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December
2019 e-Newsletter
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Inside NHPHA
A Monthly Column Written by NHPHA Leadership
Simple Wishes for NHPHA for the Holiday Season
written by Marcella Bobinsky, NHPHA President
This time of year, the song that comes to mind for me is
"Simple Gifts," a Shaker tune that most of us probably know. Throughout the year, I sometimes am consumed with grand dreams--a cruise, raising a million dollars for NHPHA, winning the lottery--you know, that kind of stuff. But in November and December, it's the simple things, the simple gifts that make me happy: a crackling fire in the stove, the smell of baking bread, and seeing family and friends. So as any child might do, I am sharing my simple wish list with you.
- You could bring your family to the NHPHA Open House this coming Friday, December 6. We'll be waiting for you with food and drink.
- You could ask a coworker to become a new member of NHPHA. It's easy because it is on our website, a new version of which we are launching this week (stay tuned for more details!).
- You could send a donation to NHPHA before the end of the year.
- And, finally, you can call or email Jess, Joan, or Andrea to find out what it takes to become a NHPHA committee member. The Communications and Membership Committees in particular could really use your help! Jess' email is [email protected], and NHPHA's phone number is (603) 228-2983.
Yes, that's my simple, audacious, fabulous list. Please . . . make it come true!
You can read this article on our website here.
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Improved NHPHA Membership Database
and Website Coming THIS WEEK!
We are excited to announce that we are transitioning THIS WEEK to a new, much more user-friendly membership database and updated website! We will be sending out notifications about this to our members, and you will be able to log in to your membership portal and customize it with a photo, update your mailing preferences, and more. The website will still be located at
https://nhpha.org, and you will receive an email letting you know once it's gone live. Stay tuned for more details!
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Food Safety Tips for the Holiday Season
written by Lynne Clement, Communications Specialist,
NH Division of Public Health Services
As we enter the busy holiday season, the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Food Protection Section recommends some simple tips to avoid foodborne illnesses, such as salmonella,
E. coli, and
Campylobacter.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 31 pathogens known to cause foodborne illness. Every year there are an estimated 48 million cases of illness, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths in the United States due to foodborne diseases. Symptoms can vary depending on the illness, but some common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. It is difficult to say with certainty which microbe is causing a given illness without laboratory testing.
Read the rest of this article here.
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NHPHA Needs Your Fundraising Help!
 April's silent auction at NHPHA's 2019 Annual Meeting was a great success and received positive feedback, so we're considering doing another one for the 2020 annual meeting. However, to do so, we'll need help with coordination and fundraising! If you'd like to help, please contact Program Assistant Jess Barnett at
[email protected]. We'd love to hear your ideas for how we can make next year's a success!
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We Are Public Health:
Thank You, Public Health Professionals!
written by Lisa Vasquez, MS, CPS, NHPHA Communications Committee Co-Chair
On the Monday before Thanksgiving, the APHA, Research America, and leading public health organizations take time to recognize public health professionals who work tirelessly every day to protect the health of all people and all communities.
Public health professionals are dedicated to reducing infant mortality, developing and distributing vaccines, tracking infectious outbreaks, preparing us for natural disasters, and so much more.
Here are a few thank-you messages from NHPHA, APHA, and local public health officials:
NHPHA President Marcella Bobinsky:
"Thankfully, in my retirement, I am still involved with public health professionals. Each person that I meet through the NH Public Health Association is vibrant, committed, and willing to teach and learn. Board Members, Committee Members, Mentors, Mentees, Rising Stars, Association Members, Event Attendees - all passionate public health professionals - thank you for your commitment to our field of expertise and the communities in which we live."
Read the rest of the article here.
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It's National Influenza Vaccination Week!
adapted by Jess Barnett from the CDC's 2019 NIVW Digital Media Toolkit
 It's that time of year again: flu season. As family and friends are gathering for the holidays, flu activity is increasing.
Get a flu vaccine now if you have not gotten vaccinated yet this season.
There are many reasons to get a flu vaccine. Flu vaccination can reduce your risk of flu illness, doctors' visits, and missed work and school due to flu. Even if you are vaccinated and still get sick, flu vaccine can reduce the severity of your illness. Flu vaccination also can help protect women during and after pregnancy and protect the baby born to a vaccinated mom for several months after birth. Flu vaccine also has been shown to save children's lives, prevent serious events associated with chronic lung disease, diabetes and heart disease, and prevent flu-related hospitalization among working age adults and older adults. Getting vaccinated isn't just about keeping you healthy; it's also about helping to protect others around you who may be vulnerable to becoming very sick, such as babies, older adults, and pregnant women.
Read the rest of the article here.
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New Futures Legislative Update
written by Alisha Proctor, New Futures Communications Coordinator
SB 248 (Tobacco 21) News
Throughout the 2019 legislative session, New Futures supported
SB 248, a bill that will raise the tobacco sales age to 21 to help protect the health and safety of Granite State youth. SB 248 was retained in the Senate for further study, but the state budget that passed in October did include a provision to raise the tobacco sales age to 19. This compromise is a step in the right direction, but it does not accomplish the full goal of keeping tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, out of New Hampshire schools and away from youth. In November, the Senate Commerce Committee voted 3-2 to recommend SB 248 Ought to Pass. The hard work done on this bill will continue into the 2020 legislative session when it goes before the full Senate.
