The speaker at this month’s meeting will be Ronald C. Burger.  Ron is the Senior Emergency Coordinator for the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Ron, a CDC employee for over 30 years, has responsibilities including coordinating the emergency public health preparedness and response provided by the CDC to states and local public health departments.  Over the past few years he has assisted the states and local areas with their response to Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, Iniki, Marilyn, Opal, Bonnie, Georges, Floyd and Allison, the Midwest Floods of 1993, Northridge Earthquake, Southeast Floods of 1994, the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing incident and the floods in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  He was on a field team deployed to Kenya and Uganda to investigate an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in February, 1998.  He was the Senior Emergency Coordinator leading the CDC assistance to the New York City Department of Health=s public health response to the World Trade Center attack and the response to Hurricane Isabel in North Carolina and Virginia. He recently responded to assist Florida with their cluster of hurricanes in the summer of 2004 (Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne).  Ron also provided the liaison capability for the Department by being on site at the Group of 8 Presidential Economic Summit as well as the Republican National Convention.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Millersville University, Pennsylvania, and has taken some advanced course work at Pennsylvania State University, University of Connecticut, and Western Michigan University.  He is an adjunct faculty member of the University of Eastern Kentucky.

As you might guess, the topic of Ron’s presentation will be the “Public Health and Medical Response to Disasters”.

Prior to the presentation, we will meet the design/developers of our new GA CHMM website allowing us to ask questions and suggest ideas to better facilitate the use of this tool to the membership.

The cost of this meeting will be $15 for local chapter members and $20 for all others.  Our meal choices will be the same as last time: 

Beef Bourguignon (Tender chunks of beef braised in red wine and veal reduction with mushrooms and pearl onions)  OR

Marinated Grill Chicken Breast (Grilled Marinated chicken Breast).

Both options come with the following:  Vegetable Medley, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sodas and Tea, and Assorted Bread Service

Please RSVP as soon as possible with your meal preference to kcole3566@yahoo.com.  Last meeting had many positive RSVPs who didn’t show up to the meeting.  Consequently, we had ordered too much food.  Unfortunately, we will have to charge anyone who RSVPs that they will attend and ultimately does not show up (without giving notice).  Thank you for your understanding.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Keith A. Cole, P.E., CHMM

GA CHMM Chapter Secretary

(404) 354-2950 cell

kcole3566@yahoo.com