Dear Colleagues,
To reduce e-mail traffic, we are starting a new system of sending out updates, articles and announcements pertinent to CHE-WA's mission and membership only once a week. The only exception to this will be when there is something particularly timely or a reminder about/change in an upcoming meeting that needs to posted more immediately. We hope you will appreciate this more efficient approach to sharing information. Please know, however, you can check the CHE-WA website anytime to stay abreast of the latest postings, news and events: http://washington.chenw.org.
Warm regards,
Elise Miller, MEd
Executive Director, Institute for Children’s Environmental Health
Coordinator, Collaborative on Health and the Environment -- Washington
To join the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) and CHE-Washington, please complete the form at http://www.healthandenvironment.org/roles/register?&phase=registerform. Be sure to mark that you want to join the Washington State Regional Group at the bottom of the application.
Our next CHE-WA quarterly meeting will be held Wednesday, October 19th from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m. at Antioch University. The main focus of our discussion will be on brainstorming and developing more consistent environmental health language and messages that could use in a variety of settings. In addition, we will have a research update and two brief presentations by members, including Shelly Vendiola, with the Indigenous Women’s Network, who was to present at the CHE-WA Environmental Justice Working Group meeting that has now been postponed (date yet to be determined). Also note that just prior to the quarterly meeting, the CHE-WA Research and Information Working Group will meet from Noon to 2:00 p.m., also at Antioch University. More detailed agendas, etc. will be posted closer to the time of the meetings.
SEATTLE -- Last week, the Seattle School Board unanimously adopted a cutting-edge policy to protect students from exposure to hazardous pesticides at school. The Seattle School District is now the largest district in the state to eliminate uses of the most toxic pesticides.
"Seattle Public Schools takes our commitment to the health of our students, staff, and the planet very seriously," said district Board President Dr. Brita Butler-Wall, who pushed for adoption of the policy. "We have embraced the concept of healthy learning environments through a strong policy preventing possible exposure to toxic chemicals such as pesticides."
The policy responds to growing evidence that pesticides can interfere with children's ability to learn and cause other serious health problems. Under the new policy, pesticides linked to cancer, nervous system damage, and other health risks will be avoided.
The policy is a result of years of work by dedicated school district employees, board members, and community members. A Community Advisory Committee including district staff members, parents, doctors, and experts drafted the policy recommendations.
The policy and procedures include:
"The Seattle School District has taken a tremendous step forward by drawing the line and saying toxic pesticides don't belong in our schools," said Angela Storey, healthy schools coordinator for the Washington Toxics Coalition, and chair of the Community Advisory Committee that drafted the policy proposal. "Pest problems can be prevented and solved without compromising the health of our children or our environment."
Seattle joins several other districts in Washington with strong pesticide-reduction policies, including the Vancouver, Bainbridge Island, and Sedro-Woolley districts. The policy will now go into effect at all of Seattle's 100 sites.
For more information contact Angela Storey, Washington Toxics Coalition, 206-632-1545 ext. 111
Northwest Environment Watch seeks a Development Director with a love for the Northwest, a gift for sharing and inspiring that love in others, and the skills and experience to lead all aspects of fundraising for a growing, dynamic organization.
NEW is primarily supported by foundations and individual donors. Over the past two years, the organization has developed a major donor program, which has helped diversify the organization’s revenue base and triple the number of major donors.
NEW seeks a Development Director to further this success by honing its fundraising programs, and growing support from major donors, foundations, and other sources. She/he will be supported by a full-time senior development associate and a part-time grantwriter. The Development Director will work closely with the Executive Director, Managing Director, board development committee, and board of directors.
The full position announcement is here: http://www.northwestwatch.org/about/NEW_Development_Director_2005.pdf.
From Mary Ann with the Mercury Awareness Team at BULLELKMAN@aol.com:
National Mercury Amalgam Awareness Week, October 3-10, begins today and several events have been planned across the country. If you have something planned for your local community let us know about it, as we'd be happy to post it on our website. Find out what's happening in your area by visiting http://www.toxicteeth.org. Materials for you to download and hand out will soon be available online.
What you can do to help: