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News & HighlightsNVHR UpdatesUpdate Winter 2008 December 20, 2007 Dear NVHR Members and Sponsors:On behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), I am writing to provide an update on Coalition activities and let you know about some upcoming opportunities. 2007 has been a year of transition for NVHR, but we look forward to continue working with the membership and sponsors in 2008 to address viral hepatitis in the United States. This past summer, NVHR Chair Molli Conti resigned from her position as the Executive Director of the Hepatitis B Foundation, and thus her position on the NVHR board, to work at Bristol-Myers Squibb. We were sorry to lose Molli’s expertise, but we are excited about her new role which will include working closely with the hepatitis B advocacy community. As the Vice-Chair, I have transitioned to Chair of NVHR since Molli’s departure. You may also know that Dick Conlon, NVHR administrator retired this summer. Since the organization’s inception, Dick’s leadership and vision kept NVHR moving forward. We will greatly miss Dick and his shoes will be difficult to fill. The board is taking the next 3 -6 months to develop a long-term leadership strategy and action plan for NVHR. We began this work at a recent board retreat where we outlined an immediate action plan. In the short-term, we have asked Martha Saly to assume the position of interim administrator. This move to interim administrator required Martha to step down from the Executive Committee of the Board. In her new role, Martha will help us take the next steps in planning for NVHR’s future. As we develop these plans, it is important that we hear what is important to our membership. Martha will be making contact with each member organization over the next couple of months to discuss your thoughts on how NVHR can best serve the needs of the viral hepatitis community. Also in the next few months, we will be looking to fill vacant seats on the Board of Directors, planning World Hepatitis Awareness Month observances and updating our website. On January 10, 2008 at 3 PM EST, we would like to invite you to a special all member call. This will be an opportunity for NVHR member organizations to provide input to the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis as they prepare for the next round of funding under the Viral Hepatitis Education and Training (VHET) program. We ask that you RSVP by Friday, January 4, 2008. At that time, we will send you call in information as well as background information on the VHET program. Please RVSP to Martha Saly at mbsaly@sbcglobal.net. In 2008 we look forward to re-engaging with our membership and reaching out to other organizations, federal agencies and industry partners. Rest assured that NVHR is committed to continuing its pursuit of the elimination of viral hepatitis. May the coming year be full of exciting opportunities, continued dedication and strengthened relationships! Please feel free to contact me at ctaylor@NASTAD.org or Martha Saly at mbsaly@sbcglobal.net at any time. Sincerely, Chris Taylor |
  
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