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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2015)
MAY 22, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 KeizerCommunity City tackles employee health KEIZERTIMES.COM By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes The lower costs were sim- ply an added perk. When Machell DePina and Kristen Brokaw, the two- person Human Resources department for the City of Keizer, started a Health and Wellness Incentive Program for city employees last year, they found options galore. Out of 95 employees at the city, 60 are taking part in the program. “We’re not giving up on the other 35,” said DePina, the HR director. DePina and Brokaw, the HR generalist for the city, also didn’t want to fall into a trap. “A lot of government enti- ties are looking at ways to re- duce health care costs,” DePi- na said. “They look at things to build into their insurance programs. If you do that, you get lower rates. But it’s not our culture. That’s not the way we do things here. We didn’t want to go down any of those roads, to participate only so you get lower insur- ance rates. “We didn’t want that cul- ture,” she added. “We wanted people to participate because they choose to. We didn’t want folks angry because they had to be in or pay more for their insurance.” DePina said the criteria got rid of a large number of programs right away. In July 2012, the Keizer Police Department imple- mented its Oregon Physi- cal Abilities Test (ORPAT) Incentive Program, a physi- cal agility and skill course designed to simulate police chase and capture activities. Those completing the course receive an incentive bonus of $250. That’s nice, but not ex- actly ideal for regular public employees. After some re- search, DePina and Brokaw selected Portland-based Hub- Above: Arturo Madrid takes a big bite of a lettuce wrap prepared by Kristen Brokaw, while fellow utility worker Juan Ale- man looks on. Right: Kristen Brokaw explains the ingredients for her lettuce wraps while serving them to fellow city em- ployees last week in the break area at Keizer Civic Center. All photos courtesy Machell DePina bub Health to be the founda- tion for the city’s program. It costs employees $3 a month to participate, which includes personal health coaching, ac- cess for family members and a variety of activities to choose from. “We sent out a survey (to employees) that if we de- signed a program for the city, what would you like to see, a whole laundry list,” DePina said. “Of course, everyone wanted something different. We knew we needed some- thing super fl exible to get a majority of employees in- terested. We looked at every program under the sun. We looked at private and public sector plans, free and paid. We did not want a program to be established and then sit on the shelf. We were looking for KEIZER CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED DISH T V AD LOCAL Truck Driver - Washington and Oregon. 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HS Diploma/GED & Computer/Internet needed! 1-877-259- 3880 ONAC PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Call 503-390-1051 something simple with vari- ety, something we could easily manage.” Brokaw said there can be up to 25 activities to choose from at a time. While fi tness is certainly a key option, this isn’t a gym membership sub- stitute. “You have activity min- utes,” Brokaw said. “What you do in those minutes is up to you. You can walk the dog or walk with the kids. You can log minutes in a gym. You can log minutes pounding fences. You can paddle up the Wil- lamette River. There are a lot of different activities. We have a challenge to keep track of minutes. The idea is the chal- lenges are endless.” That means challenges have included drinking enough water, taking vitamins, joining a book club and even making the bed in the morning. No, really, that last one is for real. “You can say, ‘I did this’ and it sets you on a positive path for the day,” DePina said. “It is just simple things like that.” Employees are eligible for a one-time $50 incentive for creating an online account and confi dentially entering personal health information. There are also fi nancial in- centives based on minutes ac- counted for. For example, 150 minutes in a two-week period means a $10 incentive, while 600 minutes in the same time period means a $15 incentive. Earlier this year, city em- ployees won a national Hub- bub Health competition, a two-week “Break for Recess” challenge requiring employ- ees to grab a co-worker and go for walks. A total of 20 par- ticipants logged 6,841 min- utes of exercise to earn a $500 prize from Hubbub. Much attention is paid to education, including educa- tion about healthy snacks. At least twice a month, Brokaw goes into the kitchen in the break area and tries out a new healthy recipe, then invites employees to stop by and try it. “It is fun having everyone be guinea pigs,” Brokaw said with a laugh. “I’ll fi gure out what works and what doesn’t.” DePina said the snacks have been popular, especially when combined with regular employee potlucks. “We put out a spread with informational items,” DePina said. “Folks can come, stand and try things. People talk about it, share information with others and tell what they love and do not love.” From the start, DePina and Brokaw wanted to partner with a company that would keep employees interested. “It needed to be an entity that stays fresh and turns over quickly,” DePina said. “If it feels stale, people lose interest. Hubbub was the best at hav- ing something new going on all the time.” We’ll transform your kitchen or bath into what you’ve always dreamed of 503.393.2875 remodelkeizer.com CCB#155626 WALL TAX PROBLEMS with the IRS or State Taxes? Wall & Associates can settle for a fraction of what you owe! Results may vary. Not a solicitation for legal services. 