Vol. 15, No. 1 Winter 2009 - Archive

In This Issue

Governing Council

Chapter Reports

Job Opportunities

NEHA Region VP-
Report

Misc. News Briefs

Conference Update

Message from the President

Greetings TEHA!

I am starting my message with a "BE SAFE" to Richard Milam who was recently deployed to Afganistan. We are proud he was selected as an expert in his specialized area and pray for his safe return! Richard we will see you next year!!!!

Betty Richardson is busy busy busy working on our upcoming AEC ...be looking for the tentative program to be coming out soon. Thanks Betty and everyone!

As you all may know, this is a busy legislative year for environmental health programs. TEHA as chartered may not lobby for any current legislation but we may and are sending our letters of opinion. Our legislative chairperson, Steve Killen has done a great job with keeping us updated. Please check out the current Health bills under consideration. It is important that we send our letters of opinion to help keep our state safe!

On the Green subject again...as we strive for that "paperless" way of communicating, please take the time in the near future to see that we have your most current email address so that when we make the change your Beacon delivery will not be interrupted.

Here is my corny closing....It is important to me that all of you know what an important role we all play in environmental health. As we get up each morning a drive ourselves faithfully to our place of employment take a moment to look out the window and see how much difference our profession has made to our environment.

Look for me at your chapter meetings!!!

Take Care so you can take care of Texas!!!

Kelly Kirkpatrick-Stockburger, RS
TEHA President

 

Message from Sandra Long-NEHA Region V VP
Spring 2009 Report

Sandra Long attended the January meeting in New Orleans. It was all about going green. The NEHA AEC is in Atlanta, Georgia in June and registration is down by 60%. This is thought to be due to online classes being offered free. The NEHA ballots will not be mailed out this year because there are no offices being contested.


Chapter Reports

Central Texas
Our Annual Conference will be held May 21-22, 2009, in San Marcos. The OSSF sessions will be held on May 21. A newsletter will be sent out to chapter members. Be on the lookout!! Conference Highlights: 14 CEU credit hours available, a lunch provided on the first day, and a Happy Hour on Thursday evening at the River Pub. Please come and enjoy the river and visit with other Sanitarians.

Remember, new TEHA T-shirts will be available for purchase at the conference for $15.00!!! You gotta have one!!

Amanda Wilson, R.S.-Chapter President

East Texas
Spring has burst forth with lush, vibrant color here in East Texas this year!! . . . And with it, there are several TEHA educational opportunities for you to take advantage of right here in your own backyard! There is a Swimming Pool Workshop being finalized in Tyler for mid-May with details forthcoming soon! On May 28, there will be a Cruelty Investigation Seminar sponsored by the City of Longview from 9AM to 4PM at the Exhibit Building at the Maude Cobb Activity Complex located at 100 Grand Blvd in Longview, Texas.

The Local Rabies Control Authority (LRCA) course was a great program in Tyler on March 19! An East Texas TEHA Chapter meeting is beginning to be planned for the summer. If you have program suggestions or possible speakers, drop me an email or give me a call. Remember, TEHA grows as each member grows and contributes to the educational enrichment of the whole organization! Talk to your colleagues and friends about TEHA ... and help it to continue to grow as the "largest environmental health association in America"!!!

Jim Longacre, R.S. - Chapter President

Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast Chapter held its first one day conference of the year in Baytown on April 1. There were approximately 120 people attending and several new members were enrolled. Additional meeting dates and locations are tentatively planned for August 12 in Humble and November 18 at a location to be announced.

Each meeting will give attendees the opportunity to earn up to 6 continuing education credits. Planned upcoming topics are “Mobile Food Establishment Fire Safety,” “Organic Food Standards,” “Pest Control in Food Establishments,” “Signs to Look for involving Human Trafficking,” “Food Borne Investigations Involving Foreign Visitors,” “City of Houston’s Feral Feline Relocation Program,” “Landfills and Their Effects on the Environment,” and more to be announced.

The Governing Council met on April 22 to firm up the August meeting agenda and discuss other upcoming events.

Russell O’Brien, RS - Chapter President

North Texas
The North Texas Chapter held our first quarterly meeting for 2009 in Richardson, TX, on February 5 with over 100 members in attendance. We look forward to our next meeting which will be held in Mesquite on May 7 at the Arts Center. Topics will include hoarder houses, gas drilling/noise, Crypto 2008, and Norovirus outbreaks.
As president of NT-TEHA, I would like to thank everyone for their continued support and ask for your feedback on how we can provide you with the education that you need. Our top priority is to ensure that our meetings provide informational speakers that will benefit you and your current position. If you have a topic of interest that you feel would benefit our chapter, please feel free to contact a council member at your convenience.

Finally, it’s that time of year again where we need YOU to represent TEHA. If you are interested in running for governing council, please let us know!

Susan Yates - Chapter President

Panhandle/West Texas
On March 6, 2009 we had our chapter meeting in Lubbock. The attendance was awesome and those in attendance were able to get up to 6 CEUs.

I am planning our next meeting to be in Midland in late spring or early summer so please watch for e-mails or go to www.myteha.org for the latest information. Thank you!

