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NEHA's 2005 Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition: Advancing the Environmental Health Profession

Posted on: Saturday, 15 October 2005, 03:01 CDT

By Anonymous

Waterfire: Providence's signature event captivated hundreds of AEC attendees with its crackling river bonfires and musical accompaniment.

Last June, terrorism response coordinators, environmental health specialists, and epidemiologists alike converged on the city of Providence, Rhode Island. What did they all have in common? They were looking for the latest environmental health information and technology. They were seeking an opportunity to network with hundreds of environmental and public health professionals. And, as frequent attendees of NEHAs annual educational conferences, they didn't want to miss out on what is found, year after year, at our conferences-a trove of invaluable knowledge, opportunities, and people.

This year, NEHA's 69th Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition was held June 26-29, 2005, in Providence and hosted over 1,400 attendees, including some from Canada, England, Iceland, Israel, and Jamaica. Attendees had 189 educational sessions to choose from, on topics ranging from terrorism and all-hazards preparedness to onsite wastewater to food safety and protection. They could also choose from 10 preconference workshops, hear from a preeminent expert on homeland security, and attend an impressive poster session and numerous networking and social events.

For many of our attendees, highlights of their conference experience included meeting new colleagues, seeing old friends, sharing research with professionals from around the world, gathering new ideas, and receiving cutting-edge education. Robert Vincent of the Florida Department of Health describes the experience in these terms: "Expect to bring back months' worth of information, names of new contacts, and experts-all of this after the opportunity to hear from and speak with expert practitioners in many environmental health fields."

Immediate Past President James Balsamo.

President Ron Grimes.

NSF President and CEO Kevan Lawlor.

Opening Ceremony and Featured and Keynote Addresses

At the opening ceremony, President James Balsamo welcomed everyone to the conference, recognizing NEHAs international guests, new NEHA members, first-time AEC attendees, and the AEC's generous sponsors. President-Elect Ron Grimes offered the invocation.

Elizabeth Cotsworth-Featured Speaker

Many environmental health professionals face challenging indoor- air quality issues every day-from radon reduction to child asthma to mold remediation. Elizabeth Cotsworth, NEHAs featured AEC speaker and director of U.S. EPAs Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, addressed these concerns and presented an overview of the U.S. EPAs Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program.

Cotsworth currently directs national efforts to protect the public and the environment from harmful and avoidable exposure to radiation. She was previously the U.S. EPA director of the Office of Solid Waste.

Cotsworth began by recognizing U.S. EPAs longstanding relationship with NEHA and the many environmental health professionals and NEHA members who are committed to a wide variety of indoor air issues such as asthma reduction, healthy schools, and radon reduction.

"Healthy indoor air is an important environmental and public health issue," she said. "Indoor pollutant contaminant levels can often be two to five times higher than those found in ambient air; in some cases they are a hundred-even a thousand-times higher." Furthermore, she noted, "people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, so indoor air pollution is a serious issue, and in some cases can certainly pose a greater health threat than even ambient, outdoor pollution."

U.S. EPA's IAQ Program works to reduce the public health risk associated with indoor air pollutants such as radon, second-hand smoke, mold, pet dander, pesticides, particulates, volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide. A critical part of the mission is radon reduction and mitigation. According to Cotsworth, the risks associated with radon are high, and "well over 20,000 people die each year in the U.S. from radon exposure." This estimate is higher than U.S. EPA previously thought; she added that "nonsmokers are at four times our previous estimate of the risk."

The risks are high, but the solution to reducing the risk from radon is "known, simple, and inexpensive." The challenge, however, is to motivate government at all levels, as well as the private sector, to take action to reduce exposure. According to Cotsworth, U.S. EPA, NEHA and its members, and others have accepted this challenge. In the last 20 years, for example, millions of homes have been tested, and approximately 1.3 million new homes have been built with radon-reducing features, saving about 525 lives from lung cancer every single year.

"But we simply have to do more, given the tremendous risks that we know are associated with radon exposure," Cotsworth said. As a response to the risks, she unveiled U.S. EPA's first major initiatives on radon since they started its program over 15 years ago. These initiatives, known as U.S. EPAs "radon reinvigoration strategy," outline plans to increase action at the local, state, and national levels. The strategy has four policy anchors:

1. A national partnership agenda will involve building new partnerships in the environmental, public health, housing, and private sectors to expand radon testing and mitigation. "EPA wants to increase its leadership role in communication to underscore the pressing need for action among the public," stressed Cotsworth.

