULD BE USED BY ANYONE
IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA JUST BY CALLING THE
DEPARTMENT OFI\HEALTHAND RESEVING IT THROUGH
DEBRA DURKINt ALSO
AM HEAD OF THE WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR THE HOSPITAL
AND HELP WITH WELLNESS IN THE COUNTY. I DECIDED THAT
THIS WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL LEARNING TOOL TO USE AT
OUR HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY PICNIC AND ALSO AT THE
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I-IEAL TH FAIR THAT OUR HOSPTIAL CO- SPONSERS WITH THE
SANFORD HOSPITAL IN TRACY AND WESTBROOK, MINN.
I CALLED DEBRA DURKIN AND JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO
USE
"GERM CITY" A WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP HAS EVOLVED.
BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE THAT WAS INVOLVED TO GET
utE TENT AND RETURN IT--- OUR WELLNESS TEAM PURCHASED
OUR OWN BLACK TENT AND NAMED IT "GERM CAMP" WE HAD
SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN TRACE THEIR HANDS ON THE
INSIDE OF THE TENT USING FLUORESCENT PAINT. OUR GERM
CAMP CAN BE USED BY ANYONE IN MURRAY COUNTYCHURCHES, DAYCARE CENTERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
ETC. SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS HEARD ABOUT THE GERM
CAMP PROJECT AND DONATED MONEY TO HELP US PURCHASE
IT. MY FRIENDSHIP WITH DEBRA DURKIN STARTED THEN
THERE IS POWER IN NETWORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DR. SHEILA RIGGS SPOKE TO US AT THE 32 ND ANNUAL APIC
MINNESOTA INFECTION CONTROL CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER
28 TH , 2009 IN MINNEAPOLIS AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE
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POWER OF NETWORKlNG---SHE ENTITLED HER PRESENTATION
HARD WORK SHOWED---SEEDS ARE SOWN---MONEY FLOWS
SHE STRESSED THAT WE ALL HAVE ROLES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES---AND WE NEED TO CELEBRATE OUR ROLES--EVEN THOUGH AT TIMES WE QUESTION WHAT TYPE OF ROLE
DO WE HAVE?
TO DEVELOP A POSITIVE ROLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY YOU
MUST CREATE A NETWORK AND UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF
EACH PERSON THAT YOU BRING INTO YOUR NETWORK.
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AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ANOTHER
STORY ABOUT OUR HOSPITAL AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF
MYSELF AND OUR DIETICIAN BETSY PLOTZ.
MANY PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY HAD BEEN ASKING MYSELF AND BETSY TO
PRESENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE VALU OF HAND HYGIENETHE VALU OF HAVING YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED--TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT POISONS THAT LOOK LIKE THING
TO EAT LIKE BLUE GATOR AIDI WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID.
BETSY HAD BEEN ASKED BY THE SCHOOL TO WORK WITH
THEIR LUNCH PROGRAM AND DEVELOP A WEIGHT
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE
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HIGH INCIDENCE OF OVERWEIGHT OR UNDERWEIGHT
STUDENTS.
IN JANUARY OF 2008 BETSY AND MYSELF STARTED THE
MURRAY COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER WELLNESS TEAM WITH
THE TOTAL SUPPORT OF OUR CEO. FIRST OF ALL WE HAD
TO DECIDE @OULD BE ON OUR TEAM. WE PICKED
INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDURALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE
FELT WOULD BE ACTIVE MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE
HAD SET FORTH.
OUR TEAM STARTED WITH MYSELF AND BETSY. WE ADDED
AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WRITES GRANTS FOR THE COUNTY
BECAUSE WE FELT SHE COULD HELP US FIND DOLLARS
AVAILABLE FOR
OUR PROJECTS. WE ASKED THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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PRINCIPLE AND SCHOOL NURSE, ONE OF OUR PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS, A NURSE PRACTIONER THAT ALREADY WAS
INVOLVED IN A LIFE STYLE WEIGHT MAMAGEMENT PROGRAM
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AND HAD SHOWN POSITIVE
OUTCOMES, A COMMUNITY LEADER FROM ANOTHER TOWN,
OUR CARDIAC REHAB NURSE AND A PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE.
