We are rapidly approaching what for many of our members is the busiest time of the year. APHA’s 134th Annual Meeting will be held in Boston, MA from November 4th through 8th. The ICEHS Section is hosting 39 scientific and poster sessions, including over 150 presentations on topics that continue to demonstrate the Section’s status as among the most diverse and relevant in APHA. Billie Weiss, as ICEHS Program Chair, and a company of other volunteers have worked tirelessly to make this year’s program one that will appeal to all members, prospective members, and interested public health partners. Thank you, Billie for all your efforts!

Among the most important activities of our Annual Meetings are the Section’s Business Meetings and Social Hours. As in previous years, ICEHS will have two business meetings, a member-new-member Welcome Breakfast, a Social Hour, and an Awards Dinner for all who are interested. On Sunday, November 5 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM in BCEC 157C, ICEHS Leadership will conduct the first Business Meeting to review and act on a full range of important issues and opportunities facing the Section. Though primarily a forum for leadership activities, this meeting is open to interested members. The Section’s general Business Meeting will take place Tuesday November 7 from 4:30 to 6:00 PM in BCEC 208 – we hope that you will make every possible effort to attend and contribute your insight and ideas toward our activities for the next year and beyond. Students and prospective members are also welcomed and encouraged to attend! And speaking of students and new members, I want to remind you of our “Welcome” and networking breakfast on Monday, November 6 from 6:30 to 8:00 AM in the BCEC160B – please consider “waking-up” with old and new friends, and steering students and prospective members to this event. Later Monday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in BCEC Northwest Lobby Level 2 ICEHS will host its annual Social Hour. Of course the Annual meeting would not be complete without our Section’s Awards Dinner immediately following the Business meeting on Tuesday, November 7 at 7:00 PM. This year’s dinner will be held at the Harvard Club through the hard work of Renee Johnson (THANK YOU, Renee!), assisted by Anara Guard and many other members, in Boston and elsewhere. Tickets are $48 for members and $35 for students, and may be purchased at the Section’s booth in the Exhibit Hall and at Section Business Meetings.

ICEHS has many urgent needs and opportunities this next year, and the participation of all Section Members is essential. In advance of our Business Meetings – and particularly for Members unable to attend this year’s conference – please consider the many ways that you can actively participate in the Section’s affairs. Examples include serving on (or Co-Chairing) one of the Section’s many committees (see http://www.icehs.org/leader.htm for a listing), assisting with strategic planning and governance enhancement, participating in development activities, helping to develop educational and outreach activities, serving as a subject-matter expert to fulfill APHA’s many requests for such services, and… well, there are countless other opportunities! Please make your willingness to serve known to any of our leadership – I also invite you to contact me directly with your questions, ideas, and offerings.

I hope to see many of you in Boston in November – and to keep in close touch with all our Members throughout the year in order to listen, learn, and lean-on!

Best,

Erich M. Daub
ICEHS Chair-elect
STC
57 Executive Park Dr., #100
Atlanta, GA 30329
404-235-5910
erich_daub@stchome.com