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Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Improving Life, One Breath at a Time
To automatically connect with your nearest American Lung Association, or to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at our free HelpLine, call 800.LUNG.USA (800.586.4872).
May 31, 2003 Number 100
Content:
QUIT SMOKING ADS UNVEILED FOR WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
The American Lung Association of California is unveiling seven TV public service announcements (PSAs) nationwide to promote Freedom From Smoking online in time for World No Tobacco Day on May 31. The 30-second spots cover a wide demographic to reach many people. They were developed and produced pro bono by director Hal Smith and his company, Angelsmith. The entire production crew and others donated their time and services to make this campaign happen.
Four of the spots, previously released, feature comedian and actress Carol Burnett, including one in which she talks about her daughter Carrie, a smoker who died of lung cancer. The new spots feature actress Merrin Dungey of Alias (ABC Television), who tells how the Freedom from Smoking program helped her. Another spot, titled "Runner," was shot in both English and Spanish and shows Robert Zepeda traversing a difficult mountain trail in Malibu. He says he used to smoke a pack a day, but adds, "Now, I'm only out of breath when I want to be ... and that's good." And, another spot features musician "Bird" who performs a street poem as an ode to his having kicked the smoking habit.
To view all the PSAs, visit: http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/video.html.
For more information, contact Andy Weisser at 818.703.6444 or aweisser [at] earthlink [dot] net. For more information about World No Tobacco Day, visit: http://www.wntd.org/about_index.cfm.
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE INCLUDES FOCUS ON PUBLIC HEALTH
The American Lung Association is co-sponsoring a special public health track at the Local Government Commission’s Planning and Building More Livable Communities Conference, June 27 to 28, at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego. It will include two sessions specifically targeted to public health professionals who are interested in understanding the link between livable communities and health.
The third session in the public health track brings together public health professionals, planners, transportation experts and others in a multidisciplinary cross-training forum.
For more details and online registration, visit http://www.lgc.org/events.
For more information, contact Laura Keegan, MPH, at 510.638.5864 or lkeegan [at] alac [dot] org , or Dave Defanti at 916.448.1198, ext. 330, or ddefanti [at] lgc [dot] org.
CENTER FOR TOBACCO POLICY PROVIDES LEGISLATIVE UPDATES ONLINE
The legislature has taken action on some high-profile tobacco-related bills over the last few weeks and the American Lung Association of California’s Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing provides an up-to-date resource on their progress.
The Center’s Summary of Tobacco-related Legislation, 2003 Legislative Session, can be viewed at http://www.californialung.org/thecenter/2003legislation.html.
For more information, contact Julie Bradley-Hart at 916.442.4446 or jbradleyhart [at] alac [dot] org.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION COACHES LEARN ABOUT ASTHMA
Thanks to a grant from the Aetna Foundation, the American Lung Association of the Inland Counties is educating physical education coaches about exercise and asthma. The association received $25,000 from Aetna as part of a grant program focused on children's health, women's health and disparities in healthcare.
About 13 percent of children in San Bernardino County suffer from asthma, making it the second-highest rate of any county in California. The exercise and asthma program is designed to educate physical education teachers and coaches about how to prevent exercise-induced asthma.
For more information, contact Pat Kudell at 909.884.5864 or pat [at] alaic [dot] org.
BI-NATIONAL CLEAN AIR CONFERENCE ADDRESSES HEALTH
More than 70 people from both sides of the United States and Mexico border recently joined together for a clean air conference sponsored by the American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, the California Endowment and the Clean Air Initiative Coalition. The Clean Air Initiative is a new group that is working to improve air quality and health in the bi-national air basin of Imperial and Mexicali.
Conference speakers presented information on air quality and health, sources of air pollution and its impact on asthma. The event was headline news in Imperial Valley, and generated both interest and motivation to sustain the battle for clean air in the county with the state's highest asthma hospital rates for children.
For more information, contact Ross Porter at 619.297.3901 or ross [at] lungsandiego [dot] org.
TOBACCO-FREE COLLEGE CAMPUSES WIN ANOTHER ROUND
In a unanimous vote, the California State University Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation Board of Directors agreed to ban the sale of tobacco products on the CSUS campus. The Sacramento student group STAND (Students Taking Action Against Nicotine Dependence) has worked to make the campus tobacco-free for more than two years.
The group collected more than 1,600 signatures of support from campus community members, including CSUS President Donald Gerth, who sent the Foundation a letter supporting STAND's position.
For more information, contact Stacey Long at 916.444.5864 or slong [at] saclung [dot] org.
ASSOCIATION MEMBERS PRESENT CLEAN AIR SESSIONS IN THAILAND
A volunteer and staff member from the American Lung Association will be presenting clean air sessions at the Exchange Program for Sustainable Growth in Thailand. The conference is May 29 to June 6 and is part of United States/Asia Environmental Partnership.
The official delegation to Thailand is called the San Francisco Clean Cities-U.S. Department of Energy program. Included in that delegation will be Linda Weiner, communications director for the American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties and American Lung Association of California-Redwood Empire Branch Board Member Bill Zeller.
Weiner will present a one-day workshop on social marketing for a clean air campaign planned by the Chang Mai municipality. Zeller, who works for PG&E’s clean air program, will present a clean fleets session about transitioning from gas and diesel to cleaner fuels like natural gas.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 650.994.5864 or lindaw [at] alasfsm [dot] org
CALIFORNIA THORACIC SOCIETY BRINGS HOME THE AWARDS
The California Thoracic Society showed once again its penchant for excellence when it was recognized recently at the American Thoracic Society’s International Conference in Seattle. CTS was awarded the 2003 CLAS-ATS Thoracic Society Chapter Excellence Award.
CTS member Paul Selecky, MD, received the first-ever ATS Outstanding Clinician's Award. Dr. Selecky is a CTS past president and past recipient of the American Lung Association's California Medal and Pottenger Award.
Homer Boushey Jr, MD, who is also a CTS past president and California Medal recipient, was installed as ATS President and will lead the nationwide organization for the next year.
For more information, contact Colleen Richardson, CAE, at 714.730.1944 or cts [at] aol [dot] com.
BICYCLISTS RIDE FOR LIFE AND BREATH
Bicyclists have the opportunity to enjoy some of the most beautiful countryside while raising money for life and breath at the American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties’ 22nd Annual Bike Trek for Life and Breath. The trek is set for Friday, June 20, through Sunday, June 22.
The bike ride takes place in the Santa Ynez Valley and covers both flat terrain and rolling hills past regionally famous wineries and ranches. This is a go-at-your-own pace ride for cyclists of all levels of experience. Riders will have the choice of a one-day ride on Saturday, June 21, or the three-day ride.
Rest and food stops will be set up every 10 miles along the route in addition to roving support vehicles. Evening entertainment will be provided and all camping gear will be transported by American Lung Association volunteers.
For more information, contact Donna Pearson-Beal at 805.963.1426 or donna [at] lungsbvc [dot] org.
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