Alamo Medical Response Group

MRC Leaders,

It is time to join the Healthier MRC Group as part of the National President’s Challenge to begin on March 20, 2008. Below you will find directions for initial log-in registration, logging daily activities, and creating MRC Unit Groups to monitor the individuals that sign-up as part of your unit.

First, invite everyone you know to join Healthier MRC. Then share with them how they can also participate in your local group, if you choose to create one.

I look forward to seeing the response of our MRC units to the U.S. Surgeon General’s call to participate in the year’s National President’s Challenge. Continue to share this challenge with your family and friends, and encourage each of your MRC volunteers do the same. This challenge has the ability to become an integral part in improving the health of whole communities, states, and the nation.

As always, we thank you for your support of and dedication to the Medical Reserve Corps. Do not hesitate to call or email me with any questions regarding the Healthier MRC Challenge.

Sincerely,

Dean

Dean R. Trombley, MA, CCC-SLP

Lieutenant, United States Public Health Service

Program Officer, MRC Program Operations

Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps

Office of the U.S. Surgeon General

Room 18C-14, Parklawn Building

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, Maryland 20857

Tel. 301-443-1401

Fax 301-480-1163

dean.trombley@hhs.gov

www.medicalreservecorps.gov

Initial Log-in for Registration:

1. Log onto site:   http://www.presidentschallenge.org/
2. Click on – Register Today!
3. Click on – Register Today! (a second time)
4. On the “Rise to the Challenge” page enter:
   1. User Name
   2. Password
   3. Confirm Password
   4. Group #           67853
   5. Group Name    Healthier MRC
   6. Personal Information
5. Confirm Information or Edit
6. Choose a Program

1. Click on “Active Lifestyle Program”
6. My Favorite Activities list

1. Click on all activities that apply to you.

      8.   You can now begin logging you activities.

Daily Log-in of Activities:

1. Log onto site:   http://www.presidentschallenge.org/
2. On the “Rise to the Challenge” page enter
   1. User Name and Password
   2. Click on Log-In>>
3. This will bring you to the Home activities page

1. Click on ‘LOG YOUR ACTIVITY’ tab
2. Enter Date of activity
3. Click on Type of activity list(choose from one of three lists)
4. Click on Drop Down Box to choose activity
5. Activity level is required for most activities
6. Time Length:  use drop down boxes for hours and minutes

Note:  You can enter more than one activity or types of activities in a given day. You can also log activities that you have completed within the past 14 days of that log-in.

For MRC Unit Coordinator/Leaders:

You may also wish to monitor the activities and progress of the participants from your community. To do so, create a separate group for your unit and invite your volunteers to join. It’s a simple process!

Creating a group Log-in for Registration:

1. Log onto site:   http://www.presidentschallenge.org/
2. In the blue “GROUP” box click on GROUP ADMIN
3. Click on – Register a Group
4. On the “GROUPS” page enter all pertinent information
5. Congratulations! screen will come up when you have completed the Group Registration. Print this screen so that you will have you group name, number, and password.

Note: Only the group Name and Number should be shared with the members of you group and not the group password!

Once your group has been established have each of your members log into their accounts as if they were going to enter a daily activity. When they get to their home page after log-in they will need to join you group.

Joining another group:

1. Log onto site:   http://www.presidentschallenge.org/
2. On the “Rise to the Challenge” page enter
   1. User Name and Password
   2. Click on Log-In>>

       3.   This will bring you to the Home activities page

a.       Click on ‘YOUR GROUPS’ tab

b.      On the lower right side you will see “Join a Group”

c.       Enter your units Group ID Number & Group Member ID/NAME

d.      Click on “Add” box

You have now become a member of the Healthier MRC Group and your own MRC Unit Group! When you log any of your daily activities it will be tracked on all groups that you have joined.

Dear MRC Leaders and Volunteers,  

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is launching the inaugural National President’s Challenge (NPC) — a six-week physical activity challenge that encourages all Americans to get up and move at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.  The Challenge kicks off on March 20, 2008 and culminates on May 15, 2008.

As your Acting Surgeon General, I join in this challenge and encourage all of you to make this commitment to fitness and health. To help us track and recognize your participation, the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps has set up a group on the President’s Challenge website called “Healthier MRC” (group number 67853).  As public health leaders in your community, you have the ability to role model a healthy life style and to empower others in your area to make physical activity a part of their everyday lives. Our goal is to have Americans of all ages and abilities take steps to improve their health.  

I encourage you to use this challenge as a way to motivate everyone around you – fellow MRC members, colleagues, family, and friends. Everyone can be involved in making “active” activities part of a regular family, work or recreational routine. Whether exercising in the morning with colleagues, going for a walk after dinner, hiking on the weekend, going to the park instead of the movies, or playing basketball in the driveway, the opportunities for physical activity are endless.

The epidemic of overweight and obesity has been recognized in America for some time. However, the number of children who are overweight or obese in this country is at an all-time high. I have recently been tasked by the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to launch a Surgeon General’s Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative, “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future”. Children need education on making healthy lifestyle choices and they need role models to help them achieve success. You can be that role model in your community. I would like to see MRC units across the country working directly with school children on physical fitness and nutrition initiatives. Healthier MRC and the NPC serve as a wonderful springboard for this initiative.

I call on you to immediately dedicate time over the coming weeks to promoting Healthier MRC and the NPC. Not only should every MRC leader and member join the Healthier MRC group, but your families, friends and colleagues should join as well!  The impact this group could have is incredible. There are only benefits to be had and everyone is invited to join. To register for the challenge, access the partnership toolkit, and learn more, visit the Web site at www.presidentschallenge.org. If you have questions about the Healthier MRC group, please contact LT Dean Trombley in the OCVMRC at dean.trombley@hhs.gov or 301-443-1401. 

I look forward to seeing many of you in April at the MRC National Leadership and Training Conference, where I will further discuss the NPC and the “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” Initiative. I hope to use all of our resources, including using the MRC network to its fullest advantages, in order to improve the health and safety of our nation. I have no doubt that the Healthier MRC will be walking, running and sprinting its way to success by the conference, and I will be proud to congratulate your efforts in person.

Sincerely,

Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H.                     

RADM, USPHS                                             

Acting Surgeon General