NEHA's 2005 Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition: advancing the environmental health profession.

Last June, terrorism response coordinators, environmental health specialists, and epidemiologists alike converged on the city of Providence, Rhode Island. What did they all have in common? They were looking for the latest environmental health information and technology. They were seeking an opportunity to network with hundreds of environmental and public health professionals. And, as frequent attendees of NEHA's annual educational conferences, they didn't want to miss out on what is found, year after year, at our conferences--a trove of invaluable knowledge, opportunities, and people.

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This year, NEHA's 69th Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition was held June 26-29, 2005, in Providence and hosted over 1,400 attendees, including some from Canada, England, Iceland, Israel, and Jamaica. Attendees had 189 educational sessions to choose from, on topics ranging from terrorism and all-hazards preparedness to onsite wastewater to food safety and protection. They could also choose from 10 preconference workshops, hear from a preeminent expert on homeland security, and attend an impressive poster session and numerous networking and social events.

For many of our attendees, highlights of their conference experience included meeting new colleagues, seeing old friends, sharing research with professionals from around the world, gathering new ideas, and receiving cutting-edge education. Robert Vincent of the Florida Department of Health describes the experience in these terms: "Expect to bring back months' worth of information, names of new contacts, and experts--all of this after the opportunity to hear from and speak with expert practitioners in many environmental health fields."

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Opening Ceremony and Featured and Keynote Addresses

At the opening ceremony, President James Balsamo welcomed everyone to the conference, recognizing NEHA's international guests, new NEHA members, first-time AEC attendees, and the AEC's generous sponsors. President-Elect Ron Grimes offered the invocation.

Elizabeth Cotsworth--Featured Speaker

Many environmental health professionals face challenging indoor-air quality issues every day--from radon reduction to child asthma to mold remediation. Elizabeth Cotsworth, NEHA's featured AEC speaker and director of U.S. EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, addressed these concerns and presented an overview of the U.S. EPA's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program.

Cotsworth currently directs national efforts to protect the public and the environment from harmful and avoidable exposure to radiation. She was previously the U.S. EPA director of the Office of Solid Waste.

Cotsworth began by recognizing U.S. EPA's longstanding relationship with NEHA and the many environmental health professionals and NEHA members who are committed to a wide variety of indoor air issues such as asthma reduction, healthy schools, and radon reduction.

"Healthy indoor air is an important environmental and public health issue," she said. "Indoor pollutant contaminant levels can often be two to five times higher than those found in ambient air; in some cases they are a hundred--even a thousand--times higher." Furthermore, she noted, "people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, so indoor air pollution is a serious issue, and in some cases can certainly pose a greater health threat than even ambient, outdoor pollution."

U.S. EPA's IAQ Program works to reduce the public health risk associated with indoor air pollutants such as radon, second-hand smoke, mold, pet dander, pesticides, particulates, volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide. A critical part of the mission is radon reduction and mitigation. According to Cotsworth, the risks associated with radon are high, and "well over 20,000 people die each year in the U.S. from radon exposure." This estimate is higher than U.S. EPA previously thought; she added that "nonsmokers are at four times our previous estimate of the risk."

The risks are high, but the solution to reducing the risk from radon is "known, simple, and inexpensive." The challenge, however, is to motivate government at all levels, as well as the private sector, to take action to reduce exposure. According to Cotsworth, U.S. EPA, NEHA and its members, and others have accepted this challenge. In the last 20 years, for example, millions of homes have been tested, and approximately 1.3 million new homes have been built with radon-reducing features, saving about 525 lives from lung cancer every single year.

"But we simply have to do more, given the tremendous risks that we know are associated with radon exposure," Cotsworth said. As a response to the risks, she unveiled U.S. EPA's first major initiatives on radon since they started its program over 15 years ago. These initiatives, known as U.S. EPA's "radon reinvigoration strategy," outline plans to increase action at the local, state, and national levels. The strategy has four policy anchors:

1. A national partnership agenda will involve building new partnerships in the environmental, public health, housing, and private sectors to expand radon testing and mitigation. "EPA wants to increase its leadership role in communication to underscore the pressing need for action among the public," stressed Cotsworth.

2. A state partnership agenda will involve providing tools and resources needed to expand the number of states and localities with active and comprehensive radon programs. Cotsworth added: "EPA believes that a key to the success is the quality, the robustness, and the extent of state radon programs."

3. A market-driven agenda will involve working with homebuilders, real estate professionals, and the millions of Americans each year buying homes to press for greater attention and action on radon reduction.

4. A science and technology agenda will involve encouraging innovative technologies to drive more accurate and less expensive radon testing and mitigation approaches.

Cotsworth acknowledged that U.S. EPA has an aggressive goal for reducing radon exposure. "It nearly triples the current number of homes with active mitigation and doubles the annual number of new homes that EPA wants to see built with radon-resistant construction," she said. Not only is this goal ambitious, she added, it is also impossible to do alone: "EPA needs help from partners like NEHA and the collective energy, creativity, and wisdom of everyone in the environmental and public health community ... to prevent 1,250 future lung cancer deaths annually by 2012 with testing and mitigation in existing homes and with the construction of radon-resistant new homes."

U.S. EPA's IAQ Program has already made progress and has many activities in place to accomplish these goals. Readers will find more information at www.epa.gov/radon on the agency's accomplishments and its strategies for reinvigorating national attention to and action on radon.

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Another indoor air issue that is far newer but is experiencing growth with U.S. EPA and other organizations is the green building movement. "EPA is a key player in the rapidly growing green building movement and is soon going to be publishing guidance on best practices for indoor air quality," stated Cotsworth. "Guidance is intended to ... improve practices for moisture, pollution, and temperature control in both commercial and institutional buildings, both existing and new." U.S. EPA's IAQ Program is also examining protocols for testing, evaluating, and certifying indoor air quality products and is working with the Energy Star Program to promote increased integration of energy efficiency and indoor air quality management in homes.

What about indoor-air quality in schools? Cotsworth noted that busy school administrators often overlook this area--but that they shouldn't. "Good IAQ contributes not only to the health of students and staff, but also to a favorable learning environment," she pointed out. By contrast, poor IAQ can lead to a number of health problems such as asthma; headaches; eye, ear, and nose irritation; and fatigue. According to CDC, asthma is the leading cause of absenteeism from school; nearly 14 million school days are missed each year because of asthma. And, in Cotsworth's mind, the most compelling statistic comes from U.S. Department of Education research, which has revealed that students who attend schools with poor environmental conditions score about 11 percent lower on standardized tests than students who attend schools with good environmental conditions.

To assist schools in managing their indoor environmental problems, U.S. EPA sponsors the Tools for Schools Program. According to Cotsworth, this program is "designed not only to solve IAQ problems, but also to prevent IAQ problems from occurring by promoting voluntary adoption of effective IAQ management practices." Through NEHA's involvement with Tools for Schools, U.S. EPA now has a key group of national experts that serve on a voluntary basis as advisors and resources for school districts.

In addition to working on the reduction of indoor air pollutants in homes and schools, U.S. EPA also focuses its knowledge and expertise on homeland security. Since September 11, said Cotsworth, the agency has been working on built-environment issues such as IAQ impacts to people from the World Trade Center, lessons on decontamination from anthrax and ricin, and the public health risks from possible terrorism events.

Finally, Cotsworth explained that U.S. EPA is engaged in the following activities to meet homeland security challenges:

* working to transfer knowledge to first responders on prevention, response, and recovery from a potential terrorist attack;

* providing guidance for owners and operators for protection from a potential attack;

* creating a manual on radiological, chemical, and biological indoor attacks;

* forming a national homeland security center to manage the indoor environment;

* working to increase the speed and efficiency of building technology;

* forming the Radiological Emergency Response Team under the national contingency plan to decontaminate the urban environment, if needed; and

* re-examining existing decontamination techniques and response.

