NEHA News.

NEHA's 1999 AEC in Nashville - Another Great Success!

With over 1,200 professionals in attendance, NEHA's 1999 Annual Educational Conference (AEC) in Nashville was NEHA's second-largest AEC ever. (NEHA's 1998 AEC in Las Vegas was the largest in terms of attendance.) In terms of exhibitors, however, the 1999 Nashville AEC topped all previous conferences with over 100 booths. Look for a complete report in the October 1999 issue of the Journal with coverage on everything from Jan Schlichtmann's keynote address (basis for the book A Civil Action, and movie starring John Travolta) to the UL country-style theme party at a Nashville ranch to the awards and educational sessions!

Future NEHA Conferences on Vessel Sanitation and Biological Terrorism 

NEHA is exploring, through partnerships with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the possibility of offering specialty conferences on biological terrorism and vessel sanitation.

Because market research has shown strong member interest in education about counter biological-chemical terrorism, NEHA has applied for a grant from ATSDR to host a series of specialty conferences on the topic. If the grant is approved, NEHA's first conference on counter biological-chemical terrorism is expected to be offered during the year 2000.

NEHA is also making progress toward a partnership with CDC to host a specialty conference on vessel sanitation. If such a conference is found to be worthwhile, yet another conference is being considered that would feature education on environmental health topics that apply to all forms of transportation. If NEHA's plans for the vessel sanitation conference are approved, the conference is tentatively scheduled to be held in Florida, in the fall of 2001.

Spotlight on NEHA Members

Chuck Higgins, member of NEHA and the Wyoming Environmental Health Association (WEHA), was the recipient of WEHA's 1999 Arthur Williamson award. The award is presented annually to a person who has performed exemplary accomplishments in the field of environmental health.

Chuck received this award for his leadership skills and knowledge in guiding the Wyoming Department of Agriculture's Consumer Health Services (CHS) division to accomplish many great things over the past three years. Specific accomplishments range from the development of policies that aid daily work to the provision of opportunities and funds for the personal development of CHS staff. Chuck also helped create many valuable partnerships and networks with local, federal, and state agencies to improve the overall food safety efforts in the state of Wyoming.

NEHA congratulates Chuck for earning this well-deserved distinction!

Condolences to Family and Friends of John Cooper 

We are sad to report that long-time NEHA member John Cooper of West Virginia passed away last May at the age of 71. John began his career as a sanitarian in 1954, and retired from his position as Administrator of the Jefferson County Health Department, West Virginia, in January 1999. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Wilma Cooper; by six sons and one daughter; and by 16 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

All those who knew John will miss him deeply, as will the environmental health profession.

A New Name and Another Year for e.n.d.

NEHA's board of directors recently decided on a new name for the environment news digest, and, in an effort to continue its publication, implemented a price increase.

Previously known as environment news digest, or e.n.d., the periodical has been renamed FOOD environment news digest, or FOOD e.n.d., to more accurately reflect its focus on food safety and protection.

Prior to 1997, e.n.d, was published by the Foodservice and Packaging Institute (FPI). FPI subsidized the publication for many years, requesting subscription payments on a voluntary, rather than on a mandatory, basis. When FPI announced, in 1996, its regretful but necessary decision to cease publication of e.n.d. for financial reasons, there was an outpouring of disappointment from its readers. At this time, FPI invited NEHA to publish e.n.d., in hopes that NEHA could sustain it.

After thoughtful consideration by NEHA's board of directors, FPI's proposal was accepted on a trial basis. In an effort to establish support from its readers and assess e.n.d.'s viability as a NEHA periodical, it was decided that NEHA would subsidize it for an initial time period which has lasted nearly three years. In order for NEHA to continue publishing FOOD e.n.d., the publication must be able to support itself with subscription revenue, making the recent subscription price increase necessary. The singular goal of the new pricing structure ($10 per year for NEHA members/$17.50 per year for nonmembers) is to bring subscription rates into alignment with actual production costs for FOOD e.n.d. At the end of fiscal year 2000, NEHA's board of directors will once again assess the viability of the periodical to determine whether or not the publication of FOOD e.n.d. should be continued.

NEHA invites anyone with an interest in food safety and protection issues to request a sample copy of FOOD e.n.d. from a NEHA Service Specialist at [phone], ext.0. It is a practical, informative, and easy-to-read publication that many food professionals have enjoyed over the years.

Reno/Lake Tahoe and Anchorage Selected for Upcomings AECs

NEHA's board of directors recently approved Reno/Lake Tahoe, Nevada and Anchorage, Alaska as sites for NEHA's 2002 and 2004 Annual Educational Conferences, respectively. Both locations are expected to bring a large number of attendees.