2. A state partnership agenda will involve providing tools and resources needed to expand the number of states and localities with active and comprehensive radon programs. Cotsworth added: "EPA believes that a key to the success is the quality, the robustness, and the extent of state radon programs."

3. A market-driven agenda will involve working with homebuilders, real estate professionals, and the millions of Americans each year buying homes to press for greater attention and action on radon reduction.

4. A science and technology agenda will involve encouraging innovative technologies to drive more accurate and less expensive radon testing and mitigation approaches.

Cotsworth acknowledged that U.S. EPA has an aggressive goal for reducing radon exposure. "It nearly triples the current number of homes with active mitigation and doubles the annual number of new homes that EPA wants to see built with radon-resistant construction," she said. Not only is this goal ambitious, she added, it is also impossible to do alone: "EPA needs help from partners like NEHA and the collective energy, creativity, and wisdom of everyone in the environmental and public health community ... to prevent 1,250 future lung cancer deaths annually by 2012 with testing and mitigation in existing homes and with the construction of radon-resistant new homes."

U.S. EPAs IAQ Program has already made progress and has many activities in place to accomplish these goals. Readers will find more information at www.epa.gov/radon on the agency's accomplishments and its strategies for reinvigorating national attention to and action on radon.

Featured speaker Elizabeth Cotsworth, director of the U.S. EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air.

Keynote speaker Asa Hutchinson, former undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Another indoor air issue that is far newer but is experiencing growth with U.S. EPA and other organizations is the green building movement. "EPA is a key player in the rapidly growing green building movement and is soon going to be publishing guidance on best practices for indoor air quality," stated Cotsworth. "Guidance is intended to ... improve practices for moisture, pollution, and temperature control in both commercial and institutional buildings, both existing and new." U.S. EPAs IAQ Program is also examining protocols for testing, evaluating, and certifying indoor air quality products and is working with the Energy Star Program to promote increased integration of energy efficiency and indoor air quality management in homes.

What about indoor-air quality in schools? Cotsworth noted that busy school administrators often overlook this area-but that they shouldn't. "Good IAQ contributes not only to the health of students and staff, but also to a favorable learning environment," she pointed out. By contrast, poor IAQ can lead to a number of health problems such as asthma; headaches; eye, ear, and nose irritation; and fatigue. According to CDC, asthma is the leading cause of absenteeism from school; nearly 14 million school days are missed each year because of asthma. And, in Cotsworth's mind, the most compelling statistic comes from U.S. Department of Education research, which has revealed that students who attend schools with poor environmental conditions score about 11 percent lower on standardized tests than students who attend schools with good environmental conditions.

To assist schools in managing their indoor environmental problems, U.S. EPA sponsors the Tools for Schools Program. According to Cotsworth, this program is "designed not only to solve IAQ problems, but also to prevent IAQ problems from occurring by promoting voluntary adoption of effective IAQ manage\ment practices." Through NEHAs involvement with Tools for Schools, U.S. EPA now has a key group of national experts that serve on a voluntary basis as advisors and resources for school districts.

In addition to working on the reduction of indoor air pollutants in homes and schools, U.S. EPA also focuses its knowledge and expertise on homeland security. Since September 11, said Cotsworth, the agency has been working on built-environment issues such as IAQ impacts to people from the World Trade Center, lessons on decontamination from anthrax and ricin, and the public health risks from possible terrorism events.

Finally, Cotsworth explained that U.S. EPA is engaged in the following activities to meet homeland security challenges:

* working to transfer knowledge to first responders on prevention, response, and recovery from a potential terrorist attack;

* providing guidance for owners and operators for protection from a potential attack;

* creating a manual on radiological, chemical, and biological indoor attacks;

* forming a national homeland security center to manage the indoor environment;

* working to increase the speed and efficiency of building technology;

* forming the Radiological Emergency Response Team under the national contingency plan to decontaminate the urban environment, if needed; and

* re-examining existing decontamination techniques and response.

Asa Hutchinson-Keynote Speaker

Asa Hutchinson, former undersecretary of the Department of Homeland security (DHS) and NEHAs keynote speaker, came to the podium with a message that many environmental health professionals wanted to hear: The environmental health profession has an important role to play in the response to terrorism.