Asa Hutchinson--Keynote Speaker

Asa Hutchinson, former undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and NEHA's keynote speaker, came to the podium with a message that many environmental health professionals wanted to hear: The environmental health profession has an important role to play in the response to terrorism.

As undersecretary, Mr. Hutchinson coordinated the nation's border and transportation security efforts and managed more than 110,000 employees. In addition, he oversaw four independent law enforcement and security agencies with the responsibility of preventing terrorists or terrorist materials from getting into the U.S.

Hutchinson first gained law enforcement experience when he became the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas in 1982; at the time, he was the youngest U.S. attorney in the nation. He practiced law in Arkansas for 21 years before his election to Congress in 1996. After serving as director of the Drug Enforcement Agency from 2001 to 2003 and then as DHS undersecretary from 2003 to 2005, Hutchinson has returned home to Arkansas to run for governor.

Thinking back over the last two and a half years of building DHS. Hutchinson stated that there have been many occasions when environmental health professionals should have been at the table. He recalled his participation in the department's TOPOFF 2 exercise in Seattle, which involved a dirty bomb. During the exercise, discussions ensued over plume monitoring and whether the group should provide shelter in place or evacuate--all discussions, Hutchinson said ardently, that environmental health professionals should be involved in because of their expertise.

Hutchinson recalled another homeland security event: In December 2003, the department obtained intelligence that flights from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris and Heathrow Airport in London were being targeted by terrorists. The department had to put protective measures in place and thus made the decision to cancel these flights. Because DHS didn't know whether a chemical or biological agent would be used, they debated over how best to respond to protect the passengers. Again, Hutchinson stressed, the environmental health profession should participate in decisions of this type.

To further emphasize his point, Hutchinson discussed the challenges that the department faces on homeland security and global terrorism, and ideas on how the environmental health profession can play a greater role in response planning.

First, Hutchinson remarked on homeland security challenges: "The Department of Homeland Security remains under extraordinary scrutiny because of the purpose of its mission, the investment of tax payers' dollars, and the daily interaction with vast numbers of our population--whether you're talking about ... border crossings ..., the hundreds of millions of airline passengers who fly each year, or the cargo shipments that come into the U.S.... It has been a challenge to [bring together] 180,000 employees and 22 different agencies to constitute the largest government reorganization in 50 years."

To illustrate the challenges that the department will continue to face in the coming years, Hutchinson recalled an event that took place last August when DHS received intelligence of Al Qaeda-operative plans to destroy certain buildings in the financial sector of New York City, south New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The intelligence was pre-9/11, but, said Hutchinson, "if you looked at how Al Qaeda has conducted itself in the past and know that there were eight years between the first WTC attack and the second WTC attack, [you would know that] they've always demonstrated a great deal of patience and determination ... to carry out their operations."

With the intelligence in hand, Hutchinson, along with national leaders including Condoleezza Rice and Robert Mueller, were in the White House's Situation Room facing a number of questions: "How old is the intelligence? Should we raise the threat level? If we tell the employers, do we tell the employees? (Don't they have a right to know what they may face when they go to work the next day?) Do we tell the public? What security measures are necessary? Do we consider the impact on the financial markets that open on Monday?"

They decided to raise the threat level and to release more information than ever before to the public and to the private sector. The next day, security was in place, employees went to work, the stock market opened and was steady by the end of the day; seven months later, terrorists responsible for the pre-operations were arrested.

In that instance, Hutchinson said, and in every instance, "the response of Americans to the challenges and hardships of terrorism reminds me of the attitudes of those Londoners during World War II." Hutchinson explained: "Londoners were bombed for 57 consecutive days, sleeping in warehouses and subway stations, and each morning after being in a bomb shelter at night they would wake up, they would dust themselves off, and they would they go to their places of employment and write with chalk on their boarded-up shop windows, 'Business as usual, we're open.'" That, according to Hutchinson, has been America's response.

Hutchinson then presented another challenge that confronts DHS: "What if the chemical sector was targeted instead of the financial sector?"

"First," he said, "Al Qaeda has not changed its intent. Their capabilities have been diminished, but their focus has been undeterred." He pointed out that Porter Goss, current director of the CIA, in testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has said, "It may be only a matter of time before Al Qaeda or other groups use chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons."

Hutchinson continued: "Second, let's not forget the historic focus of Al Qaeda: They continue to focus on synchronized attacks on symbolic targets. Chemical plants represent the most attractive targets; historically, [they have had] minimal security, and the visual impact [would be] incredible."

As DHS deals with these challenges, key questions, urged Hutchinson, need to be asked of the environmental health profession: "What is the assessment of the major facilities in terms of toxic waste management? What are the evacuation requirements? Should the public evacuate or should they shelter in place?"

Furthermore, Hutchinson recommended, the environmental health profession should stand next to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in communicating to the public because "the public will not have confidence in the secretary of state, but in doctors, health providers, and environmental health professionals--the experts." The environmental health profession has an important role on the team of responders in communicating with and educating the public.

How is the government addressing these challenges? The following strategies are in place and being carried out by DHS:

* Disrupt and destruct Al Qaeda leadership. According to Hutchinson, "two-thirds ... have been apprehended or put out of business, and intelligence is key to identifying cells in the U.S."

* Deny sponsorship, sanctuary, and support to terrorist organizations. The department has improved its information-based detection capabilities by using biometrics to prevent over 1,000 criminal offenders from entering the U.S. They have provided the same kind of information-based technology for cargo ships entering the United States and have moved their border inspection capabilities to radio-frequency technology.

* Partner with the private sector.

* Defend the United States and prepare for another terrorist attack.

Hutchinson went back to the primary point of his presentation: "The environmental health profession must be engaged in [preparation for another attack] and raise its voice in the Administration and Congress. The message should be to recognize the critical role of the environmental health profession in planning and consequence management." He encouraged attendees to obtain grant funding through state and local homeland security grants, and to encourage the improvement of technological detection of biological and radiological threats and the development of better early-warning systems.

Hutchinson concluded by asking rhetorically, "What has America become?" He added: "Whenever you look at the emphasis upon security and information-based systems--what do these do to privacy and civil liberties in our nation? And are we changing the essential character of our nation [by being] involved in worrisome aspects of security?"

Henry Van Dyke, professor at the turn of last century, gave a series of lectures in Europe explaining the spirit of America, and what Hutchinson thinks Americans are about today: "Americans are people of idealists set about to accomplish a great, practical task," Van Dyke wrote.

"We can apply this to our post-9/11 environment," Hutchinson reflected, "because we have not lost our idealism, love of freedom, civil liberty, and commerce--but we do have a very practical task. As the president told Attorney General John Ashcroft at the time, 'Do not let this happen to America again.'"

Association Business

At the AEC & Exhibition, important business meetings of all kind take place. Two of the most important are the business meetings of the NEHA Board of Directors and its Council of Delegates. Just as important is the General Assembly, which gives members an opportunity to provide suggestions and ask questions of the board of directors, as well as to hear firsthand what is occurring within the association. The summary below presents the highlights from each of these meetings.

Board of Directors Meeting

* This was the final board meeting for three directors (Past President Douglas Ebelherr and Regional Vice Presidents [RVPs] Bruce Chelikowsky and Richard Gabriel), who rotated off the board. Each was thanked for his years of service.

* A special presentation to the NEHA board was made by Kevan Lawlor and Dr. Mary Jand England, respectively the president and CEO of NSF and the NSF board director. The presentation, along with the discussion that followed, served to enhance the relationship between two institutional friends.

