Looking for ways to celebrate National Rural Health Day this year? Here’s a brief glimpse at what some other folks are planning and a few additional ideas we came up with ourselves. There’s so many good ideas, in fact, that we plan to host various National Rural Health Day events the entire week (November 11-17)!
Have a celebration idea or two you’d like to share? Visit our Contact Us page and we’ll add them to the list!!
General Ideas:
- Answer your phone on November 15, 2012 by saying “Hello … Happy National Rural Health Day”
- Visit one of those morning news shows and hold up a sign that says “Happy National Rural Health Day!”
- Wear a National Rural Health Day T-shirt to school or work
- Plan a group run or some other kind of fitness activity
- Do something “healthy” that day – eat more vegetables, bike instead of drive to work, get your blood pressure or cholesterol checked, etc.
- Write a letter to the editor or contact a local legislator to stress the importance of addressing the health needs of rural communities
- Thank a rural health provider for all they do!
State Offices of Rural Health and Partners:
- Obtain gubernatorial/legislative proclamation recognizing National Rural Health Day
- Present rural health awards/honor rural (or community) heroes
- Host conference “Celebrating the Power of Rural” on National Rural Health Day
- Present a series of themed lectures/presentations by state rural health leaders or advocates via Webinar on National Rural Health Day
- Produce rural health-related videos, fact sheets and other educational materials
- Visit community/state leaders to educate them on rural health issues and tout the work of State Offices of Rural Health and others in addressing those needs
- Contact local/state media; arrange National Rural Health Day interviews
- Link to National Rural Health Day website from your website
- In 2011 and again in 2012, our friends at the North Dakota Center for Rural Health (in conjunction with the North Dakota Rural Health Association) held a National Rural Health Day Photo Contest. 2012 contest rules and 2011 contest photos are available on the Center for Rural Health’s website.
- Also in 2011, Keith Clark (Nevada Office of Rural Health) photographed and produced a video touting the work being done by Nevada’s rural hospitals to benefit the state’s 350,000 rural citizens.
- Here’s some of the celebration ideas shared during the National Rural Health Day “game” at the NOSORH Annual Meeting in Madison, Wisconsin!
Schools:
- Plan a field trip to a local hospital or rural health provider
- Invite rural health providers to speak in the classroom
- Host and/or encourage students to participate in a rural health-related community service project (plan a health information fair, helping paint a rural health clinic, etc.)
- Have rural-themed poster essay contests
- Host a National Rural Health Day “Fun Day” to promote health and wellness – kids participate in fun physical activities, sample healthy foods and receive health information
- Host “Health Careers Day” in career development centers/guidance offices
- Teach special rural-themed courses on National Rural Health Day (rural history, rural economics, etc.)
Hospitals/Rural Health Providers:
- Plan/host a community health fair
- Give tours of your facilities
- Share your story – speak at a local school or community event
- Display National Rural Health Day banners/posters
- Have a “staff appreciation” luncheon
- Link to National Rural Health Day website from your website
