http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-blogs_rss.php?ver=2 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:08:11 +0100 Tiki CMS/Groupware via FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.ggphp.org/img/tiki.jpg http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-index.php?page=Home en-us http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=2&postId=12 ]]> CEO Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:02:57 +0100 http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=2&postId=11 From the Desk of Linda Civitello-Joy, CEO
Breathe California,
Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

Ready to Exhale
My personal mission to keep Breathe California strong

So how did I do on my "No Car Diet" last summer? Fabulous! I completed the month without using my car, borrowing a Zipcar only once for an out-of-town trip to Sacramento. I am using public transportation more then before, and air quality is not the only benefit! Between healthy eating, walking to bus and BART and regular gym session, I have lost a total of 35 pounds since the beginning of July! I have added years to my life, and my renewed energy got me thinking about the future.

As we said farewell to Breathe California's centennial year at the end of 2008, I began to research ways to personally to mark this momentous occasion, and plan for the next hundred years.

I am a single parent with two children in college. If something were to happen to me tomorrow, any funds from my life insurance policy and my estate would be used by my kids to pay off their student loans and to help them settle into their lives. Nothing would be left over for Breathe California! After dedicating over 20 years of my life to our organization – first as a volunteer, and then as the CEO – that would not work for me, or for Breathe California.

Then it came to me. For years, I have been giving to the organization through a personal payroll deduction. I recently learned, however, that if I purchase a life insurance policy for Breathe California, my monthly premiums on that policy are tax deductable – just like a cash contribution.

So I took the plunge. I increased my monthly giving a bit, but a portion of it now goes towards paying this insurance policy. When my time comes to leave this earth, Breathe California will have a legacy gift from me: the organization itself owns the policy.

When I retire, or if, for any reason, I cannot afford to make the premium payments, Breathe California will be able to either continue to pay them, or (if the policy has not accumulated enough to be sustaining without monthly payments) may cash it in.

By committing funds to this policy, I will be doing more to help the organization by providing a six-figure gift in the future. If you are interested in making a legacy gift to secure our second century, please call me. I would be happy to discuss creative options with you.

But, given my healthy lifestyle choices, Breathe California may have to wait a long time before cashing in on my life insurance!

]]> CEO Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:48:06 +0100 http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=2&postId=10
From the Desk of Linda Civitello-Joy, CEO
Breathe California
Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

Here’s my update – on my first week on the low car diet:

MAIN IMPRESSION: This has been a major epiphany for me. IT HAS BEEN EASY getting to work and after work school or social activities using public transportation and walking!

BENEFITS: 1) walking – so far I have lost about 3 pounds! 2) I feel better! 3) I get to read on my way to and from work!

Now that I have the buses figured out – it is easy – 1 mile of walking each way, 40 minutes (if I get to the bus on time) and $1.50 per trip – which can be reduced if I get a Sam Trans pass and use Commuter Checks for pretax deduction.

My first week cost much more than need be — because I was not familiar with all the public transportation options. Now that I am familiar and will not need to call an occasional taxi --I am sure my costs will be less than $25 this week. The cost to fill my car would normally be about $48 per week.

On the downside, I have less spontaneity – especially with social life — but this will require me to improve on planning my visits with friends and family. Arriving to work feeling and looking damp from the Daly City Fog has also been a challenge — but hey — a new umbrella will solve that problem.

According to my Fitlinxx log — I walked 11.6 miles the first 7 days and burned 2,241 calories. Not bad!!! Think of all the carbon saved as well!

I’ll keep you posted.



]]> CEO Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:45:38 +0100 http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=2&postId=9
From the Desk of Linda Civitello-Joy, CEO
Breathe California
Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

Today I began an exciting journey! Thanks to our partners at Zip Car, I started on the LOW CAR DIET this morning. Along with about 20 others, I turned in my keys to ZIP CAR and will not be driving my personal car for one month.

I decided to personally join this effort because lung disease remains the 3rd leading and fastest rising cause of death in the USA, and because the health of our lungs is definitely impacted by air quality.

So as I go on this journey, I will keep you posted of what it is like. I have had all the excuses for not using public transportation:

• I live 4 blocks from a Sam Trans Bus Stop.
• Though I live and work in Daly City, I have places to go (often in SF) after work.
• I often get home after the bus lines have stopped.
• I visit my family in Concord / Benicia / Berkeley on the weekend.
• My hair will get messed up if I am standing out in the wind and fog.
• I have asthma and shouldn’t be exercising outdoors on spare the air days.
• After 30+ years of an office job, I am not in great shape.

Need I say more??? I am sure that in the past I have thought up at least another 20 excuses!

So how did my first morning go? I had to get to Justin Herman Plaza for a press conference, had to be there by 9:00 a.m. and had to look dressed up and camera-ready.

I left the house at 7:30 – the fog was very thick – so I went back to get an umbrella, which was good since it actually began to rain as I walked to the bus stop.

I almost got on the wrong bus. A quick call to 511 while waiting (to make sure I was going the right way) informed me that the bus would actually go east for a few blocks, though my destination was west. So I crossed the street and waited at the correct stop for about 6 minutes.

Soon I was dropped off right at the toll gate at the Colma BART station, with plenty of time to get a ticket, get downstairs and even get a comfy seat on the train. I made it to my final destination at about 8:40. It took me about 70 minutes. I think that with better planning and a bit faster pace walking, I’ll be able to cut that down significantly. Though there have been times when I drove in to the financial district in less time, when you add time for parking and then walking to the destination, I’d say it was about equal – but, hey, I enjoyed reading on the way in and had a very pleasant experience. Even though it was very damp, I arrived looking as neat and tidy as I would have if I had driven.

