2017 Healthiest State Annual Walk

2017 Healthiest State Annual Walk Community Toolkit

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa

Silver Sponsor

#GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Thanks for organizing a Healthiest State Annual Walk!

The Healthiest State Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, is a great step to promote health and wellness in your community. We know coordinating a Healthiest State walk is no small task, so we want to make it as easy as possible for you to communicate the walk to local residents. This toolkit includes communications templates for you to modify to your specific needs. The bolded statements can be adjusted to customize these communications for your community’s walk.

Included in this kit:  A letter from your Mayor/City Leader  An article for your city’s newsletter about the Healthiest State Annual Walk  An email containing walk logistics  A day-of walk reminder email  Tips for creating community involvement  Social media contests  Sample social media posts

Resources such as PDFs for posters and other promotional/organizational materials are also provided within the resources page.

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Mayor/City Leader Letter

Get excited, [CITY]!

For more than seven years, hundreds of thousands of Iowans have taken part in the Healthiest State Annual Walk presented by Delta Dental of Iowa. The Annual Walk is a great way to promote our state’s well-being, but there is much more work to be done.

On October 4, thousands of Iowans will again support Iowa’s efforts to become a healthier state with the goal of having at least one organized walk in all 99 counties. I’m pleased to announce that this statewide effort will include [CITY].

Last year, Iowans were encouraged to step it up and walk 30 minutes. This year, the Healthiest State wants Iowans to #GetYourWalkOn and not only on October 4, but every day. The theme for this year, “Walk More. Connect More” also encourages participants to walk with a neighbor, friends, or family.

Walking is one of the best ways to stay healthy. It’s also one of the best ways to connect with others. By walking with friends or family, we get to catch up and refresh our minds, and the physical benefits add up, too! Invite a friend or co-worker for an after-lunch walk, take care of weekend errands with your family on foot, or invite your neighbor to start a casual walking group. Along the way we’ll build strong bonds and memories.

The walk represents more than just 30 minutes of walking every day. It represents our dedication to the long-term goal of changing the lives of Iowans by making healthy choices easy. It shows how devoted we are to the future of the communities where we live and work. And it shows that [CITY] is invested in the well-being of our community members and neighbors. We know we wouldn’t be the community we are today without your continued health and happiness.

Additionally, the Healthiest State is encouraging Iowans to participate in the social media contests on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HealthiestIowa) for individuals, communities, and schools. There are great prizes, including an opportunity for our community to win $1,000!

I hope you’ll join us in walking for 30 minutes at [TIME] on Wednesday, October 4. Visit www.iowahealthieststate.com to learn more about the Healthiest State Initiative, and stay tuned [to your community newsletter, intranet, etc] for more information on the walk location and other details. Together we can do something great for ourselves and our community.

[SIGNATURE] [Title]

Article about the Healthiest State Annual Walk

Join us for a culture-changing, lifestyle-inspiring walk!

Come together with your neighbors, fellow community members, and hundreds of thousands of other Iowans to support the Healthiest State Initiative on October 4! The Healthiest State Initiative’s goal is to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. The Annual Walk on October 4 brings communities together

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore by having an organized Healthiest State Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.

This year’s Annual Walk aims for Iowans to “Walk More. Connect More.” by walking for 30 minutes with your friends, co-workers, family or neighbors. Walking is one of the best ways to stay healthy. It’s also a great way to connect with others. There never seems to be enough time to enjoy time with friends and family. By inviting them to walk with us, we get to catch up and refresh our minds, and the physical benefits add up, too. Invite a friend or co-worker for an after-lunch walk, take care of weekend errands with your family on foot, or invite neighbors to start a casual walking group. Along the way you’ll build strong bonds and memories.

Just 30 minutes of physical activity each day improves physical, social, and emotional health. [CITY] is excited to partake in the Healthiest State Annual Walk as it represents a commitment to our residents’ well-being. We look forward to not only walking together on October 4, but also initiating and celebrating a cultural shift where we walk more, connect more.

We hope you will “Get Your Walk On” with us at [LOCATION, TIME]. The walk will be 30 minutes and we encourage you to join and walk at your own pace as we all take steps to improve our health.

Help change the lives of your fellow Iowans - and your own - by joining this year’s Healthiest State Walk, presented by Delta Dental. We hope to see you at [TIME] on October 4. Together, let’s continue stepping toward a healthier and happier Iowa.

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore First Email Announcement

Subject: Get Your Walk On with the Healthiest State Annual Walk

Did you know that walking is the easiest, most affordable and accessible way to get physical activity in every day? This year, the Healthiest State Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, aims for Iowans to “Walk More. Connect More.” by walking for 30 minutes a day with your friends, co-workers, family and neighbors. 30 minutes of physical activity is proven to improve, not only physical health, but also social and emotional health. The City of [Your city name here] encourages you to take this first step in building a healthy lifestyle.

The Healthiest State Initiative’s goal is to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. One of the ways to reach that goal is by bringing communities together with an organized Healthiest State Walk on October 4, 2017 across all of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Additionally, the Healthiest State is encouraging Iowans to participate in their social media contests for individuals, communities, and schools. Follow the Healthiest State Initiative on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn more about how you can help our community win $1,000!

Join us on Wednesday, October 4 as we participate in the Healthiest State Annual Walk, where [CITY] will be joining thousands of Iowans across the state to walk for 30 minutes in support of the Healthiest State Initiative. The walk will begin at [LOCATION] and will end approximately 30 minutes later at [LOCATION]. The walk officially starts at [TIME], but please join us a few minutes early for a group photo.

We look forward to seeing you all there to “Get Your Walk On” and continue making strides for Iowa to become a healthier state. Be sure to share pictures of your walk on social media using #GetYourWalkOn!

With your support, we can become the healthiest state in the nation!

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Day of Walk – Reminder Email Announcement

Subject: The Healthiest State Annual Walk is here!

Just a reminder to join us at [TIME] for the Healthiest State Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, to “Get Your Walk On.” You are one of hundreds of thousands of Iowans participating in 30 minute walks across the state today!

[The walk will begin at [LOCATION A] and will end approximately 30 minutes later at [LOCATION B]. Refreshments will be served afterward.]

Be sure to share pictures on social media using #GetYourWalkOn! Remember there are a number of opportunities to win prizes including an opportunity for our community to win $1,000!

Let’s “Get Our Walk On”!

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Create More Involvement

Help your residents feel like they’re personally invested in building a healthier state! To create more involvement and competition in the Healthiest State Annual Walk in your community, we’ve put together a few helpful suggestions.

Set a community goal Set a goal of walking “X” number of minutes as a community and share it with your residents and community leaders. You can even organize a small celebration or giveaway when you make your goal.

Mark it on your calendars Post the organized walk on your community calendar online or in a newsletter so that residents can put it on their own calendars.

Print posters Visit the resources section of www.iowahealthieststate.com to print out free, customizable posters to display around your community.

Make it a community photo op Get more involvement by using the Healthiest State Annual Walk as the opportunity for a community picture. Gather before or after the walk to have an organized photo taken, and post it in public spaces, on your website and via social media when the walk is over. Plus, don’t forget to share your community’s commitment to helping Iowa become a healthier state by sharing your walk details and photos on social media using the hashtag #GetYourWalkOn.

Provide a post-walk snack or lunch Make it a community event that fosters relationships and a healthy community by serving a healthy snack or lunch after the walk.

Order Healthiest State Walk t-shirts Have fun and make a statement with your community walk and order Healthiest State Walk t- shirts that are customizable with your city’s crest, a community logo, or walk name. Visit http://hsi.compet.com/ for more info. Prices vary with quantities.

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Social Media Contests Walk More. Connect More.

We are using social media to energize Iowans to Walk More. Connect More.  LIKE us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HealthiestIowa)  FOLLOW us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/HealthiestIowa)  FOLLOW us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/iowahealthieststate/)  Tag us and use hashtags #WalkMoreConnectMore and #GetYourWalkOn

INDIVIDUALS CONTEST The Healthiest State Initiative is having weekly giveaways during our Walk More, Connect More campaign! Starting on July 10, 2017, Iowan’s have the chance to win a prize by following these 3 simple steps on our weekly giveaway Facebook post:  LIKE our Facebook page  SHARE our giveaway post  Tag 2 of your friends! It’s that easy. One winner will be chosen each week! COMMUNITIES CONTEST Win $1,000 for YOUR community this summer by getting your walk on!

How to enter:

 Post a photo of yourself or with friends walking on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

 Use the hashtag #GetYourWalkOn

 Tag the Healthiest State Initiative

 Tag your community

The winning community will be chosen at random to win $1,000 to help the community to start or fund projects that encourage a healthier community. The more you #GetYourWalkOn and post, the better chance for you to win to give back to your community. The winner will be announced after the October 4, 2017 Annual Walk.

The Healthiest State Initiative will hold a check presentation for the winning community at a later date.

SCHOOL MASCOT CHALLENGE

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore K-12 schools across the state can register for our annual School Mascot Challenge. In commemoration of our Walk More. Connect More. campaign, the first 32 schools to register walks on the Healthiest State Initiative website will compete in a bracket style challenge via Facebook for a chance to win $1,000 and bragging rights for their school.

Each week from September 7 to October 4, Iowans will be able to vote for their favorite mascot on Facebook until a final winner is crowned. Win back for your school to help start or fund healthy incentive projects.

The Healthiest State Initiative will hold a check presentation for the winning school at a later date.

