From the President’s Desk
Dear NHPHA members and colleagues,
This is my first communication with you, as NHPHA Board President and I want to thank you for the privilege of serving you in that role. Any of you who have served on a non-profit board knows how hard staff, board and committee members work behind the scenes to accomplish the mission of the association. This is particularly true for NHPHA. Our 2009-2010 board represents a mix of seasoned and new board members who bring tremendous diversity and skills to carry out their work.
I am incredibly impressed with the creativity of our Communications Committee and its work on our forthcoming new website redesign. Our Membership and Fundraising committee has been tenacious in developing a solid plan to increase and support our membership and to engage the board to assure a sustainable funding plan for the organization. The Policy Committee exemplifies the mission of NHPHA through its science-based approach used to develop our policy agenda for the upcoming legislative session. The Finance Committee displays diligence as it serves as a strong steward of our funds. The Program Committee is energized by joining forces with the Community Health Institute and the Citizens Health Initiative to plan our exciting Annual Fall Forum which will bring public health practitioners and health care providers together to discuss opportunities to collaborate to improve the public’s health. Lastly, our reorganized Human Resource/Nominating Committee will be revising and updating our personnel policies based on model non-profit human resource policies. More detailed reports are provided below. Please consider joining one of these active and dedicated committees.
We are very pleased to announce that as of July 1, 2009, NHPHA is the fiscal agent for the Oral Health Coalition and the Coalition is now located down the hall from us at our 4 Park Street location. The Executive Committee of the Board voted unanimously to serve in this role as they believe that the missions of our two organizations are well aligned and that some efficiencies can be gained through our new relationship. Please stop by and say hello to Angela Boyle, Public Policy Director, for the Coalition when you are in our office.
As public health practitioners we find ourselves currently faced with incredible challenges and opportunities. At the same time that states and municipalities face unprecedented budget reductions, we must prepare for emerging threats such as H1N1, stretching already thin resources. The heated debates in Washington relative to health care reform and the resulting legislation bear careful watching for any of us concerned about public health. Currently proposed legislation includes a national prevention and wellness strategy with measurable goals and objectives, required coverage for evidenced-based preventive health services, dedicated funds for community health and core public health infrastructure, and improved data collection on population health. These proposals hold great potential and we will watch anxiously to see how they pan out for the nation and New Hampshire. For more information please go to http://www.apha.org .
Board members continue to work hard to implement the strategic plan developed in November 2008 to strengthen our organization. We welcome participation of all members as we carry out our mission to lead, advocate, educate, network and serve as a resource for public health.
Best,
Joan H. Ascheim
President, Board of Directors.
NHPHA Policy Director Update
Dear NHPHA members,
Another legislative session has come to an end! Many NHPHA priority bills have become law:
HB 245 – An act extending study committees and commissions
This bill extends the Public Health Improvement Services Council for another year or until November 1, 2010. A final report from the Council is due then.
HB 301 – An act establishing a task force to study access to dental care.
NHPHA has been asked to be a member of the task force. The task force must report their findings and recommendations for proposed legislation on or before November 1, 2009.
HB 414 – An act establishing a commission to study preventing dental disease among New Hampshire’s children.
The task force must report their findings and recommendations for proposed legislation on or before November 1, 2009.
Budget bills:
HB 1 – Making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2010 & June 30, 2011.
HB 2 – Relative to state fees, funds, revenues and expenditures
This bill increases taxes on cigarettes by $.45 cents and other tobacco products including snuff and cigar (excludes premium cigars) from 19% to 49% of the wholesale price.
Still awaiting the Governor’s signature:
HB 34 – An act prohibiting writing a text message while driving.
This bill prohibits writing a text message and using 2 hands to type on or operate an electronic or telecommunications device while driving. The fine is $100 and effective date is January 1, 2010.
Click here for more information on NHPHA’s final legislative tracking report, updated on July 1st.
The Policy Committee is meeting next week to begin to discuss our policy priorities for the 2010 legislative session.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding a particular policy issue or need other important public health information and resources.
Sincerely,
Kristina Diamond
Policy Director
NHPHA Communication Committee
The Communication Committee has been working hard this summer revising the NHPHA website.
Consider joining our productive committee. We meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12-1pm via conference call. For more information contact Melissa Heinen at heinem@mmc.org
NHPHA Membership and Fundraising Committee
The Membership and Fundraising Committee is off to an exciting start this year. As Chair, I attended a capacity-building training sponsored by APHA in May. A couple sets of questions were posed:
- If NHPHA folded tomorrow, would it be missed? Who would miss us? Why?"
- What have we (NHPHA) done that we can be proud of? Now where do we want to go?
We welcome input from everyone in answer to these two questions!! Send your thoughts to me: gnegne@gmail.com.
In July, the Committee held a 4-hour planning meeting. We have a draft plan for Membership and Fundraising work for the year that will go to the Board in August for approval (AND buy-in) and then we will be rolling!
We welcome anyone to join our work! We meet on the 2nd Monday of the month from 5 to 6 pm. We always have a yummy snack and a productive meeting!
NHPHA Program Planning Committee
NHPHA is teaming up with the NH CHI for our 2009 Fall Forum. Join us at the GrapponeCenter in Concord on Oct. 20, 8:30 am to 2:00. We are going green and ALL registrations will be placed online at www.nhpha.org. Individual registrations, display tables and sponsorships are available.
This year's theme, NH's Health System: Realizing the Goal of an Integrated Public Health and Personal Health System, will feature a national reform overview plus panels on current and visionary NH-based integration projects focusing on providers, employers and community. Join us for this exciting update!