As undersecretary, Mr. Hutchinson coordinated the nation's border and transportation security efforts and managed more than f 10,000 employees. In addition, he oversaw four independent law enforcement and security agencies with the responsibility of preventing terrorists or terrorist materials from getting into the U.S.

Hutchinson first gained law enforcement experience when he became the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas in 1982; at the time, he was the youngest U.S. attorney in the nation. He practiced law in Arkansas for 21 years before his election to Congress in 1996. After serving as director of the Drug Enforcement Agency from 2001 to 2003 and then as DHS undersecretary from 2003 to 2005, Hutchinson has returned home to Arkansas to run for governor.

Thinking back over the last two and a half years of building DHS, Hutchinson stated that there have been many occasions when environmental health professionals should have been at the table. He recalled his participation in the department's TOPOFF 2 exercise in Seattle, which involved a dirty bomb. During the exercise, discussions ensued over plume monitoring and whether the group should provide shelter in place or evacuate-all discussions, Hutchinson said ardently, that environmental health professionals should be involved in because of their expertise.

Hutchinson recalled another homeland security event: In December 2003, the department obtained intelligence that flights from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris and Heathrow Airport in London were being targeted by terrorists. The department had to put protective measures in place and thus made the decision to cancel these flights. Because DHS didn't know whether a chemical or biological agent would be used, they debated over how best to respond to protect the passengers. Again, Hutchinson stressed, the environmental health profession should participate in decisions of this type.

To further emphasize his point, Hutchinson discussed the challenges that the department faces on homeland security and global terrorism, and ideas on how the environmental health profession can play a greater role in response planning.

First, Hutchinson remarked on homeland security challenges: "The Department of Homeland security remains under extraordinary scrutiny because of the purpose of its mission, the investment of tax payers' dollars, and the daily interaction with vast numbers of our population-whether you're talking about ... border crossings ..., the hundreds of millions of airline passengers who fly each year, or the cargo shipments that come into the U.S.... It has been a challenge to [bring together] 180,000 employees and 22 different agencies to constitute the largest government reorganization in 50 years."

To illustrate the challenges that the department will continue to face in the coming years, Hutchinson recalled an event that took place last August when DHS received intelligence of Al Qaeda- operative plans to destroy certain buildings in the financial sector of New York City, south New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The intelligence was pre-9/11, but, said Hutchinson, "if you looked at how Al Qaeda has conducted itself in the past and know that there were eight years between the first WTC attack and the second WTC attack, [you would know that] they've always demonstrated a great deal of patience and determination ... to carry out their operations."

With the intelligence in hand, Hutchinson, along with national leaders including Condoleezza Rice and Robert Mueller, were in the White House's Situation Room facing a number of questions: "How old is the intelligence? Should we raise the threat level? If we tell the employers, do we tell the employees? (Don't they have a right to know what they may face when they go to work the next day?) Do we tell the public? What security measures are necessary? Do we consider the impact on the financial markets that open on Monday?"

They decided to raise the threat level and to release more information than ever before to the public and to the private sector. The next day, security was in place, employees went to work, the stock market opened and was steady by the end of the day; seven months later, terrorists responsible for the pre-operations were arrested.

In that instance, Hutchinson said, and in every instance, "the response of Americans to the challenges and hardships of terrorism reminds me of the attitudes of those Londoners during World War II." Hutchinson explained: "Londoners were bombed for 57 consecutive days, sleeping in warehouses and subway stations, and each morning after being in a bomb shelter at night they would wake up, they would dust themselves off, and they would they go to their places of employment and write with chalk on their boarded-up shop windows, 'Business as usual, we're open.'" That, according to Hutchinson, has been America's response.

Hutchinson then presented another challenge that confronts DHS: "What if the chemical sector was targeted instead of the financial sector?"

"First," he said, "Al Qaeda has not changed its intent. Their capabilities have been diminished, but their focus has been undeterred." He pointed out that Porter Goss, current director of the CIA, in testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has said, "It may be only a matter of time before Al Qaeda or other groups use chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons."

Hutchinson continued: "Second, let's not forget the historic focus of Al Qaeda: They continue to focus on synchronized attacks on symbolic targets. Chemical plants represent the most attractive targets; historically, [they have had] minimal security, and the visual impact [would be] incredible."

As DHS deals with these challenges, key questions, urged Hutchinson, need to be asked of the environmental health profession: "What is the assessment of the major facilities in terms of toxic waste management? What are the evacuation requirements? Should the public evacuate or should they shelter in place?"

