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The Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Foundation, Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Principal Financial Group Foundation Present Dan Buettner, “Blue Zones: Secrets of a Long Life” at North Iowa Community Auditorium on Thursday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. as a part of the 2009-2010 NIACC Leadership Series. Tickets are on sale now for $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

World renowned explorer and National Geographic writer, Dan Buettner, and his team of researchers have traveled across the globe to discover Blue Zones -- hotspots of human health and vitality.

Along the way he's met people teeming with vigor at age 100 and beyond. These healthiest, longest-lived people have shared their secrets with Dan and he’s passing on those secrets. Dan and his team of top demographers, scientists and physicians have studied the elders’ diet, lifestyle and culture to create a cross-cultural blueprint for living longer that they will share with you. “We know there’s a recipe for longevity and that 75 percent is related to lifestyle,” he says. “And we’re figuring it out.”

His presentation incorporates National Geographic images that will take audiences into the world’s four Blue Zones, tell stories and instruct how to get more life from your years and more years from your life. The presentation ends with a simple formula that shares how you could add up to eight good years to your life. Science shows that where we live--not education, marital status or wealth-- is the biggest, controllable factor that determines our happiness.  So where should we live? 

Working with Gallup, The World Values Survey and the World Data Base on Happiness, Dan and his team found the three pockets around the world where people report the highest level of well-being--or happiness.   Then, on assignment for National Geographic, he researched each of these hotspots and distilled down the common denominators in each place.  What can governments do to maximize the well-being of their citizens?   And more importantly, what can we do as individuals to stack the deck in our favor to maximize happiness? 

His presentation incorporates National Geographic photographs and short video clips. It transports audiences to places around the globe where people are living happy and meaningful lives. It offers universal strategies on how to best achieve that life balance we all seek.

For tickets to see Dan Buettner’s presentation of “Dan Buettner Blue Zones: Secrets of a Long Life,” call the NIACC Box Office at 1-888-466-4222 ext. 4188. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.niacc.edu.  Sponsors for the 2009-2010 Leadership Series include the Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Foundation, Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa and Principal Financial Group Foundation.

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