Title: APHA Advocacy and Policy News

Author:

Section/SPIG: Food and Nutrition

Issue Date:

  • APHA 2003 Governing Council Report


    • The Food and Nutrition Section representatives to the 2003 APHA Governing Council (GC) were returning Councilors Geraldine Perry-Allen and Noel Chavez and new Councilor Joan Trendell. Meetings of the GC were held Saturday, Nov. 15, Sunday, Nov. 16, and Tuesday, Nov. 18.

    The Saturday session began with a report from APHA President Jay Glasser who reported Association highlights for 2003 as being the Strategic Planning activities of the past year and the report made by the Task Force for Association Improvement and Reorganization (TFAIR). In addition, he noted the successful mid-year meeting of the GC by conference call in September, a first for the Association outside its Annual Meeting. During that meeting, the GC voted to change the fiscal year from January-December to July-June, which will allow for the net fiscal impact from the Annual Meeting to become a manageable factor in the annual APHA budget since the Annual Meeting would occur earlier in the fiscal year. This change will go into effect July 1, 2004.

    The Candidates Forum allowed GC members to hear statements and responses to questions from President-elect and Executive Board candidates. The nominees represented a variety of public health practice areas as well as geographic locations. For the first time, the six executive board candidates were presented as a slate for three positions, as opposed to pairing two candidates for each position (position A, B or C). This resulted in the top three candidates with the most votes winning the election for the three positions. The election took place during the Tuesday session of the GC with the following individuals elected:

    President-Elect:
    Walter Tsou

    Executive Board:
    Karen Valenzuela
    Terri Wright
    Oliver Fein

    In his report, APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin highlighted the work and accomplishments of the Association during the past year. An improved financial position (a balanced budget is expected for 2003), increased visibility and relevance, and efforts to improve internal infrastructure were noted. In addition, advocacy efforts have benefited from a focused and effective effort to address increasing health care access, eliminating disparities in health and rebuilding the public health infrastructure. Efforts to expand APHA's membership and improve Section communications (both between APHA and Sections and membership within Sections) were highlighted in a more detailed written report provided. In the coming year, Dr. Benjamin expects priorities to be 1) assuring a smooth transition to the new budgeting year, and 2) a technology needs assessment for the Association.

    Also on Saturday, several reports from the Executive Board were made including that of APHA Executive Board Chairperson, Shelly Hearne, who noted that “APHA was at the peak of the 'perfect storm' last year, complete with three major fronts—a fiscal crisis, changing leadership and an aging association structure with a dwindling membership.” She went on to report that she believes that activities of the past year have assisted APHA in becoming a healthier organization. One item of note was the effort to develop an APHA policy manual, which will assist all organizational units in explaining administrative rules, practices and structures. This document is available to members on the APHA Web site.

    APHA Treasurer Melvin Shipp reported that APHA closed 2002 with a small (less than 1 percent of annual operating costs) surplus of revenue, a first for the organization in five years. In addition, the Association received an unqualified opinion with no material weaknesses on it financial statements from its auditor. A six-month extension of the ’03 budget was approved to cover the transitional period of Jan. 1-June 30, 2004.

    Strategic Planning Committee Chair Ed Marshall reported on progress on developing a Strategic Map and Strategic Profile. A planning retreat of the Executive Board was held in the summer. Feedback from the GC on the work thus far was gathered at a discussion session held Sunday morning. As the plan is implemented, APHA staff will develop a 6-12 month work plan focusing on strategic priorities and objective outlined in the Strategic Map. The strategic planning process will be incorporated into the Executive Board’s annual agenda.

    Another report of note was that of TFAIR. During the past year, TFAIR solicited input from APHA members, and the findings were detailed. Improvement steps for consideration by the Executive Board and the GC were presented. In addition, TFAIR requested support to continue its work for at least another year, which was approved by the GC. Additional information on TFAIR is available on the APHA Web site.

    The Joint Policy Committee archiving project that focused on a systematic review and archiving of APHA policies was discussed, and on Tuesday the process was approved by the GC. In addition, the GC passed a consent calendar listing policies to be archived.

    The Nominating Committee Workgroup recommended changes that were approved by the GC, which expands the Nominating Committee from six to nine members.

    The Committee on Constitution and Bylaws reported that a request to amend the bylaws so that the Chairpersons of the Committee on Affiliates, Intersectional Council and the Public Health Student Caucus be voting rather than non-voting members of the Executive Board had been reviewed, but that the Committee had voted not to bring the amendment to the GC. However, the amendment was brought up for action from the floor of the GC. The amendment was discussed during the Tuesday session, but the amendment failed as is did not receive the two-thirds vote required.

    Other organizational units of APHA provided reports to the GC, including the Action Board, the Science Board, the Committee on Equal Health Opportunity, the Committee on Membership, the Committee on Affiliates, the Intersectional Council, the American Journal of Public Health Editorial Board, the Publications Board, and the Education Board.

    Nominations for the 2004 Nominating Committee included Food and Nutrition Section Councilor, Joan Trendell. It was noted that since the slate of candidates did not include a minority, the Equal Health Opportunity Committee would have to appoint a minority member to the committee. The election was held on Tuesday and four new members were elected to the Nominating Committee by the GC with Joan not being one of them.

    Two possible themes for the 2005 Annual Meeting were presented: 1) “Public Health Strategies and Methods for the 21st Century” and 2) “The Best Defense is Good Public Health.” After suggestions from the GC and discussion the theme chosen for 2005 will include the phrase Evidence-Based Policy and Practice. The program committee will finalize the theme.

    As a result of round table discussions on Sunday, the GC identified three priority issues for action in the coming year: Access to Care; Public Health Infrastructure, and Health Disparities. These were the same priorities as the previous year.

    As usual there were many Policy Statements under consideration at the 2003 GC, of which two were put forth by the Food and Nutrition Section and passed by the GC: Food Marketing and Advertising Directed at Children and Adolescents and Support for WIC and Child Nutrition Programs. Open hearings were held on Sunday with GC action taken on Tuesday. For a full listing of passed Policy Statements, go to <www.apha.org/legislative/policy/2003>.

    Several items of New Business were considered prior to adjournment. The GC passed a motion for the use of electronic keypads for voting rather than paper ballots for elections during GC. A motion that all Late Breaking Policy Statements automatically go on the Joint Policy Committee’s agenda in March passed. There was discussion about making a hard copy of the American Journal of Public Health available to all student members (currently students must pay $30) but the issue was tabled for further study. In a discussion of the timely distribution of Executive Board minutes to the members of GC, it was decided that minutes would be distributed electronically within six weeks of their approval. In addition, GC minutes will be approved within 90 days of the meeting rather than waiting until the following Annual Meeting to do so. After the announcement of election results (see above), the GC adjourned. The GC at the 2004 Annual Meeting will begin on Nov. 6, 2004 in Washington, D.C. The 2004 Food and Nutrition Section Governing Councilors include Joan Trendell, L. Beth Dixon, and Anna-Maria Siega-Riz.

    For additional information about the reports made to and action of the 2003 Governing Council, please contact one of the Food and Nutrition Sections Councilors listed above.

  • National Public Health Week 2004


    • The observance of National Public Health Week (NPHW) will be April 5-11, 2004. The tagline is, "Eliminating Health Disparities: Communities Moving from Statistics to Solutions."Last year's NPHW was a great success with events in every state including the District of Columbia. Our message on obesity was heard in 7.4 million households. With the sponsorship of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, we anticipate this year to be the most successful yet. To find out more about National Public Health Week 2004, please visit <http://www.apha.org/nphw/>.