May 16, 2011
Monday PM

Dear Editor,

The Ketchikan Wellness Coalition’s (KWC) mission is to promote community wellness through action and assessment. We are currently seeking participation and information from community members concerning health and wellness issues in our community. The KWC was originally formed following the Compass II Community Assessment that was done by United Way of Southeast Alaska back in 2006. Our seven task forces and the steering committee were formed based on the major themes and needs that were identified in this assessment.

It is time to re-assess the community needs in the many areas that have been identified in the past and to look at new strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed. Active and large-scale citizen participation in this process will allow the KWC to prioritize the needs identified and focus our energy and action on specific goals.  We introduced this survey during the Health Fair back in November and hope to complete the survey process in the next couple of months.  We plan to hold community cafe events around the most strongly identified issues and a final report will be released at completion with survey results and identified themes.

You can be a voice in this important process and help direct the course of positive change. This survey was sent out as an insert in the Ketchikan Daily News weekend edition of April 23rd. It can also be accessed online at www.ktnkwc..org. where you can take it directly online through Survey Monkey or you can download it to hard copy, fill it out and drop it off at boxes we have established at the Library, the Mall and the Public Health Center. 

Please take the time and opportunity to help make Ketchikan a healthier community!

Thank you,

Karen Eakes
KWC Chair
Ketchikan, AK