844-886-0875 ONAC File Participants in last year’s drama camp practice blocking an improv scene. Register for choir, drama camps Keizer students interested in singing and acting can sign up now for the annual McNary Area choir and drama camps. Camps are open to students entering fourth through ninth grades and run July 13 through 17. “We are in our sixth season of running the camps and each year the attendance just keeps growing,” said Andy Thomas, Whiteaker choir director and one of the camp instructors. Last year, the camps reached 150 participants and had 13 in- structors and assistants between the two camps, the most yet. The choir portion runs from 9 a.m. to noon and the drama camp runs from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Kids are welcome to participate in just one of the camps or both, but one feeds into the other. Participants will get to work with Jim Taylor, choir director at McNary High school, Thomas, three McNary choir graduates and Angy Thomas, a middle school drama specialist Drama camp exposes participants to teamwork, imagina- tion, voice, pantomime and many other aspects of theatre. Registration forms are available from music teachers at each Keizer school, at McNary High School offi ce, the Whiteaker main offi ce and via e-mail at thomas_andy@salkeiz.k12.or.us. Registrations are due by June 5. Cost is $65 per camp which includes a camp T-shirt and all materials. Audition for the Bard’s Midsummer production Keizer Homegrown The- atre is hosting auditions for its production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Saturday, May 30, at noon. Auditions will be held at the Keizer Civic Center gazebo and hopefuls should bring a prepared monologue. The play will be an updated take on the William Shake- speare’s script featuring not-so- young lovers who fall comically in and out of love in a ridicu- lously brief period of time. The lovers in KHT’s version are se- nior residents of a retirement home who, chafi ng under the expectation that they “act their age,” run away to a place where happiness is not dictated by who or how old you are. Additional audition in- formation, specifi c character descriptions and a download- able audition form available at www.keizerhomegrownthe- atre.org Community Band’s fi nal concert set The Keizer Community Band will present its fi nal concert of the season on Wednesday, June 3, at 7 p.m. in the McNary High School auditorium. The 50-piece band, conducted by Michael Koenig is made up of members from Keizer, Salem and surrounding communi- ties. It’s members range in age from sixth grade through age 90. The concert will include March From the Great Escape, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Cowboys, Benny Goodman - King of Swing and others. Admission and parking are free. SUMMER OFFER FROM THE STUDIO OF Ruth Sonnenschein AT UPTOWN MUSIC SERVICES Piano & Voice Lessons DIVORCE $155. Complete preparation. Includes children, custody, support, property and bills division. No court appearances. Divorced in 1-5 weeks possible. 503-772-5295. www. paralegalalternatives.com legalalt@ msn.com ONAC Wednesdays & Thursdays Morning hours available CALL 503- 983- 3092 or 503- 393-4437 WorshipDirectory These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051 John Knox Presbyterian Church JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm PEOPLESCHURCH 4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM 503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com Celebration Services Saturday Evening 6:00 pm Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries 1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer 503-390-3900 www.dayspringfellowship.com 452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404 Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m. Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m. Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor Worship - 10:30 a.m. Education Hour - 10:00 a.m. Nursery Care Available www.keizerjkpres.org Jason Lee UMC 820 Jeff erson St. NE Salem OR 97301 9:00 am Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor The church with the purple doors 10:45 am Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available Sunday Morning and 503-364-2844 Faith Lutheran Church 4505 River Rd N • 393-4507 Sunday Schedule: 9:00 a.m. Children’s Church 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities Pastor Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion