The Chairman's Blog

Community Email

2011-07-10T17:01:00.001-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

Well, I thought my computer was fixed awhile back but shortly after my last community email it totally died. So I purchased a MacBook Air and Apple was able to transfer all of my addresses and emails onto this computer last week so I am in heaven. They talked about how ancient my IBook was but I had to stop them there - I said this little computer helped to shut down the operations of a corporation that brought harm to people and I will be forever grateful for its use.

I am extremely excited to share the article below. I hope it will give you a great understanding of all we are accomplishing. Our community story is making a difference in this world and I want you to know this.

http://www.thecitizen.com/arti cles/06-29-2011/national-clear inghouse-chemical-exposure-fay ette-idea

The next step is to make sure congress expands Poison Control rather than cut it. I am going to request that the National Conversation Leadership Committee hold a final gathering in D.C. so everyone might have a chance to attend this meeting and vocalize the importance of taking action on the final report. This will also give us a chance to contact key congressional people and lobby for Recommendation 7.3.

Also, our Task Force will meet in the very near future to outline a strategy to make sure PSC is not allowed to apply for a new permit in 2012. If you would like to be a part of our strategy team, please let me know.

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer!

Your Neighbor,

Connie

Constance Biemiller Thomas

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. 904-553-4336

Email - environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

FB Group - Environmental Neighbor

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Community Email

2011-04-03T17:13:00.001-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

I am so glad to be back with my wonderful laptop that has all of my environmental email addresses - it is ready and running. I pray that you all have been well. There is so much to talk about and I have missed writing to inform everyone about the concerns of our neighbors and their environment. If you joined my Facebook Environmental Neighbor Group, then you have been somewhat informed but there is nothing like this format for me.

I am using this short email as a test run and will be writing in-depth very soon.

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance Biemiller Thomas

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. 904-553-4336

Email - environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

FB Group - Environmental Neighbor

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Make a Difference This Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T07:38:00.001-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I was recently given a refrigerator magnet that states - Try Organic Food... or as your grandparents called it "Food". This statement is so very true - prior to WWII our food was not chemically laden as it is now. And, of all people, we have Hitler to thank for our continued harm. Chemicals were rapidly created for chemical warfare during WWII and while finding it would kill humans, they also noticed it would kill insects so they kept them in use and marketed them as a pesticide.

I would so encourage you and your family to buy organic products this Thanksgiving. We must continue to have a voice with regard to our health and welfare as a community and vote with our dollar - granted it is a little more expensive to do so at times but you are truly defeating an enemy by doing so. Research is becoming stronger and stronger showing the link between cancer and neurological problems with the introduction of these chemicals into our food supply. These chemicals not only affect our children but their unborn children due to mutations in their DNA at present. This is all frightening stuff for sure!! It is truly up to us to continue the work of the "Greatest Generation" by making sure those that follow us are not further harmed.

Wanting the very best for you and your family this Holiday Season,

Your neighbor,

Connie

Connie Biemiller Thomas

environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

904-553-4336

Authentication - http://archive.thecitizen.com/node/39498

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Community Email - Deadline Sept 20

2010-09-15T17:32:00.001-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

Please take a moment today to vote Yes for Recommendation #1. http://www.resolv.org/nationalconversation/comments/submit.aspx?WorkgroupID=4

We must make sure that there is never another toxic incident in this Nation that leaves people not knowing how to get immediate care. We must expand Poison Control to cover toxic events and this is exactly what Recommendation #1 does. The deadline for public comment is this Monday - I need your help now!!! The National Clearing House for Chemical Emergencies is not an option!!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Connie Biemiller Thomas

environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

770-314-6999

Authentication - http://archive.thecitizen.com/node/39498

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Community Email - Your Turn!!

2010-09-13T09:16:00.001-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I write with great excitement this morning! The Draft Recommendation for the National Clearing House for Chemical Emergencies is now up for view and for your public comment - http://www.resolv.org/nationalconversation/chemical.htm . Please take the time to read this report and to give positive input recommending that Recommendation #1 be submitted to the highest of national authorities and to become immediately operational. I say this with all ease - because as you will see from reading the recommendation many of the resources are already in place through Poison Control - it now needs to be expanded.

This cannot be done without you - so please do your part to make the National Clearing House for Chemical Emergencies a reality. I have copied the recommendation below from the report for your ease in reading it. It begins on page 16 in the overall report. Please go to the Resolve website above to view the entire report and to make your comment - it is time for the citizens to have their voice heard with a demand for action!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Connie Biemiller Thomas

environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

770-314-6999

Authentication - http://archive.thecitizen.com/node/39498

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

IV. ACTION RECOMMENDATIONS  776
777
RECOMMENDATION #1: The federal government should establish an office or program whose 778
goal would be to serve as a coordinating agency, unifying and integrating the efforts of federal, 779
state, local, and tribal government agencies with responsibilities related to preventing, preparing 780
for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating chemical emergencies, and serving as a central 781
program charged with creating consistency and avoiding redundancy of information on chemical 782
emergencies on the national, state, local, and tribal levels. 783
784
Establishing an Office of the Chemical Emergencies Coordinator could accomplish a variety of goals. 785
First, this office would exist to integrate the often disparate data developed by federal agencies before, 786
during, and after a chemical emergency, and proactively disseminate it to planners, responders, and where 787
appropriate, the general public via a National Clearinghouse for Chemical Emergencies. Secondly, the 788
work group envisions this office as having a role in community outreach and volunteer training on 789
personal and community responsibilities and roles in chemical emergency prevention, preparedness and 790
response.  791
792
Ideally, this office would establish a National Clearinghouse for Chemical Emergencies. In part, the 793
Office should collect, develop and disseminate toxicological informational tools. The Office would be 794
charged with receiving reports of chemical emergencies and guiding timely response through referrals to 795
agencies of jurisdiction (for instance through public health, first response, first receiver and poison center 796
channels). In addition, this office would be responsible for ensuring that responders at all levels have 797
access to real-time information on regional resources and response capabilities.  798
799
The recommended Clearinghouse could emulate the national Poison Control System, already partially 800
funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  Advantages of using the existing 801
hotline structure for access include: 802
803
• Immediate access to medical toxicologists 804
• Availability of specialists in poison information trained to collect exposure data 805
• Real-time response and staff trained in risk communications with professionals/public 806
• Alignment with academic resources  807
• Public and professional familiarity with the existing phone number and service 808
• Economies of scale 809
• Robust regional knowledge of response partners and public health agencies 810
811
A structure utilizing one or more regional poison control centers might form the backbone of the 812
emergency reporting and response system under this Office. The availability of clinical toxicologists and 813
other specialists may yield high quality interpretation of exposure data (often incomplete in the literature, 814
or requiring collection from several esoteric sources), provide real-time treatment recommendations for 815
first responders and first receivers, and direct access to the system for the public and other professionals. 816
Poison control center personnel routinely capture, record and report emergency events, exercises and 817
drills, and engage in related public health notifications and risk communications for the public. 818
Mechanisms for raising awareness of services already exist, and modest enhancement in function and 819
dedicated funding of one or more poison control centers to adopt this important function would shorten 820
turn-around time for the creation of this Office and to endow it with functionality. Re-branding of poison 821
control centers should be advertised to the public, chemical industry and professionals. Moreover, contact 822
data for the Office and for the Poison Control system (1-800-222-1222) should be included on all MSDS 823
sheets and similar chemical datasheets. In addition, web searches of terms such as "chemical emergency," 824
should yield this site among the first listed. The website should be easy to navigate to find the needed 825
information and, if additional assistance is needed, there should be the option to chat with a live operator. 826
827
Because there are many potential actors involved with preventing, preparing for, responding to, 828
recovering from, and mitigating chemical emergencies, with varying skills, education and training, it will 829
be difficult to develop such a clearinghouse without a unifying body. Thus this recommendation focuses 830
first on the establishment of an Office of the Chemical Emergencies Coordinator whose goal would be to 831
coordinate and integrate the efforts of all relevant federal government agencies.  832
833
In addition, there are multiple local, state, tribal, and federal agencies and NGOs at all levels, who have 834
the resources and expertise to assist communities and industries during a chemical release. Another goal 835
of this Office would be to establish outreach and volunteer training programs to promote and support 836
individual and community preparedness (e.g., public education, training sessions, demonstrations), 837
including preparedness of those with functional needs. This would allow agencies and NGOs at all levels 838
to have a centralized location to report efforts so that duplication is avoided and stakeholders can follow 839
the process. A comprehensive, easily accessible website should also be established for this service, with 840
an eye toward providing ongoing education with regard to chemical release and its prevention.  841
842
The Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Department of Homeland 843
Security, the National Response Center, and other appropriate agencies should be considered as key 844
resources during the establishment of this office. The Office may draw upon other resources such as 845
medical toxicologists, clinical toxicologists, or basic science toxicologists (available through 846
organizations such as the American College of Medical Toxicologists, American Academy of Clinical 847
Toxicology, American Association of Poison Control Centers, the Society of Toxicology and other 848
organizations), the chemical industry, industrial hygienists, academia, ATSDR, OSHA, NIOSH, EPA and 849
others.   850
851
Although establishment of the Office of the Chemical Emergencies Coordinator could be led by DHHS, it 852
might be more effective if it is established as an independent entity, and not under the ownership or 853
control of any one agency. In addition, the Office of the Chemical Emergencies Coordinator should work 854
free from political persuasion, with major funding coming from a pool of contributions by all relevant 855
federal agencies or funding triggered by a federal emergency declaration.  856

Community Email - Doors Open in D.C.

2010-08-12T20:04:00.001-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

I have returned from D.C. and amazed at the doors that appear to be opening for The National Clearing House for Chemical Emergencies. I met with the lead staffer for the Science and Technology Committee - Oversight and Investigations for the House of Representatives. He really liked the proposal and began to help me think through possible barriers and questions to take back to the Chemical Emergencies Work Group. And, I did take these items into the meeting on Tuesday. I could not believe it when the group became very excited about the concept and began to talk more and more about it - taking up our work group time. Then throughout the rest of the meeting I kept hearing it included in other recommendations. But I have to say, the most miraculous thing that happened is that the very M.D. from Yale University who helped to develop Poison Control happens to sit on our work group and I never knew it. He was quick to say how workable the plan was and sat with me at the end of the meeting to further integrate the appropriate language and funding source for this endeavor. We expect to have the final draft in the next couple of weeks and I will share it with you all.

I used the recent chemical disaster in Athens, GA as an example as to how The Clearing House could have given the responders and community immediate assistance. A lot of the talk has been about providing more training for first responders but the facts are that sometimes communities have only volunteer responders and if they do have paid staff they often do not have the money to send them to training. So it is a must that there be a Clearing House to give guidance in an emergency to responders as well as alert the local hospital of the emergency so they can immediately prepare to help those who are exposed.

I could not be more grateful for the doors that continue to open. The day that a community is able to pick up the phone and get immediate assistance will be the day I truly rejoice!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Connie Biemiller Thomas

environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

770-314-6999

Authentication - http://archive.thecitizen.com/node/39498

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Community Email - D.C. Bound

2010-08-04T17:32:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon Neighbor:

I have missed writing to you all. I have had multiple computer problems and I must thank my 22 year old daughter for letting me use her old computer and my 18 year old son for transferring everything so I could finally write again.

I will be heading to Washington D.C. in the coming week to formally propose the National Clearing House for Chemical Emergencies - it is vital that this be immediately set into place. Not only will this remedy many of the problems we have seen with no lateral leadership in the Gulf Oil Disaster but it will immediately help communities across this nation. Our neighbors in Athens suffered a chemical crisis just this past weekend - see the article below. Much of this crisis could have been prevented had there been a central Chemical Emergencies number that guided responders, industry and community through this tragedy in an immediate fashion. I was blessed to have spoken to this community yesterday to help them with next steps towards their recovery from this tragic event. As good as it feels to be of service, a community should not have to try to find me and other activists for assistance when in such a crisis.

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/080110/new_689105142.shtml

I have also had the pleasure to help mentor a young mother (Kindra Arnesen) who has stepped forward in Venice, Louisiana now advocating for her community's safety in the Gulf Oil Disaster - please watch this powerful video. It was difficult for me to view because it brought back all of the heartache in our own disaster in 2006. I hope to find out more details with regard to this disaster while in D.C. as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVjXufO_zkU

Lastly, I want to encourage anyone who is on Facebook to join a group I have created there called Environmental Neighbor. It is very easy to post the latest news on this site along with having the ability to hear from you as well. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=130113150356568&ref=ts

Your neighbor who is thankful for technology,

Connie

Connie Biemiller Thomas

environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

770-314-6999

Authentication - http://archive.thecitizen.com/node/39498

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

SF&F Community Email

2010-05-20T16:56:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I find it so odd that there is a hearing of the CDCs ATSDR today - a panel to which I serve - that I was not informed about. I found out about it by one of our neighbors in Athens, Georgia. Please take the time to watch it online - it should be interesting! I continue to challenge the Chemical Emergencies group with regard to the realities of how an actual chemical emergency plays out. My greatest hope at this point is to impact the redesign of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) - this sheet follows any chemical to its destination (you can see them hanging in Home Depot near chemicals being stored). However, this sheet is greatly lacking in guiding the safety of the community should there be a spill. There should also be a creation of chemical command center that is notified as soon as a spill is detected and their contact number should be located on that sheet. This command center would be staffed with learned people who know how to connect workers, responders and community members with immediate help.

Lastly, I must say something about the chemical emergency in the Gulf. It is sad to say but it is the exact scenario that played out here with PSC. Government allowing industry to police themselves. Government working only as a permitting agency and thereby gaining an income from those permits. The community now finds out they were not protected all along. I am greatly concerned about the the oil in the Gulf Stream - testifying researcher said that the spill could be 20 times worse than they state and we know from our experience this will be the case. We should all be vigilant to see how we can help these long-term devastated communities.

Your neighbor,

Connie

(NEW EMAIL ADDRESS - environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science & Technology Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight is having another hearing tomorrow.

HEARING CHARTER

Preventing Harm – Protecting Health:

Reforming CDC's Environmental Public Health Practices

Thursday, May 20, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

2318 Rayburn House Office Building

http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/File/Commdocs/hearings/2010/Oversight/20may/Hearing_Charter.pdf

You will be able to watch hearing live 9:00 – 11:00 EST

http://democrats.science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2819

Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

environmentalneighbor@gmail.com

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

PBS Alert - Tonight at 9pm

2010-04-21T06:14:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

Please see the link below for the Award Winning Documentary - Food, Inc. - this is a must for every citizen to watch that wants to be informed about Corporate Profit being placed before the Health of our Citizens!! We continually support these corporations with our dollar to literally destroy us - we must wake-up!!!

http://www.pbs.org/pov/tvschedule/

You can input your zip code after going to this site to find out exactly when it is playing in your area. I would love to hear your feedback.

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Fayette County Earth Day this Saturday

2010-04-15T07:35:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

This year is the second annual Earth Day Festival coordinated by the Environmental Institute of Georgia to bring together the county and all of its municipalities to celebrate how we can make this world a better place. We have close to 70 vendors this year!! It is going to be an awesome event - please go to our website www.fayettecoearthday.org and see the flyer below!! The City of Tyrone is hosting this event and has done a wonderful job.

I want to thank Rawls Whittlesey - one of our great neighbors - who has given the hands-on leadership to this year's event. She is truly one that not only talks the green talk but lives it. In fact, she has now started her own organic delivery that I love having delivered to my home - here is the website for more information http://www.gaiasgreens.com/

There will be recycling at the festival and I especially want to note that there will be E-recycling at Tyrone City Hall so bring those computers etc....

I look forward to seeing you all this Saturday!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Wrong Rhetoric??

2010-03-02T14:08:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

Well, I revised our community case study and also the Vietnamese community study to fit the new format for the National Working Group. An email was sent out from the representative of Crop Life America that he has problems with my rhetoric. I then get emails in hopes that I do not mind liberties taken with my case studies in a rewrite. I was told that changes need to be made in the way I say things because it would offend some of the government agencies. Here is the email I sent back to them.

"I will be unable to attend today's call. I know there have been many emails and liberties taken with my community case study. There has also been some question as to the rhetoric used. I do not serve as a part of this group to make government agencies or corporations feel comfortable with my wording. I am here to give the facts as to what we found to be true because we absolutely have suffered the human cost from appropriate rhetoric rather than works. Comfort does not equal change and I only serve here for change."

So as you all can see this is turning into a total uphill battle. I am the only member of this group from a harmed community and it appears that I will have no support in my efforts. By appointing me to serve alone without support on the team, they can pretty much do as they wish. And, anytime I take a stand I will be seen as the bad guy not wanting to work with the group. This was highlighted so well in an email that I was sent in response to my email it started like this "Blessed are the peacemakers..................".

I ask for your prayers and support as I decide next steps in my service to this project.

Your neighbor,

Connie

P.S. One of our dear neighbors from Florida just sent this to me - please watch. It is about a report that was later changed because they did not like the words used - those very words could have saved the woman who was recently killed by the Sea World whale.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/03/02/kaye.osha.whale.report.cnn?hpt=C2

Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Neighborhood ALERT

2010-02-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

This is not something I usually do - I always keep these emails strictly environmental but in the South Fulton and Fayette Community we have a predator on the loose and I felt it of extreme importance to get this to you.

My daughter was walking our dog approximately a week ago when a car pulled up in front of her appearing to wait on her. It was so suspicious that a neighbor who was driving by noticed the car and turned around and went to check on my daughter - the man then sped away. Now today the same man fitting the same description tried to abduct a child in the Landmark area. Please see the article below. Please call 911 should you see this man or you see a white Lincoln Town Car mid-90s. This predator must be caught!!!!

http://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/node/42193

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

The Body Burden

2010-02-09T17:44:00.000-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

Since being exposed to an organophosphate at a very intense rate in the summer of 2006, I have worked hard to decrease my body burden in order that I might spare myself from cancer or a neurological disease in the future. Living as we have since the 1930s with the high introduction of chemicals in our environment, each one of us carries within our cells toxins that our body has to fight daily to balance or destroy. We are so chemically burdened that we now pass these chemicals on to our unborn children. So it is up to each one of us to decide how we want to treat our bodies and if we want to increase our longevity and quality of life. I am giving you a couple of links to help you make an educated decision.

http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/whatisbb.htm

http://world-wire.com/news/1001060003.html

I have personally chosen to eat organically (meaning foods produced without pesticides or other chemicals). This way my body burden is increased as little as possible. The first thing that appears to keep people from eating organically is that it is a little more expensive to purchase. I decided I could go without those new earrings and put my health first. Once I woke up to how I had lived in the past (never realizing that I was increasing my children's body burden by the way we shopped and cooked), I literally went to my children and apologized for not having known and would do all I could to make sure it did not happen in the future.

There are so many benefits to living this way that I would never go back. There is immediate weight loss just from the reduction of chemical inflammation, which goes without saying reduces your risk of many inflammatory diseases. Also, your energy level is raised and you sleep better at night. Your body absolutely does not have to work as hard - it is plain and simple.

I hope you will give this some serious thought. The only way to care for those you love and your community is to care for yourself first!! Those aspects alone make it a priority for me.

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Green in South Fulton

2010-01-29T05:40:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

Yesterday, I was installed as a Board of Director and V.P. of Environmental Affairs with the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce. It is a honor to have been asked to fill this position. I am extremely excited with all the Chamber wants to do to ensure that the South Fulton community is a healthy and vibrant community. South Fulton deserves the very best in the businesses that are brought to our area. And, priority needs to be given to education and encouragement with regard to incorporating green business practices to the companies who already reside in the South Metro area.

It was great to see so many community leaders and elected officials at the meeting yesterday. I think everyone is beginning to see we need a shared vision for the future and that environmental issues are key in any organizational structure to create a productive and progressive future. I am so very grateful and humbled to be a part of it.

Thank you for being my neighbor - near and far. You are people who care about this planet and its people - living out a continual biblical truth in my book.

Your neighbor,

Connie

P.S. A corporation that is a very active in the Chamber is the Racing Alliance who promotes the use of Biofuel. I thought you might enjoy looking at their website below.

http://www.bfra.eyecongraffix.com/

Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Chemical Disaster Post Katrina

2010-01-13T06:12:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I am continuing my journey on the national level and learning more and more each time we have a meeting. As you know from my last email, I submitted our community case study to the panel. We have also been looking at another community story as a possible case study. We have been in search of a natural disaster that in turn became a chemical disaster. I had the opportunity to hear of a community story that has been so very close to my heart and I hope to meet with this community in person very soon to see how we might be of help.

We all heard about the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina - what we have not heard discussed is the manmade disasters made through extremely poor decision making during the crisis. As the waters began to rise, toxins from industry and landfills began to float through the neighborhoods and a decision was made to get rid of it by taking the toxic waste to an old landfill near a Federal Nature Preserve on the outskirts of the city. This old landfill was never lined and in no way prepared for toxic waste. I did not find out until my conference call yesterday from the federal agencies on the panel that EPA, OSHA etc... were released from any regulation as a part of the disaster response therefore no care had to be taken with regard to post planning and care of surrounding communities. Now a Vietnamese community has been devastated due to the toxic leaching of this landfill. This community lives down stream of this site and uses the canal that runs along side of the nature preserve for their fishing and watering of their gardens. This community is very ill and is dealing with long term and generational health problems as a result of this disaster that did not need to take place!!! I have submitted this story to CNN because I feel it is due national coverage but have yet to hear. If you have contacts in this area, please let me know.

May our eyes as a nation continue to open - may we truly embrace change to do whatever it takes to care for our neighbors. And, at this very moment - may we do the right thing as we give care to the Haitian people.

My yard is your backyard and I will never forget it!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Three Years Ago We Celebrated

2009-12-22T20:17:00.000-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

It was on this very evening three years ago that we celebrated the plugging of the PSC (Philip Services Corporation) sewer discharge unit!!! We finally felt our community was safe at last. I will forever be grateful to Fulton County Commissioner - Bill Edwards and his former Chief of Staff - Dyan Matthews for all they did behind the scenes to make this happen.

Today, what is even more amazing is that the story still continues. I just submitted an abstract of our community story to be a case study with the National Conversation Chemical Emergencies Work Group. I am copying it below along with attaching the handout created for the Baltimore meeting this past November. My continued prayer is that all of this will be used for the higher good and our children and grandchildren across this nation will greatly benefit from a safer environment.

Many blessings to you all during this Holiday Season!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

ABSTRACT

SOUTH FULTON AND FAYETTE COMMUNITY INGESTATION OF ETHOPROP EMISSIONS FROM LOCAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

Submitted by Constance Biemiller Thomas – 12-18-09

Background: The Philip Services Corporation (PSC) owns a wastewater treatment facility that lies on the South Fulton and Fayette County border. The facility was originally constructed as a Fulton County plant that discharged non-toxic treated waste into the Fulton County sewer system. This facility was later sold to a private entity and in most recent years purchased by PSC with the continued permitting for the treatment of non-toxic waste and discharge into the Fulton County sewer system.

Issue: In the summer of 2006, PSC began treating millions of gallons of a toxic substance known as Ethoprop by boiling it in large vats and aerosolizing it into the air (this is not illegal in the state of Georgia - Georgia does not recognize pesticides as a toxic waste). This treatment took over a three-month period to complete with hundreds of people and pets becoming severally ill while this process was being conducted.

Results: The community began to demand answers from local, state and national agencies and public officials. They formed the South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force to advocate on the communities behalf (no agency or public official has ever taken a leadership role in advocating for this community). This group was able to lobby for the shutdown of PSC resulting in Fulton County's non-reissue of the PSC sewer discharge permit in the December of 2006. Since this event, residents remain ill and several have died as a direct link to this poisoning.

Lessons Learned: (a) Laws must change in the state of Georgia recognizing pesticide waste as toxic substance and handled under toxic regulation. At present, many states send their toxins to Georgia to be treated because of the lack of state laws prohibiting this procedure -resulting in 2009 Forbes Magazine naming Atlanta the most toxic city in the nation. (b) Public agencies designed to protect communities lack the necessary community advocate arm of their divisions. A community advocate division must be created to become the bridge between the community and the accessing of public services during a toxic disaster. This arm must be given the right to advocate on the communities behalf without repercussion by the funding entity. The community advocate division must be given immediate funding to help communities organize for their long-term benefit. At present, communities are expected to organize on their own and then apply to become a 501 (c) 3. Once designated as a non-profit, they then have the ability to apply for public agency grants to help their community that has long since passed the crisis.

Military: Burn pits could cause long-term damage to troops - CNN.com

2009-12-18T11:05:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I just saw this article and I grieve so for our military who return as a casualty of war by our own doing!!!!! This case looks to substantiate our claim of physical illness due to toxic inhalation and how it can cause various outcomes due to genetics and lifestyle of an individual.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/18/military.burn.pits/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

As always, I want to hear your thoughts on these matters.

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Disturbing Reports

2009-12-11T08:44:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

Well, the first report that has been disturbing for me is that my internet was not working for over a week - the modem had to be reinitialized - which really brings home the importance of the internet and its use when fighting for justice. I am so very grateful to have been able to reach out to all of you for over three years now so that we could come together for the higher good and it would be very difficult without this awesome technology.

You will see below a grouping of important information - very disturbing reports!! I highly encourage you to take the time to look all of this over. The first report is an audio report from the BBC - extremely disturbing with regard to the pesticide poisoning in Bhopal 25 years ago. The continued criminal behavior of both the corporation and the government is very much highlighted. Then we have two news articles that highlight failures here in the U.S. that absolutely should not be!! And, finally the CDC has released a National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals surveying 212 chemicals - which is a drop in the bucket compared to all the newly introduced chemicals over the past 30 years - but absolutely points to human illness - the validity of their measurements and the action needed to no longer expose is another topic that must be raised.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p0053sqn

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/science/earth/30agency.html?_r=2&hpw

http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/1199672.html

http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/

We must stay informed no matter how difficult it is to hear the truth it is the only way we can stand for TRUTH!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Thankful for our Community

2009-11-25T07:32:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I would like to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving - a holiday I so cherish. I am continually thankful for our community and all that we have been able to accomplish. May you truly enjoy the day and travel safely as you journey to be with friends and family.

I know that many will begin decorating for the holidays so I wanted to include an article to remind us how we can help our environment at the same time.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2009/2009-11-20-092.asp

Blessings to all -

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

And Then There Was SILENCE

2009-11-16T08:44:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

You were all so close to my heart this past Friday. I cannot thank you enough for the prayers and support as I ventured off to Baltimore to be a part of the National Working Group for Chemical Emergencies. The morning started with introductions of the group - we set at tables facing one another with large nameplates in front of us (of course everyone had an acronym under their name). Part of the introduction was to interview the person beside you - the gentleman I met was Todd Jordan from OSHA (Occupational safety and Health Administration) who told me that he works with the responders anytime something blows up in the nation - he said anything we see on Fox or CNN he is there. And, as the day went on, I met many others in the group that also carry very high ranking jobs that are created to help the workers and the citizens of this nation.

We had a working lunch and this is when I gave my presentation. I was only given 10 minutes to speak and I tried to make it as concise as possible but the truth is I did not care about the time. I felt the citizen story is the most important story and my talk ended up being 22 minutes and thankfully no one tried to stop me. I created a handout with a litany of failures from agencies and elected officials that they could look over as I spoke - I also included Dr. Glickman's PowerPoint with the obvious spike of animal illness in our area in the summer of 2006. By the time I completed my presentation, there was stone, cold silence. I felt it midway through my presentation - they were all sitting there in absolute shock. You can only imagine if you are the one to design disaster response plans on many, many levels and they were never implemented in reality how that must of felt.

Many came up to me later to tell me how glad they were that I was there and it was said to the group by one member that he had never heard a story with so many failures to not protect the citizens - I interjected this story is not unusual whatsoever this is happening to thousands of communities all across this nation.

We broke into two groups to begin making strategic plans for tackling our group charge to redesign how to best respond to a community toxic exposure. Our story is to be incorporated within a matrix to look at the failures and then create the appropriate response within that matrix. It was really fascinating watching these great minds work together and create this very involved matrix within a matter of 30 minutes. It was even more wonderful as the day progressed to be asked, "Is this process okay with you Connie?" It felt very sincere - is this meeting the needs of the citizens - and I can say for now that this group intends to put their best foot forward. You must also know that these agencies are not all happy with one another - there is still a lot of anger with regard to the response of 9/11 and Katrina so there is still healing that needs to take place on that level as well.

I am so very, very grateful and humbled to be a part of all of this. I still cannot believe that setting up a card table, making a few signs and a petition has brought me to this. Thanks for your continued support and we still need more signatures on the petition so I am pasting it below.

Your neighbor,

Connie

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/toxicgeorgia/index.html

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Pressing for Action in Baltimore

2009-11-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

Well, I am off to Baltimore tonight to give my presentation to the National Working Group for Toxic Emergencies tomorrow. As I was compiling the data, a very, very deep sadness came over me again. This should have never happened - no one deserves to be harmed in such a way!! Knowing all I know now and the fact that this is so wrong to the depth of my being - I am totally focused on what the goal must be and it must be that the Government realign itself with the citizens they serve and do everything in their power to provide protection. Our founding fathers would be horrified to see that our Government has aligned itself with corporations.

As I was talking to Ben Nelms yesterday of The Citizen Newspaper, he reminded me of the FIFRA Act written in 1948 which inherently protects the corporation so it will always has the first out and it leaves it up to the citizen to prove harm. So this is what we are up against when all is said and done - we must turn our nation back towards the care of the people. I know this appears a daunting task but I see more and more people willing to take a stand and I truly think the climate is changing. America has the potential to stand for the higher good of all but it will only be if we decide that change is needed!!! I have made my decision - how about you?

We still need numerous signatures for our petition!! I am pasting the link once again below. Thanks to all those who have signed so far.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/toxicgeorgia/index.html

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Please Sign Petition

2009-11-05T08:04:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

Please see this vital petition that needs your signature. We need a thousand signatures by next Wednesday so that it can be forwarded to our Governor, State House and Senate, Mayor of Atlanta and City Council.

Please forward this to all you know. There are links provided to educate the public as to the need for this petition. The absolute worst thing we can do is standby and do nothing. Georgia is now set for the perfect storm - there will be no high-end corporations settling here due to this report - our only commerce will be toxic industries and we have an EPD Director now in place who will easily permit these type of companies. We must take a stand for not only our physical and economic well being but for generations to come.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/toxicgeorgia/

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Forbes - Atlanta Most Toxic City in the U.S.

2009-11-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I am not stunned at all by the report below. It is not only Atlanta - it is the entire State of Georgia. Our legislators have created an absolute nightmare for us all and it has got to stop!!!! We must wake-up!!! Please send this out to everyone you know - we must elect officials who care about the actual people of Georgia. The perfect storm has been created by the Governor - his recent appointment of an Environmental Protection Director whose firm is a main contributor in seeing to it that Georgia is over-run by toxic waste!! Please see both links below - the Forbes Report and the clip from WSB.

Your neighbor,

Connie

http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/02/toxic-cities-pollution-lifestyle-real-estate-toxic-cities.html

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/21456595/

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Taking a Stand

2009-10-29T07:17:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

It was another one of those moments since our community event in 2006 that a word of truth had to be spoken. The TV cameras arrived yesterday afternoon at the National Environmental Public Health Conference during the "Listening Session" where communities and governing bodies come together to be heard as to changes they feel need to be made in the handling of toxic events. Yet the Director of the ATSDR and the host of the listening session - Dr. Howard Frumkin - did not stay to listen which tells me more than I need to know. So much happened during the meeting and the conference at large that I will need to write an email at length over the weekend. Channel 2 stayed and filmed our community story and then interviewed me more candidly outside the conference doors. Just before we started filming, Tom Jones got the news that the Department of Natural Resources Board confirmed the nomination of Allen Barnes as the Director of the Environmental Protection Division. We were both stunned but felt it was important to go through with the story anyway. It is also my understanding that he starts the job today. So why the rush? Why was there no time given for public comment about this appointment? I am scared to see in the coming months the actual outcomes of his appointment - not being protected but further harmed is my fear.

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

UPDATE

2009-10-27T17:33:00.000-05:00

Neighbor:

Very important - Tom Jones from Channel Two wants to interview me tomorrow at 10:30 but I told him it would be even better if he was at the Listening Session tomorrow at the Environmental Conference at 2pm. He can film our story again and then interview us all together. So you must come and stand with me!!!!! Go downtown on I 85 to exit 248 C stay to your left and get on International and park at the $3.00 parking at the first hotel on your left and then walk across the street to the Sheraton. It is very easy to get to - trust me.

I hope to see you there!!!! It will be in the Grand Ballroom on the second floor.

Your very angry neighbor,

Connie

National Conversation Public Listening Session

A National Conversation Listening Session will take place on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Athens Room of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel (Sheraton Atlanta Hotel / 165 Courtland Street NE / Atlanta, GA 30303).

Conference participants and interested members of the public can attend this open, facilitated discussion to exchange ideas and explore issues related to the National Conversation. Potential discussion topics include the National Conversation structure and process; lessons learned from the nation's historical approach to public health and chemical exposures; the nation's current shortcomings, gaps, and redundancies; and high priority options for better protecting the public from harmful chemical exposures. NCEH/ATSDR staff, RESOLVE staff, and others involved in the National Conversation project will engage in the discussion and collect participant input. This event is free and open to the public.

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Important Announcement about new EPD Director

2009-10-27T15:01:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Neighbor:

I had to take a moment out of my day to get this to you!!! Please read below - this is the firm that represented PSC against our community!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

Begin forwarded message:

K&S lawyer will head EPD
Perdue recommends Allen Barnes . . . (Oct. 26, 2009)

Gov. Sonny Perdue has recommended the appointment of F. Allen Barnes, a partner with the King & Spalding law firm, to replace Carol Couch as director of the state's Environmental Protection Division (EPD).

Perdue's nomination is expected to be approved at Wednesday's meeting of the

Georgia Board of Natural Resources - whose members include another King & Spalding partner, Dwight Davis.

The appointment of Barnes had been widely rumored among environmentalists and is seen as a show of support by Perdue for the energy industry, especially the power companies that want to build coal-fired generation facilities in Georgia.

"This is a coup d'etat," said environmental lobbyist Neill Herring. "This is the Tanner-Barmeyer takeover of DNR-EPD moving into its completion phase,

less than two weeks after a K&S [King & Spalding] lawyer got put on the DNR Board. K&S is real worried about the two coal power plants they are representing, and are unwilling to take any more regulatory chances with EPD."

Herring was referring to former DNR commissioner Joe Tanner, who's now a powerful lobbyist for developers, and Patricia Barmeyer, a King & Spalding attorney who has represented the company trying to build the coal-fired Longleaf power plant in southwest Georgia.

Perdue's recent moves with the Department of Natural Resources, which includes EPD, appear to have put King & Spalding and its energy clients in the driver's seat where Georgia's environmental policy and regulation are concerned.

Davis, who has represented the gas marketing firm Scana for King & Spalding,

was appointed to the Board of Natural Resources by Perdue on Oct. 1. He will be able to vote on the confirmation of his colleague, Barnes, at Wednesday's board meeting.

Couch, the EPD director since 2003, abruptly announced her resignation last week and gave one week's notice of her departure, saying she would leave the

environmental agency as of Oct. 26. That cleared the way for Barnes to take

over the division immediately.

Barnes was chief of staff for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region Four from 2002 to 2005, a region that covers eight southeastern states. As chief of staff Barnes worked with state environmental directors and with EPA's senior staff on regulatory, enforcement, permitting, and policy issues.

Before working at EPA, Barnes taught natural resource policy and law as an associate professor at Mississippi State University from 1996 to 2002.

"Allen brings a wealth of environmental and management experience to this position," Perdue said. "His impressive government and academic background ensures he will successfully lead EPD as they continue to be responsible stewards of our most precious natural resources."

