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Around the office, we're still pumped from the first-ever Spark Your Life Convention on May 2. Now, we're keeping that great energy flowing and harnessing the pep that all our members exude each and every day online by kicking off the "Spread the Spark" summer! From now through the end of summer, SparkPeople wants you to help "Spread the Spark" by taking pictures of yourselves in your SparkPeople apparel and going to SparkRallies in your area. Whether you are on vacation, strolling through your neighborhood, swimming at the local pool or getting fit outside, we want you to share your summer fun with us. We've created a Spread the Spark Summer Team where you can post fun ideas and healthy summer activities. We’d also love to see pictures of you and your SparkFriends Spreading the Spark, so be sure to upload them in the Team! We may feature some of these photos on the dailySpark or elsewhere on the site (so you could become a Spark Celebrity)! SparkPeople is kicking off the Spread the Spark Summer with an official Show Your Spark" Weekend, Friday, June 26, 2009, to Sunday, June 28, 2009. SparkPeople members across the globe will wear their SparkPeople Gear and gather at SparkRallies. Join SparkPeople members across the country by hosting or attending a SparkRally this weekend show your SparkPeople pride. Learn more about the "Show Your Spark" Weekend here. To pump us up even more, we asked two veteran SparkRally organizers from Georgia, Marilyn (MRSWIGGLY6) and Sheila (MCDIDDLYD), to share some tips--and enthusiasm--with the dailySpark! Marilyn has been with SparkPeople for a year and has really improved her health by drinking water regularly, getting more fiber and protein, and losing almost 40 pounds! Sheila has lost 88 pounds, gained confidence in herself and broken some bad habits during her two years with SparkPeople. Back in April, they planned SparkRallies across Georgia that drew 116 people. They played games, took walks, met with SparkPeople members in the person, and most importantly--Spread the Spark! Why did you decide to host a SparkRally? Marilyn: Since becoming leader of Spark Georgia, I would read posts of SparkMembers hunting for workout buddies in their area. The main purpose was to let people know there are people even in your own neighborhood who are trying to get healthy through SparkPeople, to possibly form that bond with someone that actually lives close by. Then Sheila and I talked about hosting one, and then we decided to have the Georgia rally in different locations to give members a chance to go to a rally close to them. What did you do at the Rally? Marilyn: We met at a Sweet Water Park in Lithia Springs, Ga. When Members arrived, they received goodie bags filled with healthy snacks and coupons. Several goodie bags had SparkPeople key chains or window clings or a door prize, like a SparkPeople workout DVD. We played ladder golf--something like horseshoes, but you throw golf balls that are attached to ropes. This was a great icebreaker for the members. I welcomed the members to the Spark Rally, explained to everyone that we wanted to give them the opportunity to meet and maybe find a workout buddy. We had some speakers who talked to us about healthy living and weight loss. Later we hiked and raffled off gifts donated by local businesses. What was the best part about the Rally? Marilyn: Getting to know each other and sharing our stories and successes. The motivation of the members was amazing, and I know that several have already been making plans on meeting again at different parks just to go walk together. Sheila: The best part of the Rally was that we all had a fun-filled and beautiful sunny day at the lake. It was great! I got to meet my fellow SparkPeople members and make new SparkFriends. What a great way to meet people face-to-face and get to know one another, talk about our goals and our weight loss. And to know we were all there for the same reason sharing our stories! Why is it important to spread the Spark? Marilyn: Wow, where do I start? There are so many reasons to Spread the Spark. There are so many people who don’t know about SparkPeople that I feel a need to tell them of the free resources that SparkPeople has to offer. … SP teaches us about healthy living, and knowing there are so many of us doing the exact same thing--trying to get healthy--is motivating. In order for us to survive, we have to change our minds and bodies. SP teaches us how to do this with the tools and resources they have to offer. Sheila: It's important to your family and friends to help them start a new healthy lifestyle. Other reasons: believing in yourself, learning the health benefits and the importance of making healthy choices. Giving encouragement and knowing you can be successful in achieving your goals. Having a positive outlook on life. What effect did the Rally have on you? Marilyn: It has motivated me to achieve other goals. A lady at my rally said, “I almost didn’t come as I didn’t know anyone here.” She soon told us that she was so glad she did. That was the main purpose of attending a rally--meeting new people. At the rally, I greeted a woman. When she looked up (from the sign-in table), I was floored to realize she worked with me. We both looked at each other in amazement--we never knew that we belonged to SP and worked for the same company. Sheila: This was my very first Rally, and the effect it had on me was so overwhelming. Meeting with other Spark members and putting faces to names, talking about our goals and meeting their families. It seemed like we knew each other for years. We all have a variety of life stages and interests but our goals were the same: losing weight and getting healthy. This was something I will never forget. I miss seeing my new SparkFriends and can't wait to meet up with them again. Do you have any plans to host another Rally? Would you? Marilyn: Actually, we do have plans to hold another one on June 27th at Buford Dam. This will give Sheila and I a chance to meet each other. We spent hours on the phone organizing and finding the other locations this time, but we never did got a chance to meet each other. So we are planning on having a get together and for anyone that would like to attend can come meet us together. If you live in Georgia, be sure to check out Sheila and Marilyn's SparkRally by joining the SparkGeorgia Team. Live elsewhere? Host your own! *SparkRallies are organized and run by members. SparkPeople does not endorse, sponsor or organize these Rallies or other member-organized offline meetings. How will you Spread the Spark this summer? Will you attend or host a SparkRally? |
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