FIRST OF ALL WE PRIORITIZED OUR NEEDS AND THE FIRST ITEM
THAT WAS HIGH ON EVERYONES LIST WAS EXERCISE---THAT
WOULD BE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
WE DECIDED TO INITIATE THE 'SAFE SMART MILE" PROGRAM
THAT WOULD IDENTIFY SAFE SMART MILES IN EVERY TOWN IN
MURRAY COUNTY. WE ACTUALLY WALKED THESE MILES AND
THEN MADE BOOKLETS IDENTIFYING THE MILES. THESE
BOOKLETS WERE PUT TOGETHER BY OUR RSVP VOLUNTEERS
AND WERE FREE TO ANYONE IN OR VISITING MURRAY COUNTY.
THEY WERE AVAILABLE AT MANY BUSINESSES, ETC. WHERE
INDIVIDUALS MAY GO TO PICK UP INFORMATION ABOUT
OUR COUNTY. ALSO THE BOOKLETS IDENTIFIED THE BENEFITS
OF WALKING, EXERCISES TO BE USED BEORE AND AFTER YOU
WALK, AND A AREA IN THE BACK OF THE BOOKLET TO
RECORD THE MILES YOU WALKED. WE INITIALLY MADE 500
BOOKLETS AND HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER 500 THIS YEAR.
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EVERY YEAR ON NATIONAL EMPLOYEE WALKING DAY THE
WELLNESS TEAM ENCOURAGES EVERY BUSINESS IN MURRAY
COUNTY TO GET OUT AND WALK. WE START A BATON AT ONE
BUSINESS AND THEN TI-IEY WALK IT TO THE NEXT
BUSINESS IN LINE. THIS IS DONE IN EVERY TOWN IN MURRAY
COUNTY. THIS HAS JUST BEEN A SMALL STEPPING STONE TO
THAT WE TACKLED TI-IE FIRST YEAR WAS TO fIELP THE SCHOOL
IN IDENTIFYING THE STUDENTS THAT HAD WEIGHT
MANAGING ISSUES-NOT JUST OVERWEIGHT BUT UNDER
WEIGHT ALSO. WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR SCHOOL
LUNCH PROGRAM TO SERVE TURKEY HOT DOGS INSTEAD OF
THE PORK OR BEEF. WHOLE WHEAT BREAD INSTEAD OF WHITE,
HELPED STUDENTS IDENTIFY 100 CALORIE SNACKS AND
STARTED THE "WE CAN PROGRAM". WE EMPOWERED THE
HEAD OF THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AT MURRAY
COUNTY CENTRAL AND SHE JUST "TOOK IT AND RAN WITH
IT" --A CHAMPION THAT WE REALLY DID NOT KNOW THT WE
HAD!!!!!!!!!!
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IN 2009 WE ENLARGED OUR TEAM BY ADDING COUNTY AND
LOCAL PUBLIC Ak~_J/tk f2-z.fv\..~-t1t-j-VJ
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REPRESE'MIAIION~ ADDED A COuNTY
COMMISSIONER. OUR PROJECT FOR 2009 WAS TO HAVE A
COMMUNITY GARDEN. AT THAT POINT WE CREATED A SUB
COMMITTEE FROM THE WELLNESS TEAM AND CALLED IT THE
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COMMUNITY GARDEN GROUP. WE INVOLVED A PERSON FROM
THE MINNESOTA HOME EXTENSION GROUP, THE LEADER OF
THE 4H GROUPS IN THE COUNTY, SOMEONE FROM THE SOIL
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT AND THE MASTER GARDENERS.
