Lung Health News, Spring / Summer 2003
Santa Barbara Appoints New Executive Director
Jayne Brechwald, MPH, was recently appointed executive director of the American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. The board of directors made the appointment when Debbie Weeks retired after 19 years of service with the American Lung Association.
Brechwald has more than 30 years experience in the field of public health. She has been active in the anti-tobacco movement since 1989. She oversaw the health education programs for the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. As the public information officer, she worked closely with the media to promote wellness and healthy lifestyles. She is well qualified to step into this position.
Sacramento Receives Grant to Expand Clean Air Agenda
The American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails recently received a grant of nearly $96,000 over a period of 18 months to expand its Clean Air Agenda outreach program to policy makers and elected officials. The focus of the Clean Air Agenda ties directly to the Irvine Foundation’s support to Sacramento Area Council of Government’s Land Use Blueprint Program.
The American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails recently received a grant of nearly $96,000 over a period of 18 months to expand its Clean Air Agenda outreach program to policy makers and elected officials. The focus of the Clean Air Agenda ties directly to the Irvine Foundation’s support to Sacramento Area Council of Government’s Land Use Blueprint Program.
San Francisco Scores Air Quality Successes
With the help of American Lung Association affiliates in the Bay Area, the American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties has been busy promoting policy changes to increase the use of cleaner fuels. San Francisco will stop purchasing diesel buses, San Mateo County passed legislation to increase the use of cleaner fleet vehicles, and several East Bay cities are in the process of developing similar resolutions.
Thanks to American Lung Association efforts, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District was persuaded to maintain funding for many of these cleaner fleets. The American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties is also collaborating with other agencies to sponsor a regional Bay Area event promoting cleaner-fueled garbage trucks. More issues will be addressed by the newly formed Bay Area Clean Air Task Force, including various environmental justice issues.
Redwood Empire Hosts Largest Asthma Walk in the Country
The Redwood Empire Branch of the American Lung Association of California held the largest Blow the Whistle on Asthma walk in the United States, raising more than $126,000 to fund important asthma and lung disease education, advocacy and research.
The walk, held September 29 at Spring Lake Park in Santa Rosa, was among 70 walks held nationwide that raised $2.5 million. DEY, L.P., a Napa-based manufacturer of respiratory medications, raised $71,000, with more than 250 employees participating.
“We had 30 phenomenal teams who gave it their all to help in the effort,” says Michael Martin, MD, family team chairman. On the walk, participants passed a memorial bench honoring Michelle Furness, who died of an asthma attack at age 20 while rollerblading at the park.
Santa Clara Minds The Gap
The American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties’ Mind The Gap college anti-tobacco advocacy program recently notched another victory against campus smoking. Effective January 3, 2003, the Foothill- DeAnza College District passed campus policy 3217 that bans smoking within 25 feet of doorways, windows, and ventilation units at both campuses. Because of the structure of the campus, the ban effectively makes the entire campus smoke-free.
Mind The Gap and the Foothill-DeAnza College District worked for two years to get a revised non-smoking campus policy with the help of the Tobacco Awareness Coalition. On January 7, 2003, the American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties announced the new smoking policy at Foothill-DeAnza College District at a news conference, which also unveiled the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco Report 2002.
“The new policy is important for two reasons,” says Mary Jo Kane, director of Health Services at DeAnza College. “To protect everyone from the dangers of tobacco smoke, and to send students clear messages about the importance of developing healthy lifestyles.”
