Performance in Motion, Volume 2, Number 2, Fall 1994

Conference Activities in PEES

ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CONFERENCE

Approximately 150 delegates from the U.S., Canada, Germany, Belgium, Finland, and Australia convened at MSU's Kellogg Center for the second-ever meeting of the North America Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (NAFAPA), October 6-8, 1994. The conference was directed by MSU professor Gail Dummer.

Keynote presentations included "Empowering the individual for active living; An agenda for both researchers and practitioners" by E. Jane Watkinson of the University of Alberta, "3D biomechanical analyses of gait" by Robert Soutas-Little of MSU, and "Research agenda in adapted physical activity from an athlete's perspective" by Duncan Wyeth of the Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the U.S. Olympic Committee. The conference also featured 8 symposia, 13 building sessions, 41 free communications, and 9 poster sessions.

MSU professor emeritus Janet A. Wessel was the conference honoree. Several MSU grads, as well as current and former faculty members, were on hand to celebrate Janet's accomplishments in the field of adapted physical activity, including the "I CAN" curriculum, six textbooks, and numerous other publications. Events in Janet's honor included Jane Watkinson's keynote address and a visit from Sparty.

Although a similar conference was held at McGill University in 1992, NAFAPA wasn't formally organized with a constitution and bylaws until the meeting at MSU. Thus, the conference was an
historic event. Officers of the newly-formed organization include several persons with ties to MSU.

Special thanks are extended to members of the local organizing committee: Billye Cheatum, Joan Eadie, David Fitzpatrick, John Haubenstricker, Michael Paciorek, and Lorenzo Parker.

HERE'S TO A HEALTHIER-U AND A  HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER CAMPUS !

The department offers faculty, staff and students an opportunity to receive points for the Presidential Sports Award Program and/or the Healthy-U at Work Award Program. Each semester the department offers noon-time activities which allow participants to leave the working/studying environment and to have fun engaging in healthy exercise. The programs are free of charge and the instructors volunteer their time every week. Participants are encouraged to get other people in their offices involved in order to develop camaraderie which makes their working environment more pleasant. The PEES department has offered programs in aerobic exercise, self defense, volleyball, Western dancing, Tai Chi Quan, basketball and walking. The noon time was selected because most of the participants are working mothers and fathers who don't have time to exercise after work. As an incentive, participants can earn a Presidential Sports Award certificate from the national office in Washington, D.C. for their involvement. As an extra incentive, points also are awarded to those participants who are registered for the Healthy-U program. Participants who accumulate a specified number of points are rewarded with a gift at the end of the year, i.e., a T-shirt, pedometer, tote bag, etc. In this program, points are earned for other health behaviors as well. Also, exercise may be done at any time, before work, after work or on weekends. The success of this program is evident from the growth it has enjoyed. The first semester, only aerobics, Western dance and basketball were offered. Because a number of people were interested in other activities, the number of activities has grown from three to six activities a week, and the number of participants has increased from 30-40 people, to over 350.