Tabula Rasa, Solarium Argentums, and Carpe Diem, Baby

YOUR ASSOCIATION

 DirecTalk MUSINGS FROM THE 10TH FLOOR

David Dyjack, DrPH, CIH

’m on the intercity train from Lisbon, event the night before the conference ends so my favorite city in the planet, headed to We are taking a everyone can participate. There are abundant I Coimbra, the site of the International eateries at every possible price point within Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) walking distance of the conference events. You conference. No, this is not the fastest train, clean and new can be assured we will take this approach for and there are frequent stops along the way, AECs from this point forward. with many beautiful little towns such as Vila approach to We will also be more student friendly at the Franca de Xira, where I happen to be at the AEC. We have extended the student abstract moment. Trips like this provide an opportu- everything your submission process until May 2016 to accom- nity to reﬂ ect and put things in perspective, modate student paper and poster submissions. a privilege too good to pass up for purposes association is doing. Also effective in 2016, there will be a stand- of this column. alone AEC student poster session. We are At the time of this writing, I’ve been on also doing away with the caste system where the job at NEHA for almost ﬁ ve months, students have limited access to events—the and have listened and learned. On most days spirit, we will end the conference on Thurs- student registration rate will treat them as full I feel like I have returned to the University day around 1:00, which should get you home professionals to include all activities. This is of Utah Rocky Mountain Center for Occu- the same evening. not your grandparents’ NEHA. pational and Environmental Health, trying The conference itself will be laser focused Our changes are not limited to the AEC. to keep up with the second year graduate on education and networking, with much We have embarked on the planning process students. Which leads me to tabula rasa, less emphasis on association pomp and cir- to bring our credentialing into the paper- Latin for “clean slate,” the fresh approach I cumstance. The opening session will be less era. That’s right, digitizing everything employed when I entered grad school. Like- anchored by a keynote and panel session so there are no more copies to send through wise, we are taking a clean and new approach with an “A-list” of participants. Individual snail mail. The same is true for our internal to everything your association is doing. Let sessions will largely forgo the historic “talk- accounting processes; we are reviewing how me explain, starting with our Annual Educa- ing heads” as we introduce more interactive we can do our work sustainably without tional Conference (AEC) & Exhibition. high-energy workshops. Some examples are compromising on quality or accountability. For the 2016 AEC we are partnering with debates, ignite sessions, and sessions devel- We desire to walk the environmental health the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban oped by millennials. Also expect less stuff to and sustainability talk. Development (HUD) in San Antonio. This lug around as we explore going largely paper- Solarium argentums refers to the Roman translates to approximately 400 additional less through deployment of our conference practice of paying its solders in bars of salt, attendees, perhaps more, and many learning application (i.e., mobile app). because it was prized and essential to health. and networking opportunities with our col- We also recognize that you travel to confer- In the same manner, I consider it a strategic leagues who are vested in the built environ- ences to build and enhance your professional imperative to uncover and liberate latent ment. The conference will begin late on a network. There will be ample and extended talent among our three dozen employees. Monday afternoon, which will allow you to coffee breaks built into the program to achieve We are rapidly moving into an era where an spend the weekend with your families before your aim. We plan to sunset the traditional engaged, enabled, and empowered workforce departing for the conference. In the same banquet on the last day and introduce a social continued on page 60

62 Volume 78 • Number 5

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President’s Message • Apply for an international sabbatical • Beginning in 2016, NEHA will encourage continued from page 7 exchange in the United Kingdom or Canada. its affi liates to pair themselves with an envi- Details on how to apply can be found at www. ronmental health association in the devel- San Antonio What Can NEHA Affi liates neha.org/sabbatical-exchange-program. oping world. NEHA believes that even small NEHA 2016 AEC & HUD Healthy Homes Conference and Individual Members Do • Volunteer for a short-term mission with investments in information sharing, train- to Support NEHA’s International one of the many humanitarian organiza- ing, mentoring, or donation of used books * Work? tions doing work in the developing world. or equipment can have a major impact in June 13–16, 2016 There is an increasing number of interna- Several places to search for opportunities these developing countries. We also believe tional opportunities for NEHA members and can be found at that these relationships will enrich the prac- affi liates. Here are a few: » www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Resources/ tice of environmental health practitioners The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and • Volunteer to be a NEHA Ambassador. NEHA Travel, here in the U.S. is looking for ambassadors to the Middle » www.goodnet.org/articles/397, Environmental health has no borders. NEHA the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development East, Asia, Mexico and Central America, » www.habitat.org/getinv/volunteer_ recognizes that and is increasingly connecting and South America. For more information programs.aspx, environmental health practitioners in the U.S. (HUD), Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes e-mail me at [email protected]. » www.water.cc, or with their peers across the globe. As Walt Dis- • If you have gently used environmental health » www.missionfi nder.org. ney said, “It’s a small world after all.” are excited to partner in 2016 for our annual conference! books, equipment, or laptops that are not too A volunteer experience in the developing outdated, you can donate these to GEHP. You world will give you new insights on envi- Bob Custard can contact them at [email protected]. ronmental health. [email protected]

Online Registration Is Now Available DirecTalk the intensity of the processes. As we travel evidence. Sadly, it is becoming increasingly neha.org/aec/register continued from page 62 our professional journey together I will keep evident that these battles will be with us for promises to bring dividends to our member- these factors in mind as we recognize that our the duration of our working lifetimes. We will centered organization. None of us is as smart success as an organization is primarily predi- need to consider the four trust factors I men- as all of us, and we are creating the internal cated on your success as individual practi- tioned earlier to cultivate relationships with conditions where the best ideas ﬂ oat, inde- tioners, as we strengthen the systems that the inﬂ uencers on Capitol Hill. This will not San Antonio Riverwalk, visitsanantonio.com pendent of who offered up the gem. Our aim ensure a safe and healthy environment. be an inexpensive or easy proposition in our Hotel Reservations Are Now Available over time is for you to trust our capabilities, I am struck that we have many battles journey to success. It is nonetheless necessary. neha.org/aec/hotel and more importantly, to trust our organiza- ahead of us. Dr. Katherine Kirkland, execu- Speaking of journey, the conductor just tional character. If we can achieve that, then tive director of the Association of Occupa- announced our impending arrival into Coim-

nothing else matters. If we can’t, then noth- tional and Environmental Clinics, spoke to bra. With that, I bid you a blessed holiday HUD Healthy Homes Conference ing else matters. I mean it. our staff a couple of months ago in Denver. season. Carpe diem. Relationships and trust are built on four She reﬂ ected on the impending budget battle basic factors: the proximity of the key play- on Capitol Hill, with increasingly common Exhibitors ers, the frequency of their interaction, the terms “sequester,” “continuing resolution,” [email protected] Be sure to reserve your space in our Exhibition! duration of their time together, and ﬁ nally, and other evidence of political gridlock in full Twitter: @DTDyjack Booth space is limited so don’t miss being Tableside Guacamole, visitsanantonio.com, part of this year’s conference. Berne Broudy

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Exhibit Booth Purchase ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH A CREDENTIAL neha.org/aec/exhibition AEC and Learn more at neha.org/credential Note the NEW date this year as we are holding *the event in June instead of July.

Environmental Health Food Safety: Healthy Homes: Alamo, visitsanantonio.com Specialist: REHS/RS CP-FS and CCFS HHS

Environmental Technician: Onsite Wastewater: CEHT CIOWTS NEHA 2016

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