This year has sped by – it is hard to believe that the Annual Meeting is right around the corner. We have an exciting program planned with many oral sessions co-sponsored with other sections in APHA. Please plan to attend our annual awards banquet on Sunday evening to congratulate longstanding members (Judy Wilson, Jay Hirschman, and Angela Odoms-Young) on their accomplishments, to meet the student (Renata Jacob) who received the highest score on her abstract, and to see friends and colleagues. I also want to encourage all members to attend our section business meetings on Saturday (5:30-7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2-5 p.m.). There will be opportunities to listen to candidates for the APHA Executive Board, join in discussions about proposed policies for APHA, and learn about and participate in activities by the many committees that keep this organization active and vibrant. This will be the first Annual Meeting for the Breastfeeding Forum so please try to attend their activities, too. A schedule of all sessions and meetings is on the APHA Web site – a more detailed program will be available and sent to all members in mid-October. It is truly a packed program – I am especially grateful for the Program Committee chairs (Wendy Johnson-Askew, Alyssa Ghirardelli, Rachel Fisher) and the Awards Committee chairs (Marsha Spence, Katie Kavanagh) for all of their work in preparation for this annual event.
With the current administration, it is a very exciting time to be involved in policy discussions on food, nutrition and public health. Over the summer, members of our section were asked to comment on nutrition labeling on menu boards as part of federal legislation. The American Institute of Cancer Research contacted members of our section to discuss policy statements on diet, public health and cancer that are especially important to persons living in the United States. Members of our section continue to be involved with the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) in activities related to the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. We have also been involved with the newly created Food and Environment Working Group and are discussing ways to improve the beverages and foods offered at future annual meetings. With this year’s annual theme of water, it is an excellent opportunity to encourage drinking tap water rather than adding plastic bottles to the environment.
At the end of the Annual Meeting, some new members in the Section will assume leadership positions for the next year. Congratulations to Deirdra Chester as chair-elect, Sonya Jones as secretary-elect, Marsha Spence and Candace Young as Section Councilors, and Noel Chavez as Governing Councilor. Each year in February we have nominations for open leadership positions – descriptions of these positions are on the APHA Web site. Please be sure to get in touch with the Section chair if you are interested in being nominated – we always welcome new leaders!
Like the larger APHA and many other professional organizations, our section is concerned about maintaining and increasing membership. Our membership size determines our budget from APHA, and we are presented with many more opportunities than we can possibly do in both time and money. All suggestions for increasing membership involvement and ways to raise outside funds are welcome.
This is my last contribution to the newsletter as chair, and I want to thank all members in FNS – your continued support of the Section is invaluable. I look forward to seeing many of you in Philadelphia!
Beth Dixon,
Chair, FNS
beth.dixon@nyu.edu