- 50th Anniversary Conclusion Video: Las Vegas Business Meeting and Founders Council Recognition
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Yesterday in Las Vegas, this statement from Doug DeVos summed up a week's worth of 50th Anniversary Celebration Events: "It's pretty simple, right? Two guys. One idea. The Amway idea. And one vision that has carried us for 50 years."
Enjoy the video, as Steve Van Andel, Doug DeVos, Rich DeVos, and Founders Council members talk about how each day, every single one of us honors the idea that having a business of one's own changes lives, and in fact, can change the world.
(If the embedded version doesn't work for you, go here.)
- A Tribute to Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos: Highlight Video
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This is the second video in a series featuring Amway 50th Anniversary events. It's a moving tribute to Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos, and as Doug DeVos says, "A lot of things have changed over the years... but not our unity of purpose... which is "to give people an opportunity to improve their lives with a business of their own." Enjoy!
(If the embedded version does not work for you, watch the video here.)
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- Welcome to Amway as we celebrate 50 years!
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What a day! We are thrilled to host Amway leaders from around the world as we dedicated the new Amway World Headquarters Welcome Center, one of many events in honor of our 50th anniversary.
The following clip from earlier today features Rich DeVos, Chairman Steve Van Andel and President Doug DeVos discussing the past, present, and future of our company.
We'll post more videos to the Adatudes blog as they become available, so stop back often. And Happy Anniversary, Amway!
(If neither of these embedded versions work for you, go to our You Tube Channel and choose the Welcome Center Dedication Ceremony video.)
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- Talk About a Win-Win!
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Hi! This is Cindy Droog, and I'm the managing editor of the Opportunity Zone, which means I dabble a little bit in all of the blogs, including comment moderation, blogger motivation, topic activation, and lots of other words that end in "tion." Today, I have a special treat for our Ada-Tudes readers, a guest blog post from Casey Leppanen, who handles advertising, promotions, and marketing for L.A.'s men's professional soccer team, but also works on the Street Team for the LA Sol, helping to man the Amway Global booth at all the team's home games. A big "thanks" to Casey for sharing his perspective from a game this past Sunday.
Here's Casey:
Who was the hottest last Sunday - was it Amway Global or was it the L.A. Sol? I would say it was both. With temperatures nearing 100 degrees at game-time, fans were hot; the Sol players were hot; but most importantly, so were the Street Team members working the Amway Global booth at our pre-game festivities!
All of the action took place prior to the L.A. Sol vs. FC Gold Pride match on Sunday, April 19 at The Home Depot Center. From the Amway Global booth, a steady crowd of 75-100 people were sampling products from ARTISTRY and NUTRILITE. At the prize wheel, we provided Artistry Hand Crème and make-up bags; Nutrilite Brainiums Sampler Cards and energy bars; and soccer balls, posters, shirts, and much more.
The Sol fans loved it and I would have to say that the quote of the day came from a 10-year-old girl who ate two Energy Bars and then said, “Man, give me more of some of that good stuff!”
Of course, the Amway Global booth wasn’t the only excitement that day as Sol superstar and three-time Women’s FIFA Player of the Year, Marta, dazzled the crowd with her moves and scored the game-winning goal to lead the Sol to a 1-0 win over the Pride.
I hope to see all of you at a game soon, and thank you, Amway Global, for your awesome support!
The Amway Global tent, close-up, prior to the festivities.
Me, Casey, working the Prize Wheel, and giving our fans a great experience with Amway Global's brands.
The Amway Global thundersticks are a huge hit with our younger crowds!
- Amway Global and Los Angeles Sol Set Goals for New Partnership
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I am excited to share with you the details of both a new partnership between Amway Global and the Los Angeles Sol Women’s Professional Soccer League team, as well as an endorsement relationship with the new league's star player Marta.
Last week, Jori Hartwig, VP of Marketing, was invited to LA for the big announcement. The room was buzzing with excitement as Jori announced our new partnership with the team and special endorsement of star player, Marta Vieira da Silva, who has also been named three-time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year. In fact, “Marta’s Maniacs in the Amway Global Corner” will be a specially-branded seating section in the stadium for the most rabid fans of the Los Angeles Sol and its star player.
