Georgia Local Section

[American Industrial hygiene Association]

[JULY 2002]

Quarterly Newsletter - Web Edition

President's Message, Leah Oglesby MSPH

Powerful Partnerships

Let me start off my first "President's Message" by saying that I'm excited about the term before me. Our new board is transitioning well, and we are lining up a big year for the GLS AIHA. We've got a lot on our plate this year, and I am confident that we can partner together and continue to provide a valuable service to our members.

For those of you that attended the American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo this month in San Diego, you are familiar with "Powerful Partnerships." It was the theme of this year's conference, and it was widely used among keynote speakers and session presenters. I believe that we should focus on "Powerful Partnerships" within our local organization. What better way to strengthen our group and (stealing from the conference theme again) "leverage the power of collaboration to expand knowledge."

In keeping with this theme, let me mention the upcoming AIHA/ASSE joint Spring meeting. As most of you know, we have partnered in the past with ASSE to host an annual joint meeting that rotates from year to year between Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah. This year the meeting is planned for Atlanta, and our local section is responsible for the meeting coordination. As an organization, we have not had great participation or support for the joint meeting in the past. We've solicited your feedback and have heard several good reasons why our participation has been light. We are considering your feedback and shooting for a better meeting this Spring 2003. We've jumpstarted our planning with our first joint planning meeting scheduled for September 6th. We are running two full days of IH topics alongside the Safety topics, and we are working hard to bring in interesting and informative speakers. But, the bottom line is, we need your support to make this effort successful. Think "Powerful Partnerships"! If you are willing to serve on the planning committee, please contact a board member, and let us know as soon as possible. We also need your suggestions for speakers and topics.

I look forward to seeing all of you on my stomping grounds (Mirant!) for the summer meeting. Dr. Martin Harper from UAB did a great job last year, and we are looking forward to hosting and learning from him again on July 19th. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions, input, suggestions, feedback, support, or even criticism (but keep it brief, this is a volunteer job!). Here's my contact information for easy access: leah.oglesby@mirant.com , 678-579-5481. Be sure to visit our website at www.georgiaaiha.org for additional information about the meeting.

I'm looking forward to a great year and forming many "Powerful Partnerships."

Words of Wisdom:
Even when you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers

 

ABIH CM Points for 2001 - 2002

The American Board of Industrial hygiene has awarded certification maintenance (CM) points for the following Georgia AIHA Local Section (GLS) meetings:

Activity: ASSE/AIHA PDC
Date: 3/18-19/2002
CM Points Awarded: 2 Safety CM points
CM # 02-1113

Activity: Winter Meeting 2002
Date: 1/2/2002
CM Points Awarded: 1 Safety CM point
CM # 02-1498

Activity: Fall Meeting
Date: 10/22/2001
CM Points Awarded: 1 CM point
CM # 01-420

Activity: Summer Seminar
Date: 7/20/2001
CM Points Awarded: 0.5 CM point
CM # 16045

 

Executive Committee (2002-03):

President: Leah Oglesby, MSPH
Mirant Corporation
E-mail: leah.oglesby@mirant.com

President Elect: Richard Deluca, CIH
EHS Connect
E-mail: delucar@eorm.com

Secretary: Art Wickman, CIH
Georgia Tech Research Institute
E-mail: art.wickman@gtri.gatech.edu

Treasurer: Ryan Langton
Georgia Tech Research Institute
E-mail: ryan.langton@gtri.gatech.edu

Director - 1st Term: Larry Newton, CIH, CSP
Materials Analytical Services, Inc.
E-mail: lnewton@mastest.com

Director - 2nd Term: Grover Higgins, CIH
Georgia Power
E-mail: ghhiggin@southernco.com

Newsletter Editor: Sylvia Callender-Carter, MPH
Dekalb County Government, Risk Management Div.
E-mail: scallend@co.dekalb.ga.us

Past President: Dave Beem, CIH
Travelers
E-mail: dbeem@travelers.com

 

Executive Committee Highlights

mayboardmeetingphoto The transitional meeting between the old and new boards was held on May 24, 2002 at Georgia Power. Attending were Grover Higgins, Stan Salisbury, Leah Oglesby, Ed Grunwald, Art Wickman, Ryan Langton, Peter Kowalski, Dave Beem, and Brenda Southerland. The board agreed to continue the local section's scholarship program at UGA. Ed Grunwald, reported an account balance of $17,000. Dave Beem reported on the Local Section's Operations Manual.

The Summer meeting was set for July 19, and the Fall meeting was set for October 21, 2002. The Winter/Spring meeting will be held as a conference with the GA ASSE. Planning will begin in the fall; speakers and seminar topics are warmly welcomed.

The GLS Executive Committee met on June 17, 2002 at Georgia Power. Present were Grover Higgins, Stan Salisbury, Leah Oglesby, Art Wickman, Ryan Langton, Dave Beem, and Sylvia Callender-Carter. The board confirmed the Summer local section meeting at the Mirant building. Dr Harper of UAB has agreed to present at the meeting. Invoices for membership dues will be sent in January of 2003. Planning for the joint AIHA/ASSE spring 2003 conference will begin with a meeting of both executive boards on September 6, 2002. The secretary, Art Wickman, will handle address changes and the registration of new local section members.

AIHA Election, Referendum Results

Other AIHA officers changing their positions on the board are:

These new officers and directors were installed June 6, 2002 during the AIHA Business Meeting at the annual conference in San Diego, CA.

What we see depends mainly on what we look for. - John Lubbock

 

The AIHCE It's A Comin' To Atlanta---2004

Dust off your Volunteer Hats and get ready, for the AIHCE conference will once again be held in Atlanta in 2004. The veterans of 1998 know of the awe inspiring volunteer effort required to get ready for the conference. There are many details to attend to, and many opportunities to find your special niche, where you can help to host the world's largest agglomeration of industrial hygienists.

 

The Health and Safety Professional as a Ballast George H.Calvery

Ballast - (3) Something that gives stability, especially in character. (American Heritage Dictionary)

In the new dimension of today's complex, busy, and ever-changing world it can sometimes be easy to forget, or at least lose sight of the Ballast of our life as a health and safety professional. When we strip away the professional titles, certifications, degrees, and other recognition's that we have obtained, the simple fact remains that as professionals we serve to provide stability and balance between production, safety, quality, and between management and our employees.

Life in any profession is complex and filled with change. However, the width and breadth of our discipline has been forever changed in the past year. Many in our field have had dramatic shifts in job duties and responsibilities, and many of us have had to change or increase the areas on which we focus. In the midst of this complex time of change, I find myself reviewing the reasons I entered this field. Although they are very simple, the simplicity helps me remain focused and balanced:

The next time you find yourself asking how you will accomplish all of the tasks that have been assigned to you, take a moment to review your own basic personal reasons for becoming a health and safety professional. Regardless of your own personal reasons for entering this field, remember that as a health and safety professional you are the ballast in your organization.

Challenge: Make it a habit to at least once a day, purposely try to catch someone doing something for safety...and let them know you caught them.
 Frank Bird