* The executive director announced that a contract had been signed with EHT for the purpose of updating NEHA's two major credentials--the R.E.H.S./R.S. and the C.F.S.P. credentials.

* The executive director and the board also reviewed the progress that the office was making in upgrading its computer software and hardware.

* Authorization was given to the executive director to proceed with a request for proposals (RFP) soliciting a new auditor for NEHA.

* The board adopted a policy paper that outlined how NEHA intended to pursue its international interests.

* Conceptual approval was given by the board for a new dues structure for sustaining members. The new system would give sustaining members the opportunity to more substantially express their support for the cause and mission of NEHA. The concept will be worked into a final proposal, which will be reviewed and voted upon at an upcoming board meeting.

* The board and President Elect Ron Grimes determined the best way to proceed with a new membership campaign to reward NEHA members who recruit new members with special ambassador pins.

* A special fund designed to financially aid students and NEHA members who wish to attend the AEC but who are without the financial means to do so was approved. This special program will honor NEHA Past President Vern Reierson, whose family's contribution will make this fund possible.

* Very specific credentialing-policy manuals designed for both interested candidates and NEHA were presented for approval. The board determined that final approval of these informational and policy documents was to be accomplished by mid-summer.

* Extensive discussion took place at the board's meeting on the subject of qualification requirements for the C.F.S.P. credential and the relationship between the C.F.S.P. and R.E.H.S./R.S. credentials. The board moved into consideration of adopting a college degree requirement for the C.F.S.P. A final decision on this policy will be made at an upcoming board meeting.

* A special resolution of appreciation was passed to thank NEHA's outgoing president, James Balsamo.

* A policy position that expresses association support for environmental health academic degree programs was adopted and forwarded to the Council of Delegates for consideration and action.

* The board deferred action on appointing an RVP for NEHA Region 1.

* A strategy paper regarding NEHA's relationship with other, sometimes competing, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) was considered and adopted.

* Changes in NEHA's bylaws having to do with the provision of floor nominations for office were reviewed, but no action was taken to change the existing policy, which allows for this process.

Council of Delegates

The NEHA Council of Delegates comprises the presidents of each of NEHA's affiliates as well as the entire board of directors. The annual Council of Delegates meeting is primarily an informational meeting, at which NEHA officials bring each affiliate up to date on what the national association is doing. Highlights of this meeting can be summarized as follows:

* The spring ballot results from NEHA's election were presented. Those results were as follows:

-- Ron Grimes ascended to the position of NEHA president.

-- John Steward was elected as RVP for NEHA Region 10.

-- Alicia Enriquez was appointed by the board to fill out the remainder of the term for RVP Region 2.

-- Brian Collins was re-elected as RVP for NEHA Region 5.

-- Tow Ward was re-elected as RVP for NEHA Region 7.

* The election process that NEHA follows established that there will be two candidates running for the position of NEHA second vice president next year--Brian Collins from Texas and Welford Roberts from Virginia.

* President Elect Grimes announced that he would be appointing a board member to work with each NEHA section chair over the upcoming year.

* It was reported that this year's silent auction raised $3,355--money that NEHA uses to help support its conference speaker fund.

* The process for selecting sites for NEHA's AECs was explained. It was also announced that the board had selected Tucson as the site for the NEHA 2008 annual conference. The next open year for a site selection is 2009. Several cities in the eastern United States are being considered.

* An extensive presentation was made to explain NEHA's new governmental-affairs program--through which NEHA is making the effort to join policy debates that concern environmental health.

* Reports on the progress of NEHA Training, NEHA's strategic directions, and the project to upgrade NEHA's credentialing exams were given.

* A position paper on defending environmental health academic degree programs was adopted.

* Affiliates were encouraged to have NEHA recognize them with special resolutions on special anniversaries such as their 50th.

* Focus group presentations were made. This year's focus groups (made up of affiliate presidents and board directors) explored the issue of workforce development in the profession. The focus groups were specifically asked to discuss ways in which the profession could attract younger people to come into it and prepare existing professionals to take over positions and responsibilities being vacated by the many environmental health practitioners and leaders who are retiring.

General Assembly

James Balsamo, outgoing president, explained that this assembly is held so that individual members can ask questions of the president and the BOD, hear firsthand about what is going on within the association, and express views directly to the president and the BOD. He began by giving a report on accomplishments of this past year, in which NEHA

* continued to send its members the e-newsletters Presidential Newsletter and NEHA E-News, and to make improvements to its Web site, one of which is a new section for students (www.neha.org/students);

* enhanced a special section of its Web site that serves as a resource for environmental health professionals involved in terrorism response (www.neha.org/research/terrorism);

* invested in a major computer upgrade of its office system to allow NEHA and its members to conduct substantially more e-business;

* again funded student scholarships with the American Academy of Sanitarians;

* again funded an international sabbatical exchange--this time in Canada--with a sponsorship from UL;

* hosted the International Federation of Environmental Health's Governing Council meeting in Denver;

* represented NEHA at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health's meeting in England;

* put together the 2005 Providence AEC--its second largest conference, with over 1,400 attendees;

* sponsored numerous regional learning opportunities around the country on epidemiology and indoor air quality for its members;

* enhanced and expanded its relationships with numerous other NGOs (see NEHA's R & D Government and External Affairs Program accomplishments listed below for more information);

* became even more deeply involved with CDC and

-- helped CDC to select a new director for its National Center of Environmental Health (NCEH);

-- assisted CDC in setting an agenda for its new coordinating center for environmental and occupational health;

-- helped CDC with feedback on its NCEH/ATSDR research agenda;

-- coordinated with CDC on several grant projects;

-- opened up the Journal to a special, regular column from CDC's NCEH;

-- worked and continues to work closely with CDC staff on workforce development, terrorism response, multiparty efforts, future leadership for environmental health, and the restructuring of the agency; and

-- developed an agenda for the association and CDC;

* signed a major memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 10 other NGOs for co-operation in the field of onsite wastewater;

* authorized a new section in NEHA on children's environmental health;

* saw NEHA Training LLC become profitable;

* published a special article on environmental health and terrorism response in the Journal and mailed it to every single health department in the United States at NEHA's cost;

* is participating in a special Association of Food and Drug Officials committee to express opposition to HR 2699, legislation that preempts local control over food safety programs;

* negotiated and signed an extensive contract with EHT to update and upgrade NEHA's R.E.H.S./R.S. and C.F.S.P. credentials;

* launched a major new initiative to develop a specialty credential for onsite wastewater;

* sponsored, with the National Swimming Pool Foundation, a new educational CD for pool and spa inspection;

* greatly enhanced a special online job center for environmental health professionals, where members and nonmembers can search for and post job announcements (www.neha.org/CareerOp.html);

* commissioned several articles for the Journal's Inside the Profession column that have had widespread and positive reaction, including the first-ever examination of violence in our profession;

* expanded our AEC educational program to 189 educational sessions and 38 poster sessions--NEHA's most extensive program ever;

* developed a CD for every conference attendee that presents over 5,500 pages of learning materials from the 2005 AEC;

* reviewed and revised the association's strategic directions, one of which is a focus on terrorism and all-hazards preparedness; and

* reviewed and approved our largest budget ever, of close to $3 million.

Balsamo then explained that NEHA's articles of incorporation and bylaws allow for nominations from the floor for any NEHA office, and he invited any member who had filled out the proper paperwork to make a nomination. No nominations were made, however. This floor nomination process is in addition to a nomination process that officially cleared two candidates to run in next year's election.

The first candidate running for second vice president in next year's election, Brian Collins of Plano, Texas, stated that his platform "revolves around further development of NEHA's strategic direction to increase membership, improve environmental public health education, leadership and workforce development and an enhanced profile for the environmental public health professional." Mr. Collins is committed to a "participative leadership style that is both reflective and forward thinking while tuned in to membership needs."

