Our Next DMA Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 6pm

Company Name

DMA GAB-RRR

Issue 10

December 2012

January 2013

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We are Duluth's premier place to go for classic southern food, featuring both dine-in and take-out food. Serving breakfast and lunch, our menu has a broad range of options, so you're sure to find something for everybody! We invite you to come in today and see what wonderful things we have on our menu. In fact, bring the whole family or a group of friends! You will be impressed not only with the food, but fast service and friendly staff, as well!

Duluth Rexall is an independently owned, old-fashioned pharmacy that has been in business since

1968. This specialty pharmacy provides services including, prescription compounding and

immunizations and carries hard to find health care supplies including orthodics, orthopedic braces,

walkers, wheelchairs and canes. Wheelchairs, walkers and crutches are available for rental. Duluth

Rexall is a retail center for National Allergy, Jobst, Spenco, Florida Orthopedics, and Duracare. Duluth

Rexall also fills traditional prescriptions and files workman's compensation.

Lynda D. Alley, RPh, has owned Duluth Rexall since 1998. She graduated from Mercer Southern School

of Pharmacy in 1977. Lynda continues to partner with Mercer University, educating up and coming

pharmacists about the skills of compounding and independent pharmacy ownership.

Jennifer Johnson Belew, Pharm D, a recent graduate of Mercer University, is a part-time pharmacist at

Duluth Rexall. She is currently working with Lynda to bring in a new line of homeopathic and

natural products.

Duluth Rex

HIGHWAY

DULUTH, GA. 30096

GRILL 770) 623-8569

PHONE (770)-476-3631

FAX(770)-623-9061

Map And Directions

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Presidents Letter 2

November Meeting 3-5

Recap

December Holiday 6

Party Recap

Board of Directors 8

About DMA 8

Member Ads 9

January Calendar 10

Our next DMA Meeting is

Tuesday January 8th at 6:00 pm

Rexall Grill

Our Next DMA Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 6pm

page 2

DMA GAB-RRR

DMA President Letter December 20th, 2012

Dear DMA Members,

This is the time of year we devote wonderful special time to family

and friends, reflect on our business successes or failures and plan

for 2013. Bill and Sheri Eppright gave me a binder containing all

the stories, pictures and publicity of each monthly DMA meeting in

2012. This binder shows the strength of DMA. Thanks to the

Epprights and others DMA touched a lot of business people and

citizens in 2012. All these stories about DMA involvement in our

community are still out there on the Internet and media archives.

Google Duluth DMA or even Jim Johnson DMA and see the

results. All these meetings and publicity continued to establish

DMA as the primary organization serving the Duluth Business

Community. I was proud to serve as your president for 2012, but it

always takes a team. Members like Sunny Ramsay and Albert

Marquez kept our newsletter and website humming. I have found

that you get out of an organization by what you put into it. I

observed a lot of DMA members doing their best to support the

community and each other. As an organization we tried some

new things. We had two cash mobs and one mini tradeshow. I look

forward to supporting DMA and the Duluth Business Community

in 2013. I encourage everyone to participate and contribute to the

success of Duluth Merchants Association and our community.

Jim Johnson

James

Johnson,

President

DMA 2012

DMA GAB-RRR

Page 3 DMA GAB-RRR

Obesity In America - Your Money And Your Life!

Ever get mugged? You're given a choice: "Give me your money, or I'll take your life." Some

choice!

This week we attended the monthly Duluth Merchants Association meeting at the Gwinnett Center

for Surgical Weight Management. As we enjoyed the professional, warm and welcoming

atmosphere, we learned of another harsh reality: Because of obesity, thousands of people die and

millions of dollars are lost...both Businesses and individuals suffer.

Smart businesses have a financial business plan for future success, but few businesses include an

ongoing plan to encourage both employees and owners to live healthy and productive lives. When

folks get sick more often due to obese lifestyles, dollars are lost due to absenteeism. And then

there’s “present-eeism” which refers to the reduced productivity experienced by obese folks less

happy on the job.

Smart businesses have a financial business plan for future success, but few businesses include an ongoing

plan to encourage both employees and owners to live healthy and productive lives. When folks get sick

more often due to obese lifestyles, dollars are lost due to absenteeism. And then there’s “present-eeism”

which refers to the reduced productivity experienced by obese folks less happy on the job.

Our health conscious evening at the center began with a "Not Your Typical Hospital Meal.” We enjoyed

nutritional culinary delights prepared using “Chef Dave” recipes: Cheesy Gorgonzola Apple Stuffed

Mushrooms, tasty sandwiches, cheese nibbles, and hummus with crackers and pita bread. Dessert was

fresh fruit in vanilla yogurt served over angel food cake.

DMA GAB-RRR

Page 4

And who is Chef Dave, you ask? Chef Dave as the only certified bariatric chef in the United States was once a

bariatric patient himself 12 years ago. Now working as a chef, his passion is “to help fight the disease of obesity

one meal at a time by educating, inspiring and motivating people to live healthier lives.”