This new opportunity means that the Amway Global name will appear on the front of the LA Sol team jerseys, and will also be featured on a number of in-stadium, community, and grassroots components surrounding every home game. Amway Global will receive in-stadium video features and PA announcements, and presence on the team website and within selected collateral materials, including schedules, tickets, and press conference and mixed zone backdrops.
As interest in both men's and women's major league soccer continues to rise, we're happy to complement our efforts with the San Jose Earthquakes, and to be able to reach even more consumers with our ARTISTRY, NUTRILITE, and Amway Global brand stories.
The Sol's season opener is March 29, 2009, with a match against the Washington Freedom.
- Shaking things up with the San Jose Earthquakes
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I am proud to announce that Amway Global has joined forces with the San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer team for an exciting three-year partnership.
As interest in major league soccer continues to rise, we're excited to be part of the growing trend, reaching even more consumers with our Artistry, Nutrilite, and Amway Global brand stories.
This new sponsorship opportunity means that the Amway Global name will not only appear on the front of the Earthquakes jerseys and team gear, but will also be featured on a number of in-stadium, community, and grassroots components.
Another part of this exciting initiative is that Amway Global is now the official sponsor of the Kicks for Kids program, focusing on fitness and healthy lifestyles, as well as bringing underprivileged children to Earthquakes games. Through the program, Earthquakes players will visit 15 schools or community centers in the Bay Area to discuss the importance of being active and living a healthy lifestyle. At each event, the player will also distribute tickets and replica jersey shirts to 150 children per school.
The partnership kicks-off in part on January 28, when Amway Global will have a presence at the Mexico vs. Sweden game at the Oakland Coliseum. The Quakes open their season on March 21, 2009 with a match against the New England Revolution. Look closely, you'll probably notice the 30-foot tall inflatable Amway Global/Earthquakes jersey that will be displayed!
- Early Success for new IBOs via The Fast Track
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Today
kicks off the Sales Department's blogging efforts on True Success, our plan
over the next year to bring new pricing, incentives, selling support, and
training to help all IBOs take their businesses to the next level.
It's
also my first time writing to the Opportunity Zone! I'm Angie Polsgrove, Amway
Global's Sales Transformation Manager. I report
directly to Sandy Spielmaker and for the past 10+ years, I've been working with IBOs on growing their
businesses and developing key metrics for tracking growth. It's my passion! But
back to True Success...
True
Success is about what this business opportunity offers to all IBOs through
several new programs we introduced at Achievers 2008. Programs like new pricing,
incentives, selling support, and training. True Success encompasses:
-
Programs like FAST TRACK (more below!) and
new pricing strategies to help IBOs focus their efforts and make more money,
sooner.
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Retail Selling Systems -
new, targeted retailing strategies for growing profitability through customers.
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Campaign Strategies that will
drive consumer interest with on-trend, targeted, and heavily promoted
campaigns.
True
Success is new. It's a change for all of us. So, in that spirit, I wanted to
share two of my favorite quotes about change. You may have heard them before,
but I think they're inspiring, and even a bit humorous, like this one: "Change
is inevitable - except from a vending machine!"
So
true! It's also true what author and poet Lynn Hall said (paraphrased): "We do
not change as we grow older. We just become more clearly ourselves."
True Success and the Fast Track program are a little like that. Perhaps not
huge changes, but reinforcements of our commitment to new people who join this
business. We've chosen to blog about Fast Track first in this series, because
frankly, it's generated the most excitement so far. And for good reason! We
launched Fast Track at the Achievers event in Las Vegas in December, and it was a crowd pleaser.
The basics are this:
- In a new IBO's first 90 days, he or
she can qualify for a $200 bonus by showing the beginnings of building a
balanced business with both retailing and sponsoring as components.
- Additionally, that IBO's upline(s),
the people that sponsored them into the business, can receive cash awards for
helping new IBOs qualify for the Fast Track program.
It's really that simple.