Dr. Welford Roberts of Fairfax, Virginia, also running for second vice president, stated that he "endeavors to bring NEHA a fresh perspective to its strategic direction by focusing on the organization, the profession, and public health." Examples of specific areas he will address include "expanding and enhancing student involvement in NEHA, establishing a standard industrial code(s) (SIC) for environmental health professionals, establishing NEHA as the national/international leader in continually defining the environmental health discipline and profession, and empowering our Washington, D.C., Representative and Government Affairs position."

After hearing from the second-vice-presidential candidates, NEHA Research and Development Manager Larry Marcum gave a special presentation on NEHA's Government Affairs and External Liaison Program--a program that, though less than two years old, has a long list of accomplishments. Marcum emphasized the need to give environmental health visibility and prestige and to communicate positions on important legislation. He also stressed the importance of demonstrating to policy makers the significance of the environmental health profession through this program. In addition to the list above of NEHA's accomplishments, NEHA's Government Affairs and External Liaison Program has achieved the following:

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* endorsed

-- public health workforce development legislation,

-- environmental public health tracking legislation, and

--CDC's Revitalization Strategy for Environmental Health;

* developed a formal position on the relationship between environmental health and public health nursing for CDC;

* facilitated work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (USDA/HACCP) work group, reviewing HACCP standards for school food operations;

* participated in

-- the USDA/HACCP work group, reviewing inspection standards for school food operations;

-- development and promotion of an operational definition for environmental health;

-- the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practices (workforce recruitment, retention, and certification issues);

-- the CDC Emerging Leaders in Environmental Health Program;

-- the CDC Futures Initiative;

-- the CDC Epi-X-Forum;

-- the Public Health Systems Research Interest Group;

-- the Conference for Food Protection;

-- defining the environmental health role in emergency planning/terrorism response with CDC; and

-- development of the national Food Safe Schools Action Guide.

* was the lead organization in a work group on a military career guide for public/private sector placement in environmental health;

* initiated formal discussions with CDC's NCEH/ATSDR on future projects and collaboration with NEHA and developed a blueprint document outlining long-term cooperative ventures between the two organizations;

* was a member of

-- the EPA/IAQ National Cooperative Partner Network,

-- the EPA/IAQ in Schools National Symposium,

-- the EPA/MOU Cooperative Partner Network for Onsite Wastewater Management Systems,

-- the CDC National Partner Group for Environmental Public Health Tracking,

-- the CDC National Partner Group for Environmental Public Workforce Development,

-- the CDC Tier II Workforce Development Committee,

-- the CDC National Partner Group for Land Use/Community Design,

-- the CDC Partner National Coalition for Food Safe Schools,

-- the National Clean Hands Coalition,

-- the Student Network for Absentee Prevention, and

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-- the National Mosquito Control Cooperative;

* led, in cooperation with CDC Food Safety Office in developing, promoting, and conducting training for epidemiological food-borne-outbreak investigation strategies (Epi-Ready);

* developed, in cooperation with CDC's Food Safety Office and FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, the Epi-Ready Train the Trainer Program;

* is developing, in cooperation with NCEH, the U.S. Army, and private industry, a vector control program for future NEHA conferences;

* represented NEHA at

-- a National Press Club news conference, launching the MOU agreement among national partners for onsite wastewater management;

-- Surgeon General's Conference on Indoor Air Quality; and

-- national public health preparedness meetings.

* established cooperative work projects with NSF International, UL, and the National Swimming Pool Foundation;

* has had formal working relationships and represents NEHA on working committees of other national organizations such as NACCHO, ASTHO, NALBOH, APHA, APHL, CSTE, AEHAP, NCSL, ALA, ICMA, CFA, ELI, NaCO, NOWRA, IFEH, AWWA, ECOS, NAWT, APA, NCLEHA, CIPHI, PSR, and SNA.

The floor was then opened for comments from the members and audience:

* Michele Samarya-Timm of the Franklin Township Health Department in New Jersey encouraged the board to focus on health educators and to look into an educational venue for them. She also asked the board to evaluate health educators' needs because she wants health authorities to join NEHA and thinks that they will advance the association's resources.

* Lou Dooley, of DBA Back to the Future, LLC, in Washington State, mentioned that he was impressed with NEHA's board activities, but wanted NEHA to develop a position paper to address the issue of environmental health moving out of public health and into permit approval work. He believes that a position paper will give environmental health professionals a firmer foundation so that they're not under scrutiny by policy makers.

Before adjourning the meeting, outgoing president Balsamo encouraged people to apply for the sabbatical exchange program, which now features a two- to four-week sabbatical to Canada or England, all expenses paid. Balsamo also encouraged everyone to attend next year's AEC in San Antonio. He added: "We've taken some bold steps and we're moving forward; we've been 'on the ground' and a voice at the table in Washington."

Conclusion

Looking to stay connected? Seeking professional advancement? With over a thousand attendees and almost 200 educational sessions, NEHA's AEC & Exhibition provides environmental health and protection professionals of all kinds with networking and educational opportunities--as well as the chance to enjoy another part of the country.

The 69th AEC & Exhibition in Providence was filled with attendees from around the world, smiling faces, and an unmatched energy and eagerness for learning. From the educational sessions to the inspiring keynote presentations to the exhibit to the networking and social activities, the 2005 AEC & Exhibition was the consummate conference for environmental health and protection. When asked if the AEC met expectations, Donna Cadwell, environmental health county manager at the Macon-Bibb County Health Department in Macon, Georgia, said, "It is a source of positive encouragement and new ideas and possibilities--even solutions."

A special thank-you goes to all of the 2005 AEC & Exhibition attendees for their commitment to the environmental health profession. We hope to see you next year at NEHA's AEC & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, June 25-28, 2006!

Awards and Honors

The main awards ceremony was held during the opening session, just before the keynote and featured addresses, to draw everyone's attention to the award winners. NEHA is proud to introduce these deserving professionals and is happy to highlight their accomplishments.

Walter S. Mangold Award

Dr. Herman Koren

NEHA's highest honor, the Walter S. Mangold Award--given for outstanding contributions to the advancement of the environmental health profession--was bestowed this year upon the very deserving Dr. Herman Koren. Please see the accompanying story on page 62, which details Dr. Koren's contributions to the profession.

Certificates of Merit

Certificates of Merit are announced for affiliate members who make exemplary contributions to the profession of environmental health. Each affiliate sets its own criteria for recognition, so recipients do not need to be NEHA members. The 2005 winners are

* Alabama -- Charlotte Plumb,

* Alaska -- Chris Tofteberg,

* California -- Gary Erbeck,

* Colorado -- Dr. Kenneth Blehm,

* Connecticut -- Michael Pascucilla,

* Florida -- Jack C. Petenbrink, R.S.,

* Idaho -- Tom Turco,

* Louisiana -- Senator Heulette "Clo" Fontenot,

* Maryland -- Ellen J. Friedman,

* Massachusetts -- Larry A. Ramdin, R.E.H.S., C.F.S.P., M.A.,

* Michigan -- Bruce DuHamel,

* Minnesota -- Sue Hibberd,

* National Capital Area -- Valeria Jefferson, R.E.H.S., C.F.S.P., M.P.A.,

* NCLEHA -- Chuck Treser,

* New Hampshire/Vermont -- Neil Twitchell,

* New Jersey -- Bruce DeLussa, M.P.H.,

* South Dakota -- Randolph Runs,

* Texas -- Elise Dixon,

* Utah -- Linda Ebert,

* Virginia -- Lawrence Clark Griffin,

* Wisconsin -- Thomas L. Sieger, and

* Wyoming -- Doug Krogman.

