August 2007 AACOG Region Newsletter

San Antonio area businesses and organizations reduced one ton of ozone-forming air pollution in June by participating in the Walk & Roll Corporate Challenge and collectively logging over 550,000 smart miles. The Texas Department of Transportation led the Challenge by accruing the highest ratio of smart miles/total number of employees. USAA claimed the runner up position.

A new category was added to the Corporate Challenge this year: highest smart mile ratio for a small business/organization. The Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas with Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance took the grand prize Small Business Commuter Challenge Cup achieving 100% staff participation.

Eighteen organizations accepted the challenge to travel smart during the month of June. Employees were encouraged to log their smart miles–carpooling/vanpooling, busing, cycling, and/or walking–online at www.walkandrollchallenge.com. The organization with the highest miles per employee ratio determined the 2007 Commuter Challenge Cup winner.

AACOG will host a Public Funds Investment Act Workshop on August 29-30, 2007. The workshop is presented by the University of North Texas Center for Public Management, and will be held from 9-3 p.m. both days in the AACOG Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100, San Antonio. Attendees will receive certificates verifying Public Funds Investment Act training, and CPE hours will be awarded at the conclusion of each day's workshop. For registration and additional information, visit www.unt.edu/cpm. Additional workshops will be held in McAllen and Arlington in August.

Bexar Aging’s Project S.I.E.N., or Seniors Involved in Exercise and Nutrition has recently been chosen to receive a 2007 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations, or NADO. The award will be presented in Austin on August 27. The goal of Project S.I.E.N. is to prevent or delay the onset of Type II Diabetes by offering culturally sensitive low-carb meals, health education, and physical activity to at-risk seniors.

To date, the program has a 99% success rate, and demonstrates that health interventions can be successfully addressed in a community setting with a senior population. Partnering with AACOG's Bexar Area Agency on Aging to provide this program is the City of San Antonio's Senior Services Department, University Health System's Texas Diabetes Institute, and OASIS. Click here for more information.

The Alamo and Bexar Area Agencies on Aging are pleased to announce the implementation of the Healthy Spirit program in Bexar County and the My Health Matters program in Kerr and Kendall counties. Both programs offer the Chronic Disease Self Management program, which has been designed for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, lung conditions, and heart conditions.

The course, developed by the Stanford University School of Medicine’s Patient Education Center, teaches people to cope with the symptoms and frustrations of living with a chronic condition. The course is evidence based, meaning that it has been subjected to rigorous research and has been documented to be effective in assisting participants in learning self-efficacy skills in managing their chronic disease and living a healthy lifestyle. For more information contact Irene Hernandez, (210) 222-8027, with the Healthy Spirit program, or Debbie Billa, (210) 362-5240, with the My Health Matters program.

On Thursday, June 28, 2007 several AACOG communities attended the 2007 Southwest Texas Economic Development Summer Forum held in Devine, TX. The forum was hosted by AEP Texas, City of Devine, AACOG, and the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Participants heard from invited speakers that included experts from community organizations, and government agencies. The agencies addressed challenges regarding economic development in rural communities. Program funding, strategies, and technical assistance also were presented from the following organizations: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Housing, Farm Credit Bank, Texas Department of Housing & Community Development, Office of Rural Community Affairs, Texas Water Development Board, and Texas Department of Agriculture.

During lunch, guest keynote speaker Bryan Daniel, USDA State Director presented checks to the City of Dilley and the Moore Water Supply Corporation. Both organizations submitted USDA grant/loan applications for their respective water projects. For more information about this forum, contact Joe Ramos, AACOG Government Services, at (210) 362-5212.