C 2009 by Capitolimpact.com

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Free Webcast and Remember Your Voice is Needed

2009-10-25T19:42:00.000-05:00

Good Evening Neighbor:

I have returned today from a satellite forum on Toxic Mold - so much to do and so little time for all of our neighbors who recently experienced flooding. I want to remind you about your moment to speak this Wednesday at the National Conversation Listening Session - see below for details. Also, I am sending you a link for a free webcast of the keynote speakers at the National Conference on Public Health and the Environment. I am especially interested in hearing Tuesday morning's speeches - see that link as well for details. I hope to see as many as possible on Wednesday!!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

National Conversation Public Listening Session

Webcast Link - http://www.vodium.com/login.asp?lib=pn100753

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Your Voice is needed October 28th

2009-10-20T07:14:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

I participated in my first national conference call with the Chemical Emergencies Work Group for the National Conservation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures program. By the end of the 90 minute call, I had run my mouth so much about the chemical exposure incident in our community they asked me to do a presentation at our first face-to-face meeting in Baltimore next month.

At first, I was frustrated with myself for always having to call things like they are. But then I was glad I did. Because now we will finally get the opportunity to tell our story to some people who have the power to make a difference (such as Homeland Security - EPA and so many more).

Over the next few weeks, I will be working overtime to pull together a PowerPoint and a short film for my presentation. Luckily, I'll be able to use the information developed by Dr. Speaker and all of the material we compiled for our testimony at the State Capitol.

I will also be participating in the upcoming National Conference on Public Health and the Environment, which begins this Sunday here in Atlanta. I am including an email about the conference and I especially want to note that there will be a free listening session on Wednesday. This would be the perfect time for you to tell the CDC and Public Health exactly what went on in our community. It is also a time to make them aware of any other public health issues such as quarry residue inhalation and other housing issues such as mold. A victory for a public agency would be to have no public comments during the listening session. That would reinforce their position that change does not need to take place because they gave the public a chance to speak up and no one did so it must not be that big of a problem.

Make next Wednesday a priority -- they need to know we are still here!!!

Your neighbor,

Connie

P.S. Carol Couch has resigned as Director of the Environmental Protection Division and will be taking a position with UGA.

Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures

October 2009 Project Update

Greetings,

Thank you for your interest in the National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures. Read on for the latest information about National Conversation activities and opportunities for you to get involved. As always, please e-mail nationalconversation@cdc.gov with any questions or comments.

Project Status

As you may know, the National Conversation project was launched with a day-long meeting on June 26, 2009. Meeting summary information is available on the National Conversation project Web site. Since the kick-off meeting, project work groups have stood up to address the following topics related to public health and chemical exposures: monitoring, scientific understanding, policies and practices, chemical emergencies, serving communities, and education and communication. An explanation of the membership selection process and membership lists for each work group are posted on the project Web site. Work groups will meet monthly, either by teleconference or in person, over the course of the project. Initial teleconferences are currently underway and the first face-to-face meetings will be held in November in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. Meetings will be open to members of the public by request on a space available basis. Each work group will prepare a report for inclusion in a final action agenda.

In addition to work groups, a project Leadership Council has convened and will meet for the first time in December. The Leadership Council includes a wide range of expertise and perspectives that will provide project guidance throughout the process and will develop the final action agenda. A current list of Leadership Council members is posted on the project Web site.

Check the project Web site regularly for project updates.

Opportunities for Involvement

2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference

The 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference, taking place October 26 – 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia, will feature several activities related to the National Conversation:

National Conversation Public Listening Session

"Protecting the Public from Toxic Exposures" Plenary

In addition to many relevant breakout sessions, conference participants can attend "Protecting the Public from Toxic Exposures," a plenary session on Tuesday, October 27 from 8:30 to 10:30 am. Dr. Howard Frumkin, M.D., M.P.H, Director, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and National Conversation co-chair; Paul Anastas, Ph.D., Director, Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering & Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment, Yale University; and Christine Norman, Director, Risk Assessment Bureau, Safe Environments Program, Health Canada will participate in this plenary.

Note: If you will not be attending the conference, keynotes and plenary sessions will also be available by live webcast. Please register for the conference webcast in advance.

National Conversation Booth

The conference exhibition will include a National Conversation project booth. Conference participants can stop by with any questions or comments on the project. Project staff will be available throughout the exhibition, and project co-chairs Dr. Howard Frumkin, Director, NCEH/ATSDR, and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Executive Director, Children's Environmental Health Network, are tentatively scheduled to be at the booth Tuesday, October 27 from 12:00 to 12:30 pm. Look for us just outside the exhibit hall at Booth 48.

Future Opportunities

Keep your eye out for more information about the National Conversation Community Conversation Toolkit and web discussion forums. We expect to implement both of these project components in early 2010.

Warmly,

The National Conversation project team

Learn more >>.

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The National Journey Begins

2009-09-23T06:52:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Neighbor:

Well, it appears the first time I will meet the panel I am working with on Chemical Emergencies will be through a conference call the first week of October. I will then fly to Baltimore, Maryland in November for our first face-to-face meeting. I am so blessed that Ben Nelms wrote the article below that will come out in the paper today - he truly validates the impact I will be trying to make on this journey.

http://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/node/39498

Also, I am extremely excited about the impact that the Environmental Institute of Georgia is having on our local community with the upcoming dedication of the Fairburn Nature Preserve and our Rivers Alive cleanup. I encourage you all to visit our home page at www.eiog.org to learn more about all that is taking place to improve the quality of life of Georgians.

Your neighbor,

Connie

Constance L. Thomas, Chair

South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Ph. -770-314-6999

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.