Suddenly the seasons are changing and autumn is upon us; and the APHA Annual Meeting is right on the horizon.  This fall the Annual Meeting has been moved up a week to allow for the national elections, and our thanks to Carol and Ann, who put together another excellent Section Program!  Although I realize that the economy and the cost of travel will prohibit many of you from coming, this message will talk about how you can be involved in the important work of the Section, regardless of attendance in San Diego.

The meeting represents a transition to the new chair, JoAnne Fischer.  She and I are working together closely to make this change as seamlessly as possible.  Congratulations also to the new slate of officers for the 2008-2010 period, which includes Debbie Jackson as chair-elect and Lauren Raskin-Ramos as secretary-elect.

The Section developed a strategic plan at the Midyear Meeting in March 2007, with goals that include: 

• Influence national MCH policies.
• Assure that APHA is positioned to play an active role in MCH policy.
• Develop leadership within the Section.
• Communicate with members about policy and programmatic issue.

For more information, please see the Section Web site or contact me.

HOW we implement the Strategic Plan is as important as determining WHAT goes into it.  The Section has improved its effectiveness in action by increasing communication with monthly leadership conference calls, and by establishing working committees for specific projects.  The Child Health Policy Committee, led by Jane Pearson, is an excellent example of such a task group.

In San Diego, the structure of the meeting has been changed, both for the Association in general and for the MCH Section.  The meeting has been moved back onto the weekend and made more compact to meet current travel, work and family needs.  The main MCH leadership meeting has been moved to Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., followed by the Student Fellows orientation.  On Sunday, the MCH Section begins with a “town hall” session on the new Child Health Policy, and the major membership meeting takes place in the afternoon from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.  Monday afternoon, Debbie Klein Walker, who has served as both chair of the Section and as president of the Association, is moderating an important session on “Developing the MCH Agenda,” which is the second attempt to involve State Affliates in MCH issues. 

There is much to do.  The Nominations Committee will be active at this meeting as will the Student Fellowship Committee.  There are ideas about changing committee structure and the timing and focus of the midyear meetings.  There are major policy issues being launched.  At the Saturday leadership meeting, the action agenda will be finalized.   Besides the meetings already listed, there are open meeting times on Monday and Tuesday mornings, reserved for committee work, giving committees a full opportunity to meet face to face. 

For those of you who will not be coming to San Diego, your time to be involved is now.  Over the next four weeks, you will receive several e-mails asking you to help.  An early invitation to join the leadership will go out, to help the Nominations Committee do its job.  Also, requests for involvement in policy development and advocacy are forthcoming.  It is a great time for you to get involved in the work of the MCH Section.

At the end of the San Diego meeting, I will step down as chair and turn the gavel over to JoAnne.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in this role, and it has been made so easy by the leaders who have worked with me.  As immediate past chair, I will become responsible for awards; we have some great ideas to develop, which were discussed at this year’s Mid-year Meeting.

I must now and again thank my executive group:  Jane Pearson has done an incredible job as secretary; Karen VanLandingham has brought the Student Initiative to a new level; and JoAnne Fischer has changed the actual look of MCH with our new logo.   Carol Nelson has stuck with me and worked through all the program problems;  Ann Dozier is coming on to be the upcoming program chair;  Joseph Telfair has worked with the group of Governing Councilors to assure an MCH voice throughout APHA.  Of course, without Clare Feinson as newsletter editor, you would not be reading these words.   My thanks to all the Section Councilors, Governing Councilors and committee chairs, who have done such a good job.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.   On Tuesday evening in San Diego, I am having a reception and minor awards ceremony to honor those people who have done so much.   If you are in San Diego please join us.

See you in San Diego….or online.  We need your participation no matter how you can provide it.  

Barbara Levin

Chair, MCH Section