As Lynn Hall says, we are just "becoming more clearly ourselves." We've
always been passionate about helping new IBOs succeed. Since Rich and Jay
founded Amway, we've been committed to a level playing field, one in which a
new IBO has as much opportunity as anyone in the business.
Fast Track rewards IBOs - at all levels - who are doing the right things to
encourage building a balanced business, and recruiting of others who want to do
the same.
If you're an IBO, details of the Fast Track program can be found here once you log in to our web site. If
you're thinking of becoming an IBO, ask the person who is sponsoring you about
Fast Track, or pose specific questions here in the Opportunity Zone for us to
answer.
Either way, we think you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find.
- It's Six Degrees in Ada, but a Warm Welcome to our new V.P. of Marketing!
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Last year, consumer access was one of our strategic pillars. We set out to tell our story to the world of prospective customers and Independent Business Owners. We did it by making unprecedented investments in advertising, sponsorships, celebrity spokespersons, and of course, taking Nutrilite and Artistry "on the road" through our Mobile Brand Experiences.
It was an exciting time, but it's only going to get better in 2009!
A new year always brings new possibilities, and with that in mind, we'll not only be working on "consumer access" in 2009, but also on making connections with consumers. Connections that are meaningful to them, and that position our products with the unique advantage consumers get by working with an Amway Global Independent Business Owner.
This is a big task, but we've got a new weapon in our arsenal! I'm pleased to introduce you to Jori Hartwig, who joined Amway Global as Vice President - Marketing on January 5th. Jori is a seasoned marketing executive with more than 20 years of experience and as we continue to take our visibility to new heights, she will help lead us.
A little bit about Jori: She comes to us most recently from Marcus Corporation, where she was Vice President of Marketing, responsible for marketing, e-commerce, and brand development for the 20 properties in the company's hotels and resorts division. She has also served as Vice President of Marketing for Fiskars' craft division, directing the division's marketing, brand and identity development, consumer education, and public relations efforts.
While at Pillsbury, Jori provided strategic counsel to the Green Giant business and headed marketing, public relations, and other efforts. And, during nearly 15 years at SC Johnson, she held a number of brand and category manager roles for well-known brands prior to becoming Director of Worldwide Business Development for Air Care, which encompasses Glade-brand products.
Of course, we will be putting all of Jori's knowledge and experience - and then some - to work as 2009 holds some very exciting marketing initiatives for us! From track and field competitions to MoBE appearances at high-profile events, check the Opportunity Zone frequently to learn what we'll be doing, where, and with whom. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Jori to our team.
- Amway Global and John Tesh Pair Up for Products and Promotions
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Recently, Amway Global announced an agreement with entertainer, author, and radio host John Tesh to develop and distribute products and advertise on Tesh's "Intelligence for Your Life" radio show. In addition, the company announced an agreement with actress Connie Sellecca - Tesh's wife - to distribute her Sellecca Solution skin care line. Tesh and Sellecca have been married since 1992.
That's the business side of the story, and there's more of that in this post. But on a personal level, I've had the fortune of sitting and talking with John about his philosophy of helping people live better lives. Throughout these talks, it really hit home what a perfect fit he is with our business model. After all, our business opportunity is about empowering people to achieve dreams, and to make life better for themselves and their families. Tesh supports those same objectives. From offering advice on parenting, finances, relationships, or fitness on his radio show to his weekly blog about achieving inner health and happiness, John embodies the spirit of Amway Global.
Here's a little more about John: In 1996, after 10 years as co-host of "Entertainment Tonight," he surprised many of his fans by leaving to pursue his career as a full-time musician. Since then, he has become one of the most successful syndicated radio show hosts in the country with eight million listeners each week to "The John Tesh Radio Show: Music and Intelligence for Your Life." He has recorded more than 40 music CDs, three DVDs, and is author of three books, including Intelligence for Your Life: Powerful Lessons for Personal Growth.
This partnership between Amway Global and John Tesh allows us to advertise and sponsor content on the "Intelligence for Your Life" radio program and sponsor health and beauty segments on the show. "Intelligence for Your Life" is carried on more than 300 radio stations in the U.S. and Canada.