Cheryn Hargrave, RS - Chapter President

South Texas
Greetings everyone from the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island!
First, we would like to thank all that attended our OSSF Educational Conference in Sinton. It was another great turnout and a huge success!

Secondly, we would like to invite everyone to our Texas Department of Agriculture - Structural Pest Control Board - Vector Control Seminar and with the opportunity to take the exam in South Padre Island in June.

We continue to increase membership and will continue to bring more training to South Texas for everyone to take advantage of and enjoy. See you soon!

J. Victor Baldovinos, CEO - Chapter Presiden

Information and Notices

TEHA Members Wish Richard Safe Duty & Quick Return

 TE Captain Richard Milam US Army Reserves deployed April 8. A return date is yet to be determined. He's been employed as an Environmental Health Specialist for the City of McKinney for six years. His duties include Lead EHS on vector control and Emergency Management and he conducts food service and swimming pool inspections. Richard lives in McKinney with his wife, Kathleen, and two sons Ryan and Ashton.

Hey you guys. My plan for internet service here has not gone as well as expected. I am still living in a tent. Hopefully in the next few days I will be moved to a room (with 5 other guys!!!!!), then I will be able to buy internet access. Otherwise, I have to wait in line for about 1 1/2 hours just to be able to use the public computers for 30 minutes.

I arrived in Kandahar on the 20th. Still trying to get myself oriented, but I have met alot of people. I have been working with a Canadian Preventive Medicine Team the last couple of days setting CDC Light Traps around the base collecting mosquitoes and sandflies, identifying them under the microscope and then shipping to Europe for further analysis.

Collecting work samples from buildings and shower sites around post for analysis. Next week I start working with the Navy doing some of the Dining Facility Inspections. We have 5 huge dining facilities and numerous other eating places on the boardwalk (Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut, Tim Hortons Coffee House, etc.) The work so far has been really fun and makes the days go quickly.

I will send some pics as soon as I can get my own internet service.

Pass this along and tell everyone I said hello. Keep me in your prayers.

Richard

2008 Annual Educational Conference Highlights
Please check back often for updates

Conference
Schedule

New for 2008!
The 2008 Annual Educational Conference will include an optional food track.

The Texas Food Safety Task Force will host a Farm to Fork Food Summit & Workshop in conjunction with the TEHA AEC.

See details here
Tuesday, October 14
Golf Tournament 1:00 p.m. Details forthcoming
NEHA Credential Exams 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.  
Registration 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.  
Wednesday, October 15
OSSF Workshop 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 8 CEs
Opening General Session 9:00 a.m.-Noon 3 CEs
Past Presidents Luncheon Noon-1:30 p.m.  
Concurrent Afternoon Sessions 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. 3 CEs
---Food Safety, Code Enforcement, and General Environmental Health
Ice Breaker 6:00 P.M.-8:00 p.m.  
Thursday, October 16
Concurrent Sessions 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 6 CEs
---Food Safety, Code Enforcement, and General Environmental Health Sessions
Awards Banquet 7:00 p.m.  
Friday, October 17
Sanitarian Advisory Committee 8:00 a.m.  
Closing General Session 9:00 a.m.-Noon 3 CEs
Governing Council Meeting 12:30 p.m.  
Registration
Fees

Through Oct. 1
After Oct. 1
Full Conference
Includes Ice Breakers/Awards Banquet
$205
$235
One Day Only
Wed. or Thurs.
$175
$205
Host Hotel
Info
Make your reservations at the
Conference Site and Host Hotel
Omni Southpark
Austin, TX 78681
1-800-THE-OMNI or 1-800-843-6664
Ask for the “TEHA” Room Block
Room Rates: $85 single / $120 Double
We Look Forward to Seeing you in Austin
Silent Auction
Silent Auction Items
Each year, a silent auction is held as part of our conference with proceeds going to the Burl Cockrell Memorial Scholarship Fund. If you have items you would like to donate, please contact Steve Berry indicating the items you wish to contribute.
Exhibitors
 As always, we welcome Exhibitors who wish to have a Conference Site and Host Hotel tabletop display for the conference. An application form is available here, or by contacting Steve Berry at (972) 461-9644 or by email at steve.berry@myteha.org.


The Beacon
Volume 15, Number 2
Spring, 2009

Quarterly Newsletter of
Texas Environmental Health Association
PO Box 860099
Plano, TX 75086-0099
Phone 972-461-9644
Fax 972-429-9066

Web-site: www.myteha.org
Email: steve.berry@myteha.org

 

The Texas Environmental Health Association has not tested any of the products or services advertised or referred to in this publication, nor has it verified any of the statements made in any of the advertisements or articles. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the official opinion of the Texas Environmental Health Association.

The Beacon: Published quarterly as the official publication of the Texas Environmental Health Association. This publication is intended to keep all interested parties informed on matters as they relate to environmental health, especially in Texas.

Editorial and Advertisements: Address all correspondence regarding technical editorial matters or purchase of advertisements to:

Steve Berry, REHS, RS, DAAS
Editor, The Beacon

Association Business: Address all correspondence concerning the Texas Environmental Health Association to:

Steve Berry, REHS, RS, DAAS
Executive Secretary - Treasurer