Furthermore, Hutchinson recommended, the environmental health profession should stand next to the secretary of the Department of Homeland security in communicating to the public because "the public will not have confidence in the secretary of state, but in doctors, health providers, and environmental health professionals-the experts." The environmental health profession has an important role on the team of responders in communicating with and educating the public.

How is the government addressing these challenges? The following strategies are in place and being carried out by DHS:

* Disrupt and destruct Al Qaeda leadership. According to Hutchinson, "two-thirds ... have been apprehended or put out of business, and intelligence is key to identifying cells in the U.S."

* Deny sponsorship, sanctuary, and support to terrorist organizations. The department has improved its information-based detection capabilities by using biometrics to prevent over 1,000 criminal offenders from entering the U.S. They have provided the same kind of information-based technology for cargo ships entering the United States and have moved their border inspection capabilities to radio-frequency technology.

* Partner with the private sector.

* Defend the United States and prepare for another terrorist attack.

Hutchinson went back to the primary point of his presentation: "The environmental health profession must be engaged in [preparation for another attack] and raise its voice in the Administration and Congress. The message should be to recognize the critical role of the environmental health profession in planning and consequence management." He encouraged attendees to obtain grant funding through state and local homeland security grants, and to encourage the improvement of technological detection of biological and radiological threats and the development of better early-warning systems.

Hutchinson concluded by asking rhetorically, "What has America become?" He added: "Whenever you look at the emphasis upon security and information-based systems-what do these do to privacy and civil liberties in our nation? And are we changing the essential character of our nation [by \being] involved in worrisome aspects of security?"

Henry Van Dyke, professor at the turn of last century, gave a series of lectures in Europe explaining the spirit of America, and what Hutchinson thinks Americans are about today: "Americans are people of idealists set about to accomplish a great, practical task," Van Dyke wrote.

"We can apply this to our post-9/11 environment," Hutchinson reflected, "because we have not lost our idealism, love of freedom, civil liberty, and commerce-but we do have a very practical task. As the president told Attorney General John Ashcroft at the time, 'Do not let this happen to America again.'"

Association Business

At the AEC & Exhibition, important business meetings of all kind take place. Two of the most important are the business meetings of the NEHA Board of Directors and its Council of Delegates. Just as important is the General Assembly, which gives members an opportunity to provide suggestions and ask questions of the board of directors, as well as to hear firsthand what is occurring within the association. The summary below presents the highlights from each of these meetings.

Board of Directors Meeting

* This was the final board meeting for three directors (Past President Douglas Ebelherr and Regional Vice Presidents [RVPs] Bruce Chelikowsky and Richard Gabriel), who rotated off the board. Each was thanked for his years of service.

* A special presentation to the NEHA board was made by Kevan Lawlor and Dr. Mary Jand England, respectively the president and CEO of NSF and the NSF board director. The presentation, along with the discussion that followed, served to enhance the relationship between two institutional friends.

* The executive director announced that a contract had been signed with EHT for the purpose of updating NEHAs two major credentials-the R.E.H.S./R.S. and the C.FS.P. credentials.

* The executive director and the board also reviewed the progress that the office was making in upgrading its computer software and hardware.

* Authorization was given to the executive director to proceed with a request for proposals (RFP) soliciting a new auditor for NEHA.

* The board adopted a policy paper that outlined how NEHA intended to pursue its international interests.

* Conceptual approval was given by the board for a new dues structure for sustaining members. The new system would give sustaining members the opportunity to more substantially express their support for the cause and mission of NEHA. The concept will be worked into a final proposal, which will be reviewed and voted upon at an upcoming board meeting.

* The board and President Elect Ron Grimes determined the best way to proceed with a new membership campaign to reward NEHA members who recruit new members with special ambassador pins.

* A special fund designed to financially aid students and NEHA members who wish to attend the AEC but who are without the financial means to do so was approved. This special program will honor NEHA Past President Vern Reierson, whose family's contribution will make this fund possible.

* Very specific credentialing-policy manuals designed for both interested candidates and NEHA were presented for approval. The board determined that final approval of these informational and policy documents was to be accomplished by mid-summer.

* Extensive discussion took place at the board's meeting on the subject of qualification requirements for the C.ES.P credential and the relationship between the C.ES.P and R.E.H.S./R.S. credentials. The board moved into consideration of adopting a college degree requirement for the C.ES.R A final decision on this policy will be made at an upcoming board meeting.

