Newsletter - May 2013 for Middlesex County

Area Captains Newsletter May 2013 for Middlesex County

Diane Trayah    (H)978-657-6103    (C)978-551-1278    e-mail: topsmiddlesex@gmail.com

Hi Everyone,

By-LAWS
I hope you have reviewed or will be reviewing your bylaws at chapter this month. They are supposed to be done in May. Once the revisions have been voted on at chapter, the secretary should type up and send the revisions to the coordinator and all the members should receive a copy of the new bylaws. I email my bylaws to our members and saved a few trees in the process.

 HEADQUARTER NEWS
Check out the newly revised website for TOPS. They have made major changes which are more user friendly.  They are fixing a few things at the same time especially with the labels.

All the chatroom conversations for are on the TOPS website for your viewing.
Check out once you sign in: https://www.tops.org/TOPS/Member/Auditorium_Chat_Archives.aspx
If you have never checked out Barbara Cady’s blog, she has some very interesting blogs about TOPS and their members. http://www.tops.org/PresBlog/default.aspx

CHAPTER VISITS
It is nice visiting all the chapters so...

NEW MEMBERS
Welcome:
Bill & Evelyn Washburn, Lilly Layton  Carol Iram all of 0082 Reading,
Linda Moffitt of 0354 Waltham, Michelle & Matthew Ciardello of 0478 Tewksbury, Roland Aubry of 0189 Lowell

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to
MA 189 Lowell  chartered May 8, 1989 Turning 24 years old this year.
MA 354 Waltham chartered May 7, 1990 Turning 23 years old this year.

CABLE TAPING
I do have copies that I could send to your local Cable TV but I need a name of your local cable. If you have a contact name from your local cable station, can you let me know.

PATCH
If your town has registered  to a local online newspaper which is called the Patch, I have advertised TOPS as a weekly event in your town. These include Burlington, Malden, Chelmsford, Billerica, Waltham, Lexington, Tewksbury and surrounding towns.

PUBLICITY EVENTS
If you know of any health fairs or upcoming events that TOPS would have a good shot for publicity, please let me know so I can plan ahead. We had a health fair in the Town of Tewksbury on May 1st. The best part it was FREE.   There is a big Boston Health Expo on June 22 & 23 . We won’t be at that one as it very expensive but you can go on your own. There are plenty of exhibits, booths, demonstrations, screenings, etc…    Check out www.bostonhealthexpo.com for times and showings. There is a lot of free stuff you can get that is health related.

FARMERS MARKETS
The Farmers markets are also a good way of advertising for TOPS. We will be at the Wakefield farmers market on Sundays (dates to be determined) and also the Wilmington Farmers a couple of times. Non-profits are invited to farmers markets and since they are FREE, we can only choose the dates and space that is available.

PUBLICITY
I haven’t put together a spring news article in your local newspapers but I am working on one for early June. Let me know if you have a local newspaper that would benefit new members to your chapter.

FALL RALLY
You should have received a packet of information from Ron Azzu - Chairperson of this year’s Fall Rally. If you haven’t received anything yet, please email Ron at rgacounsel@aol.com.
The Theme is: PEACE, LOVE and TOPS. Find your tye-dye Tshirts or make this as a chapter meeting. Should be a fun time. Place: Four Points Leominster Date: October 5th. Start planning a fundraiser to make it affordable for everyone to go in your chapter. Time: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Link: FALL RALLY

FACEBOOK update
Massachusetts TOPS has two groups on Facebook. One is for events like Fall Rally and SRD which is matops. The second group is MASS TOPS where there are a lot of chat about motivation, different ideas in losing weight. Invite all your other members to join too.

How to Plant your Garden

(Nice closing thought)
For the Garden of your daily living,
Plant 3 rows of peas:
Peace of Mind, Peace of heart, & Peace of soul.
Plant 4 rows of Squash:
Squash gossip, Squash indifference,
Squash grumbling and Squash selfishness.
Plant 4 rows of Lettuce:
Lettuce be attentive, Lettuce be loyal,
Lettuce be patient & Lettuce like one another.
No Garden is complete without Turnips:
Turnip for meetings, Turnip for to help, and
Turnip to support one another.
To conclude the garden, we must have thyme:
Thyme for each other, Thyme for family,
and Thyme for friends.
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.
There's much fruit in your garden because
you reap what you sow.
Let’s see those gardens grow.

If you don’t have time to read my newsletter aloud to your chapter, either forward them to your members or print it out and give it to them. As always, you know where you can find me.
Cell: 978-551-1278 Home: 978-657-6103. FACEBOOK or text.

See you lighter ~Diane Trayah

Link to Apr 2013 Newsletter!

Link to Mar 2013 Newsletter!

Link to Feb 2013 Newsletter!

Link to Jan 2013 Newsletter!