She told hooping.org, "I am so happy that the World Hoop Day project is picking up steam around the world! We have ambassadors in every country now in Europe, North America and Australia. We have given hoops away in Asia, Central and South America, The Pacific Islands and Africa. I hope everybody everywhere gets involved and participates!"

I asked her, so how did WHD come about anyway? Annie explained, "WHD came about when I was kicking back with the Stefan and Brent and Wheylan and Malcolm from Groove Hoops. One night in 2005 I thought, we need to have action figures, a cartoon movie and yeah - A Public Holiday! I thought if we could all hoop for peace, the world would be a better place, and the hooping for peace idea evolved into giving hoops away to kids to promote healthy, active lifestyles. Did you know 2 out of 3 Americans are overweight? Globally, where the poorest of families live, there is hunger as well as obesity. Hooping can replace a gym, take up very limited space and will keep a body moving, which will lead to the kind of active healthy lifestyle that humans need to survive and thrive."

I wondered aloud how the promotion of World Hoop Day has unfolded for her. She said, "I traveled around Europe in the Summer of 2005 from Russia to Poland, Austria to Germany, France to the Netherlands, Denmark through Ireland and N. Ireland. Stefan started taking hoops with him on his travels and giving them to locals in Costa Rica. As I put the word out, we found out others were doing the same thing bringing hoops to Haiti and Sri Lanka. I knew that I had the right idea."

The World Hoop Day core team right now includes Annie and Stefan, as well as Julah in North Carolina, Anna in New York - who is relocating back to London, Moebius in Madison, as well as Christabel in San Francisco. Stefan and Annie have really been keeping themselves busy though. Stefan not only has gotten the WHD website going, he's been handling WHD sponsorship acquisitions. Meanwhile, Over 200 hoopers have already joined the World Hoop Day Tribe and Annie has not only been promoting the big day, she's personally contacted every single one of them.

So what will people actually be doing for World Hoop Day? Annie explains, "On World Hoop Day, in every city, people will gather in their local parks and beaches or Children's museum lawns to have a grand event. In New York City we are planning a launch that includes a band, DJs, a hoop-a-thon, free hooping lessons, and even give aways. Also, if someone buys a custom made hoop at the event, they will sponsor one child in another country to have a hoop of their own delivered to them. In New York we'll have lovely games, performances and other whimsical surprises, but every city is different and organizers everywhere are coming up with all sorts of ideas. The basic idea of World Hoop Day is that everyone will hoop at 7am and 7pm on 7/7/07 and every city in the world will have a uniform hoop moment."

I asked her about other cities and she told me there are several groups forming to do really great events in Washington DC, San France, North Carolina, New York City, Finland, London, Chicago, Paris, Sydney, Madison and more. These are the groups that have already started to organize and promote and have mini-events to get ready that I can remember off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others as well."

I'd heard about an interview Annie did in Vienna, Austria, that had resulted in a whole hoop movement there so I asked her about it. She told me, "Well, when World Hoop Day started, it was a vision for peace. I was interviewed by an MTV style show in Vienna about it in 2005. And yes, now, there are thousands of hoopers and fire spinners and kids talking about it. Some think they can just go and hoop on that day and I say fantastic. Others are more committed to giving back to the community and the world. That is the message I would like to teach."

So what can people do to help promote World Hoop Day? Annie tells me, "Tell everyone! There will be posters to print out from the website where you can add location details and info to call your local WHD ambassador. Also, become a coordinator or volunteer for your local event. At the simplest level, all you have to do is pick up a hoop and hoola. At the most intense level, travel around the world with hoops and give them away! Raise money, collect sponsorships and ask for grants to support the cause. Teach lessons, smile, laugh and laugh some more!"

If you want one of the super hot World Hoop Day stickers, just send a self-addressed stamped envelope to WHD Stickers, 1823 Astoria Blvd, Astoria, NY, 11102. Annie adds, "The more stamps you put on your return envelope the more I can send too."

So what is Annie's hope for WHD and the impact it will make on the world? This woman of vision tells me, "My hope is that by 2012 the whole world will be hooping on December 12, 2012. I hope that children will be smiling and laughing and have the time to play. I hope that the world will be a healthier thinner place. I hope that the world will be peaceful. I hope that whoever can make it to Chichen Itza on Dec 20, 2012 will be able to come and witness the most spectacular event to date. The last day of the Mayan Calendar will be the time the earth is in the equator of the universe and World Hoop Day Hoopers will be there with their circles to complete the journey. Mark Your Calendars!"