NVHR Update

Update 2/06

National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable

1. New Board Members
2. The National Viral Hepatitis Elimination Strategy
3. Recommendations from the National Strategy
4. Advocacy and Marketing Strategy
5. Looking for Help
6. Legislation
7. New Members
8. Farewell
9. Welcome

1. The second election of board members in three months went off without a hitch.  Our new directors are: Jeff Caballero, AAPCHO; Martha Saly, Hepatitis C Strategy Group; and, Henry Pollack, Center for the Study of Asian American Health.  Many thanks to all of the candidates; this was a very close election.  Here are the winning results:
   
   NVHR Board Member Election 2006

2. Glenna Crooks of Strategic Health Policy International has been working feverishly on the final draft of the National Viral Hepatitis Elimination Strategy.  Those of us who have had a glance at it are very pleased with her presentation; we think you will be as well.  A copy has been sent to a number of clinicians to double check the treatment and vaccine items.  Next it will go to the Board and within several weeks to the full membership.  We are on target for the full release in May.
3. The recommendations from the Strategy will soon be distributed to the entire membership.  The Board of Directors will narrow the list and send a copy to all members so that a decision may be made as to which goals should be considered “highest priority” in the coming months.
4. Two committees have been working to formulate a Marketing Strategy and an Advocacy Strategy for the Plan.  Once these are finalized, they too will be sent to all members.
5. As you all know, there are currently two bills under consideration in the U.S. House and Senate: a Hepatitis C Bill and a new Hepatitis B Bill.  The NVHR will be drafting a sample letter of support and sending it out for you to consider sending to your representatives and senators.
6. Now that a full Board of Directors is in place, an election of officers will be conducted.  Soon afterward, the Board will begin asking for volunteers to serve on the standing committees of the NVHR.  Please give some thought to contributing your time and talent to one of these committees (e.g.: Membership, Communications, Ways and Means).  Workgroups will also be established to assist with the Marketing and Advocacy Plans.
7. We are always looking for new member organizations to join the NVHR.  If you would like to recommend one as a member, please email Dick Conlon (rconlon@nvhr.org).  Dick will contact the organization and send them the details as to how to join.
8. The NVHR bids Laurie Schowalter (NASTAD) a very fond farewell as she moves on to continue her advocacy work with adult vaccines.  As a founding member and officer of the NVHR, Laurie has been instrumental to the success of the Roundtable.  Her enthusiasm and experience will be sorely missed.  We wish you all the best, Laurie!
9. Finally, we welcome Kelli Scanlon as administrative support for the NVHR.  Many of you are already familiar with Kelli as she previously served on the Board, and was instrumental in getting the ballots out for the recent election.  Please contact Kelli if you have any difficulty receiving communications from the NVHR or if there have been any changes in your e-mail address or your organization’s web address.

Best regards,
Dick Conlon