A Message from the Chair
It is official – APHA's Executive Board approved the formation of the Physical Activity Special Primary Interest Group (PA SPIG)! This is a major accomplishment, and I wish to thank all of you for your support, especially those persons who have dedicated their time and effort as members of the Leadership Team over the past two years. Now, we have much more work to do! You are invited to become a member of APHA and affiliate with the PA SPIG, whose mission is to provide a visible and credible home within APHA for PA researchers, practitioners, advocates and partners, help close the gap between science and practice, and integrate PA into APHA’s advocacy efforts. We will also provide exciting professional development and PA opportunities at the APHA Annual Meeting, some of which you can read about in this issue of our newsletter.
Our goal over the next three years is to have 250 or more APHA members as affiliates, and you can sign up by going to www.apha.org and then linking to the online membership form and selecting the PA SPIG as your primary affiliation in the Section/SPIG drop down menu. If you are already an APHA member, you can also affiliate with the PA SPIG by accessing your personal membership file and either changing your primary affiliation or selecting the PA SPIG as a secondary affiliation. Students are also welcome to join! Be on the look-out for more information from the PA SPIG in the coming days. As Chair of the Leadership Team, I invite you to get involved and look forward to working with you.
Steven P. Hooker, PhD, Chair
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PA SPIG at the Annual Meeting
We think you’ll be pleased with the quantity and quality of physical activity related events at this year’s APHA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. What follows is a brief list of special events, which you are most certainly encouraged to attend. In addition to these, you will find a host of oral, poster, roundtable and invited speaker sessions with a physical activity focus in the final conference program.
- PA SPIG Business Meeting: Sunday, Nov. 8, 4 - 7 p.m. Come out and meet the Leadership Team and learn how you can help the PA SPIG.
- PA SPIG Social and Reception: Monday, Nov. 9, 6:30 - 8 p.m. Join us for conversation and refreshments as we celebrate our first year as an official APHA SPIG.
- 2nd Annual 5K Fun Run/Walk: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 6:15 a.m. Start your day with an informal walk or run with your friends and colleagues. Re-create the famous scene from Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art!
- Water Fitness Class: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. at the Hyatt. This unique opportunity for physical activity is in keeping with the theme of the Annual Meeting.
General inquiries about PA SPIG events at the Annual Meeting can be submitted to Genevieve Dunton or Sheila Smith.
***Disclaimer: APHA is not responsible for the development, implementation, or coordination of off-site events sponsored by APHA Sections during the Annual Meeting. The listing of off-site events here is for informational purposes only and does not imply affiliation, cooperation or endorsement of such venues, hotels, activities or events by APHA***
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Register for the Annual Meeting
APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition
- Register for the meeting and make your hotel reservation soon (housing closes Oct. 9). Note: Presenters must be individual members of APHA to present their paper(s) and must register in advance for the meeting. Session organizers and moderators are also required to be members and pay the appropriate registration fee. Hope to see you in Philadelphia!
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APHA Career Guidance Center
Don't miss this opportunity! Sign up now for a one-on-one or a group session with a professional career coach at the APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition. These coaches can guide you in strategizing the next phase of your career and help you define your goals. Select a 45-minute individual session or a 90-minute group session. The group sessions are designed according to your career needs. To see which session best fits for you, please read about each coach's experience and education before setting an appointment. If you have never experienced coaching before, this is a wonderful introduction to what may become a useful service for your career!
Click here to visit the Career Guidance Center.
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A Note from APHA Press
APHA Press has three books in production of interest to epidemiologists and other health professionals that will be available at the Annual Meeting: Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Control, 3rd Edition, by Patrick Remington, Ross Brownson, and Mark Wegner, and two books by Steven S. Coughlin, Ethics in Epidemiology and Public Health Practice, 2nd Edition, and Case Studies in Public Health Ethics, 2nd Edition.
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PA SPIG Online
We now have a site dedicated to the PA SPIG! Visit us at our section of the APHA Web site, where you can learn about becoming a member and find the contact information for our SPIG Leadership Team:
http://www.apha.org/membergroups/primary/aphaspigwebsites/physical/
See you in Philadelphia!
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