Affiliates may submit their nominees at any time for the Certificate of Merit awards to be announced next June in San Antonio, Texas.

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A. Harry Bliss Editor's Award

Karen A. Holmes, R.S., M.M.A.

Dr. A. Harry Bliss was the Journal editor in 1969, the year this award was first presented. When he retired, the award was named after him to honor his 40 years of involvement in Journal production. NEHA often gives the annual Harry Bliss Editor's Award to outstanding writers and columnists, but the award may also go to individuals who, through the Journal of Environmental Health, advance the cause and interests of the association.

This year, on NEHA's behalf, John Barry, technical editor of the Journal, proudly presented the Harry Bliss Editor's Award to Karen A. Holmes. Year after year, Holmes has distinguished herself in service to NEHA not only as a member of the Technical Editorial Advisory Board, but also as an outstanding reviewer. She has consistently provided well-developed, thoughtful, timely, and professional reviews of manuscripts. Her commitment is also demonstrated by her attention to deadlines and her ability to return reviews well in advance of the required due date.

NEHA/AAS

Scholarship Awards

The NEHA/AAS Scholarship Award program is sponsored jointly by NEHA and the American Academy of Sanitarians (AAS). The program annually awards one graduate scholarship in the amount of $2,000 and up to three undergraduate scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. President James Balsamo presented the scholarship awards on behalf of the scholarship committee:

* graduate scholarship--LaTrice D. Porter-Thomas, University of Illinois;

* undergraduate scholarship--Brian Knight, Old Dominion University;

* undergraduate scholarship--Mary Ann Thomas, Missouri Southern State University; and

* undergraduate scholarship--Caroline Wade, Illinois State University.

Walter F. Snyder Award

Dr. John B. Conway 

NSF International and NEHA honored Dr. John B. Conway with the 2005 Walter F. Snyder Award. The award was presented by Kevan Lawlor, president and CEO of NSF, and is given in honor of NSF's cofounder and first executive director. It recognizes outstanding contributions to public health and the environment. Please see the accompanying story on page 63, which details Dr. Conway's contributions to the profession.

Sabbatical Exchange Award

Dr. Michelle Morrone

NEHA offers a wide-ranging opportunity for professional growth and the exchange of valuable information on the international level through its longtime Sabbatical Exchange Program. The recipient of this award may go either to England, in cooperation with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, or to Canada, in cooperation with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) currently sponsors the sabbatical.

Dr. Michelle Morrone, associate professor of Ohio University, received the sabbatical award and will be carrying out her sabbatical in Canada, studying environmental health practices in relation to shelters and the housing environment.

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Student Research Presentations

Every year, the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) and CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) sponsor and financially support undergraduate and graduate student research presentations. Thanks to a generous donation from NCEH, seven students and their faculty mentors had the opportunity to present their research at the AEC & Exhibition. Each student participant received a plaque and a stipend of up to $1,000 to cover travel and related expenses. Presenting the student research awards were Dr. Carolyn Harvey of Eastern Kentucky University and Captain Michael Herring and Captain Charles Otto, both of the U.S. Public Health Service/CDC/NCEH.

The following undergraduates were honored for their research presentations: Nick Long and Jay Prymmer from Bowling Green State University, and Nathan McNeilly, Bryan Reed, and Kyle Jennings from Western Carolina University. The following graduate students were honored for their research presentations: Kristin L. Cunningham from the University of Washington and Julie Freidhoff from the University of Wisconsin.

Plaques also were awarded to the students who were selected to present their research at the student poster presentation: Ian Percy from Boise State University, Melanie Patterson from Mississippi Valley State University, Elenora Green from Illinois State University, and Joseph Jackens from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award

County of San Diego 

The Samuel J. Crumbine Award is a prestigious national award given annually to a local food protection agency that demonstrates excellence and continual improvement in a food protection program. The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel J. Crumbine, a sanitarianphysician and public health pioneer who was renowned for his innovative methods of improving public health protection, and it is supported by the Conference for Food Protection in cooperation with AAS; the American Public Health Association; the Association of Food & Drug Officials; the Foodservice & Packaging Institute, Inc.; the International Association for Food Protection; the International Food Safety Council; the National Association of County and City Health Officials; NEHA; NSF; and UL.

This year, the County of San Diego received the Crumbine Award for its environmental health department's clear vision; good, effective program planning; industry and community involvement; strong educational program; active managerial control program; and a move toward risk-based inspections. Accepting on behalf of the department were Gary Erbeck, director, and Liz Pozzebon, chief of the department's food and housing division.

Past Presidents Award

George Nakamura

Each year, the Past Presidents group, comprising former NEHA presidents, recognizes a NEHA member for outstanding achievement. Past President Jim Dingman presented this year's award to George Nakamura, supervising environmental health specialist at Contra Costa Health Services in California. Upon accepting the award, Mr. Nakamura said that this honor was also for Clare Schmutz, a close friend of Nakamura's and a longtime NEHA member who recently passed away.

Presidential Citations

Presidential Citations are special awards given to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to NEHA during the president's term of office. President James Balsamo presented Presidential Citations to Douglas Ebelherr, Ron Grimes, Don Herrington, Michelle Samarya-Timm, and Sylvia Thomas.

U.S. EPA/NEHA Individual Achievement Award for Radon Risk Reduction

Dr. R. William Field Deborah Clinebell

Dr. R. William Field of the University of Iowa and Deborah Clinebell of Waterloo Jr. High School were selected for their successes in both individual and program achievements with respect to the design and implementation of their local radon risk reduction programs. Other selection criteria focused closely on the innovativeness and the effectiveness of their radon programs, as well as their overall professional work with radon and related subject areas. President James Balsamo and Elizabeth Cotsworth, director of the U.S. EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, honored both Dr. Field and Ms. Clinebell.

NSF International Scholar Award

Leslie Toni

NSF President and CEO Kevan Lawlor presented Leslie Toni, a student at Colorado State University, with the first-ever NSF International Scholar Award. With financial support from NSF, AEHAP and NSF have joined together to create a scholar program that offers an undergraduate student the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the environmental health field by interning at a local environmental health department.

During the internship, Ms. Toni will be surveying and evaluating practitioners on the use of NSF standards relative to alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems, pools and spas, food service equipment, and best practices in environmental health. Her advisor, Dr. David Gilkey, will be overseeing her research.

Yankee Conference Awards

On behalf of NEHA's New England affiliates, Regional Vice President Pat Maloney presented their Sanitarian of the Year awards to the following individuals:

* Massachusetts--Gerald Collins, R.S.; and

* New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine--Jeanne M. Galloway, R.E.H.S., M.P.A.

Davis Calvin Wagner Award

Dr. Ginger Gist

AAS presented its highest award, the 2005 Davis Calvin Wagner Award, to Dr. Ginger Gist, chief of the Surveillance and Registries Branch at NCEH/ATSDR. The Wagner Award and honorarium are given each year in recognition of outstanding professional work, accomplishments, and contributions to environmental and public health. The award was presented to Dr. Gist (a NEHA past president) at the AAS and U.S. PHS Honor Award Reception, and she was recognized for 25 years of exemplary work in the federal, academic, and professional sectors and for her technical and management skills and expertise in the environmental health and related areas. The award is particularly meaningful since recipients are nominated and selected on the basis of recommendations from their peers in the profession.

2005 Walter S. Mangold Award Recipient

NEHA is proud to present the 2005 Walter S. Mangold Award, its highest honor, to Dr. Herman Koren, Professor Emeritus of Health and Safety at Indiana State University (ISU).

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2005 marks Dr. Koren's 50th year in the profession of environmental and public health. A widely recognized and respected leader, Koren has devoted his life to the advancement of the profession and to environmental health education. He has been an inspiration to many environmental health students and peers as a professor, sanitarian, mentor, public speaker, and author.

