Burke expands "Reinventing Play" theme for 2010
If you've seen the new BCI Burke catalog or visited www.bciburke.com, you may have noticed an emphasis on our formula for the perfect playground:
TCO+S2+G+B2+IP= Perfect Playground!
Soon, you'll start noticing a series of advertisements in various park and playground trade publications, developing the parts of the formula individually. But here's the "big picture:"
TCO - Total Cost of Ownership. We don't think anybody in the industry can match BCI Burke when all the costs of a playground -- including maintenance and repairs -- are taken into account.
S2 - Support and Service. When a customer calls with a problem, our support expert is able to immediately access a mechanical drawing, identify any part that may need replacing, and immediately order a new part directly from the factory. And because we have representatives throughout the country, we can inspect a playground personally when necessary.
G - Green Initiative. Our commitment to sustainability has earned us the ISO 14001:2004 Certification. Our steel posts contain an average of 65% recycled material, and we get at least 12% of our electricity from renewable resources, such as wind and water.
B2 - Burke Built. Every element of a BCI Burke background reflects our commitment to quality, as well as to using American products and labor. Because our playgrounds meet the FTC's requirements for products "Made in the USA," they meet the preferences commonly seen in various agencies.
IP – Innovative Products. We're changing the industry with such innovations as our Intensity® fitness play complex, our Nucleus playground system, and our new "fusion" playgrounds that combine fitness and traditional components. Other expansions to our product line include ShadePlay Canopies and Burke Turf.
Obese children show major risk factors for heart disease
By Tim Ahern
Owner and CEO
 If anybody still had any doubt about the connection between childhood obesity and heart trouble, the study presented last summer at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Washington D.C. should settle matters.
Two findings jumped out with me about the study: (1) the strength of the link between obesity and heart disease, and (2) the early age at which the link begins to reveal itself. The obese children had C-reactive protein (CRP) levels that were 10 TIMES those of lean children. (CRP, which measures inflammation in the body, is widely regarded as a risk factor for heart disease.) In addition, the obese kids had significantly higher concentrations of fibrinogen, a sticky coagulant that can cause blood clots. Both of these were already present in seven-year-olds.
“Our findings suggest that we need more aggressive interventions for weight control in obese children," said Dr. Nelly Mauras, principal investigator and senior author of the study.
Just a few weeks after that study was announced, a new set of recommended community strategies for fighting obesity was released by the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, a unit of the Centers for Disease Control.
Noting that about one child in five in the United States is obese or overweight, the division recommended a number of strategies for promoting more physical activity in children.
Requiring physical education in schools. The American Heart Association and other organizations recommend that children get in at least 150 minutes of PE every week.
- Increasing the amount of physical activity in PE programs.
- Providing more opportunities for extracurricular physical activity.
- Providing more access to outdoor recreational opportunities.
While we at BCI Burke naturally tend to focus on the need for outdoor recreation -- especially playgrounds -- we take seriously our responsibility for doing all we can to address the problem through our playgrounds. I'm especially excited about the new "fusion" playgrounds made possible by our Nucleus playground system, which makes it possible to connect traditional components with our Intensity® fitness play complex.
But playgrounds are just part of the solution, and I hope we'll all renew our commitment to doing all we can to help our kids grow into healthy adults.
Rep Spotlight: Veteran representative Tommy Harper: Playgrounds are a developmental tool
 After nearly 25 years of creating playgrounds, BCI Burke representative Tommy Harper knows that more than ever, a playground is far more than just a place to play. It’s a place where children develop imagination and creativity, learn to interact with others, and cultivate developmental skills that will benefit them far into the future.
In short, it plays a critical role in the child's health and social development, says Harper, owner of T.F. Harper & Associates LP, which represents BCI Burke in West and South Texas.
“BCI Burke’s playgrounds aren’t just a way for kids to blow off steam at the end of the day,” Harper said. “They’re a developmental tool as well. Kids are out there socializing, using their imaginations, and developing motor skills. They aren’t just playing, but learning too.”
In addition to the learning aspect of the playground, Harper says that the most important aspect to him is that children are getting outside and developing their physical condition. “We are all aware or at least should be aware of the rising epidemic in childhood obesity. More and more children stay inside and play video games and we are in the business of getting them outside playing and moving."
“We’re really excited about the Nucleus line, and we’re seeing that excitement in our customers as well. With the Nucleus line, we’re working to develop the mind and most importantly, to develop children physically. It’s a great combination, and I think it’s one that is going to do nothing but benefit kids,” said Harper.
And as a longtime veteran of the playground industry and the 2009 recipient of the President’s Award from the Texas Recreation and Park Society, Tommy has a unique perspective on the good that comes from innovative play. More about T.F. Harper .
“I love seeing Burke’s playgrounds getting better and better each year, because I can see the advantage to rep firms, the benefit to the customer and most importantly the enjoyment that the end product brings to our children.” Service is a critical part of this business, and I truly believe that we serve each and every child that uses our playgrounds. The learning experiences and health benefits they gain will aid them in numerous ways, and I am grateful to be a part of that,” Harper said.
For more information about BCI Burke: www.bciburke.com
To win a free playground and other great prizes: www.playnucleus.com/contest
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