We are quickly moving toward our 2005 APHA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. I personally invite you to attend so that you can “walk up and talk to us” at the CHPPD business meetings. Why would you want to attend the meetings, especially if you don’t know anyone there? There are two reasons: (1) we talk about strategies to keep our colleagues informed and updated on community health planning and policy issues, and (2) you can discuss ideas with other professionals; it is a valuable networking opportunity. You will meet the warmest and friendliest collection of health planners and policy developers to be found anywhere. So, here are some times and places where you can meet some warm, friendly people.

 Sunday, December 11, 2005 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) 102A
217.0 CHPPD: New Member Orientation and Policy Development

4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m., PCC 109A
262.0 CHPPD: General Membership Meeting and Candidates

6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., PCC 109A
287.0 CHPPD: Section Council Meeting and Program Planning

Monday, December 12, 2005

6:30 a.m.-8:00 a.m., PCC 109A
302.0 CHPPD: Nominations, 2006 Planning and Other Issues

6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., PCC 107B
337.0 CHPPD: Social Hour, Networking and Awards

Please visit http://www.ahpanet.org/CHPPD/CHPPDsessions.html for a detailed description of over 200 sessions, their times and locations. This Web site will also provide you a preview of some of the great places to be educated, refreshed, entertained and delighted.

On a personal level, “moving” is very immediate because, as I write this message to you, today is the day the trucks came to transport the contents of my offices from the bottom of a quiet little strip mall next to a burbling creek in an older residential area, to the top of a tall stately government office building next to the Capitol overlooking the mighty Missouri river . . . what a change in perspective. Yet, our mission is still the same, and the people we serve still need us. On a professional level, this is also very immediate with the move of our APHA Annual Meeting from New Orleans to Philadelphia. I believe that we all are also disappointed that we won’t be able to gather in this city’s Mardi Gras atmosphere, but look forward to returning to historic Philadelphia with its rich traditions. We grieve for the losses in New Orleans, pray for their speedy recovery, and look forward to the day when we can again plan our events there. Come to this year’s APHA Annual Meeting in early December, and join us for personal fulfillment and professional enrichment . . . this “move” will definitely be worth it.