Koren began his career as a rural field sanitarian with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health in 1955, and in 1963--at the age of 26--he became the youngest supervisor in the history of the Philadelphia Health Department. Under his leadership at the department, much-needed community rodent control and immunization programs were developed. Koren then designed sanitation and infection control programs as chief of environmental health and safety at Philadelphia General Hospital, a 2,000-bed hospital with a daily population of 15,000 people. While performing his responsibilities at the hospital, Koren became an associate at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, presenting lectures and clinical work in hospital infection control to third-year medical students.

In 1967, Koren started the environmental health program at ISU and was appointed as assistant professor of health and safety and coordinator of the environmental health internship program. In his position as professor, he advised students and graduates, formed a student environmental health association, brought high school students into environmental health classes for 10-week periods, assisted numerous universities in establishing environmental health programs, and traveled to several different states to promote ISU's environmental health and internship programs. As a result of Koren's efforts at ISU, the university became one of the first accredited schools of environmental health.

One of his most notable achievements was the creation of a new environmental health internship program at ISU in 1969. Through a U.S. Public Health Service grant, Koren was able to secure paid internships at county health departments and federal agencies for his environmental health students. To his credit, over 1,150 internships in 28 states and 70 different programs were provided, not to mention earnings of over $3 million to the students. According to C. Michael Krecek, R.S., M.A., director/health officer of Midland County Department of Public Health,

  He's left a true mark upon this nation and world from the more than
  500 environmental health professionals he has placed in the field
  through his work at [ISU]. His efforts have had a major impact on
  supplying skilled environmental health professionals to the workforce,
  who are now leaders in environmental health and public health. I am
  one of those leaders, and I'm convinced it would not have been
  possible without the mentoring and caring attitude of Hank Koren.

In 1995, Koren retired from ISU, but not from the field of environmental health. His knowledge and expertise continue to reach thousands of students and environmental health professionals through his publications, including the fourth edition of Handbook of Environmental Health and the third edition of Management and Supervision for Working Professionals. His latest book, the second edition of Illustrated Dictionary and Resource Directory of Environmental & Occupational Health, is a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive environmental health reference book with over 16,000 entries.

CAPT John A. Steward, R.E.H.S., M.P.H., with the U.S. Public Health Service, expresses the sentiments of many of Koren's former students:

  When I entered the environmental health field, I found myself to have
  an advantage over other professionals because of the education and
  experience that Dr. Koren had facilitated at ISU. The supervised
  internships Dr. Koren arranged for me allowed me to develop extensive
  field experience that others lacked at that stage of their careers....
  Furthermore, I continued to draw upon Dr. Koren's expert knowledge and
  insight by using his growing set of environmental health textbooks as
  reference tools for my professional responsibilities.

Throughout his career, Koren has been an active member and leader in many local, state, and national organizations. He became a member of NEHA in 1956 and a fellow of the American Public Health Association in 1967. Because of his vast experience and knowledge, NEHA has called upon Koren to represent the association at several conferences and task force meetings. Koren has also served as a consultant to the U.S. Public Health Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Health Organization. In addition, he has initiated and served as co-chair of several conferences and numerous committees, and has acted as a consultant and advisor to many groups--often without gratuity.

Koren has spent a lifetime dedicated to environmental health practice, research, teaching, and public service. He has encouraged many students to consider a degree in environmental health and has written articles in professional publications urging his colleagues around the country to expand their environmental health training programs. As Koren himself says:

  I still hope to help young people become the best that they are
  capable of being.... Teaching to me is essential to my life. I'm
  trying to return to others what my mentors and professors gave to me.
  They allowed me to try to help other people to live a better life
  through the creation of a healthier and safer environment.

It's a privilege and an honor for NEHA to present this award to Dr. Herman Koren, a man who exemplifies both the spirit and the ideals of the late Walter S. Mangold.

2005 Walter F. Snyder Award Recipient

Dr. John B. Conway is being honored for his more than 40 years as a professor, educator, author, and innovator in environmental health sciences. To quote Jack, as he is known to his family and friends: "I feel that 'innovation' is necessary to function effectively in the environmental health profession. Technology changes almost daily, and the new tools provided must be used effectively by the environmental health professional. It is no longer acceptable to do things the way they have always been done or to maintain 'status quo!'"

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And "status quo" has never been acceptable to Dr. Conway, who developed dynamic graduate and undergraduate curriculums that included emerging technologies and the use of practicum/internship experiences as an integral part of graduate public health education. "Our challenge is to integrate the new technology that comes with recent graduates into our policies and operating procedures," writes Conway.

Following two years of active duty in the U.S. Army, Conway was accepted at San Diego State University, where he earned his bachelor's and master's of science degrees in biology in 1964 and 1967, respectively. Prior to working on his master's degree, he accepted his first environmental health position as a public health sanitarian for the San Diego County Health Department, San Diego, California, and became a registered sanitarian in the state of California in 1965. That same year he joined NEHA and has since been an active contributing member.

In 1966, Conway tested the water as an educator accepting the duties of a teaching assistant in the Division of Life Sciences, San Diego State University. That experience planted a seed that would be cultivated later. With his M.S. degree in hand, he headed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as a public health biologist to tackle public health concerns for the Division of Environmental Protection in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

So as not to remain stuck in the "status quo," Conway entered a Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. He received his master of public health degree in 1970 and his doctorate in environmental biology in 1973.

Conway returned to academia full time. While serving as assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, he spent his summers as adjunct assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. In 1976, he moved to Pullman, Washington, teaching in the Department of Bacteriology and Public Health at Washington State University. He then spent the summer back in Superior, Wisconsin, as academic staff member at the Center for Lake Superior Environmental Studies.

In 1981, Conway joined the faculty of San Diego State University as professor of public health in the Graduate School of Public Health. He also served as graduate advisor and associate director. During his tenure at San Diego State University, his side adventures included stints as visiting professor in the Public Health Program in the School of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico, and guest researcher (sabbatical leave) in the Division of Health Assessment and Consultation at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, Georgia.

The School of Public Health of the University at Albany, State University of New York, welcomed Conway as director of Professional Education Programs in 1993. During his last three years in Albany, Conway served as the interim dean of the school. To keep occupied year round, he spent summers as a public health officer in Grand Teton National Park in Moose, Wyoming.

In the new millennium, Conway left New York State to accept the position of dean and professor in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso. He also served as assistant to the provost. In 2002, Conway was recognized for his achievements in research, scholarship, service, and teaching with the Charles H. and Shirley T. Levell Endowed Chair in Nursing and Health Sciences. He retired from the University of Texas at El Paso in January 2004.

Never idle, Conway has authored or co-authored and published numerous papers, articles, technical reports and reviews. His most recent publications include: "Water Quality in Maxcy-Rosenau-Last," which appeared in Public Health and Preventive Medicine (14th edition); "Optimizing Professional Education in Public Health," which appeared in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, and "On the Need to Teach Science to Environmental Health Students," which appeared in the Journal of Environmental Health.

His major research interests include human-health risk factors associated with deteriorating water quality, disaster preparedness and emergency response measures, and risk factors associated with contaminated food supplies. To that end he has served as a consultant to federal, state, and local governments in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to help resolve issues created by natural disasters and to promote the advancement of science and health in communities and homes.

A community-minded citizen, Conway was and remains active in local community programs, serving as a member of the El Paso Rotary Club, Team El Paso Healthcare Council, Community Partnerships Advisory Council (an organization that operates health clinics in the lower Rio Grande), and Community Voices Collaborative (health care services to the underserved and medically indigent).

