Title: Message from the Chair

Author:

Section/SPIG: Environment

Issue Date:

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As the beautiful smells and sites of spring are upon us we are reminded of the fact that we are only six months away from the 2004 APHA Annual Meeting! Similar to the many other APHA Sections, SPIGs, and Caucuses, the Environment Section has been working hard to organize around the many exciting events planned at this year’s Annual Meeting. One successful planning event was the Section’s first Mid-Year Meeting, held in March at APHA Headquarters, in Washington, D.C. A great amount of work was accomplished, further assisting in the direction of section and conference related affairs.

Being that the theme of this year’s APHA Annual Meeting is “Public Health and the Environment,” The Environment Section is very excited to announce the creation of a Green Neighborhood at the APHA Expo! This specific area of the Expo floor section will showcase organizations that focus on environmental health issues. Exhibitors in the Green Neighborhood will be grouped with others whose focus is environmental health, highlighting many wonderful initiatives and services. Currently, an extensive outreach effort is being made to invite organizations to not only have booth space at APHA 2004, but to join us in the Green Neighborhood specifically. For more information please contact Brenda Afzal at <bafzal@son.umaryland.edu> or Robyn Gilden at <rgilden@son.umaryland.edu>.

The program planning for this year’s Annual Meeting is now in its track-organizing phase. Over 350 abstracts were received this year during the grant submission process! I have personally been working with APHA staff, other section and caucus leaders, as well as government agencies and community-based organizations to organize special larger sessions on environmental justice. The input and expertise during this process has been invaluable, resulting in a very intriguing set of sessions!

The Environment Section is pleased to be continuously working with APHA staff to incorporate as many environmentally responsible practices possible during the meeting planning and actual activities on site. Through our pressure, the D.C. Conference Center is now putting together a recycling policy for our review. Organic food options will also be available for social events per our request. The Expo Coordinator is also assisting our efforts by forwarding information to vendors on ways they can also be more responsible. We also hope to have continued exposure in pre-meeting materials.

Finally, the Environment Section is very pleased to announce that our new Web site is now up and running! We encourage all of you to visit it today to learn about the many exciting ways you can become active in Environment Section! Please visit us at <http://www.apha.org/sections>.

In Peace,

Nsedu Obot Witherspoon