Webinar, road shows coming up for Iowa's Blue Zones Project

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Healthways, and Blue Zones have announced two ways Iowans can learn more about the Blue Zones Project.

Webinar

An informational webinar for community leaders and the general public will be held Tuesday, September 27, at 1:30 p.m. Iowans can participate in the webinar in two ways:

• Online by logging on to http://www.media-server.com/m/p/hxwypq38/dformat/wmv (online participants will be able to access presentation materials)
• By phone, by calling 1-888-211-7360

Participants are encouraged to visit www.bluezonesproject.com before the webinar to ensure they will be able to view the program online, and to review details of the program.

Road shows

The Project will host four road shows throughout Iowa featuring Blue Zones founder and best-selling author Dan Buettner and a panel of experts:

Harlan – Monday, October 10, 9 – 11 a.m.

C.G. Therkildsen Activity Center

706 Victoria Street

Storm Lake – Monday, Oct. 10, 3 – 5 p.m.

Buena Vista University, Anderson Auditorium

610 W. Fourth Street

Ankeny – Tuesday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), FFA Enrichment Center

1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway

Cedar Rapids – Wednesday, Oct. 12 – 11 a.m.

Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Auditorium

616 A Avenue N.E.

The road shows are designed for community and business leaders, and others interested in transforming their hometowns into Blue Zones Communties.www.bluezonesproject.com.

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Seating will be limited, so participants are encouraged to R.S.V.P. online at

The Blue Zones Project, a centerpiece of the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, will encourage all Iowa communities to become Blue Zones Communities over the next five years. Ten communities who demonstrate the greatest passion, interest and ability to bring their community together will receive assistance from national experts to develop and implement a blueprint for making permanent environment, policy and social network changes that transition people into healthier behaviors.

Additional information: Interested communities must submit a Statement of Interest no later than October 28, 2011. This process will culminate with the selection of the first group of demonstration communities in the spring of 2012.

An important selection criterion is citizen support. Iowa residents can support their town by pledging to participate in the Blue Zones Project if their community is chosen. Pledges can be completed by signing up at

www.bluezonesproject.com or by texting “BZP” to 772937.