Greetings from the new president:

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Bill Pockels. I am the Local Section’s incoming president and a student at the Hunter College Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences program. I am an Industrial Hygienist with 19 years experience in the field. I am currently employed by Port Authority of NY & NJ in one of their Jersey City offices. I look forward to leading this section in partnership with the Board of Directors and the membership for this coming year.

First, I would like to thank our Past President, David Zaremsky, for planning and organizing this year’s meetings and activities. We can all appreciate him for introducing of corporate sponsorships for our meetings.

Our corporate sponsors helped defray the costs of holding meetings at certain venues helping us to remain solvent. I intend to continue this practice. The extra money in our bank account, allowed the section to continue our scholarship tradition. This year we awarded scholarships to deserving students at Hunter and Medger Evers Colleges.

This year, I plan to:

• Award Scholarships to Hunter and Medger Evers College students.

• Begin online payment of dues and Meeting Fees (Suggested by David Zaremsky).

• Hold a CIH exam preparatory course this fall and organize another for the summer of 2008.

• Cooperate with Hunter College on their exhibition booth at AIHce 2008.

• Hold a reception at AIHce 2008.

• Outreach to local high schools to grow interest in Industrial Hygiene among young people.

As I begin my tenure, and as we are formulating plans for the coming year, I would like some input from our membership to determine what they would like to get out of their membership/participation in the Metro New York AIHA Chapter. Please take a few minutes and answer the questions, so we may better plan the coming year with you in mind.

• Are there any topics you would like to see covered in the coming year?

• Are you willing to speak on these topics or know someone who could?

• What would influence you to come to more meetings?

• Would your company like to sponsor a meeting?

• Is there anything that the Local Section can do to improve its services to the membership?

Thank you very much in advance for your input, assistance, and attention.

I hope this coming year will bring an enlightening and rewarding experiences to all.

Sincerely,

Bill Pockels
wpockels@hunter.cuny.edu