We'll also be selling Tesh products, including books and CDs. John will appear in selected AMWAY GLOBALTM advertising and communications and make personal appearances at Amway Global events. Also, in 2009, we will begin distributing Connie Sellecca's Sellecca Solution products exclusively through Amway Global. It is a luxury skin care sysem designed for sensitive skin, and will be a fantastic complement to the ARTISTRY® skin care and cosmetic brand.
I've also met Connie, and I hope you will have the pleasure someday as well.
Please join in me in welcome John and Connie to our business family - I know they're going to fit right in!
- Amway Global Advertising Update
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We took a major break from television advertising during the presidential election period, but we're coming back, and in a big way! Over the Thanksgiving weekend, we'll have a major presence on most networks.
For many families, Thanksgiving just wouldn't be the same without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and football - and Amway Global will be a part of both.
Look for advertising during the live broadcast of the 82nd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, airing from 9 a.m. to Noon EST Thursday, Nov. 27 on NBC affiliates across the U.S. The parade will be hosted by NBC Today Show hosts Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira and Al Roker, and feature performances by Miley Cyrus and America Idol finalist David Archuletta, plus marching bands, floats and those famous inflatable characters. Millions of people tune in to see the parade broadcast live from Manhattan on Thanksgiving Day.
Those planning to watch football during the long holiday weekend will see Amway Global advertising on NFL games on CBS, FOX, NBC, and the cable NFL Network. Our ads will air during the NBC Sunday Night Game as well as other NFL game broadcasts. Complete details will be available at AmwayGlobal.com in the coming weeks.
We also recently shared with our IBOs that Amway Global will be the presenting sponsor of the NBC Holiday Celebration on Ice, airing Nov. 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST. The show will feature an all-star cast of legendary skaters, including Nancy Kerrigan, Todd Eldredge, and Yuka Sato, plus performances by American singer-songwriters Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.
As Presenting Sponsor, the Amway Global name will appear in television advertising surrounding the telecast, print materials and event signage. Look for a special Artistry "Beauty Begins with Heart" vignette highlighting our partnership with Easter Seals and featuring some of the skating superstars featured in the show.
Watch, enjoy, and please, let us know what you think!
- The Search Is On -- And Almost Over!
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Do you know a teen wellness leader? Of course, asking that question may lead you to wonder ... what is a Teen Wellness Leader? A teenager who is setting a good example and showing leadership in health and wellness. Yes, teenagers have their own set of challenges -- Or so I'm told. My girls aren't there yet! -- but they can play an important role within their families, their peer groups and the larger community in developing healthy habits, and helping others to do the same.
Amway Global and the YMCA are looking to recognize 51 teenagers who fit this description -- one from each state and Washington D.C.
Each selected Teen Wellness Leader will receive a $1,000 scholarship for further education; a $1,000 donation toward a local YMCA and the chance to be featured in Newsweek magazine. Pretty cool! Or even "sick!" Which I'm told means, in today's teen speak, "cool!" Although sick would certainly be a strange way to describe an award about wellness. I digress!
The Teen Wellness Leader Search is one element of Amway Global's new collaboration with YMCA of the USA - Inspire Wellness - which was created to encourage individual, family and community health and wellness, while establishing awareness of Amway Global's role as a leader in health and wellness among consumers. It's just one part of Amway Global's unprecedented investment in raising public awareness of, the opportunity we support and the products we offer.
Be sure to nominate a teen in your community who is promoting health and wellness. Some examples of what teens are doing around the country might include:
- Advocating for physical education classes in school and healthier food options in school cafeterias;
- Organizing friends to help build a playground or develop a walking path in a local park;
- Managing community gardens that provide locally grown produce;
- Coaching team sports or promoting other activities in underserved neighborhoods;
- Accompanying older adults on walking excursions; and
- Organizing a 5k or walk.
The online nomination period for the Search for Teen Wellness Leaders is open now through November 16, 2008 at 10 p.m. EST. To view the official contest rules, check out nominated teens, or to nominate a teen, visit www.inspirewellness.com.