In Reno/Lake Tahoe, NEHA will be able to provide educational sessions and special events at a lower cost than usual to attendees due to the high value-to-price ratio of hosting a conference there.

NEHA's AEC in Anchorage promises to be a very special event as well. It offers attendees a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Alaska at affordable travel and accommodation rates. It is hoped many will be able to extend their stays to enjoy some of the unique opportunities [or travel and adventure in this exceptionally beautiful state. Adding to the expected success of the Anchorage AEC, the City's Mayor has promised NEHA all-out support - from special facility rates to special signs welcoming attendees to assisting NEHA with its promotional efforts. Moreover, other organizations from Alaska are expected to meet at NEHA's AEC. For those planning ahead for this conference, please note that the 2004 AEC in Anchorage will be held in May, as opposed to the AEC's usual timing in late June/early July.

In an effort to make the AECs accessible to as many members as possible, NEHA chooses locations that alternate between the eastern and western halves of the United States each year. In years ending with an even number, cities in the western United States are selected; in years ending with an odd number, cities in the eastern United States are selected. NEHA's 2000 AEC will be held in Denver, Colorado; and its 2001 AEC will be held in Atlanta, Georgia. The site for the 2003 AEC is yet to be selected.

NEHA Restructures for the New Fiscal Year

With the 1999 fiscal year now behind us, NEHA has begun an internal restructuring that will take the association into the year 2000 with new staff members and an upgraded computer system for the Denver office.

Four NEHA staff members will be missed this year as they pursue new directions with their careers. Reggie Moore, NEHA Education Manager, was offered a deserving position he could not refuse - Deputy Executive Director of a Denver nonprofit housing organization for which he has spent many years volunteering his time and effort. Cassandra Simmons, NEHA Service Specialist and Webmaster, is now employed in the financial advisement field - a long-held career goal of hers. Veronica White, NEHA Service Specialist, has decided to concentrate the time she spends with her family, and also seeks opportunities as an actress and singer. Jason Harmon, NEHA Program Development Specialist, is pursuing a credential and a career in computer network administration.

NEHA thanks each of these departing staff members for their years of service and dedication. While NEHA faces a new challenge in replacing these four valuable people in the Denver office, it hopes to turn this challenge into an opportunity for restructuring and increased growth.

In addition to new staff coming on board for fiscal year 2000, NEHA is upgrading its entire office computer system. Last spring, NEHA's board of directors approved this much needed project in order to increase staff efficiency and the quality of service to NEHA members. NEHA will begin its renovation of the computer system in November 1999, and expects to complete the project by the beginning of the new millennium. The estimated cost for the system upgrade is between $100,000 and $150,000.

New Mexico Affiliate Conference to Offer NEHA Exams

The third annual New Mexico Environmental Health Conference will be held October 24-28, 1999, at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The conference will be held in tandem with the New Mexico Water Summit, and will offer as pre-conference workshops NEHA's review courses and examinations for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian and Certified Food Safety Professional credentials. Other pre-conference workshops will include the Underground Storage Tank Certified Scientist examination, the OSHA HAZMAT eight-hour annual refresher course, introductory food safety training for bed and breakfast operators, and a workshop on workplace chemical safety.

The conference will also feature four concurrent educational workshop tracks on waste management, water resources, food safety, and public health. Each track will focus on technology and research, management and planning, resources and regulations, and community, regional, and border issues.

The New Mexico Water Summit will address the urgent question, "How do we make water-management decisions?" and will apply the principles of "Enlibra" - a new doctrine for environmental management designed by the Western Governors Association. Enlibra is a philosophy of balanced environmental decision making that recognizes a need to empower people and to use inclusive processes that respect different values. Enlibra provides individuals with a role in designing and implementing solutions, and in developing meaningful incentives to complement existing laws. The focus is on outcomes - rather than on programs - and the need for a variety of tools, beyond regulation, that will improve water resource management and planning.

For registration information, contact conference chair Tom Duker at phone [phone] or fax [phone].

Right-to-Know Conference Next Month!

NEHA's Right-to-Know (RTK) Conference and Exhibition is quickly approaching. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver, Colorado, October 25-28, 1999. For details, please see pages 59-63 of this month's issue of the Journal.

Editor's note: In the future, announcements like this will be presented in our new department, "People on the Move," coming soon. If you or someone you know has received a promotion, changed careers, earned special recognition in environmental health, moved, or experienced an interesting event of any nature, please notify Julie Collins, Journal Content Editor, by phone at [phone], ext. 304; by fax at [phone]; or by email at <[e-mail]>.