* A special resolution of appreciation was passed to thank NEHA's outgoing president, James Balsamo.

* A policy position that expresses association support for environmental health academic degree programs was adopted and forwarded to the Council of Delegates for consideration and action.

* The board deferred action on appointing an RVP for NEHA Region 1.

* A strategy paper regarding NEHA's relationship with other, sometimes competing, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) was considered and adopted.

* Changes in NEHAs bylaws having to do with the provision of floor nominations for office were reviewed, but no action was taken to change the existing policy, which allows for this process.

Council of Delegates

The NEHA Council of Delegates comprises the presidents of each of NEHA's affiliates as well as the entire board of directors. The annual Council of Delegates meeting is primarily an informational meeting, at which NEHA officials bring each affiliate up to date on what the national association is doing. Highlights of this meeting can be summarized as follows:

* The spring ballot results from NEHAs election were presented. Those results were as follows:

* Ron Grimes ascended to the position of NEHA president.

* John Steward was elected as RVP for NEHA Region 10.

* Alicia Enriquez was appointed by the board to fill out the remainder of the term for RVP Region 2.

* Brian Collins was re-elected as RVP for NEHA Region 5.

* Tow Ward was re-elected as RVP for NEHA Region 7.

* The election process that NEHA follows established that there will be two candidates running for the position of NEHA second vice president next year-Brian Collins from Texas and Welford Roberts from Virginia.

* President Elect Grimes announced that he would be appointing a board member to work with each NEHA section chair over the upcoming year.

* It was reported that this year's silent auction raised $3,355- money that NEHA uses to help support its conference speaker fund.

* The process for selecting sites for NEHAs AECs was explained. It was also announced that the board had selected Tucson as the site for the NEHA 2008 annual conference. The next open year for a site selection is 2009. Several cities in the eastern United States are being considered.

* An extensive presentation was made to explain NEHAs new governmental-affairs program-through which NEHA is making the effort to join policy debates that concern environmental health.

* Reports on the progress of NEHA Training, NEHAs strategic directions, and the project to upgrade NEHAs credentialing exams were given.

* A position paper on defending environmental health academic degree programs was adopted.

* Affiliates were encouraged to have NEHA recognize them with special resolutions on special anniversaries such as their 50th.

* Focus group presentations were made. This year's focus groups (made up of affiliate presidents and board directors) explored the issue of workforce development in the profession. The focus groups were specifically asked to discuss ways in which the profession could attract younger people to come into it and prepare existing professionals to take over positions and responsibilities being vacated by the many environmental health practitioners and leaders who are retiring.

General Assembly

James Balsamo, outgoing president, explained that this assembly is held so that individual members can ask questions of the president and the BOD, hear firsthand about what is going on within the association, and express views directly to the president and the BOD. He began by giving a report on accomplishments of this past year, in which NEHA

* continued to send its members the e-newsletters Presidential Newsletter and NEHA E-News, and to make improvements to its Web site, one of which is a new section for students (www.neha.org/ students);

* enhanced a special section of its Web site that serves as a resource for environmental health professionals involved in terrorism response (www.neha.org/research/teiTorism);

* invested in a major computer upgrade of its office system to allow NEHA and its members to conduct substantially more ebusiness;

* again funded student scholarships with the American Academy of Sanitarians;

* again funded an international sabbatical exchange-this time in Canada-with a sponsorship from UL;

* hosted the International Federation of Environmental Healths Governing Council meeting in Denver;

* represented NEHA at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health's meeting in England;

* put together the 2005 Providence AEC-its second largest conference, with over 1,400 attendees;

* sponsored numerous regional learning opportunities around the country on epidemiology and indoor air quality for its members;

* enhanced and expanded its relationships with numerous other NGOs (see NEHAs R&D Government and External Affairs Program accomplishments listed below for more information);

* became even more deeply involved with CDC and

* helped CDC to select a new director for its National Center of Environmental Health (NCEH);

* assisted CDC in setting an agenda for its new coordinating center for environmental and occupational health;

* helped CDC with feedback on its NCEH/ATSDR research agenda;

* coordinated with CDC on several grant projects;

* opened up the Journal to a special, regular column from CDCs NCEH;

* worked and continues to work closely with CDC staff on workforce development, terrorism response, multipart}' efforts, future leadership for environmental health, and the restructuring of the agency; and

* developed an agenda for the association and CDC;