- Seeing Green
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Here it is! My very first blog post on Adatudes, and I'm talking about a topic that no one really enjoys: washing the dishes! Still, it's an everyday kind of thing, so I know you can relate.
Here at Amway Global, we've been working hard to meet a July 1, 2010 deadline - set forth by the Soap and Detergent Association - to develop a phosphate-free powder formula dishwashing detergent.
Check that one off the list!
We launched Dish Drops Phosphate-Free Automatic Dishwasher Detergent earlier this month, and are one of the first in the industry to do so. For all you budding scientists out there, this is important because too many phosphates being released into our waterways can cause a complex chain reaction involving algae formation, excess organic material that turns into bacteria, and ultimately, a breathing problem for fish and other aquatic life.
Of course, we were concerned. We embraced this challenge, not only because it was the right thing to do, but also because environmental stewardship runs deep in our 50-year heritage. Our dedication to this is something I've always been proud of, and I've worked here for more than 30 years.
Did you know?
- Amway's very first product - L.O.C. (Liquid Organic Cleanser) was made only with biodegradable cleaning agents?
- Nutrilite is the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest, and process plants on its own certified organic farms?
- Our World Headquarters (WHQ) is Wildlife Habitat Council certified.
- By 2010, the first win turbine farm in the State of Michigan will provide ten percent of the energy we use at WHQ.
To learn more, check out our full Environmental Stewardship brochure. That is, after you're done cleaning those dishes!
- Next Stops: Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and L.A.
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I've been on the road quite a bit lately, but not as much as our Mobile Brand Experiences for Artistry and Nutrilite have!
Over the next seven days - along with the Tina Turner tour - they'll be in Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Anaheim.
Their adventures started out here in Ada with a preview event for employees that allowed them to experience the interactive touch-screen kiosks, enjoy the spa-like atmosphere and product demonstrations of the Artistry Motor Coach, and the interactive video displays featuring Gabby Reece and John Tesh on the Nutrilite semi-trailer.
Randy Deja from Customer Support said, "The Nutrilite experience was very exciting and educational, and the Artistry experience was comfortable and inviting. I think anyone stepping in would come away with great ideas for what they could be doing to maximize their health and their appearance."
Dan Thome, an art director in our Marketing Services Department, agreed. "The photos and artist renderings I've seen in print looked great, but when I saw the mobile brand experiences in person, I was so impressed! The outside and inside of each vehicle - from the graphics to the overall experience - are such a modern and memorable presentation for our IBOs and their customers!"
Tina's opening night on October 1, 2008, in Kansas City couldn't have been more exciting, and a special thanks goes to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point.
From the marketing staff to the construction/set-up crew; to the drivers and the writers; to those taking your calls and those behind the scenes setting up computer systems and tour-related web sites like ArtistryBeauty.com and NutriliteHealth.com - the hard work is paying off!
For a more in-depth look - including more great photos - check out Beth Dornan's Amway Global Insider blog.
This picture was taken at the Employee Launch Event. In the background, you can see the types of plants grown on our organic farms, and one of the interactive video screens.
Sampling Artistry essentials products before the Tina Turner concert in Kansas City.
Serious Tina fans outside of the Nutrilite MoBE. Her fans have so much passion and enthusiasm - just like we do for Artistry and Nutrilite!
- Online advertising drives business. But just like on the road, rules apply.
-
We've done so
much high-profile advertising and marketing in 2008, and I have to say, I'm
especially excited about this week's ad in Sports
Illustrated magazine and the first Tina Turner concert this Wednesday in Kansas City!
But did you
know that behind the scenes, we're also embarking on search engine marketing and
online publicity campaigns that will aid your prospects and customers in
finding positive results when they search for "Amway Global" or "Quixtar"
on Google and Yahoo?
Efforts
like these will support our other, more high-profile campaigns. We know from
experience that when you introduce the products and the opportunity, people's
next move is often to search the digital space to learn more about us.
