Don't forget the FIT KIDS BILL in 2009!!!!

I've been writting to Congress and the new Obama administration this morning about the FIT KIDS bill... Something I put BACK on my New Years Resolution list to ensure it's not forgotten in 2009.


The FIT Kids Act includes amendments to the No Child Left Behind Act that do the following:

• Provide information to parents and the public by requiring all schools, districts and states to report on students’ physical activity. In Title I Report Cards, adds elements that report on schools’ physical education programs and students’ physical activity. These measures include:
• Amount of time spent in required physical education as measured against the recommended national standard;
• Percentage of local educational agencies in the state that have a required age appropriate physical education curriculum;
• Percentage of elementary and secondary school physical education teachers who are state licensed or certified;
• Percentage of schools that have a School Health Council that meets monthly to promote a healthy school environment;
• Amount of physical space in each district that is used primarily for physical education and activity.
  Ensure that children get the support they need throughout their educational
  experience.
• Support professional development for teachers and principals to promote children’s healthy lifestyles and physical activity.
• Fund study to examine the impact of health and physical activity on student
  achievement and find effective ways to improve healthy living and physical activity for all children.

Here's links to get involved yourself in your state, etc. I encourage ALL married women, especially mothers to take up this issue and FIX was was originally broke for our children's health by the original No Child Left Behind act. ;-)

American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3010851
Bill S.2173 Easy to read description: http://member.aahperd.org/advocacy/ldc_2008/FIT_descriptionS.pdf
Richard Simmons is Motivated: http://www.richardsimmons.com/j15/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=249&Itemid=99999

Dear Secretary of Education-Elect Arne Duncan,

On behalf of our nation's children, parents, and teachers, I, Mrs. Illinois United States 2008, am joining with Richard Simmons in respectfully asking that you help ensure that quality physical education is available for every American child. Specifically, I ask that you help include the FIT Kids Act (H.R. 3257 / S. 2173) in the eauthorization of No Child Left Behind.

Every child deserves to be fit, healthy, and ready to learn, especially in these difficult times. Please join the bipartisan coalition that is supporting this extremely important legislation in the 111th Congress.

Through my past year of work with U-46 in Elgin, IL… I can testify that our present generation of children may not live as long as their parents due to obesity and inactivity. We have our own 5th grade son who struggles with morbid obesity and diabetes and PE only 1 day per week for 30 minutes.

You have the power to prevent and change this. I urge you today to take our children’s health future into consideration as well as fixing the flawed “testing and rewards” program with No Child Left Behind n 2009.

Sincerely,

Laurie Faith Gibson-Aiello
Mrs. Illinois United States 2008
http://mrsillinois2008.blogspot.com/

Boys and Girls Club of Elgin DUCKAPALOOZA!!!

On Saturday, September 6th our family had the honor of participating in the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin's Duckapalooza 10th annual Duck Pluck. My Brother John Kent and two of his girls came to spend the day with Tony and I and our kids. Jimmy, Ali and Kayla all had the honor of being one of the twenty duck-pluckers to pick out the prize winners for 2008. Something must have clicked, because my brother John Won the Grand Prize, a New Chevy Aveo! wowsers! LOL

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Mrs. United States Photos

Joesph Pier, our photographer already has some of the photos online for his website... Click my picture to see ALL out beautiful state delegates!

Losing lots to win big

Mrs. Illinois 2008 reigns from Elgin

July 29, 2008

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By Charity Bonner Staff Writer

ELGIN -- To overcome morbid obesity is quite an accomplishment. To overcome obesity and be crowned a beauty pageant winner is almost unheard of.

Elgin resident Laurie Faith Gibson-Aiello did just that, winning the Mrs. Illinois contest, and last week placing 13th out of 52 contestants in the Mrs. United States National Pageant in Las Vegas.

» Click to enlarge image

Mrs. Illinois 2008 is Laurie Faith Gibson-Aiello of Elgin.
(Submitted)

On the Net

• Click on pageant for an update on which channel and when the pageant will be broadcast.
• Click on Mrs. Illinois United States 2008 for more information about Laurie Faith Gibson-Aiello.

Gibson-Aiello is 120 pounds less now than she was in 2001 when she was 23. Since having gastric bypass surgery and losing the weight, she no longer suffers from sleep apnea and has retrained her body to be healthier.

"I used weight-loss surgery as a tool. No more Jenny Craig, no more buying pills at Walgreens," she said.

She went instead to a weight-loss support group where they convinced her to compete in the Miss Illinois contest four years ago. Members of the support group also helped her pick out her outfits for the pageant.

Since her weight loss, she has drastically changed her eating habits by making a conscious effort to eat fresh foods and stay away from sugar.

"I have learned to treat my body like a machine," she said.

Gibson-Aiello has been taking her message to local elementary and middle schools. She will join the Elgin School District U46 Wellness Committee in the fall.

"I go there to smile and show them how to be healthy. I talk to them about beauty and how everyone has their own unique assets and beauty," she said.

Gibson-Aiello also has been working with the YMCA's Activate Elgin program. She is employed as an IT project and instructional designer. In addition to speaking about nutrition and the importance of physical activity, Gibson-Aiello interacts by playing games and doing activities with the children.

In a phone interview conducted while she was in Las Vegas competing, Gibson-Aiello said that being a part of the pageant has opened her eyes to others who are working hard to improve their communities.

"What all these women have in common is that they got sick of hearing about the problems in our community and they all want to do something about it. It gives me hope especially now when everyone is complaining about the economy. At least there are people out there trying to do something still," she said.

Although she would not have expected to win the title of Mrs. Illinois when she was younger, Gibson-Aiello says her family comes from an entertainment background. Her older sister also competed in the Miss and Mrs. Illinois pageants.

Preliminaries and finals for the national pageant were held at the Orleans Showroom Theatre in Las Vegas and will be televised on cable in August.

Gibson-Aiello is sponsored by American Family and Downtown Photo in Crystal Lake, as well as family and friends and people from her church. She would like to find more sponsors for the future. As someone who has competed at the Miss and Mrs. level, she says they are very different.

"At the Mrs. level, you have to be your own manager," she said. "You have to manage your own time, you have a family and job and kids or other volunteer jobs. That makes it more rewarding. It is definitely an accomplishment."