This issue marks a transition for MAHB, as Paul Jacobsen steps down at the end of the year, having served with distinction as our President since 1993. Paul first joined the MAHB Executive Board in 1991, and will remain with us as an ex officio board member. I have enjoyed working with Paul - his energy and committment to local boards of health make him a valuable human resource.
Paul was recently appointed Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Public Health. He has played a vital role in sheparding the Local Health Coordinating Council, and in the birth of the Institute for Local Public Health. Local boards of health have benefited from Paul's pragmatic approach to the problems they encounter. Drawing from his experiences with 11 years of service on the Millis Board of Health, Paul will continue to be a strong voice for local public health.
Our president-elect is Richard Kanoff, an attorney with the Boston law firm of Keegan Werlin, & Pabian specializing in energy, environmental and health matters. He is serving his 12 th year on the Harvard Board of Health, and has been on the MAHB Executive Board since 1994. He also the Northeast Trustee of the National Association of Local Boards of Health(NALBOH).
1998 Certification & Training
The next issue of the Quarterly will publish a summary of this year's certification program evaluation. The steering committee will meet next month to begin planning for next fall's program.
Skin Cancer Grants Still Available
As reported in the Summer Quarterly, MAHB has available to member boards $2,000 skin cancer mini-grants targeting children with educational programs. For more information, please contact the office.
Computer Survey
The technology subcommittee of the Local Health Coordinating Council is seeking information regarding computer use by boards of health. To assist in this important task, MAHB and MHOA are circulating a computer survey. If your board has not yet responded, you will soon be hearing from Ed Bertorelli, MAHB's Community Outreach Coordinator. The primary purpose of this survey is to determine how many boards are NOT connected to the internet and why. Both DEP and DPH are anxious to help boards of health join the information revolution.
Happy Holidays,
Marcia Elizabeth Benes