Rancho Mesa News
Rancho Mesa’s 7th Inning Stretch Goes Virtual
Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s staff is accustomed to their twice daily “7th Inning Stretch,” a walk around the neighborhood designed to get people moving and away from their desks. It’s a time to take a break from busy schedules, talk to coworkers, build strong relationships and get outdoors.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s staff is accustomed to their twice daily “7th Inning Stretch,” a walk around the neighborhood designed to get people moving and away from their desks. It’s a time to take a break from busy schedules, talk to coworkers, build strong relationships and get outdoors.
Since Rancho Mesa’s staff members are now working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some have found a fun way to continue their daily “7th Inning Stretch” as a group, while still practicing social distancing.
Using video group chats on their smart phones, coworkers are able to take their “7th Inning Stretch” walks with their peers.
As they each walk around their respective neighborhoods, coworkers chat and exercise while keeping a little sense of normalcy in this unprecedented time.
If you are working remotely and miss the face-to-face contact you used to have with your coworkers, consider incorporating your own virtual “7th Inning Stretch” at your company.
Stay healthy and safe!
Rancho Mesa Walks for Charity
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
At the office we sit at the desk quite a bit. If you’re not careful the only time you are getting up throughout the day is at your break and lunch. So, about four years ago Rancho Mesa started a routine as part of their Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the 7th Inning Stretch, provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors. This year employees wanted to expand the benefits of the 7th Inning Stretch outside of the office.
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
WHAT IS THE 7TH INNING STRETCH?
At the office we sit at the desk quite a bit. If you’re not careful the only time you are getting up throughout the day is at your break and lunch. So, about four years ago Rancho Mesa started a routine as part of their Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the 7th Inning Stretch, provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors. Every day at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. a song will play throughout the Rancho Mesa office and when that song concludes, everyone that wants to participate will stand up from their desk, walk to the front door, and head out for some fresh air. Employees walk to the end of the street, turn around and walk back, totaling a distance of a little over a half of a mile. When returning to the office, employees grab a marble. At the end of each quarter they turn in all the marbles collected from each walk. Prizes are awarded based on the number of marbles each person has earned.
This not only gives staff the opportunity to get up and moving, but it gives them the chance to talk and get to know fellow employees. This has been the biggest success with the 7th Inning Stretch; the moral, the culture of our office that has increased as we get to know each other more each day.
HOW IT STARTED
Former employee Dede Pyle proposed the 7th Inning Stretch to Rancho Mesa in November 2014, as a means to stay healthy and focused during the agency’s 01/01 crunch, which is the busiest time of year in the insurance industry. The goal was to raise the energy level in a healthy, non-stressful way, have quality time away from the workstation and create camaraderie within the agency. In addition to the twice daily walks, Rancho Mesa provides healthy snacks on Tuesday, also known as Healthy Snack Tuesday which is an alternative to the vending machine snacks.
“RMI’s 7th Inning Stretch success could not have occurred without the tremendous support of Dave Garcia and the staff. Can you name another company who rewards their employees for time away from their desks?" said Dede Pyle.
WHAT’S NEW IN 2019?
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc. believes it is extremely important to support efforts within the community. Rancho Mesa currently works with over 40 local non-profits and has donated over $1 million in the last 20 years. This year employees wanted to expand the benefits of the 7th Inning Stretch outside of the office. Now employees walk for a local non-profit in lieu of individual gifts. From the 40+ non-profits that Rancho Mesa supports, employees will pick one per quarter to walk for. At the end of the quarter and once the walk goal has been met, Rancho Mesa will donate $1,000 on behalf of their employees, to the non-profit chosen for the quarter.
Employees of Rancho Mesa say, “TOGETHER WE WALK – TOGETHER WE GIVE!”
Rancho Mesa Promotes Healthy Living with Healthy Snack Tuesday
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Every Tuesday following the morning 7th Inning Stretch walk, the Rancho Mesa team gathers in the lunch room for a quick health snack.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Every Tuesday following the morning 7th Inning Stretch walk, the Rancho Mesa team gathers in the lunch room for a quick health snack.
Fruits, vegetables, granola bars, trail mix, eggs, olives, hummus and other healthy snacks are skillfully displayed for employees and visitors to enjoy as an alternative to the vending machine options. The tradition is known as Healthy Snack Tuesday.
“We all look forward to Health Snack Tuesday,” said Lori Stone, Accounting Manager and Office Administrator for Rancho Mesa Insurance. “It’s a great way to encourage employees to be healthy.”
Healthy Snack Tuesday began in 2014 as an employee suggestion and was implemented in conjunction with the 7th Inning Stretch walking routine.
7th Inning Stretch Recognized by Community Member
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services recently received a lovely card from a local Santee bus driver named Patti (bus #125). She wanted to acknowledge Rancho Mesa's commitment to health and wellness through its 7th Inning Stretch daily walks.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services recently received a lovely card from a local Santee bus driver named Patti (bus #125). She wanted to acknowledge Rancho Mesa's commitment to health and wellness through its 7th Inning Stretch daily walks.
"Just a quick thank you. I've seen a group walking each day. It has be noticed and appreciated. Thank you for being such good examples for the children and adults in the community. Patti Bus 125"
Thank you, Patti. We're honored to be an example for our community.
Excerpt from "Rancho Mesa Encourages Employees to Stay Healthy with the "7th Inning Stretch":
"Twice a day, music fills the air of Rancho Mesa's office. The hum of keyboards, the clicking of calculators and the various phone conversations come to a halt. A song signals that it's time to take to the sidewalks of Santee, CA, a song in which is alternated from each of the staff's personal playlist.This ritual is part of Rancho Mesa's Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the "7th Inning Stretch," provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors."
Rancho Mesa Encourages Employees to Stay Healthy with the "7th Inning Stretch"
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Twice a day, music fills the air of Rancho Mesa's office and the hum of keyboards come to a halt. The music signals the staff that it's time to take to the sidewalks of Santee, CA. This ritual is part of Rancho Mesa's Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the "Seventh Inning Stretch," provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors.
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Twice a day, music fills the air of Rancho Mesa's office. The hum of keyboards, the clicking of calculators and the various phone conversations come to a halt. A song signals that it's time to take to the sidewalks of Santee, CA, a song in which is alternated from each of the staff's personal playlist.
This ritual is part of Rancho Mesa's Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the "7th Inning Stretch," provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors.
“RMI’s 7th Inning Stretch success could not have occurred without the tremendous support of Dave Garcia and the staff. Can you name another company who rewards their employees for time away from their desks?" said Dede Pyle.
The rules are simple. When someone participates on the walk, they get a blue pebble. If they walk five times (or more) during the week, they get a red pebble. If they walk to lunch or go to the gym during lunch, they get another red pebble. At the end of each quarter, prizes are awarded based on the number of pebbles each person has earned.
The staff's progress is measured on a map of the United States. Each quarter, the pebbles are tallied and the distance walked is calculated and recorded on the map. The goal is to walk from San Diego to New York City.
Dede Pyle proposed the 7th Inning Stretch to Rancho Mesa in November 2014, as a means to stay healthy and focused during the agency’s 01/01 crunch, which is the busiest time of year in the insurance industry. The goal was to raise the energy level in a healthy, non-stressful way, have quality time away from the workstation and create camaraderie within the agency. In addition to the twice daily walks, Rancho Mesa provides healthy snacks on Tuesday, also known as “Healthy Snack Tuesday” which is an alternative to the vending machine snacks.
Updated 01/11/2018.