ABLE TO LET US USE A PARCEL OF LAND THEY OWNED BY OUR
SWIMMING POOL FOR OUR COMMUNMITY GARDEN. OUR FIRST
YEAR OF THE COMMUNITY GARDEN WAS A SUCCESS!!!!!!.
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ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR THE GARDEN WAS TO TEACH
CHILDREN HOW TO GROW AND PRESERVE VEGETABLE. THE
4H GROUP PLANTED A PIZZA GARDEN AND THE SEEDS AND
PLANTS WERE PURCHASED BY A DONATION FROM THE NEW
PIZZA RANCH RESTERAURNT IN SLAYTON. YOUNG AND
OLD ENJOYED THE GARDEN. THE 4H LEADERS USED THE
GARDEN AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL-SHOWING THE GROUP
HOW TO PREPARE THE SOIL, PLANT THE SEEDS ,WEED THE
GARDEN AND THEN TO IDENTIFY OTHER PLANTS THAT WERE
PLANTED BY OTHERS IN THEIR OWN PLOTS. OLDER RESIDENTS
ENJOYED JUST WALKING UP AND DOWN THE PLOTS AND
SEEING EVERYTHING FROM ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF
FLOWERS TO SOMEONE THAT GREW EGG PLANT. ANYONE
COULD SIGN UP FOR A LOT IN THE GARDEN, BUT YOU HAD TO
SIGN A CONTRACT THAT YOU WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
UNKEEP AND MAINTENANCE. IF TillS WAS NOT DONE THEN
YOU WOULD LOOSE YOUR SPOT THIS YEAR ANDALSO THE
NEXT YEAR.
EXTRA PRODUCE FROM THE GARDEN WAS DONATED TO THE
FOOD SHELF. OUR YOUNGER GENERATION LEARNED
THE POWER IN "GIVING AND SHARING" NEXT YEAR WE HOPE
TO HELP ESTABLISH COMMUNITY GARDENS IN OTHER TOWNS
IN MURRAY COUNTY.
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WE CREATED AND USED A NETWORK---TO OUR BENEFIT AND
TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY---THA T WE REALLY
DID NOT KNOW WE HAD UNTIL WE STARTED TO ASK
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QUESTIONS AND BECOME INVOL VErf. START A CONVERSATION
WITH SOMEONE -FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE TillNKING ABOUTWE STARTED WITH A SMALL GROUP WITH GOALS FOR OUR
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COMMUNITY AND IT HAS GROWN. OUR WELLNESS TEAM IS
ALSO
INVOLVED IN THE MINNESOTA SillP GRANT PROGRAM IN
CREATING POLICIES TO BE USE TO HELP EDUCATE tHE PUBLIC
ON HOW WE CAN CHANGE 3 BEHAVIORS TO PROMOTE BETTER
HEALTH-THAT BEING---TO QUIT SMOKING, WEIGHT
MANAGEMENT AND NUTRITION.
WE NEED TO EMBRACE OUR POWER TO HELP OTHERS----WE ARE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES---DON'T BE FOOLED
BY WHAT YOU THINK LEADERS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. BE
INTERESTED IN PEOPLE AND FIND OUT THEIR INTERESTS--YOU MAYBE SURPRISED WHAT GREAT REWARDS YOU CAN
GET BY JUST ASKING SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING
DON'T BE AFRAID TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE--YOU MAY BE SURPRISED WHAT IS WAITING FOR YOU OU THERE
WAY BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION-----FIND INDIVIUDALS WITHIN YOUR PROFFESSIONAL
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ORGANIZATIONS/ ALUNMI GROUPS/ CLUBS/ PERSONAL
INTEREST GROUPS--------BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE YOU NEED THEM---NEVER GROW TOO OLD TO SEEK OUT NEW CHALLENGES--CHANGE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED---------MAKE A POWERFUL INP ACT ON OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE
, AREA OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AND EMBRACE YOUR POWER TO HELP OTHERS--------"---
THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BE APART OF YOUR
PROGRAM TODAY
DARLENE MECHTENBERG