* signed a major memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 10 other NGOs for cooperation in the field of onsite wastewater;

* authorized a new section in NEHA on children's environmental health;

* saw NEHA Training ELC become profitable;

* published a special article on environmental health and terrorism response in the Journal and mailed it to every single health department in the United States at NEHAs cost;

* is participating in a special Association of Food and Drug Officials committee to express opposition to HR 2699, legislation that preempts local control over food safety programs;

* negotiated and signed an extensi\ve contract with EHT to update and upgrade NEHAs R.E.H.S./R.S. and C.ES.E credentials;

* launched a major new initiative to develop a specialty credential for onsite wastewater;

* sponsored, with the National Swimming Pool Foundation, a new educational CD for pool and spa inspection;

* greatly enhanced a special online job center for environmental health professionals, where members and nonmembers can search for and post job announcements (www.neha.org/CareerOp.html);

* commissioned several articles for the Journal's Inside the Profession column that have had widespread and positive reaction, including the first-ever examination of violence in our profession;

* expanded our AEC educational program to 189 educational sessions and 38 poster sessions-NEHA's most extensive program ever;

* developed a CD for every conference attendee that presents over 5,500 pages of learning materials from the 2005 AEC;

* reviewed and revised the associations strategic directions, one of which is a focus on terrorism and all-hazards preparedness; and

* reviewed and approved our largest budget ever, of close to S3 million.

Balsamo then explained that NEHAs articles of incorporation and bylaws allow for nominations from the floor for any NEHA office, and he invited any member who had filled out the proper paperwork to make a nomination. No nominations were made, however. This floor nomination process is in addition to a nomination process that officially cleared two candidates to run in next year's election.

The first candidate running for second vice president in next year's election, Brian Collins of Piano, Texas, stated that his platform "revolves around further development of NEHA's strategic direction to increase membership, improve environmental public health education, leadership and workforce development and an enhanced profile for the environmental public health professional." Mr. Collins is committed to a "participative leadership style that is both reflective and forward thinking while tuned in to membership needs."

Dr. Welford Roberts of Fairfax, Virginia, also running for second vice president, stated that he "endeavors to bring NEHA a fresh perspective to its strategic direction by focusing on the organization, the profession, and public health." Examples of specific areas he will address include "expanding and enhancing student involvement in NEHA, establishing a standard industrial code(s) (SIC) for environmental health professionals, establishing NEHA as the national/international leader in continually defining the environmental health discipline and profession, and empowering our Washington, U.C., Representative and Government Affairs position."

After hearing from the second-vice-presidential candidates, NEHA Research and Development Manager Larry Marcum gave a special presentation on NEHAs Government Affairs and External Eiaison Program-a program that, though less than two years old, has a long list of accomplishments. Marcum emphasized the need to give environmental health visibility and prestige and to communicate positions on important legislation. He also stressed the importance of demonstrating to policy makers the significance of the environmental health profession through this program. In addition to the list above of NEHA's accomplishments, NEHAs Government Affairs and External Eiaison Program has achieved the following:

NEHA staff members Matt Cummings, Cinay Dimmitt, and Toni Roland became familiar faces at the AEC registration desk.

The Food-Safe Schools Action Guide Toolkit was unveiled at the AEC by CDC and its partners in the National Coalition for Food-Safe Schools.

* endorsed

* public health workforce development legislation,

* environmental public health tracking legislation, and

* CDC's Revitalization Strategy for Environmental Health;

* developed a formal position on the relationship between environmental health and public health nursing for CDC;

* facilitated work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture/ Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (USDA/HACCP) work group, reviewing HACCP standards for school food operations;

* participated in

* the USDA/HACCP work group, reviewing inspection standards for school food operations;

* development and promotion of an operational definition for environmental health;

* the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practices (workforce recruitment, retention, and certification issues);

* the CDC Emerging Leaders in Environmental Health Program;

* the CDC Futures Initiative;

* the CDC Epi-X-Forum;

* the Public Health Systems Research Interest Group;

* the Conference for Food Protection;

* defining the environmental health role in emergency planning/ terrorism response with CDC; and

* development of the national Food Safe Schools Action Guide.

