Hello! I’d like to introduce myself to you… I’m Leslie Sosebee, and I am the new Retiree Health Promotions Coordinator for Dow Health Services. I will be serving all Dow, Union Carbide, and Dow Agrosciences Retirees in the United States.

Dow has committed to invest in a “Health Empowerment” program for retirees and their families. The program will encompass Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Self-Care and Health Care Consumerism, and Chronic Condition Support/Disease Management. We will provide you with education, activities, resources, and support mechanisms to help meet your needs in any and all of these areas. It is our goal to support your total health – to help you be physically fit, mentally alert, functionally mobile and independent, and socially engaged!

To be successful, the Retiree Health Empowerment Program must be focused on your needs and interests. To that end, I strongly encourage you to contact me with any thoughts, suggestions, questions, or comments. You can call me at (713) 978-2839, or e-mail me at lsosebee@dow.com, or by selecting “Contact Us” on the DowFriends website.

Also critical to the program’s success will be the involvement of Dow retirees and their families in the process and delivery of this program. First and foremost, we need for every retiree and spouse/partner to participate in whatever program components serve your needs and/or interests, and to encourage each other to participate as well. In addition, we will be recruiting interested retirees across the U.S. to serve as ambassadors in this effort by organizing group activities, acting as a liaison to the community where you live, and providing feedback so that we can continue to improve the program. If you are interested in being an ambassador, please let me know.

Now, I have two favors to ask of you. In the next issue of DowFriends, you will find a lengthy survey. Please, please, PLEASE take the time to fill it out and return it to us. The results of this survey will help guide us in our future efforts to serve you. You will also find information and a registration form for our fall physical activity program “H2O Go”. Please complete and return the registration form to me, and commit to participating. Start or join a group of H2O Goers, and get together for fun and fitness! Physical activity is one of the most empowering things you can do for your health!

By the way, I know that some of you do not receive DowFriends newsletter in the mail. We’ve got you covered! You can go on the DowFriends website after June 30 and complete the survey. You can also register for H2O Go on the DowFriends website from August 27 to September 19, so…no excuses!

You will be hearing from me regularly through DowFriends and chapter newsletters. I hope to meet many of you throughout the coming year. Again, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or suggestions!

In Good Health,

Leslie