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Wednesday, April 25, is the 12th annual National Walk @ Lunch Day, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas employees in Hays have planned a special walking event to celebrate.

The purpose of National Walk @ Lunch Day is to encourage busy Kansans to take steps to becoming healthier by starting or continuing a regular walking program.

Walking is one of the simplest, safest and most effective forms of exercise. A regular walking routine – a 30-minute brisk walk most days of the week – can help control weight, reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and be a positive influence on heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

We are encouraging people in Hays to join our employees for a 30-minute walk during lunch Wednesday. We’ll meet at noon at the Hays Recreation Commission at 1105 Cantebury Dr. The first 100 people to join us will receive a free NW@LD T-shirt.

After brief opening comments from walk leader Karol Roadhouse, BCBSKS group consultant, those gathered will walk for 30 minutes on the grounds or in the facility.

The walk in Hays is just one of 11 that Blue Cross is hosting around the state; BCBSKS-led walks will be taking place in Dodge City, Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Independence, Lawrence, Manhattan, Pittsburg, Salina, Topeka and Wichita.

By DAWSON ROONEY
HHS Guidon

Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Band and Orchestra all received a one at state Large Group contest on Thursday, April 19.

Not only that, but all four music groups received that ranking from all three of the judges that critiqued the groups.

At Large Group, three judges each individually score the group they are listening to, and watching, perform. Then, once the scores are determined, the overall score is given to the group. To receive a one rating, a group must receive that ranking from at least two of the three judges.

Freshman Tom Drabkin performed at a large group contest for the first time this year and said the experience was enjoyable.

“Most contest performances are stressful and you never get to appreciate the music you are actually singing or playing,” Drabkin said. “During the Concert Choir’s last song I couldn’t stop smiling because I was truly enjoying the music.”

After the final song of Concert Choir’s set, Balleilakka, the choir received a standing ovation from an audience, a first for Instructor Johnny Matlock and all performing in the choir including senior Ryan Will.

“I thoroughly enjoyed performing with Concert Choir and Chamber Singers,” Will said. “It was very exciting to receive a standing ovation after the Concert Choir performance. A lot of work was put in from both groups to earn our ones at state. I am very honored to be a part of both groups.”

Seniors Blade Goering and Michael Hernandez have performed at Large Group contest for all four years and were very proud of the performances.

“We all did very well,” senior Michael Hernandez said. “I thought it was very cool that Concert Choir received a standing ovation which I have never seen before.”

Goering said that the band began practicing songs in January, and it was well worth the work.

“It was a long road leading up to the concert, but the payoff was worth it,” Goering said. “The seniors gave heartfelt speeches when we were doing our final rehearsal and playing in the gym didn’t hurt us nearly as bad as we thought it would. I’m very proud of what we accomplished as a group.”

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Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its monthly meeting from noon to 1 p.m. May 9 at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall), One Tiger Place.

Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m.

The program for the May meeting will be “Recruitment During Time of Low Unemployment” presented by Mike Henke, business trainer and consultant.

The program will be submitted for HRCI and SHRM continuing education credits.

This month’s meeting is free for guests. Guests can RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling 785-628-7320. WKHRMA members can RSVP at wkhrma.shrm.org. The deadline to RSVP is noon on May 4.

WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management. For more information on WKHRMA, visit wkhrma.shrm.org.

HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, is celebrating National Patient Experience Week April 23 – April 27. This annual event celebrates the everyday impact that healthcare staff have on the patient experience.

“Patient Experience Week provides a time for us to celebrate the accomplishments, reenergize efforts and honor the people who impact patient experience every day at HaysMed,” said Melanie Urban, Director of Quality.

Several activities are planned during the week including recognizing Associates who impact the patient experience, delivery of carnations to hospitalized patients, fresh baked cookies for the public and a special TGIF for Associates.

“By supporting Patient Experience Week, we are recognizing the hard work our Associates do,” Urban said. “It is also a great way to enhance patient and staff relations, increase hospital morale and improve communication.”

This is the third year HaysMed has participated in this national event.

By RUTH FIRESTONE
Hays Music Lover

If you haven’t already, mark your calendar for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Fort Hays State University’s Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center for the conclusion of the Hays Symphony Orchestra’s 2017-18 season.

The FHSU Singers, the FHSU Concert Choir and the Smoky Hill Chorale, plus soloists Ivalah Allen, soprano, and Gregory Gerbrandt, baritone, will join conductor Terry Crull and the orchestra in performing the thrilling “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff.

Dr. Ivalah Allen, associate professor of music and theatre at FHSU, is renowned throughout the country as an outstanding singer and educator in opera, recital, oratorio and musical comedy. Gregory Gerbrandt, a native of Colorado, has starred in opera all over the world, and is especially in demand for leading roles in contemporary opera.

The title of the scenic cantata “Carmina Burana” (“Songs of Beuern”) comes from the text of a manuscript found in the Bavarian monastery Benediktbeuern. The manuscript contained 24 very secular lyrics in Medieval Latin, Middle High German and even traces of Old French.
Orff, inspired by the illustration of Fortuna’s wheel on the manuscript’s cover, set the lyrics to music that mimics a circle beginning and ending with praise of Fortuna – the Roman goddess of fortune.

“Carmina Burana” is by far Orff’s best-known and most often performed work. Its musical simplicity compounded with its driving rhythms and compelling repetitions is characteristic of his unique style.

And the lyrics prove it is possible to get away with all sorts of bawdiness as long as you do it in Medieval Latin, Middle High German, Old French, or a mixture of all three.

The concert, with a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. by Dr. Crull, an associate professor of music and theatre at FHSU, is sponsored by a generous donation from Dr. Michael Meade. Refreshments for the post-concert reception are underwritten by the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.

As are all performances of the Hays Symphony Orchestra, the concert is free and open to the public. Tickets can also be picked up in advance at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau.