Title: IH SECTION LEADERSHIP TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALLS

Author:

Section/SPIG: International Health

Issue Date:

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Since January 2005 the IH Section leadership, which includes all elected positions and active volunteers, have been having monthly conference calls to discuss time-sensitive issues in the Section. A few key points from each call are listed below. To be added to the conference call list, please contact Donna Barry at <djbarry@earthlink.net>.

APHA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE CALL (1/26/2005)
Update on meeting with Georges C. Benjamin
Joe Valedez, Marty Makinen and Allen Jones recently met with APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin. Among the issues raised were the following:
--IH Section Position paper: Benjamin commented on a position memo prepared by Marty, Allen, Joe and Ray on global trade and public health, objectively outlining the issues involved from the perspective of various stakeholders and the strengths of the International Health section on taking the leadership role the issue within APHA.
--APHA 2005 Special Session on Health and Global Trade: Benjamin expressed the APHA Executive Board’s interest in dedicating a special session to the topic.
--IH Image in APHA: It was agreed that the IH Section would have another meeting with the Executive to discuss the IH image in APHA, particularly as to how to organize other events or activities in which international health issues could have more exposure.
--Section membership and volunteer management: Bryn briefly mentioned the need to get more members involved in the management of volunteers, suggesting that a training activity for Section leaders in volunteer recruitment and management would be useful. No specific action was decided.
--Student coordinator : There is a need to increase information and communication with students on whom to contact and what projects they can get involved in. New means of communication other than broadcast e-mails are needed. The job of student coordinator is potentially very demanding and may require more than one person. Involving more students in the IH Section and the mentoring project are the two priorities for this year in the IH section. Allen informed on student recruitment effort with other organizations (Global Health Council). APHA is looking at ways of getting more student members through a pilot approach joint membership structure (free in APHA for one year for graduate level). The IH Section would like to use this resource to challenge GHC to do the same, in order to bring together the two organizations in this area.

APHA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE CALL (2/23/2005)
--Josefa solicited articles for the Newsletter.
--Joe raised the issue of working more closely with members from other North, Central and South American public health colleagues.
--Mary Anne Mercer is planning to contact the HIV/AIDS Section regarding a joint presentation/meeting during the meeting this year.
--Amy Hagopian, with some help from other section membership, took the lead in submitting two resolutions to APHA.

APHA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE CALL (2/23/2005)
--Samir is participating in Inter-sectional Conference Calls. Please submit issues to him for discussion (<sbanoob@aol.com>).
--We need to plan for our mid-year meeting in June very soon, and it will be a major topic during the next call.
--We need to solicit members to staff the IH Section booths at the GHC and APHA meetings in advance.
--We are still recruiting IH Section members to liase with other sections, caucuses and SPIGS.
--Donna Barry, E-mail <djbarry@earthlink.net>.