21 Dec 2009
December 2009 Project Update
THE CHARLOTTE BRODY AWARD
National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures
December 2009 Project Update
The National Conversation team has been very busy since we sent our mid-October e-mail update. As you’ll read below, all six of the project work groups and the project Leadership Council have held in-person meetings. Please read on for current project information, and as always, e-mail nationalconversation@cdc.gov with any questions or comments.
Work Groups
The National Conversation work groups have been polishing their charges, organizing their members into task groups, and beginning to tackle their work. Each of the six work groups held initial conference calls in September and October and met in person for the first time this November. Work group call and meeting summaries are accessible from the National Conversation Calendar of Events as they are finalized.
Going forward, work groups will meet by phone approximately every four to six weeks and will hold their next in-person meetings in the spring. We encourage you to stay informed about work group progress by checking the project Web site regularly.
Leadership Council
The National Conversation Leadership Council held its first meeting on Friday, December 11, 2009 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The Leadership Council discussed the National Conversation’s overall operating procedures, timeline, effective integration of public input into the project’s deliverables, roles and responsibilities of project participants, and work group charges. Please check the National Conversation Web site in mid-January for a summary of the Leadership Council meeting.
Additional Activities
National Environmental Public Health Conference
In late October 2009, the National Environmental Public Health Conference featured several National Conversation activities, including a plenary session about toxics and public health, a project booth at the conference exhibition, and a public listening session attended by more than 60 persons.
Participating in the Conversation
National Conversation partners are working on a community conversation toolkit and web-discussion platform and plan to launch both in early 2010. These mechanisms will provide meaningful opportunities for all interested members of the public to participate in our conversation. In addition to these activities, we want to work with you to organize a National Conversation listening session, panel, or other forum at a meeting, conference, or other gathering occurring in 2010. Please contact us at nationalconversation@cdc.gov if you have ideas for us to consider– we’re all ears!
Warmly,
The National Conversation project team