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PAGE 12, WEDNESDAY, J ULY 18, 1984, WHITBY FREE PRESS Chamber organizing fi't ness study for local business The Whitby Chaniber of Commerce has initiated a study for a nine-month pilot projeet to provide a com- prehensive fitness programn for the emn- ployees of area businesses. Carole Barrons, project chairman, .says: "It's not at ail difficuit to devise a program that wiil have high par- ticipation for three mon- ths. But if we can make it work for 9 months, we can make it work on a long-term basis. "'The key is a varied, fun programn with a fit- ness co-ordinator who's personally comnmitted to sustaining group en- thusiasm and group cohesion, and to helping each participant in achîeving their personal goals." The study is in- vestigating a prograni that would deal with: cardiovascular fitness; muscular fitness; muscular flexibility; weilness (stress and back clinics, etc.); and, recreational exercise. The activities would be co-ordinated to take place in gyms and other facilities already existing in, the area, with duplication of ac- tivities at different times of the week to allow people to fit them into their personal r schedules, F'itness leaders would be provided initially, but as the programn progresses, new fitness leaders would also be trained from volunteers in the program. The fitness co- ordinator would report to a fitness council made up of appointees fromn business and related associations. The nine-rnonth pilot project would be capped with a Challenge Cup. The challenge is a one- day field day that has more to do with par- ticipation than ex- cellence. It's a series of fun events such as racing wheelbarrows over obstacle courses and piggy-back races and such. Some com- panies involved are large enough to field their own teams. Some teams will be fielded by groups of small corn- panies. It's an en- thusiastic, high-profile day for "Fitness in the Workplace". Barrons believes that fitness programs are becoming increasingly important because ofý rapidly developing business technology., "The more high technology around us, the more the need for human touch ... Our response to the high tech all around us was the evolution of a highly personal value system to compensate for the impersonal nature of technology," she says, adding, "A corporate fitness programn is an excellent human con- tact point. It's a positive reinforcement of per- sonal values in a positive, relaxing, for- ward-reaching en- vironument. People in a fitness programn feel good, about theniselves and about their peers." THE HEA P Escaipe the swelter of summer heat. Keep your home cool with an electric heot pump. You con choose a heat pump that con do al your cooling and winter heating. Or one thot will do the hlicfn!g With some help fromn your exising furnace. 1 here',s a clean, easy-to-install "It's human contact," she continued. "lIt's high-touch to offset high-tech. The financial benefits are becoming well-documented. The intrinsic values are something a manager has to understand without a pencil and a balance sheet. " At this time, a survey of employers is being conducted to define the type of program business can cope with. The next step is to sur- vey employees to define the type of program that interests them. Both employer and employee expectations are being given, great attention because the fullfilling of those expectations is obviously the backbone of a good prograâm. Once the fitness coun- cil is in place, its key mandate would be to develop and maintain the group cohesion necessary to the success of any fitness program. One of the methods of achieving this, Barron said, will be to ensure that the program is a fun experience -- as op- posed to just a sweat experience. "Another is P heat pump just night for your home. And after a long cool summer, you'll appre- ciote the economy of the heot pump in winter. Phone today about economiîcal year-round comfort. WHITBY HYDRO ELECTRIC COMMISSION 128 B ROCK ST. S., WHITBY 668-5878 to give employees - via the challenge, and the personal preparation for same - a chance to represent their com- pany publicly and proudly." Small business seldom has the mass and personnel resources to provide itself with these benefits Barrons points out. Staff has already been eut to the bone to survive in these tough times. "Small business can, however, gain access to a high reward program if it chooses to group collec- tively around a central council."- It must, then be determined what the business community wants that council, and its program, to look like in order to meet the need, she added. Because the program requires a broad base to provide the simulated mass, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce is defining the target area as the Whit- by/Oshawa area and is welcoming co-operation from business-related associations and businesses that would be interested in having input into the evaluation stage of the project. Local conipanies in- terested in participatîng in the study are invited to contact Carole Barrons, project chair- man, at 668-8181. At this stage, there is special interest in those com- panies with less than 25 employees and we are especially interested in hearing froni them. Gay serving second year as U.W. president Richard H. Gay is presently serving the second year of a two year term as president of the Oshawa-Whitby- Newcastle United Way board of directors. As president he servesi as an ex-officio member to aIl committees and takes an active part in their deliberations. Prior to becoming president, Gay served on the board for six years. Gay is president 0f Richard Gai Richard H. Gay Holdings Ltd. involved development busîr with and contracting within Durham Regi( various building A~'d Born and raised in >j y iness ion. n the Oshawa and Courtice areas, Gay is a graduate of St. Lawrence Univer- sity. He is a member of the Oshawa Shrine Club, Masonic Order of Masons, a director of the Oshawa Generals and past president of the Oshawa and District Construction Exchange. Gay has three children ... Lawson, age il, Julie, age 9 and Mamnie, age 6. ART FOR CHILDREN The Whitby Arts Station Gallery will be holding two sessions of art instruction for children on August 14 to 17 and August 21 to 24. The program, taught by Wendy Syme, stresses the basics 0f drawing and 'painting. Students will be in- volved in nionoprinting, papermaking and working outdoors. AlI materials are sup- plied by the gallery. The program is recommen- ded for children aged 7 to 2.1 The coet is $35 for gailery members and $40 for non-memb)ers. For more information cail the gallery at 668- 4185. ABILI1Y FUNO WORKiNG WITH PHYSICALLV DISABLED ADULTS .4 ~ ~........ DID YOU KNOW that damage to your home and Its contents caused by the backing Up of basement drains is not normally covered by a home insurance pollcy. However, some Insurance companies wIlI provide Insurance for this peril at an additional cost of ap- prox. $35.00 annually. 'IFor Fuît her Detalis Cali: VICK INSU RANCE 101 Dundas St. W. SInce 1936 Suite 302, Whltby 668-3579 4 'k L a