More than 22 IC2 Members and Supporting Members met June third and fourth in Olympia, Washington to map out a strategy for the organization for the next few years. We have not had an opportunity to meet face-to-face since 2008, so this meeting was extremely timely and important. The Washington State Department of Ecology provided financial support for travel and meeting expenses, which made it possible for participants to meet in person. Ecology was a terrific host and shared some of the high points of the beautiful Olympia area.

To start the meeting, the participants talked about the many accomplishments of the IC2 since its founding and its value and importance to them as members.

Priorities that the group outlined for 2016 and beyond included:

• Development of a multi-state chemical use disclosure system for reporting and data sharing
• Expansion of the Alternatives Assessment (AA) Guide to cover some challenging areas, including AA for mixtures
• Support for IC2's training and capacity building efforts, including some exciting webinar ideas
• Support for IC2's information sharing through conference calls and the website
• Continued support for sharing chemical hazard assessments, alternatives assessments, lists of chemicals of concern, and state legislation
• Development of a multi-state system for sharing the results of product testing for chemicals of concern
• Renewed emphasis on recruitment and outreach

A number of other important ideas and recommendations that came from the group's discussions will inform the IC2's work. The IC2 Board will be reviewing the results of the meeting and finalizing and authorizing the 2016 IC2 Workplan later this summer.

The group also received an exciting preview of the recently published Chemicals without Harm, by IC2 founder Ken Geiser.

This issue's member spotlight shines on Bobbi Chase Wilding, the Deputy Director of IC2 Supporting Member Clean and Healthy New York. Bobbi plays an active role on several IC2 Workgroups and the Council.

IC2: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Bobbi: I'm an environmental health advocate and have been for my entire professional career. I have an Environmental Science BS and an MS in Ecological Economics, Values and Policy, both from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I started my career working for a non-profit devoted to ensuring safe clean-up of toxic waste sites and realized that this could go on forever if we didn't "turn off the tap" on toxic chemicals coming into our society, and so I began working to push the problem upstream, to the design of products and ultimately the design and selection of safer chemicals. I was one of the founding members of the IC2, because it was easy to see the benefits of getting state agencies to work together to tackle the challenge of chemicals in products.

Just over a decade ago I became a parent and my work took on a whole new significance. My older daughter was a toddler when we started to realize the extent of lead in children's products. Since then, that's been my focus: protecting children's health from toxic chemicals.

IC2: What is your job at Clean and Healthy New York?

Bobbi: I am the Deputy Director, and in our shop that means a little bit of everything. I am responsible for scientific research: reviewing scientific studies and using an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer to test products for certain elements. I am responsible for our communications, including print materials and our website. I coordinate the national Getting Ready for Baby campaign, which works to have leading baby product retailers like Babies"R"Us and Buy Buy Baby keep products made with chemicals of concern off store shelves. I also train child care providers in New York's capital region to avoid toxics. I am the liaison to the IC2 on behalf of the multi-state advocacy coalition called SAFER States, and I sit on the advisory board of the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. I also oversee our organization's financial matters.

IC2: What is your involvement in promotion of safer alternatives?

Bobbi: Clean and Healthy New York's mission is to promote safer chemicals, a sustainable economy, and a healthier world. We believe all of those things must work together for us to succeed. We have seen the problems that arise when the focus is solely on identifying one toxic chemical. In too many cases, the "alternative" that gets chosen is very similar to the one that is on its way out, and, as a result, it also often has similar toxic properties. In order to avoid "regrettable substitutions," companies and people need to know what safer solutions exist, and we incorporate the push for safer chemicals and materials into all of our work, whether it's public policy, market policy, or individual purchasing.

IC2: What do you like most about your job?

Bobbi: Every morning I get up knowing that I'll spend my day working to make the world a better, healthier place. I also really enjoy my colleagues. Whether they're working in government positions, for businesses devoted to making their products safe and healthy, or for non-profit advocacy organizations, it would be hard to find a better group of people. And I enjoy the variety of work I do.

IC2: What is your vision for the IC2 over the next two years? What do you hope it will accomplish?

Bobbi: One of the founding visions for the IC2 was to have it serve as a central repository for information about toxic chemicals in products. I continue to believe this is valuable for state agencies, companies that must report, and the public. I hope to see as many states as possible work toward that reality in the coming years. Regardless of what happens at the federal level, there will be an ongoing need for states to fill in the gaps and to collect much-needed information. IC2 creates a powerful venue for skill sharing, information transfer, and joint projects that benefit member states. IC2 has built up a strong reputation, trust among partners, and active and engaged workgroups. In the next two years, I look forward to seeing IC2 capitalize on those strengths to be a go-to resource for information about where toxic chemicals can be found, what we know about those chemical hazards, and how they compare to alternatives.

IC2: What is one fun thing that most people in IC2 don't know about you?