So give it a try yourself; I’ll let you know how I maneuver those visits with family, weekend shopping, etc.

By the way, did you have any symptoms over the last few weeks when our air was so polluted from the fires and hot weather? I did. It reminded me of why we must continue our efforts to promote clean air. I kept thinking that if our predecessors hadn’t fought so hard in the 1970s to get clean air laws in place, our air might be that bad all the time today. We have to be ever diligent to keep improving our air quality until we know it is acceptable for lung health. I survived the smoky air last week, but only with a course of heavy steroids – and many folks I know had to do the same.

If you’d like to get involved in our air quality advocacy or join me in giving up your car, give us a call or send me an email lindacj@ggbreathe.org. Zip Car makes it easy for you to rent a car for those times when you need to get somewhere challenging or carry more things than is practical on public transportation. In fact, if you sign up for Zip Car at www.zipcar.com using this promotions code: SPRING50, you will get a deduction on your membership!


]]> CEO Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:55:57 +0100 http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=2&postId=6
From the Desk of Linda Civitello-Joy, CEO
Breathe California
Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

As Breathe California celebrates the 100th Anniversary of our founding as the SF Society for the Study and Prevention of TB, I am disheartened that we still need to have a World TB Day to bring attention to this deadly disease, which is on the rise in the Bay Area.

TB remains a major cause of death worldwide, accounting for 1.6 million deaths per year. San Francisco has the highest rate of TB in the USA, and the development of strains resistant to currently available treatments is of great concern.

Records in my office, dating from 1908, show that TB was the #1 cause of death in San Francisco at the time. One in seven, mainly those in the prime of their life, were killed by this disease.

From 1908 to 1930, the TB rates dropped 60%. This impressive reduction occurred due to local investment in public health. The TB Society and the City of San Francisco partnered successfully to bring the rates down – without antibiotics – by setting up clinics, employing visiting nurses, offering educational programs and setting up open-air schools.

Improved treatments and diagnostic tools would allow us to do even a better job today, but because overall TB rates in the USA are declining, funding for local TB prevention and treatment continues to be cut. The San Francisco TB Control Department has only half the staff it did in the 1990's and this year proposed California state budget cuts further threaten local TB control.

This morning I attended a press conference at SF International Airport along with representatives from county TB control programs and advocacy organizations. The message was loud and clear: TB is an infectious disease that knows no borders. Local TB control programs in areas where the rates are rising should be given the resources needed to effectively control TB, or we may again face a major epidemic.

We must urge our state and federal legislators to pay attention to the needs of the local TB control programs. With current budget concerns at all levels of government, the costs may seem beyond reach, but if we fail to prevent a drug resistant TB epidemic more money and more lives will be lost!

Join me in supporting adequate funding for TB prevention and control at all levels – local to international. For more information please visit the California Tuberculosis Controllers Association: http://www.ctca.org.

]]> CEO Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:10:59 +0100 http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=2&postId=5
From the Desk of Linda Civitello-Joy, CEO
Breathe California
Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

We often identify ourselves as a "voluntary health organization". You may wonder what this means. It has several connotations, but to me, the activity of July 14, at our Annual Bike for Breath, really exemplified voluntary health.

Folks volunteered their time to help us put on a fantastic event! Over 900 riders registered to cycle through the Peninsula. As the riders went on their journey they were monitored, fed and supplied with water by volunteers. Team captains volunteered to form teams, recruit riders and motivate their team members to raise funds. And raise funds they did, as we are close to receiving $180,000 and the dollars are still coming in.

The many educational exhibits that were available were largely staffed by volunteers who further helped inform folks about lung health. Even the riders who got on their bikes were voluntarily improving their health. The fund raising teams and their supporters who donated to this event, voluntarily help us provide lung health services to the community.

Some of the teams, were riding to make folks aware of specific lung health issues. For example the LAM Foundation focuses on a rare lung disease, Lymphangioleiomyomatosis which primarily affects women of childbearing age. The LAM team included Mari Patton who has this disease and wants others to become aware of it. Team Second Wind, has members who have received lung transplants and want to bring awareness to the need for organ donations. These volunteer teams are a critical part of the voluntary health movement.

Together we are doing our best to help ensure that breathing is not a struggle or risk. You can become part of this voluntary health movement yourself by contacting us today. We need your time, talent and treasure to fight lung disease, promote clean air and public health.

Best wishes, Linda

P.S. Email me right now!

]]> CEO Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:09:15 +0100 http://www.ggphp.org/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=2&postId=4
From the Desk of Linda Civitello-Joy, CEO
Breathe California
Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

Did you know that I promoted healthy air as a volunteer for nine years before I accepted a paid position with the predecessor organization to Breathe California? One of my first volunteer assignments was to help organize a conference that addressed the benefits of smoke-free offices in San Francisco. That's right, offices were havens of smokers - everyone breathed second-hand smoke! We have come a long way since then, but the battle continues.

We have significant increases in asthma and other breathing disorders related to our behavior and our unhealthy environment. At Breathe California we strive to educate everyone about these problems and publicize the information and resources that everyone needs.

We know that when you come to our web site, call or email us, you are serious about helping yourself, a loved-one or a friend — someone who has a breathing-related problem. I want you to know that our staff and volunteers are passionate about the work we do to help you and your loved ones breathe healthy.

We are doing our best to help you, but you can help us become even better. Please email me with any questions, suggestions or comments that you might have. I look forward to hearing from you.

By the way, did I mention that you can become a volunteer too? Start with something that you feel comfortable doing - and meet all of the other wonderful volunteers and staff. I look forward to meeting you.

Best wishes, Linda

P.S. Email me right now!

]]> CEO Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:15:09 +0100