* was the lead organization in a work group on a military career guide for public/private sector placement in environmental health;

* initiated formal discussions with CDCs NCEH/ATSDR on future projects and collaboration with NEHA and developed a blueprint document outlining long-term cooperative ventures between the two organizations;

* was a member of

* the EPMAQ National Cooperative Partner Network,

* the EPA/IAQ in Schools National Symposium,

* the EPA/MOU Cooperative Partner Network for Onsite Wastewater Management Systems,

* the CDC National Partner Group for Environmental Public Health Tracking,

* the CDC National Partner Group for Environmental Public Workforce Development,

* the CDC Tier II Workforce Development Committee,

* the CDC National Partner Group for Land Use/Community Design,

* the CDC Partner National Coalition for Food Safe Schools,

* the National Clean Hands Coalition,

* the Student Network for Absentee Prevention, and

Several members of NEHAs Board of Directors at the General Assembly.

* the National Mosquito Control Cooperative;

* led, in cooperation with CDC Food Safety Office in developing, promoting, and conducting training for epidemiological foodborne- outbreak investigation strategies (Epi-Ready);

* developed, in cooperation with CDC's Food Safety Office and PDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, the Epi-Ready Train the Trainer Program;

* is developing, in cooperation with NCEH, the U.S. Army, and private industry, a vector control program for future NEFlA conferences;

* represented NEHA at

* a National Press Club news conference, launching the MOU agreement among national partners for onsite wastewater management;

* Surgeon General's Conference on Indoor Air Quality; and

* national public health preparedness meetings.

* established cooperative work projects with NSF International, UL, and the National Swimming Pool Foundation;

* has had formal working relationships and represents NEHA on working committees of other national organizations such as NACCHO, ASTHO, NALBOH, APHA, APHL, CSTE, AEHAP, NCSL, ALA, ICMA, CFA, ELI, NaCO, NOWRA, IFEH, AWWA, ECOS, NAWT, APA, NCLEHA, CIPHI, PSR, and SNA.

The floor was then opened for comments from the members and audience:

* Michele Samarya-Timm of the Franklin Township Health Department in New Jersey encouraged the board to focus on health educators and to look into an educational venue for them. She also asked the board to evaluate health educators' needs because she wants health authorities to join NEHA and thinks that they will advance the associations resources.

* Lou Dooley, of DBA Back to the Future, LLC, in Washington State, mentioned that he was impressed with NEHAs board activities, but wanted NEHA to develop a position paper to address the issue of environmental health moving out of public health and into permit approval work. He believes that a position paper will give environmental health professionals a firmer foundation so that they're not under scrutiny by policy makers.

Before adjourning the meeting, outgoing president Balsamo encouraged people to apply for the sabbatical exchange program, which now features a two- to four-week sabbatical to Canada or England, all expenses paid. Balsamo also encouraged everyone to attend next year's AEC in San Antonio. He added: "We've taken some bold steps and we're moving forward; we've been On the ground' and a voice at the table in Washington."

Conclusion

Looking to stay connected? seeking professional advancement? With over a thousand attendees and almost 200 educational sessions, NEHAs AEC & Exhibition provides environmental health and protection professionals of all kinds with networking and educational opportunities-as well as the chance to enjoy another part of the country.

The 69th AEC & Exhibition in Providence was filled with attendees from around the world, smiling faces, and an unmatched energy and eagerness for learning. From the educational sessions to the inspiring keynote presentations to the exhibit to the networking and social activities, the 2005 AEC & Exhibition was the consummate conference for environmental health and protection. When asked if the AEC met expectations, Donna Cadwell, environmental health county manager at the Macon-Bibb County Health Department in Macon, Georgia, said, "It is a source of positive encouragement and new ideas and possibilities-even solutions.''

A special thank-you goes to all of the 2005 AEC & Exhibition attendees for their commitment to the environmental health profession. We hope to see you next year at NEHAs AEC & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, June 25-28, 2006!

Sponsors of NEHA's 2005 AEC & Exhibition

The organizations listed below supported NEHA's 2005 AEC & Exhibition as sponsors, making many valuable aspects of the conference possible. NEHA thanks its financial sponsors for their generous contributions.

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. NSF International

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

American Academy of Sanitarians Mars Air Doors National Environmental Services Center

NEHA 2005 AEC & Exhibition Partners

NEHA thanks the following organizations for their contributions to the AE\C & Exhibition and its educational sessions and workshops:

National Environmental, Safety, & Health Training Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

International Aquatic Foundation

New England Yankee Conference

NEHA's Uniformed Services Environmental Health Affiliate

Copyright National Environmental Health Association Oct 2005

Source: Journal of Environmental Health

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