Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/84869
"IF YOU'RE NOT IN A GROUP NOW AND YOU JOIN A GROUP THIS YEAR, YOU CUT YOUR CHANCE OF DYING WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR IN HALF." Kevin O'Keefe prepared for his Mount Rainier Climb—and recruited other climbers—at the WAC. access to clean water because we climbed that mountain," he says. Clearly, the benefits of social connections can far outreach their immediate beneficiaries. In a culture that equates fame and wealth with happiness, it's these types of stories—the ones that connect people in different ways and deliver multiple measures of improved wellness—that help a larger segment of society realize social ties mean more than most of us ever grasped. Andrews says they not only provide us with a sense of belonging, out of which springs true health and happiness, but they also can actually save our lives. "SOME ARE CALLING LONELINESS AND ISOLATION THE NEW SMOKING. IT IS THAT BAD FOR YOU." in a group now and you join a group this year, you cut your chance of dying within the next year in half." "This is crucial," she says. "If you're not EXTENDING THE REACH Inspired by the bountiful benefits of social ties—and seeking ways to facilitate even more social connections between members and team members—WAC Wellness Manager Tamela Thomas instituted a Clubwide social connectivity initiative a year and a half ago. "Connections are powerful and they have powerful effects in our lives," says Tamela. "Human connections are what make the WAC a special place to begin with, different from any other club that you work out in. But we are all about continuous improvement, so we are looking for ways to further enhance connectivity within the Club." Toward that end, Marketing Manager Katherine Garsi has helped create additional opportunities for members to connect—online. "Members want different things at different times," she says. "Some will come for professional networking or athletics or connecting with other runners or triathletes. We're trying to create areas where they can develop those relationships a bit more." The WAC's LinkedIn page, for 30 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | OCTOBER 2012 instance, is all about professional networking, while the Club's Facebook page, soft launched in early August, is more about the social side of the WAC. "We're trying to re-create the WAC experience that you have in the building online," Katherine says. "Trying to mimic the conversations that people have in the elevator or when they get together to do an activity. We also want to show how involved we are with the community." According to Andrews, when people join a community they inherently live more fulfilling and healthier lives. "That's the heart of the matter," she says. Indeed, that's the heart of the WAC. Diane Mapes is a Seattle-based freelance writer.