Here we go – APHA’s Annual Meeting is scheduled to begin Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 in San Diego.  The Environment Section meetings will be in the Marriott Marina.  And we have a full schedule of program sessions (see the Annual Meeting Program listings in the newsletter).  Thank you to our planning committee and others who volunteered to develop sessions and review/recommend abstracts. You are also invited to join us at our business meetings:Environment Section Business Meetings: Marriott Marina

Sunday, Oct. 26, 8-9:30 a.m. & 10-11:30 a.m.

Monday, Oct. 27, 6:30-8 a.m.

As mentioned in prior messages, the efforts of all members are appreciated. And volunteering -- for those of you participating as officers or on committees know -- does not have to be an overwhelming or all-consuming activity.  In fact, we have many different ways that members can volunteer. For only a few hours a month, you can make a big difference by supporting Section work.  The Section’s current committees are listed in a subsequent article, later in the newsletter. And where are volunteers needed? 

One example is the Membership Committee that needs more volunteers and members who might be willing to chair or co-chair.  The good news is that the current chair and members have already developed excellent materials.  Those interested in continuing that committee’s work will do so with assurance that a system and tools are in place.  They can just step right in. 

In closing, thank you so much for your membership and for your volunteerism and all the good efforts that you put forth toward maintaining and improving the Environment Section and toward protecting the environment and environmental health.

Please contact any of the officers or committee chairs to share your perspective and join us during the APHA Annual Meeting.

Best,

Rebecca Head

rebecca_head@monroemi.org

Late newsletter addition, see information below about the Healthiest Nation Alliance:

From the Healthiest Nation Alliance Fact Sheet

What is the Healthiest Nation Alliance?

We are a group of local, state and national entities that have joined forces to build the truly integrated 21st century health system required for the United States to become the healthiest nation in the world.

What organizations constitute the Healthiest Nation Alliance?

The founding organizations are the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of County and City Health Officials. However, we are actively engaging partners from a variety of fields, including public health, medicine, third party payors, business, policy, government and academia.

Go to http://www.healthiestnation.org/  and to see an interesting video (though all text vs. images); click on "What’s Happening" at top, which will go to a page that lists a title of the 2008 ASTHO-NACCHO 2008 Joint Conference -- the video can be viewed and/or downloaded from that page.