Title: Connecticut Environmental Health Association 2004 Annual Meeting/50th Anniversary
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Section/SPIG: Environment
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The Connecticut Environmental Health Association (CEHA) celebrated its 50th Anniversary, 1954-2004, by recognizing the Association’s past presidents at the Annual Meeting held at Mohegan Sun Convention Center on Nov. 5, 2004. The event was attended by nearly 200 members and other dignitaries from the environmental health field. Several long-time CEHA members and distinguished honorees were on hand for this special commemorative event.
Highlights of the day’s events included the recognition of the CEHA’s past presidents, a special anniversary cake and celebration, CEHA Annual Business Meeting, educational scholarship awards, door prizes, and a session where several prominent members reflected upon the last 50 years of environmental health in Connecticut.
An educational program accompanied the 50th Anniversary celebration and included presentations involving bioterrorism and food safety, integrated pest management, and water supply. Speakers connected with the above topics were respectively Elizabeth O’Malley (FDA), Justin Hedlund (RAL Services), and Jane Downing (EPA Region 1).
The opening session was keynoted by Connecticut Public Health Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, MD, MPH. Galvin congratulated the CEHA on its Golden Anniversary and emphasized the role of environmental health in today’s public health picture. He further recognized the role of sanitarians and other allied environmental health workers in such critical areas as food sanitation, water quality and air control. He pointed out that important issues today consist of the above items as well as lead, asbestos and mold.
In addition, several CEHA members have participated on the regional and national levels through their role as the regional vice-president for the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). This position also plays an important role as the liaison to the New England YANKEE Conference on Environmental Health. Leonard O’Neil from the Fairfield Health Department served as the first “RVP” for the New England region upon the reorganization of the NEHA administrative structure. Leon Vinci from the Middletown Health Department served as the RVP for three terms in the 1970s and 1980s, and David Rogers (Meriden Health Department) covering the '90s, recently completed service in that capacity. We thank these individuals for their distinguished service and dedication to the profession.