Winners are losers for TOPS
Spring has arrived, and so did the time for TOPS Club Inc. to hold their annual Provincial Recognition Days. This year, it was held in Red Deer, and was attended by 624 members, plus 12 guests. Ninety-seven Alberta chapters were represented. At this function, TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) recognizes the members who have lost the most weight for the previous year — in this case, 2017.
Our provincial queen was Susan King, from Stony Plain. She lost 104.25 pounds to reach her goal weight. The runner-up was Jennifer Bunch from Red Deer who lost 68.6 pounds to goal. Congratulations to our Royalty.
When a member weighs in for the first time in any calendar year, they are placed
in a division, depending on their weight. The following local members may not have reached their goal weight, but they were recognized for the pounds they lost during 2017:
Division 1 — 2. Gwen Rowley – Lethbridge 61.0 pounds Division 2 — 2. Bernice Curle – Coaldale 60.0 pounds
Division 5 — 1. Audrey Beresowsky – Bow Island 27.6 pounds
Division 6 — 1. Chloe Schaaf – Lethbridge 25.8 pounds
Congratulations to all our Female Losers.
When all the losses (and gains) were tabulated, and the net loss was determined for all chapters in Alberta, TOPS AB #5330, Penhold received the reward for having the Best Average Weight Loss of 19.77 pounds per member. Congratulations go out to the members of this chapter for their outstanding work in 2017.
After our Division Winners were recognized, 138 KOPS members were applauded. KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) are members who have reached their goal weight and are maintaining their weight within a 10-pound leeway. Twenty longevity pendants were awarded — these are members who have reached a special (5–10–15– 20–25–30) anniversary of maintaining their goal weight. The most senior KOPS was Joan Farhall from Edmonton who received her 40-year pendant.
TOPS is a nonprofit support group for members who are trying to lose weight, or to keep the pounds off as KOPS. TOPS, the oldest weight-loss organization in the world, was started in 1948 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. For more information, go to www. tops.org or phone 800-932-8677.