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The snow is still coming down as I’m writing this and the forecast is calling for record low temperatures in the next few days. Even though I always enjoy winter, I think I’m going to be ready for spring this year and will be eager to put on my walking shoes. Let’s start the walking season off with a group walk on April 24. By that time the weather should be warm enough to enjoy one of our newest seasonal walks. Let’s meet at the Respite in Douglas at 10:00 a.m. for the walk and after working up an appetite, we can gather for lunch and a short business meeting at the Butler restaurant in Saugatuck. For those who are not walking I’m guessing we’ll arrive at the Butler restaurant at about 12:30 p.m. The main topic on the agenda will be to organize a schedule of walks for the rest of the year.

Directions to The Respite Cappuccino Court:

Traveling south on I-196 from Grand Rapids take exit 41 West. Turn right (west) on Blue Star Highway and go past the Saugatuck exits to Main Street in Douglas. Turn left on Main Street and proceed to Center Street, turn right on Center and go one block to The Respite.

Directions to the Butler:

Again coming from I-196, exit 36, turn right (west) on the Blue Star Highway and take the second Saugatuck exit turning to the right on Lake Street (just before the bridge). Lake Street turns into Culver Street. The Butler is on your left at the end of Butler Street where Culver Street and Water Street meet.

The Starting Points for 2004 have arrived and will be available at the meeting for $13.00. Anyone wishing to have a copy mailed to them please add $3.00 for postage to that price.

Welcome members

Alma Lucas, Membership

ajlucas@worldnet.att.net

We welcome new members Larry Wozniak of Stevensville, Michigan. Larry is the contact person for our St. Joseph, MI seasonal walk. He may be reached at his place of business, Park Inn, at 269-429-3218 or at wozniak@qm.net

Alma Lucas will be handling club membership and requests for information about our club. Please contact Alma at the address above if you'd like to join.

The Historic Pathwalkers is a member club of the American Volkssport Association.

Fitness ideas for 2004

Don Alsbro

dealsbro@sbcglobal.net

I would like to raise your awareness about some fitness possibilities for 2004.

Best Little Book of Wellness and Digi Walker Kits

This is a 175-page manual based on total wellness as I taught in my college class, Healthful Living. The book is being used by medical facilities as a patient handout, by corporations to their employees and by colleges as a textbook. This book is written in an easy to understand format and contains many health assessments.

Digi Walker Kits were created by Rob Sweetgall who has walked across America seven times, including all 50 states in one year. The pedometer comes with Sweetgall's book, Pedometer Walking, that has 52 weeks of walking journals along with a tape measure to measure your stride.

To order, contact me at 942 Sierra Drive, Benton Harbor, MI 49022,  269-925-3524, or dealsbro@sbcglobal.net: : The Best Little Book of Wellness is $12, Pedometer Walking is $10, the Digi Walker Kit (pedometer, tape measure and Pedometer Walking) is $27.95. Add a $5 shipping charge for one item and $3 for each additional item. Michigan residents are required to pay six-percent sales tax.

Dump Your Plump

This is a team contest I developed featuring weight loss and exercise. The rules are simple: there are four to ten people on a team , each person sets a weight loss goal of up to 20 pounds for ten weeks and is required to do 30 minutes a day, five days a week of an aerobic exercise. Most people use walking as their form of exercise. The entry fee is $25 and each person receives The Best Little Book of Wellness, weekly newsletters and prizes for meeting their goals. The best prize is the improved wellness that comes with fitness and weight loss. For now, the best way for people to find out about the program is to e-mail, call or mail me at the numbers above.

Don Alsbro is a Historic Pathwalker member who lives in Benton Harbor with his wife Sharon. Don taught health and physical education at Lake Michigan College for 22 years, served in the infantry/adjutant general and medical service branches of the Army for 31 years, and has a lifelong commitment to healthy living.

Share your news

Linda Theil, Editor

theilcom@ismi.net

If you have any walking information or adventures you'd like to share with the club, please send them to me at my address above. Also if neighboring clubs would like us to promo your walks here, please send me the information. Please share our newsletter with anyone you know who is interested in walking. Our page is online at http://www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers/.