He has been extensively involved in the work of NSF International both at the Joint Committee level (Drinking Water Treatment Units) and on the NSF Council of Public Health Consultants.

With Susan, his wife of 43 years, he resides in El Paso, Texas. They have two children, Julie and Steve.

"Jack has been a real contributor to public health protection throughout his career, and he is deserving of this award," a NEHA colleague said.

Conway truly fits the description of an individual committed to environmental health as advocated by the award's namesake. NSF International and NEHA take great pleasure in awarding to Dr. John B. Conway the 2005 Walter F. Snyder Award for Achievement in Attaining Environmental Quality.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

"Any discipline, any focus--there is a plethora of sessions and information," wrote Mary Kay Folk, a graduate student at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

With 189 educational sessions, 10 pre-conference workshops--the highest number ever--and 38 posters, the AEC & Exhibition gave attendees a wide variety of environmental health topics to choose from, allowing them to tailor the conference to their educational needs. "The extreme diversity of all of the topics allows me to bring pertinent, updated information to my staff in many areas of environmental health," commented Patricia Feeney, assistant commissioner of the New York City Department of Corrections. Dianne Mathews, environmental health director at Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties in Escanaba, Michigan, added: "The educational sessions were extremely useful and valuable to long-term planning and everyday applications."

A tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring that educational sessions are current, relevant, and thought provoking. Before the conference, countless hours are spent talking to numerous NEHA members about their particular careers and educational needs. The educational sessions are then designed to meet and address the needs and issues that have been identified through this process.

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Making a second appearance this year at the AEC & Exhibition was the Poster Session. The posters attracted many attendees, and they covered a broad spectrum of environmental health issues, from ambient air quality to food safety and protection to terrorism and all-hazards preparedness.

Another educational highlight was the PROTOUR-Alternative Treatment Systems Field Trip. Several attendees joined staff from the University of Rhode Island Onsite Wastewater Training Center for a tour of alternative and innovative technology sites.

As always, review courses and exams were held for the Certified Food Safety Professional (C.F.S.P.) and Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (R.E.H.S./R.S.) credentials. Student attendees were able to attend the Student and Young Professional Career Forum, sponsored and held by the American Academy of Sanitarians.

A special thank-you goes to the 277 speakers, who inspired, taught, and motivated. As one attendee put it: "If you want to see your career take off, go to the NEHA AEC. You will be energized!"

2005 AEC CD

If you weren't able to attend the Providence AEC & Exhibition, visit www.neha.org/AEC or call [phone] to order the 2005 AEC CD. It contains over 5,500 pages of information from 123 of the 2005 AEC sessions, including plans, guides, fact sheets, presentations, and tools.

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Educational Topics

* ambient air quality,

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* children's environmental health,

* drinking water quality,

* emerging pathogens,

* environmental health leadership development,

* environmental health research,

* food safety and protection,

* geographic information systems (GIS),

* hazardous materials and toxic substances,

* indoor air quality,

* injury prevention/occupational health,

* institutions and schools environmental health,

* onsite wastewater systems,

* solid waste,

* swimming pools/recreational waters,

* terrorism and all-hazards preparedness,

* vector control and zoonotic diseases, and

* water pollution.

NEHA's Technical Section Chairs

NEHA extends a special thank-you to the 2004-2005 technical section chairs, who were instrumental in the development of the educational sessions at the AEC & Exhibition:

* Air/Land -- Alicia Enriquez, R.E.H.S.;

* Children's Environmental Health -- Don Herrington, R.S.;

* Drinking Water Quality/Water Pollution -- Robert Vincent, R.S., M.P.A.;

* Emerging Pathogens/Vector Control and Zoonotic Diseases -- Brenda Faw, R.E.H.S.;

* Environmental Health Leadership Development -- Holly Coleman, R.E.H.S.;

* Environmental Health Research -- Darryl B. Barnett, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., R.S., D.A.A.S.;

* Food Safety and Protection -- George Nakamura, R.E.H.S., M.P.A., D.A.A.S., and Michele Samarya-Timm, M.A., R.E.H.S., D.A.A.S., C.H.E.S.;

* General Environmental Health -- Karen Hoffman Bender, R.E.H.S., R.D.;

* Hazardous Materials and Toxic Substances -- Welford C. Roberts, Ph.D., R.S., R.E.H.S., D.A.A.S., and Priscilla Oliver, Ph.D.;

* Injury Prevention/Occupational Health -- Daniel Holcomb;

* Institutions and Schools Environmental Health -- Welford C. Roberts, Ph.D., R.S., R.E.H.S., D.A.A.S., and Terrance B. Gratton, Dr. P.H., D.A.A.S., R.S.;

* Onsite Wastewater Systems -- Craig Gilbertson, R.S.; and

* Terrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness -- Thomas J. Butts, M.Sc., R.E.H.S., R.H.S.P., and Barry W. Moore, R.E.H.S.

EXHIBITION

With over 100 exhibits featuring the latest environmental health and protection products and services being offered by companies, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations, this was one area of the conference that no one wanted to miss. The exhibits covered everything from thermometers to respirators to mosquito control products to sanitizers. Attendees filled their bags with an abundance of literature, business cards, and free product giveaways.

According to Sylvia Daniel, environmental manager at Mecklenberg County Health Department in Charlotte, North Carolina, NEHA's exhibit is "the best opportunity in the environmental health field for cutting-edge technology exposure and information." And to David Litke, health services supervisor at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District in Waco, Texas, the exhibit is "more than a chance to see new products and vendors--it allows for networking, idea exchange, and informal learning."

An exciting event at the exhibit was the Handwashing for Life Olympics, where participants scrubbed their way to perfect hand hygiene. Commander Kevin R. Cale of U.S. FDA in Alabama came in first, and Roxanne Weldon of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe in Oklahoma and Linda Jones of the Oklahoma State Department of Health tied for second place.

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Visitors to the exhibition not only learned and met with vendors, but also, by dropping their entry tickets into the door prize drawing, had the chance to win one of four prizes. From the many hundreds of entries in the drawing, four lucky people were selected as winners. Thomas Malamos of the Naperville School District won the first prize, a Go Video 8.4-inch portable DVD player. Richard Berube of Billerica Board of Health won the $150 Amazon.com gift certificate that was given for second place. Dai Q. Nguyen of the Brookline Health Department won the third-place prize, a $100 American Express gift check. The final prize went to Robert Vincent of the Florida Department of Health, who won a $50 Greenvale Vineyards gift certificate.

A special thank-you goes to the eight exhibitors whose donations made the door prizes possible: Digital Health Department; Edlund Company; International Aquatic Foundation; Kairak, Inc.; Orenco Systems, Inc.; Shat-R-Shield, Inc.; Sneezeguard Solutions, Inc.; and Waterloo BioFilter Systems, Inc.

The Exhibit Hall's Silent Auction: Highlights

* Traditionally, Alaska donates native items that draw a lot of attention, and this year was no exception. The 49th state donated two native proofs, or coins, of silver and gold. One, with a bear imprint, went for $102, and the second, with a moose, went for $72--but only after serious attention and very heavy bidding by winners Cheryl Underhill and Vince Radke.

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* Right behind Alaska was Arizona, with two popular items that also attracted heavy bidding. A statue of painted ponies went for $50 to a persistent Melissa St. John-Harder, and a chicken chucker toy went to Doug Christensen for $36.

* Linda Jones will be at next year's AEC in San Antonio, having bid $550 for registration and four nights at the Hyatt on the Riverwalk.