CONTEST RULES General rules: No purchase is necessary to enter or win. You may be disqualified from participating or voting in the competition if the Healthiest State Initiative believes, in its sole discretion, that you may be tampering with the legitimate operation of the contest, circumventing the intended operation of the contest, in anyway acting in an unsportsmanlike manner, or using the contest facilities to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. The Healthiest State Initiative reserves the right to make decisions regarding eligibility and voting. All such decisions are final. Employees and board members of the Healthiest State Initiative are not eligible to vote. School rules: School personnel may register a group walk by visiting the Iowa Healthiest State website (www.iowahealthieststate.com) and clicking on “Healthiest State Walk”, then “Organize a Group Walk” and choosing the “School” type in the dropdown menu. The Healthiest State Initiative will automatically enter the first 32 schools that register a group walk into the voting competition. Voting will take place through the Healthiest State Initiative’s Facebook page, available at www.facebook.com/HealthiestIowa. Anyone at least 14 years of age with a Facebook account may vote once per round. The school with the most votes in the final round will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Sample Social Media Posts

Use social media to energize your community and connect with the Healthiest State Initiative.  LIKE us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HealthiestIowa)  FOLLOW us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/HealthiestIowa)  FOLLOW us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/iowahealthieststate/)  Tag us and use hashtags #WalkMoreConnectMore and #GetYourWalkOn  Share some of the fun posts from our Facebook and Twitter site with your followers  Use the following as examples of social media posts on your own accounts

Pre-Walk Twitter  Join us Oct 4 for the annual @HealthiestIowa Walk! 30 min of daily physical activity boosts health and wellness #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

 We are joining the @HealthiestIowa Walk b/c our residents’ physical, social, and emotional health are top priorities #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

 A post about getting our walk on.

Use the following post as examples if you want to encourage your community to help win the community prize:

 @HealthiestIowa is giving you a chance to win $1,000 for [INSERT COMMUNITY]! Just post a photo of yourself walking with a friend, mention [INSERT COMMUNITY] and use #GetYourWalkOn

Make sure to share photos and stories about residents/walk members’ pledges about #GetYourWalkOn while tagging @HealthiestIowa.

Facebook  We are excited to participate in this year’s @HealthiestIowa Walk, presented by @DeltaDentalIA, in an effort to make Iowa healthier and to promote healthy lifestyles among our residents. #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

 The @HealthiestIowa Walk is 30 min – aligning with the U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation of 30 min of physical exercise each day #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore  Join us for the @HealthiestIowa Walk, presented by @DeltaDentalIA, on October 4! 30 minutes of physical activity is proven to improve not only physical health but also social and emotional health #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

(Attach image of walk poster)

 We have registered for the @HealthiestIowa Walk, presented by @DeltaDentalIA, as an effort to make healthy lifestyles a priority! Our walk will take place at [TIME, LOCATION]. We hope you will join us for 30 minutes to incorporate physical activity into your day. #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Use the following post as an example on Facebook/Instagram if you want to encourage your community to help win the community prize:

 Help [INSERT COMMUNITY] win $1,000 from @HealthiestIowa! All you have to do is: 1- post a photo of you and a friend walking on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, 2- mention [INSERT COMMUNITY], and 3- use #GetYourWalkOn and you will be entered into a random drawing to win for your community! The more you post with #GetYourWalkOn the better your chance to win! The winner will be announced after the Annual Walk on October, 4.

Share photos and stories of residents/walk members’ “getting their walk on”. Make sure to tag the Healthiest State Initiative and use #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Day of Walk Twitter  A reminder to Join us today for the @HealthiestIowa Walk at [TIME] at [LOCATION] for a 30 min walk! #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

 We are proud to support @HealthiestIowa Walk today and every day to make Iowa healthier #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Post photos of the group or individuals throughout the walk while tagging @HealthiestIowa and using #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Facebook  Today is the day! Join us at [TIME, LOCATION] for the @HealthiestIowa Walk. We will walk for 30 minutes in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles and incorporate physical activity into our day #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Post photos of the group or individuals throughout the walk while tagging the Healthiest State Initiative and using #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Instagram

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Post photos of the group or individuals throughout the walk while tagging @IowaHealthiestIowa and using #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Post-Walk Twitter  We had a great time joining the @HealthiestIowa Walk and fitting 30 minutes of activity into our day #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

 The @HealthiestIowa Walk was a great step towards a healthier Iowa, and we will continue to walk and be active #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Facebook  The Healthiest State Walk, presented by @DeltaDentalIA was a great first step towards healthier lifestyles, and we hope to use the momentum to continue daily physical activity. The walk was only a starting point! #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

 We had a great experience participating in the @HealthiestIowa Walk, presented by @DeltaDentalIA, this past week. We realize that the walk represented more than just 30 minutes of activity but also a commitment to improving the overall health of our community members and the state of Iowa! Visit www.iowahealthieststate.com for resources on continuing to pursue a healthy lifestyle! #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Upload a photo album of groups and individuals “getting their walk on” and tag the Healthiest State Initiative and participants while using #WalkMoreConnectMore #GetYourWalkOn

Photos for Social Media Please feel free to use stock photos from the resources page in social media to create engagement. Other ideas for visuals include a photo of the walk route, individuals walking together, and the customizable poster with walk details.

Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa #GetYourWalkOn #WalkMoreConnectMore