Read the rest of the update here.
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NH Tobacco 21 Coalition Publishes Op-Ed
on Tobacco Sales Age
NHPHA
member and
New Futures
Vice President of Advocacy Kate Frey and Northern New England Chapter of the American College of Cardiology member Daniel Philbin, MD, both of the New Hampshire Tobacco 21 Coalition, published an op-ed in the
New Hampshire Union Leader
about raising the tobacco sales age to 21. NHPHA is part of the coalition and supports this issue. Read the article in The Union Leader here.
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Follow These Tips for Toy Safety This Season
written by Lynne Clement, Communications Specialist,
NH Division of Public Health Services
It's that time of year when kids are super excited about gifts and toys and parents may find themselves wondering about their safety. To make the holidays less stressful and more carefree, here are a few things to remember when shopping for toys:
- Read the label and make sure to follow the age recommendations of the manufacturer (those recommendations can help you know if there are small pieces that can be a choking hazard for younger ages). To check if a toy can be a choking hazard, try the toilet paper roll test. If the toy can pass through the toilet paper roll, it is a choking hazard.
- Avoid toys with magnets. Magnets can be choking hazards and, if swallowed, can cause serious internal damage.
- Make sure batteries are secure. Toys for babies and toddlers usually secure the batteries with screws because batteries can cause serious chemical burns when swallowed and can even lead to death.
- Buy a helmet. If you purchase a ride-on toy, you should also purchase a helmet. Helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by 85%.
- Listen for loud noise. Loud toys can damage a child's sensitive ears. If a toy is too loud for you, it's too loud for your child. Take out the batteries if you find a toy is too loud.
From all of us at NHPHA, have a safe and happy Holiday Season! For more information on toy safety, please visit https://KidsHealth.org.
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Enjoy Party Planning?
NHPHA Membership Committee Wants YOU!
NHPHA is looking for members who are interested in social events and party planning to join its Membership Committee! We're also looking for folks interested in marketing, communications, and health promotion to join the Communications Committee.
Please note that you do not need experience to join either committee. This is a great opportunity for any NHPHA member, but especially
 for student members who would like to be more involved in public health. The Membership Committee is responsible for organizing fun, social events for NHPHA throughout the year as well as engaging members like you. The Communications Committee keeps members informed in a timely manner of these NHPHA activities (and more) and supporting all of the communication activities between the Board, NHPHA membership, and those interested in public health programs and initiatives.
For more information about joining the Membership Committee, please contact the committee chair: Lisa Bujno (
[email protected]
). To join the Communications Committee, please contact the committee Co-Chairs: Lisa Vasquez (
[email protected]) or Christin D'Ovidio (
[email protected]). Thanks in advance for your help!
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Membership Renewal Pins.
The committee has purchased NHPHA pins as a way to say thank you to our members when they renew. We hope you will wear your pins with pride at NHPHA and other public health events. Pins can be picked up at NHPHA events, or to coordinate a pickup, please email Marcella Bobinsky at [email protected].
Updating Contact Information. In order to communicate with our members in a more meaningful way, we will be actively collecting your personal email addresses. It has come to our attention that our communications are not always reaching you at your place of employment due to stringent firewalls. Please contact Jess Barnett at
[email protected] to provide or update your information. Then, kindly add " [email protected]" to your address book so that we may reach you with important updates.
New and Renewing Members
We'd like to welcome our new members:
Schelley Rondeau and
Sage Scribner
A special shout-out to our renewing members:
Ryan Burke, Laura David, Caitlin Duffy, Keene State College,
Rivier University, and
Robert Weisberg
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December 6, 5 to 7:30 p.m.: NHPHA Open House!
The annual NHPHA open house is happening THIS Friday, and we hope to see you there! Please stop by for food, wine, and fun before Concord's Midnight Merriment. Feel free to bring a canned or hygiene item for donation to the NH Food Bank.
January 2020 (exact date to be announced):
Food Insecurity Webinar:
In response to great interest expressed by our members, NHPHA will work with expert partners to present a webinar on the root causes of food insecurity and evidence-based practices that can be used to address this problem. Some of the practices that address food insecurity can also be effective in focusing on the factors contributing to childhood obesity.
Have an upcoming event that you'd like to have highlighted in our e-newsletter? Email us! Also, NHPHA has a new events page, which we update often; please check it out! |
Need to Renew Your NHPHA Membership?
To Renew by Mail:
Go to http://nhpha.org/membership. Choose the individual or organizational membership application to print and fill out. Send the application and check (payable to NHPHA) and mail to NHPHA, 4 Park Street, Suite 403, Concord, NH 03301.
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NHPHA would like to acknowledge and thank the following funders
for their continued generosity and support:
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For information on donating or becoming a member of NHPHA, click
here.
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Your feedback is very important to us. If you have comments, questions, or suggestions for the NHPHA e-Newsletter,
email us!
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2018 Affiliate of the Year of the American Public Health Association
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