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From the President

September 2009

Hello MEHA members:

This will be our second effort to share information with you via email. If you are having any problems let Darren Bowling (bowlingd@gmail.com) know. Our first effort reached about half of the members; we are still working out the bugs. Anyway, help us out, talk to other members and see if they are getting these emails and please keep your email address updated. Also, do not forget to check the www.MEHA.net web site for updates, chats and information.

The Board has had a pretty busy summer in spite of not having a fall Food or Ground Water Conference.  We have been meeting monthly and our agenda is always full. High priority was to get the budget back in the black (which we have done) and set priorities and goals for this year and into the future (strategic plan). Our immediate attention is the licensure issue, which is progressing well, more to come on this issue. Plans are now being formulated for our MEGA Conference  March 2010 at Double Tree in Bay City.. Right now chairs and volunteers for 2011 committee’s are needed.  I know some of you have show interest over the years, please step forward again. MEHA needs you.

Just finished participating at MEHA’s Annual Golf outing and fundraiser at Emerald Golf Course, St Johns, Mi. At least 8 four-man teams participated. Not sure who won the tournament, more to come, we will post some pictures, all I know is I had a lot of fun with my team members John Johnson, Jaime Dentweiler and John Gohlke. We played well but not well enough to win. It was a pretty successful outing and we were able to raise $800-$900 for our endowment fund.

As of September 2009, the MEHA membership is down 100 members. The primary reason for decrease in membership is a result of changes to the MEHA educational conference calendar. Historically, a large number of members wait to renew their membership in the fall. They would include membership dues with their fall Food or Sewage Conference registration.  Many factors have driven MEHA to put these conferences on hold this year and focus energies and resources on the 2010 Annual Education Conference (AEC). An unexpected consequence appears to be reduction in membership. We are confident that our member numbers will increase during the registration period in weeks before the AEC in March 3010. However, MEHA may face a budget shortfall in the interim.
Therefore, we are asking former members to renew their annual members at this time.  We thank those of you that promptly responded to the first renewal notice.

What MEHA does for you.

• MEHA through it officers and members represents you at numerous forums such as TAC, DEQ, DCH, Dept of Ag, speaking out on your behalf on numerous issues from training needs to environmental issues that concern not only our profession but affiliates and sponsor concerns. (currently attending CAFO permit meetings)
• Numerous MEHA committee’s are working on your behalf; Licensure committee to assure accountability and the professionalism of our profession; AEC committee to assess and provide the best possible educational and training opportunities for our members; Endowment committee, raising funds for the future of MEHA and potential members; Awards committee, selecting and honoring distinguished and deserving members who contribute to not only our profession but to Environmental Health; Continuing Education Committee, assuring that your CEU’s are accounted for and available to you for your needs; Membership committee, working to keep members active and looking for ways to increase membership; Nominations and Resolution committee, making sure we continue to provide leadership to the organization and items of concern to the membership are resolved; Professional Development Committee, making sure training opportunities and financial assistance are available; Ready Reference committee, updating and continuously making sure our nationally acclaimed reference book is available; Website Development Committee, has provided you a peek into MEHA and it members allowing you to share information and chat with other members;  and others that I have not mentioned that are all working for you.
• Affiliates in collaboration with MEHA also provide numerous training and educational opportunities
•  We solicit corporate sponsorships to help reduce the costs of conferences and provide you with current technology and training on new products and environmental systems.
• Many other organizations marvel at all MEHA does and wonder how we get our members to voluntarily assist in all these activities. They also cannot believe our dues are so low and ask how we can manage all these activities at such a low cost. My response is always; we have a great membership that is dedicated to their profession.

There are many other venues members of MEHA are at work for you. Rest assured most of us take our profession seriously and want it to continue far into the future, but it does not happen with a great deal of effort. You are MEHA, so talk to any inactive members and get them involved again; it can only help you and our organization now and into the future helping assure our viability.

• There are many other venues members of MEHA are at work for you. Rest assured most of us take our profession seriously and want it to continue far into the future, but it does not happen with a great deal of effort. You are MEHA, so talk to any inactive members and get them involved again; it can only help you and our organization now and into the future helping assure our viability.

 
In closing, look forward to talking to you via email or at one of the conferences. I am sure you have much to contribute to MEHA. Lets share ideas.

Yours Environmentally,

Prez Paez