Members of the area’s Take Off Pounds Sensibly support group, also known as TOPS, held their yearly installation meeting to present the new leader, secretary, and treasurer for the 2022-2023 group year.

TOPS was first established over 70 years ago as an international group, and was started in Oakdale around 50 years ago.

Outgoing leader Carol Earle handed over the gavel to new leader Della Bishop on Monday, Aug. 1, alongside the new secretary Barbara Willis, and treasurer Shirley Wincentsen. For Wincentsen, it is another term; she has been the treasurer since the club first began in Oakdale 50 years ago.

Every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., the club meets at the Community United Methodist Church of Oakdale at 1480 Poplar.

The meetings begin by doing a weigh in to track your goals and if you gained weight you have to put a quarter in the jar but if you lose weight you get to put a quarter in the bag. Quarters are slowly taken out of the bag and if yours is the last one in it, you win a prize.

“Our program goals are to encourage people to live a better life in a healthy way,” Bishop explained.

Once your goal weight is reached, you become a member of KOPS which stands for Keep Off Pounds Sensibly; the TOPS and KOPS meet together in the local group sessions.

Each member of the group wears a vest filled with badges and pins from accomplishments made throughout their time in the weight loss support group.

The group is open for any new members that are interested.

If there are any questions or interests in joining the group, call the group’s advocate, Chuck Barber, at 650-279-5310 for TOPS CA group 1034.