State Employees Health And Recreation Committee

The State Employee Health and Recreation Committee (SEHARC) was started in the early 1970s to provide and promote healthy activities (athletic, non-sports activities, health awareness and discounts) and friendly competition for State of Iowa employees. SEHARC is not affiliated with any state agency nor is it supported financially by any money from state government. It is independent, it is volunteer, and it is non-profit. All committee members are volunteers who meet once a month to plan activities and benefits for state employees. These volunteers work in smaller groups, on their own time, to organize activities. Committee members come from various agencies. SEHARC has a system of "liaisons', one in each department or agency that can distribute information in the form of coupons or flyers. SEHARC is unique in that it is the only non-state agency that is allowed to use the local mail system, employee bulletin boards, and we are on the global e-mail address list under IA SEHARC. Most activities are self supporting. SEHARC makes some money from most sports activities, but most of the money goes to pay for use of facilities. Some activities are underwritten by SEHARC to encourage non-athletes to participate in non-athletic activities. We have a checking account and savings account at the Capitol View Credit Union. Often at our meetings we have representatives from the private sector who wish to offer discounts to state employees. Generally we endorse only those discounts that have something to do with health, recreation, well being or physical activity. SEHARC does not endorse products or services. For example, if Jenny Craig wanted to approach us and compete with Weight Watchers at Work Program, we would welcome that. SEHARC members, since they are state employees first, consider themselves subject to the Gift Law and follow all the rules of conduct and ethics in their SEHARC volunteer work. Once each year SEHARC tries to schedule a time with the Governor to brief him on our activities and cultivate his support. The Governor encourages department heads to permit employees, liaisons and committee members to participate in SEHARC activities and to permit the availability of distribution systems and bulletin boards. There are no formal or written agreements. SEHARC is not in the Code of Iowa or in the Administrative Rules. Although SEHARC does not answer to the Governors Office, they realize that things are easier if they have his support. Surely the Governor in turn realizes the benefits of happy, healthy employee and that SEHARC is a bargain for state government. If any of you would like to attend a SEHARC committee meeting to see what actually goes on, you are invited to join us. Generally it is on the second Thursday of each month at 11:00 a.m. Some of the activities SEHARC sponsors, promotes or participates in: * Adventureland discounts * The Book Fair * Blood Drive * Bowling Tournament * Carmike Cinemas Discount Tickets * Civic Center discounts * Des Moines Buccaneers * Des Moines Playhouse discounts * Employee Health & Fitness Day Events * Flu Shots Clinic * Golf Tournament * Health Club discounts * Health & Wellness fair * Iowa Cubs Night * Iowa Energy * I-Walk * ISU and U of I Athletic Discount Tickets * Lighten Up Iowa * Lost Island Water Park * Mall of America Bus Trip * Softball * The Tunnel Bulletin Board (Lucas Building) * Volleyball * Wellness Committee * Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun To contact individuals who oversee these activities, see our Activities Contact List. To contact the committee , click here.