To: North Carolina TOPS

November 20, 2009 275 Greensboro Karen Ingold 275 Greensboro Paula Nishida To: North Carolina TOPS 293 Graham Debra Wilder From: Mary Reed, Coordinator 295 Wilmington Linda Richards 349 Burlington Sherry Parvin RE: This and That 387 Charlotte Sue Kelly 394 Greensboro Kim Johnson 424 Greensboro E. Lavern Foust 425 Jacksonville Leslie Andrews LEADERS: PLEASE SHARE THIS 477 Wilmington John Mohr INFORMATION WITH ALL MEMBERS ARE 502 Greenville Ken Jones YOUR NEXT MEETING. 602 Newport Sherry Kelly Note: I realize that there is a lot in this 681 Goldsboro Denise Marshall newsletter but it is important that all members 681 Goldsboro Penny Luna are aware of the contents. You might want to 701 Charlotte Libby Johnson make a copy for everyone rather than read it 720 Mint Hill Shirley Gordon at meeting. 801 Kinston Robert Morris

th The end of the year is quickly approaching. On October 28 we welcomed a new What happened to 2009! So much has grandchild, our fourth grandson, Justin happened this year for me and has kept me Wayne Reed into the world. The funny thing really busy. First with James Farmer is that for weeks, the doctors have been announcing that his employer was saying that we were having a little girl so we transferring him to Texas and the decision were all ready. We have a very modest, that I was to coordinate the entire state. beautiful baby boy. Then, being a part of the IRD 2009 Central Committee requiring several trips to Disney World for planning then the actual event in July. Bob and I took a much anticipated cruise tour to Alaska in late August. (It really I was privileged to attend a “TOPS Time to was a dream trip.) Next, the fall rallies… Shine” event held for outstanding Field Staff WOW, the fall rallies! I attended six of eight Results in Milwaukee on November 11-15. rallies this year. It was so nice to get to Congratulations to Pat McMullen from the spend time with you, especially in the Eastern Piedmont Area and Laura Wickwar from part of the state. A special THANK YOU the Greater Capital Area who also attended. must go to Pat and John McMullen for Thank you both for all your hard work in standing in at Dottie Taylor’s Foothills Area promoting TOPS in your areas. Rally. I have heard only good reports from that one, and also to Bob Reed for standing With the end of the year, comes the time to in for me at Cathy Johnson’s Midsouth Area send in the Annual Chapter Resume. This Rally. They did a super job according to all most important report is used to determine reports. We’ll be trying to come up with a who will be your chapter division winners so way for me to attend all the rallies next year that I can send the proper certificates to the without the rallies lasting into December and leaders, the state division winners to be having to clone myself to be in two places at recognized at SRD in May and the one time.  international division winners who will be receiving additional funds to help them on Congratulations to the winners of our special their way to Halifax, Nova Scotia in July. It Grand Slam Award. The member had to lose is very important that these reports be a minimum of 20 pounds for the summer prepared IMMEDIATELY following your months. last weigh-in of the year and be in the mail 7 Kinston Ann Witherington to me postmarked no later than January 8, 12 Concord Bonnie Bozeman 2010. I have over 170 chapters to review 118 Durham Yvonne Beasley before I can prepare my report which is due 118 Durham Rebecca Lane to our Regional Director by January 25th. You they are only counted as one assistance in this endeavor will be greatly member.) appreciated. Potential winners reported  Errors in calculations after the deadline may not be recognized  Lapsed memberships for their accomplishments and we certainly  Non reported KOPS Lost Status don’t want that to happen.  Non reported KOPS status reached, goal changes or reinstatements

CHAPTER BY-LAW REVIEW With the New Year beginning, it is a good LEADERS and WEIGHT RECORDERS: time to review your Chapter By-Laws to see if There is an entire chapter in your Guide for you are following the guidelines presented Weight Recorders that will take you through there or if adjustments need to be made. It the process step by step. The forms are really does save a lot of time if you’ll form a available on the leader’s web space in small committee to do the basic review and EXCEL format in which you simple put in present recommendations to the chapter for your numbers and the calculations are done their approval. NOTE: These votes should for you. If you have additional questions be accomplished by Secret Ballot. please don’t hesitate to contact me or your area captain. OPEN HOUSES Right after the first of the year is a wonderful CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS: time for those Open Houses or Homecoming Now is the perfect time to check your weight Events. People are looking for ways to fulfill charts to be sure that all your current that resolution to lose weight and live members have active memberships. healthier and we can be there for them. Leaders: You should be able to print the membership report from your section of the Reminder: Chapters are entered into a TOPS.org website. (If you are unable to do drawing with each new member application so, please contact me or your area captain that I receive. Prizes will be awarded at SRD and we’ll be happy to “snail mail” a copy to and a drawing will be held for a $250.00 cash you.) If a winner is submitted and their prize at IRD 2010 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. membership has lapsed, the member becomes ineligible for awards. The membership renewal can be backdated but it must be done before the weight charts and resume is submitted. ALSO, please check your KOPS charts….have all your KOPS AREA CAPTAIN VISITS been properly registered by sending me the Your area captains love to come to your proper registration form and fees? Likewise, chapters to visit. If you are having a special have all of those KOPS who have lost status event, invite her/him to attend and take part. been reported? Headquarters has supplied them with a special program on handling stress to present Some of the most frequent problems with as they visit in the next year so be sure to the resumes are: request them to come. Remember that our  Missing membership numbers and area captains are volunteers and get no phone numbers for your winners salary from headquarters. Although they, for  Missing signatures on weight charts the most part, run on love, their cars don’t.  Missing dates and notations on weight Please be sure to give your captain some gas charts (a weight, ab, or ex). There money if funds are available. should be something for every week. TREASURERS: Please be reminded that  Miscount of weight charts (If a member chapter checks require two signatures and has a white chart and a pink chart, only chapter checks or money orders are to be sent to Coordinator for payments. by January 1, 2010 and please get it to me as quickly as possible. Your promptness in this is greatly appreciated. TOPS MEMBER OUTLET MALL www.topsmembermall.com is a new approved resource for purchasing TOPS logoed items. The site can also be accessed MEMBERS SUPPORT ONLINE by going on www.tops.org and going to the The support and services for members have “Online Store”. On the left side under been and are continuing to be updated at “orders”, click on the link that says “Shop www.tops.org. Members can click on TOPS Outlet Mall.” All members are able to “Member/Leader/Staff Area” which leads to a purchase from this site. Members will want to sign in page. New members or chapter combine orders to save on shipping. leaders must request access to the secure portion of the TOPS website. Click on “:help” NEW CHAPTER MANUAL and then one of the appropriate links listed. Leaders should have already received copies New membership must be recorded at TOPS of the new “CHAPTER MANUAL.” Now, one headquarters. (Usually within three weeks of manual contains all the rules and guidelines membership be received at headquarters.) that were previously provided in the “Chapter Members will need their membership number Guide” and the “TOPS Guide for Weight which is found on the TOPS membership Recorders.” I ask that all leaders please card printed on the back page of TOPS read the manual and pay particular News. The initial password consists of the attention to Chapter 2: Weekly meeting first two letters of the first name and the first and officers. Notice the section four letters of the last name (all in lower case “Accentuate the Positive” and follow those letters and no spaces.) Now available is tips to present a positive and clear message Krames Online Health Education Library. to the members. You’ll be able to find a wealth of information there. Leaders will find the “Leader’s Also notice the Chapter Meeting Agenda Corner”/ “Meeting Ideas”/”Quick & Easy” which recommends that the program take programs very helpful. place right after the roll call is taken and new members and visitors are introduced. It’s TOPS Headquarters and Staff continue to important that new members and those who make things available to us, as members, in have to leave early for one reason or another an effort to make our journey to goal easier. be exposed to all the information presented. Watch on line, in TOPS News and in emails Although the list indicates that recitation of and chapter mailings for future the TOPS Pledge is Optional, we certainly improvements. recommend that that valuable affirmation be Leader, when you read this portion of this a part of your opening moments. newsletter, email me with the words “This and That” in the subject line. I will enter your name in a drawing for a prize to be presented at SRD. There is also a section on EXECUTIVE I wish each and everyone one of you a MEETINGS. I would hope that the elected Happy Holiday Season, a Merry Christmas officers and Weight Recorders meet regularly and the Best New Year ever. to plan future events and programs and to review the status of the chapter. Mary My Contact Information: CHAPTER MAINTENANCE Mary Reed Leaders should have received the L-20, PO Box 446 Maintenance Form at Fall Rally or in a Hope Mills, NC 28348 mailing immediately following the Rallies. Phone: (910) 425-5402 Please note that the Maintenance fee is due Email: [email protected] HOW ARE YOU RATED *Question 8: Local Bylaws? ______AS A TOPS CHAPTER? When were chapter by-laws last updated? ______TOPS Board of Directors has asked all (Please attach a copy of your current by- Coordinators to “Evaluate” each of their laws.) chapters on the following Questions.

To assist me in doing this evaluation, I’m *Question 9: Less than 3 no meetings?____ asking your Executive Board to answer the List “NO MEETINGS” Dates and reasons. following questions and return the list to me ______with your year end reports (Resume) ______Please Rank each question that is starred (*) ______from 1 to 9. (1 is low and 9 is best) Simply Has your area captain visited your chapter answer the others in the space provided. this year? ______*Question 1: Use TOPS Programs? ______Have you invited your area captain to come How often do you use TOPS programs? visit and present her special program or ______attend a special function? ______Have you used the “Quick & Easy” programs If so, what function/s?______from the “Officers Corner” on the website? ______I thank you in advance for your assistance. *Question 2: All Officers present? ______Headquarters will use these rankings as they direct new members to chapters. *Question 3: Recruiting New Members? How many new members in 2009? ______My Contact Information: Mary Reed *Question 4: Using Award Programs? ______PO Box 446 Do you use the Certificates from the Hope Mills, NC 28348 “Officer’s Corner”? ______Phone: (910) 425-5402 Email: [email protected] *Question 5: KOPS Members? ______How many KOPS Members?______

*Question 6: Participate in area TOPS functions. ______List Functions in which your chapter participated in 2009, (workshops, SRD, Fall Rally) ______

*Question 7: Average Loss Per Member 5+ lbs.? ______Average Loss per member 2009: ______