I'm writing
this post, not as a marketing person, but as a rules person because we've
noticed that some of our Independent Business Owners may not understand the
rules as they relate to the digital space. We're here to help, and we've seen a
few specific issues that we want to share with you:
1. The posting of an IBO's number and contact information in
comments in blogs or online publications. This is considered non-local advertising and is prohibited by the Rules
of Conduct.
Positive
media coverage of Amway Global and our brands is a powerful
business-building tool. You can share the links to these articles with fellow IBOs, your customers - anyone you know! And, you can always comment on
these articles and share your success story there, if there is an opportunity to
do so. What is not appropriate, however, is to include your IBO number or contact
information within comments posted for the world to see.
2. Sponsored Google Adword and Yahoo searches.
As I
mentioned, Amway Global is purchasing key words, search terms, and online ads
as part of a campaign that benefits all of us.
However, the Rules don't allow individual IBOs to purchase Google
Adwords or Yahoo searches because it is considered national advertising. On the other
hand, we do allow you to promote your business through Google Local and Yahoo Local advertising.
This is still
a relatively new adventure for all us! We are doing our best to maximize the
internet's potential, and to use it to bring awareness to our brands and our
business opportunity.
If you have
a proposal for how you'd like to use the internet to market your business,
please submit it to us for review. We
will let you know if your plans conflict with the rules before you spend any of your advertising and marketing
budget. And please, if you have any questions about local searches, or need clarification after reading the relevant rules,
contact the Rules Department at 616-787-6712 or via email at bcr@amwayglobal.com.
The relevant
rules are Rule 4.3.2 and Rule 9.8.
Happy
surfing!
- Inspire Wellness - Get Involved & Get Inspired!
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We've been talking for
the past several weeks about the new Amway Global and YMCA Inspire Wellness
initiative, and now things are starting to happen!
Inspire Wellness is a combined effort of Amway
Global and YMCA of the USA
to encourage individual, family and community health and wellness. Inspire
Wellness builds on Activate America®, the YMCA's response to our
nation's growing health crisis that seeks to provide support to those who struggle
to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We at Amway Global couldn't be more excited
about the collaboration and there are many ways for everyone to get involved ...
NOW:
www.inspirewellness.com
-- Visit
this new in-depth website, which launched this week, that provides wellness
information, tips and resources, and assessments, and details on free wellness
events at select YMCAs across the country.
Amway Global Wellness
Index - We'll
announce the results of this national and state-based survey of Americans on
their views on wellness. This marks the beginning of a major media relations
campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the state of wellness in America
and how Amway Global and the YMCA have joined forces to help Americans improve
their health and well-being.
Gabrielle Reece Media
Tour - To
help spread the word about Inspire Wellness, Nutrilite spokesperson
Gabrielle Reece will be interviewed by dozens of national and regional
broadcast media outlets on Monday, Sept. 15. From Albuquerque
to Wichita,
news outlets across the nation will have the chance to hear Gabby explain the
results of the Amway Global Wellness Index and encourage health seekers to
visit www.inspirewellness.com
to find a list of 100 participating YMCAs that are holding free wellness events
on Saturday, Sept. 20. Gabby will be interviewed by the ABC Radio Network, FOX
News Edge/FOX Sports Net, and numerous other outlets. Don't worry, if you miss
her on Monday, visit www.inspirewellness.com later in the week in the
"News" section for links to her interviews online.
Newsweek - Check out the Sept. 22 issue, on
newsstands Sept. 15, featuring the first of several ads about the collaboration
between Amway and the YMCA to promote better health for all Americans.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
Wellness Events - Participate in wellness
events on September 20 at 100 select YMCAs for wellness assessments, classes
and activities for individuals and families, as well as sampling of Artistry®
and Nutrilite® products. Visit www.inspirewellness.com to find an
event near you.
OCTOBER 1:
Visit
www.inspirewellness.com to nominate a teen who's helping improve health and
wellness in their own community through the Amway Global and YMCA "Search for Teen Wellness Leaders," which
will identify and recognize teens who are doing an exemplary job of promoting wellness
in their communities.
Stay tuned here and at
the Inspire Wellness site for all the latest developments on Amway Global's
collaboration with the YMCA.