Our host for the evening was Debra Proulx, manager of the Bariatric Program. With 93 million Americans obese

(and 28% of Georgians fall into that category!) Debra shared the center’s vision: "to transform lives one person at a

time.”

“Healthy Aging nuts” that we are, we asked Debra to explain the role of genetics vs lifestyle choices in regards to

obesity. Debra stated that “genetics loads the gun and lifestyle choices shoot the bullets.” Obesity affects every part

of the body, with heart issues and diabetes being the biggest potential health risks.

Only a few of the very obese are able to lose the needed weight and keep it off on their own. The surgical weight

loss solution treats the obesity, making it possible for the physical issues to minimize and sometimes even go away.

Once the obesity factor is eliminated, then personal lifestyle decisions kick in, and the Bariatric program

encourages patients to reprogram themselves to make healthy life choices. While the weight loss is a good first

step, as Debra pointed out, “weight reduction doesn’t eliminate what got them there in the first place!”

Over 150 high risk folks mostly in their 30’s and 40’s (high risk means they were either “Severely Obese or

Morbidly Obese” with Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or greater) have already completed their surgeries…many

more are just beginning their journey.

Program members start with 6 to 8 weeks of pre surgery seminars, preparing them for healthier and more socially

interactive lives ahead. Followed by a 1 day surgery and hospital stay, they then join many ongoing support groups

encompassing all aspects of their new life: from clothing exchange (just imagine how expensive it would be to

continually update your wardrobe as your body sheds a 100 plus pounds!) to social interaction (for some this

surgery opens the door to first time dating!) to nutritional cooking classes, to fitness and dance classes, as well as

support groups for family and friends (major influencers!).

Everyone involved must make changes. Most importantly they become lifetime members of the Program with the

added benefit of acquiring many new life-long friends along the way.

Just as obese folks find hope and choices for a better lifestyle at the new Center for Surgical Weight Management,

America and local businesses are becoming more aware of the positive influence the center and healthy lifestyle

choices have on productivity and happier employees.

Bottom line, this was a “happy” November DMA meeting, with healthy food, pleasant camaraderie, and some

inspiring success stories.

What a great way to start the holiday season, with an eye toward an “Active Positive Lifestyle and a healthier

you…please join us!

......................

As photo journalists, public speakers and seniors, we promote Active Positive Lifestyles and Healthy

Aging in America. If you would like us to promote your event or speak with your group or organization,

please contact us…we would love to hear from you! Positively speaking,

Sheri and Bill Eppright, Positive Public Image, Inc.

Page 5

DMA GAB-RRR

DMA Celebrates the Holidays by Faye Edmundson, Duluth Patch

Albert Marquez was honored as the “Merchant of the Year” at the Duluth Merchants Association’s

Christmas Party Dec. 4.

Jim Johnson, outgoing 2012 DMA president, singled out Marquez, who has administered the DMA’s

website for the past 14 years. Marquez, an adventure travel specialist, is the owner of Duluth-based Planet

Earth Adventures, which arranges tours and excursions in Alaska.

Al Brown, incoming DMA 2013 president, presented a plaque to Johnson in recognition of his service as

president for the past year.

Page 6

DMA GAB-RRR

Al Brown, incoming DMA 2013 president, presented a plaque to Johnson in recognition of his service as president

for the past year.

Rayann Larsen, owner of The Work Spot where the party was held, is the new DMA vice president. Steve Eckman

will become secretary. John Monk will serve as treasurer. New DMA leaders will take office in January.

Party guests also enjoyed a buffet of Cajun food from

Boudreaux's Café Acadiana.

Yee Kue handed out discount coupons for iBangkok, a

Thai restaurant that just opened on Buford Highway.

In the spirit of the season, DMA members brought gift

cards and toys to be donated to a local charity.

The DMA regularly meets the first Tuesday of each

month at local businesses.

Musical entertainment was provided by DMA members Bill & Sheri Eppright of Positive Public Image, Inc.

Bill, a guitarist, and Sheri, a keyboardist, sang a medley of their favorite songs and carols. The Epprights also

lead a trivia contest with a musical theme and a sing-a-long.

DMA GAB-RRR

Page 8

DMA Board of Directors

2013

Al Brown, President ABS Insurance Group 770-329-6569

Rayann Larsen, VP The Work Spot 770-330-1001

Steve Eckman, Secretary Minuteman Press Dulth 770-476-0922

John Monk, Treasurer John Monk CPA 770-495-8900

Jenny Wesselmann Sperry Van Ness 678-682-3224

Chris McGahee City of Duluth 770-476-3434

Bill Eppright Positive Public Image, Inc. 404-803-7171

Marlene Svboda Personal Power 404-308-6867

Life Coaching

Jim Johnson, Immediate Past President 404-626-6245

DMA….Our Purpose

To promote the general welfare of our members, by interacting with fellow members, their community, and city, county, and state governments.

To advise our members on pending government actions of local significance.

To foster a spirit of cooperation and trust between our members and the community, and between our members and the city government.

To promote the highest business standards among our members.

To discover better business methods for our members through personal networking and outside guest speakers.

To promote the economic interest of all members of the association.

http://www.discoverak.com/

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