NEWS & EVENTS

Healthy living, Vitality a nice fit, Knotek believes
By Mike Christopherson, Managing Editor
Crookston Daily Times

Vitality Project could only help Wellness Works achieve its mission
April 23, 2004 - So, does a community need a healthy, active citizenry in order to be vital? Dale Knotek things so, and that’s why he’s such a big believer, and is so heavily involved, in the community’s Wellness Works program.

The program, supported by Altru, RiverView Health and Polk County Public Health, is always looking for ways to keep Crookston’s citizens healthy, active and engaged. Started by Polk County Public Health nurse Jane Croeker approximately 15 years ago, it brought many varying interests to the table to pursue a shared set of goals, Knotek explained, and hasn’t looked back.

“Whether it’s our February Fitness Fever events or a health expo or whatever, we believe in a process for families and individuals to be able to participate in a healthy lifestyle,” Knotek explained. “We think if they make healthy choices, whether it’s eating healthy and not smoking, or getting all kinds of exercise, they will improve their lifestyle. And in doing so, that makes the community a better place, too.”

Wellness Works has been sort of an umbrella over numerous, smaller committees that have pursued similar, wellness-related goals and initiatives. There are fitness interests, and drugs, chemicals and alcohol, too, and tobacco.

Interests related to the last one on the list, tobacco, came together several years ago to help make Wellness Works’ most crowning achievement happen, when all of Crookston’s restaurants were convinced to go smoke-free.

“That was the biggest one, kind of our signature accomplishment,” Knotek said, adding that Crookston’s newest restaurant, the Minakwa grill, will be smoke-free as well. “I think our success with the restaurants can be important with the Crookston Vitality Project, because we worked hard and something very good came out of it. That’s what you have to do: Set a goal and work hard to reach it.

“Any time you have a group of people working together that is working hard to try to create a healthy environment and atmosphere in the community, it’s something that has to be done cooperatively if you have any visions of accomplishing something community-wide,” he continued. “That’s what Wellness Works did, and does, and that’s what the Vitality Project can do, but probably on an even larger scale.”

That’s what impressed Knotek so much about the Nov. 1 CVP retreat at the Northland Inn. In one room he saw many smaller pieces of a larger puzzle coming together. “I heard some pretty impressive things, and I would bet that people heard about things that they didn’t even know were going on,” he said. “If a few people can get together as a result of an initiative like this, it can only help move some things along.”

Knotek believes Wellness Works, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and anyone else with an interest in a healthy, active citizenry has a place with the Vitality Project.

“Look at the recreation trails all over the community; they’re getting better and better every year, with now one finally in line to be extended to UMC,” he said. “That’s a city thing and that’s a state thing, too, with the Department of Transportation, so I think all of that shows that the local government and state government, too, care about these things.”

The recreational trails running along Fisher Avenue near Crookston High School. The walking and ski trails at the Mount St. Benedict. The paths designed to connect all of Crookston’s parks. All, Knotek said, take time, effort and collaboration.

“We’ve been able to combine public and private land interests and we pursue a common goal, and I think that’s saying something,” he said.

On the anti-tobacco side, Knotek said Wellness Works has very strong ties with local youth and law enforcement, especially as they work together to make sure that local merchants aren’t selling tobacco products to minors.

Growth
Knotek sees the Crookston Vitality Project as an opportunity for Wellness Works to grow and possibly branch off into more health-related areas.

“It seems like a natural fit, because even the word ‘vitality’ makes you think of something that’s healthy and has a long and prosperous future,” he said.

Typically, Wellness Works leaders will identify two or three priorities that will be targeted each year. “We can’t do everything, so we have to be disciplined in our focus,” Knotek said. “But if some new blood came on board because of the Vitality Project, we might be able to expand that focus. We very much need new involvement.”

While cancer research or heart-related issues might be a focus in any given year, in 2004 Knotek said Wellness Works is targeting the promotion of overall healthy lifestyles. The effort last year to get people walking with pedometers was a direct result of Wellness Works working with local healthcare leaders to promote the benefits of walking, he said.

“It’s amazing how many miles people put in,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not so much fun to exercise by yourself, but with that project there were groups of people walking together and I think it inspired everyone to get up off the couch and get out there.”

He’s further buoyed by the hiring of Carrie Bang to coordinate the CVP information-gathering process. She’s been closely tied to Wellness Works for years.

“She’s going to have a lot on her plate, so it’s good to know that she has a really good idea already of what we’re all about,” Knotek said.

It’s cheap
During this past February’s Fitness Fever Events, the most important thing Knotek feels came out of it all was that facets of the local population who maybe don’t participate in many community activities were out in force.

“We had 110 people in the swimming pool at our free open swim on one of our Fitness Fever Sundays, and no one could remember the last time there were that many people in the pool,” he said. “And 75 percent of them were Hispanic parents and their children out swimming together and playing together. It was just wonderful to see. They heard about the event and they came out and had a terrific time together as a family.”

If segments of the population who may feel underserved by their community more often than not are inspired by something like Fitness Fever to participate, then Knotek said it’s possible that the Vitality Project could help find more ways to get everyone in the community involved, not just the more fortunate or affluent.

“I just see an opportunity but I’m not sure how to capitalize on it,” he said. “We don’t get that kind of participation at some of the arts events in town, but maybe through the Vitality Project we can learn how to reach out to the whole community.”

Something as widespread at the Crookston Vitality Project won’t be accomplished easily or quickly, he added, but nothing vitally important ever is.

“There is a lot that could fall under the Vitality umbrella, and that’s going to make whatever goals are set even harder to reach,” Knotek said. “We need to get all facets of the population feeling good about the community they live in, and lure new people, new jobs and new businesses to town to keep us going, and keep us vital. It’s a major undertaking.