Achievements, Challenges and Vision for CHPPD’s Future            

Tom Piper, Paul Meissner and Sue Myers

Dear Friends,

Please join me in thanking Tom and Paul for their service over these past few years as chair and immediate past chair...a special “tip of the hat” goes out to Priti for her dedication as newsletter editor and now for her service as chair-elect...and a very gracious nod goes to Frances Atkinson and Tanisha Battle back at the APHA “home office.”

We head into the New Year as the fourth largest section in APHA with nearly 1,700 members on our roster.  As both a large and diverse section, we have strengths and challenges.  I see three major challenges for the coming year. One is creating added value for Section members; two is creating additional ways for members to become involved in meaningful ways; and, three, we will need to replace five Governing Councilors in the coming election - this is a significant opportunity for the Section.  The good news is we have a veteran, and diverse, Section Council in place.  Now we need to be very thoughtful about the perspectives and skills we elect to represent our section as Governing Councilors.  (More on the roles and responsibilities of Governing Councilors and the nomination process in the next issue...).

I understand that many of you may not be able to attend the APHA Annual Meeting due to lack of company/agency sponsorship or personal constraints.  I also understand that you are passionate and committed to your profession and you have much to share, as well as a desire to learn. 

In the coming months I expect to share with you our progress in becoming more proactive in policy matters as well as create additional venues for dialogue and learning through the launching of audio-conference calls, Webinars, maybe even add podcasts and blogspots, in order to bring maximum possible benefit to all of our members.   Please contact me directly at myers@telerama.com or (866)432-6303 if you would like to help create this new educational service.

Membership Chair EmyLou Rodriguez will be reaching out to all of us to address membership engagement strategies.  As always, our Program Committee, now chaired by Roy Grant, will create a robust, dynamic annual program. Please join me in thanking EmyLou and Roy for taking on these two critical roles for our section. We seek to identify a policy chair to head the Policy Committee that will strongly enhance perceived CHPPD membership value as well as move forward thoughtful, impactful policy on the national level. 

Last, but most certainly not least, I want to take this opportunity to thank Amy Carroll Scott for her especially effective leadership with the students of our section.  You have my continued support for meaningful student involvement throughout every aspect of our section’s work, and I welcome you as a new Governing Councilor for the Section.

Until we connect again, and yours in service,

Sue Myers