November 2016 President’s Message
Are you aware this year is the 72th anniversary of NJAIHA? To celebrate this milestone, the Executive Committee (EC) continues to plan for the Professional Development Courses (PDCs) and the 70th annual Northeast Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exhibition (NEIHce) in December. Anyone who wants to volunteer to help with either venue, contact Barbara Woodhull for the NEIHce and Mark Ostapczuk for the PDCs. Information on the PDCs and NEIHce is posted on the NJAIHA website.
Mark Ostapczuk has done a great job finding speakers for our PDCs on Thursday, December 1, 2016. They include: Nancy Orr, CIH, CSP with Becton Dickinson who will present “Ethical Fitness – A Method for Resolving Complex Dilemmas”; Brent Altemose, Ph.D., CIH, CSP and Charlyn Reihman, MPH, CIH from SafeBridge Consultants, Inc. and Vincent Daliessio, Jr., CIH from EMSL Analytical will present “Navigating OSHA’s New Respirable Silica Rule”; Craig Tomsky, MS, CIH will present “Elements of a Proactive Ergonomics Program and Ideas for Effective Implementation”, and finally Neil Feldscher, CIH, CSP, JD will present “Effective Depositions.” For details and how to register for the December PDCs, visit the NJAIHA website.
While recovering from surgery, Craig Doolittle did an outstanding job selecting speakers for the November dinner meeting in collaboration with MABSA. A dinner meeting announcement will be made shortly. NJAIHA is always interested in hearing from anyone either within our membership or outside the organization who wishes to speak at our monthly dinner meetings, PDCs, or annual regional conference. Please contact Craig Doolittle for more information.
Barb Woodhull is chairing the 2016 NEIHce Planning Committee. She has done a terrific job by making great strides to identify outstanding speakers; solicit corporate sponsors, vendors as exhibitors, donors for prizes, and marketing the annual event to all occupational health and safety stakeholders. NJAIHA continues to collaborate with organizations from NJ, NY, PA, DE, MD, and DC. Thank you, Barb and your team for all your hard work. If you wish to be a sponsor, exhibitor or post your business card in the NEIHce conference guide, contact Kevin Ruehle at (800) 733-4555.
Planned NEIHce speakers include: Robert Sussman, Ph.D. and Charlyn Rheinman, MPH, CIH from SafeBridge Consultants talking about “Risk Assessment and Control of Antibody – Drug Conjugates”; Neil Feldscher, CIH, CSP, JD on “Updates on the Toxic Substances Control Act”; Michele Shepard, Ph.D. on “What’s New with Nano?”; Edwin Foulke, Jr., Esq. former Assistant Secretary of Labor – OSHA and former Chair of the OSH Review Commission on “Federal OSHA Policy and Updates in Washington”; Frank Hearl, PE on the “Value of Health and Safety: Reaping Rewards, Reducing Burdens”; Matt Navea, Corporate EHS Director of Preferred Sands on “Reducing the Generation of Respirable Crystalline Silica during Hydraulic Fracturing Activities”; and Catherine A. Hovde, CIH from Caterpillar will be speaking about “Current Affairs of AIHA National and NJ Youth@Work Talking Safety Program.”. Please note we are also promoting occupational health and safety training for intellectually and developmentally disabled workers.
We are always looking for more volunteers as part-time Outreach Coordinators. This important task assists NJAIHA to increase awareness of our profession as an alternative career choice for students and enhances the benefits of being a member. Ideally, we also would like to start a NJAIHA student chapter to create synergy between NJAIHA, local universities and colleges. We envision that some of our scholarship winners and undergraduate and graduate students could perform these duties to tell middle school and high school students about the benefits of our profession. NJAIHA has constructed a fun brief to meet this goal. If you want to be an Outreach Coordinator and present to school districts, please contact Candice Kowalewski.
We want you to enjoy networking and learning at the dinner meetings, PDCs and the NEIHce! We are working hard to enhance our membership engagement and cover the current topics of interest. If you haven’t heard, NJAIHA is offering a “Loyalty Rewards Program”. Members who attend any five (5) dinner meetings will get the 6th dinner free!! The program is not applicable to PDCs or the NEIHce. In addition, if you sign-up five (5) new or former members in our “Member Get-a-Member” program, we will offer you a free dinner. Contact me if you have an idea about our increasing membership.
You may have seen many postings on social media – Facebook and Linkedin. Our objective is to connect more with GenX and GenY (Millennials) and begin a deeper conversation of the issues that affect you and your family, along with the workforce, public, or environment that you serve. There are many peer-reviewed articles and other nationally recognized resources, which may be of interest to our members. Recently, we started “Tell Me Your Story” which features an article in our newsletters. If you have a compelling story, case study or research; contact Mark Ostapczuk.
We are seeking more vendors to advertise in our monthly newsletter and website, and help sponsor our monthly dinner meetings. As a bonus, we will promote your business by advertising on Facebook. Our objective is to add business value to attract new customers and help them showcase their products and services. If you would like to advertise, complete the application on the website. Jack Zybura can provide more information about posting any information to the website or social media.
As a reminder, we need your support for the student scholarships. We will continue selling the piqué polo shirts with the NJAIHA logo to raise revenue to support the student scholarships. We are holding our pricing structure so that more of members can afford these items. These shirts can be proudly worn to any NJAIHA venue and they make a great gift for the upcoming holidays. Several members proudly wore these shirts at our monthly dinner meetings and at AIHce. If you would like to make a purchase, contact Craig Doolittle or visit the NJAIHA website for details.
On November 8, 2016, I will present a lecture to the Potomac section of AIHA entitled “Occupational and Environmental Risk Assessment of Elemental Mercury at the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange, NJ.” at the Smithsonian Art Museum in Washington, DC. This lecture is being given to thank the Potomac section of AIHA for their support with the 2016 NEIHce. In closing, I hope to see you and a friend at the Thursday November 17th dinner meeting at Snuffy’s! Look for the email announcement and/or posting on Linkedin and Facebook.
Best regards,
Bernard L. Fontaine, Jr., CIH, CSP, FAIHA
President NJAIHA