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Intraductian Good evening, Council President Rouse and Councilmembers, City Clerk Voorde, Department Heads and staff, residents and supporters of the City of South Bend. Welcome to the ~_ €~ i~ lid ~~# = ~ ~~- - ~~ ~ ~ ;~+~ .~ Studebaker National Museum, Isn't it great! This is a wonderful new facility which has special meaning for us. More on that in a little while, but first I want to address a weighty matter that has been under public scrutiny since my last State of the City Address _ my weight. You will recall that last year I vowed to lose twenty pounds by this year's address. Saturday morning I tipped the scales at 2~0 pounds. I made it! Many thanks to those who have encouraged and supported me in this effort. To all those who chided me about eating a cookie or donut, or who were watching as I decided how much to put on my plate at a pot luck dinner, or who ran me ragged on the racquetball court, thank you. I wouldn't have made it without you. It really helps to have people pulling far you. Not to make too much of this, but there are some things I learned, ar had reinforced, through my weight loss effort. In no particular order, here are some of my observations. It's good to have a goal; even better if it's measurable and public so that you can be held accountable. You don't have to eat everything on your plate (please forgive me, Mom, and Members of the Clean Plate Club everywhere). Sometimes there are setbacks, but you can overcome them, especially if you have encouragement and support and partners in the effort. Bigger isn't always better. There are a lot of approaches to the same end, but you have to be in it for the long haul. Being fit is a life-long effort that may require changing your lifestyle. There are many benefits. Two years ago, I weighed over 280 pounds. I was in danger ofbecoming the William Howard Taft of South Bend Mayors. Today, having shed over forty pounds, I have much more energy, feel better -- and have improved my racquetball game. I remind myself that I was carrying the equivalent of a bag of water softener salt around with me all day, every day! During the year at least 27 people told me that they were gaining the weight that I was losing (I don't think that is what Antoine Lavoisier had in mind when he formulated the Law of A-13