2005 AEC EXHIBITORS

Advanced Drainage System

www.ads-pipe.com

Aerotech P & K

www.aerotechlabs.com

American Academy of Sanitarians (AAS)

www.sanitarians.org

American Food Safety Institute

www.americanfoodsafety.com

American Manufacturing Company, Inc.

www.americanonsite.com

AMSA, Inc. (Antimicrobial Specialists and Associates Inc)

www.amsainc.com

Aquapoint, Inc.

www.aquapoint.com

ARAMSCO

www.aramsco.com

Arch Chemicals

www.archchemicals.com

Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP)

www.aehap.org

Ayres Associates

www.AyresAssociates.com

Bartlett Services, Inc.

www.bartlettinc.com

BioLab Commercial Pool Care

www.commercialpoolcare.com

Bio-Microbics, Inc.

www.biomicrobics.com

Bord Na Mona

www.bnm-us.com

Boston University, School of Public Health

www.bu.edu/sph

Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), USFDA 

www.cfsan.fda.gov

Clean Hands Coalition (CHC)

www.cleanhandscoalition.org

ClearWater Industries

www.waterloo-biofilter.com

Comark Instruments, Inc.

www.comarkLTD.com

Cooper-Atkins Corporation

www.cooper-atkins.com

Cromaglass Corp

www.cromaglass.com

Cultec, Inc.

www.cultec.com

Custom Data Processing, Inc. (CDP, Inc.)

www.customdatainc.com

Dandux Outdoors

crdaniels.com

Decade Software Company, LLC

www.decadesoftware.com

Decagon Devices, Inc.

www.decagon.com

Delta Environmental Products, Inc.

www.deltaenvironmental.com/

Diesel Technology Forum

www.dieselforum.org

Digital Health Department

www.garrisonenterprises.com

Ecolab, Inc.

www.ecolab.com

Edlund Company

www.edlundco.com

Eljen Corporation

www.eljen.com

Environmental Hazards Services, LLC

www.leadlab.com

ESRI 

www.esri.com

Five Peaks Technology

www.fivepeaks.net

FoodHandler, Inc.

www.foodhandler.com

FoodSafety.Com

www.foodsafety.com

GeoAge, Inc.

www.geoage.com

Geoflow, Inc.

www.geoflow.com

Hancor, Inc.

www.hancor.com

Handwashing for Life

www.handwashingforlife.com

Handwashing Leadership Forum

www.handwashingforlife.com

HealthSpace Integrated Solutions, Ltd.

www.healthspace.ca

Hoot Aerobic Systems, Inc.

www.hootsystems.com

Hybrivet Systems, Inc.

www.leadcheck.com

IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials)

www.iapmo.org

Infiltrator Systems, Inc.

www.infiltratorsystems.com

Interactive Occupational Training

www.iot-edu.com

International Aquatic Foundation (IAF)

www.iafh20.org

Intertek Testing Services

www.intertek-etlsemko.com

Jet Inc./Clearwater Recovery

www.clearwaterrecover.com

Kairak, Inc.

www.kairak.com

LaMotte Chemical Products Co

LaMotte Company

www.lamotte.com

LearnSomething, Inc.

www.learnsomething.com

Lombardo Associates, Inc.

www.lombardoassociates.com

Medical Reserve Corps

www.medicalreservecorps.gov

Mitchell & McCormick, Inc.

www.mitchellandmccormick.com

NALBOH

www.nalboh.org

National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO)

www.naccho.org

National Biosolids Partnership

www.biosolids.org

National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease R

www.cdc.gov/nceh/

National Coalition for Food Safe Schools (NCFSS)

www.foodsafeschools.org

National Environmental Services Center

www.ndwc.wvu.edu

National Library of Medicine

sis.nlm.nih.gov

National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)

www.nowra.org

National Registry of Food Safety Professionals

www.nrfsp.com

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

www.nraef.org

National Swimming Pool Foundation

www.nspf.org

National Testing Laboratories, Ltd.

www.ntllabs.com

Natl Drinking Water Clearinghouse

ndwc.wvu.edu

Navy Environmental Health Center (NEHC)

www-nehc.med.navy.mil/

NCEH/ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

NEHA (National Environmental Health Association)

www.neha.org

NEHA Training LLC

www.nehatraining.com

NORWECO, Inc.

www.norweco.com

NSF International

www.nsf.org

Onsite Water Treatment

www.wateronsite.com

Orenco Systems, Inc.

www.orenco.com

Orkin Commercial Services

www.orkin.com

Paraclipse, Inc.

www.paraclipse.com

Polylok, Inc.

Portable Sanitation Assocation International

www.psai.org

Procter & Gamble

http://www.pg.com

Questionmark Corporation

www.questionmark.com

Radiation Shield Technologies

www.radshield.com

RING Industrial Group, LP

www.ringindustrial.com

San Jamar

www.sanjamar.com

Shat-R-Shield, Inc.

www.shat-r-shield.com

Smiths Detection

www.smithsdetection.com

Sneezeguard Solutions, Inc.

sneezeguard-solutions.com

Stone Environmental, Inc.

www.stone-env.com

Sunrise Env Hlth Service, Inc

TAP Series LLC

TEC Technologies Inc

www.tectechnologies.com

The Steritech Group, Inc.

www.steritech.com

The University of Findlay 

www.seem.findlay.edu

Tuf-Tite, Inc.

www.tuf-tite.com

Twenty First Century Communications

www.tfcci.com

U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, OHRM, HRCP (USACH 

chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/dts/hrc

UMass Lowell--School of Health & Environment

www.uml.edu/tnec

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

www.ul.com

University of Michigan 

University of WI-Eau Claire, ENPH Program

www.uwec.edu/ph/enph/index.htm

US EPA

www.epa.gov/iaq

US EPA Office of Waste Mgmt

US FDA ORA 

US Public Health Service (U.S.P.H.S.)

www.usphs.gov

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

www.fsis.usda.gov

USEPA, Indoor Environments Division (IED)

www.epa.gov/iaq/

USEPA, Memorandum of Understanding

cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/home.cfm

USEPA, Office of Children's Health Protection

www.epa.gov/ochp

USEPA, Office of Water

www.epa.gov/water

USFDA/ORAU & DFSR (Office of Regulatory Affairs University & Division of Federal

www.fda.gov/ora/training

Zabel Environmental Technology

www.ZabelZone.com

To exhibit at the 2006 San Antonio AEC & Exhibition

June 25-26 (conference will be held June 25-28), please contact Peggy Whitt at [phone], ext. 306, or at [e-mail].

NETWORKING AND SOCIAL EVENTS

NEHA's 18th Annual Golf Tournament winners: Don Herrington, Nelson Fabian, and Lou Dooley.

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The networking luncheon: a time for introductions and camaraderie. When asked about the highlight of the conference, one attendee said, "Meeting environmental health professionals and gaining insight and ideas to improve programs."

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One of the most anticipated events at the AEC & Exhibition: The UL-sponsored wine tasting and cookout. Attendees were able to sample award-winning vintages from Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

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AEC attendees enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new colleagues.

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Outgoing president James Balsamo shows guests his gift from the NEHA board: a picture of Yogi Berra.

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Newly elected president Ron Grimes receives the gavel from outgoing president James Balsamo.

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2005 NEHA AEC & EXHIBITION

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RELATED ARTICLE: Sponsors of NEHA's 2005 AEC & Exhbition

The organizations listed below supported NEHA's 2005 AEC & Exhibition as sponsors, making many valuable aspects of the conference possible. NEHA thanks its financial sponsors for their generous contributions.

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

NSF International

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

American Academy of Sanitarians

Mars Air Doors

National Environmental Services Center

RELATED ARTICLE: NEHA's 2005 AEC & Exhibition Partners

NEHA thanks the following organizations for their contributions to the AEC & Exhibition and its educational sessions and workshops:

National Environmental, Safety, & Health Training Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

International Aquatic Foundation

New England Yankee Conference

NEHA's Uniformed Services Environmental Health Affiliate