Take Back Your Meds coverage

There was a lot of great coverage over the weekend regarding the state-wide secure medicine return bill (SB 5234) that is alive in the Senate. It will be decided by Feb. 14th if it passes through the Rules Committee and makes it to the Senate floor.

Everett Herald on the prevention of drug abuse and accidental poisoning

The Columbian health reporter on why pharmaceutical companies are opposing this much-needed bill

The Olympian featuring an op-ed on the critical legislation for disposing unused and unwanted meds

King 5 covered a couple pushing for a drug takeback program in Washington after losing their son

Health district supports second drug take back bill

The Central Kitsap Reporter published an article yesterday regarding the need for a safe prescription medication disposal system in Washington state, and Kitsap County in particular. County law enforcement says its resources are "strained" by the collection and disposal of prescription drugs. The Kitsap Public Health District believes that pharmaceutical companies should take on the cost burden.

The passing of Senate Bill 5234 would establish a safe drug collection and disposal program funded by the drug manufacturers themselves, and the health district's board of directors and the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office give their full support to this bill.

Scott Daniels, deputy director for Kitsap Public Health District explained that unused prescription medications around the home are responsible for 32 percent of child poisoning deaths in the state. Prescription medications left in homes contribute to teenage drug abuse and street sales as well as home burglaries, according to deputy Scott Wilson, spokesman for the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.

The session closes in two weeks, and Kitsap County officials are still trying to get more support for the bill.

For more information see the Central Kitsap Reporter article here.

Son's death prompts parents to fight for new Rx drug law

A Granite Falls couple, who lost their son to a drug overdose, is crusading for a law which would require pharmacies to take back unused prescription drugs. KOMO News covered their story today.

Because they're relatively easy to obtain from home medicine cabinets, authorities say more and more young people are experimenting with prescription drugs.

There are currently drug take-back programs in 17 of Washington's 39 counties, but they are voluntary and only police departments can take back narcotics.

The bill is still alive in the Senate and will be closing in two weeks. For more information, visit the Take Back Your Meds website

The Columbian editorial: Danger in Your Cabinet

The Columbian posted an editorial yesterday regarding the push for a state-wide secure medicine return bill to safely dispose of old prescription drugs that collect dust in medicine cabinets across the state. Lawmakers would be wise to expedite the measures for many reasons, but two in particular: this is not another government program, and it's budget neutral. The Columbian gives their support for Senate Bill 5234 and House Bill 1370, which legislatures will vote on next week.

To read the article in its entirety and for more information, read it here.

Medical Teams International Names New CEO

The board of directors of Medical Teams International announced Wednesday that Bas Vanderzalm will retire as President and CEO. Vanderzalm will step down as CEO on June 20, 2012 and will stay on as President through June 30, 2013. As President, Vanderzalm will focus on leading teams to the field, speaking on behalf of the organization, writing, and providing advice and counsel to the incoming CEO.

"During Bas' 14-plus years at Medical Teams International, the organization has grown to be one of the most respected Christian global health agencies in the country," said Ron King, chair of the board of Medical Teams International.

To ensure the organization continues to build on its solid foundation of service around the world, the board of directors has elected Jeff Pinneo to serve as the agency's next Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2012. Pinneo, retired CEO and President of Horizon Air, will engage with Vanderzalm in a several month transition as "CEO-elect" leading up to the July 1 effective date.

"The staff and volunteers of Medical Teams International have earned their reputation as one of the world's leading global health and disaster response organizations," Pinneo said. "It will be my privilege to lead and serve them as they further extend their reach and impact, to the benefit of the world's most marginalized people."

Jeff Pinneo,CEO-elect of Medical Teams International 

Erin McCallum of Enterprise Washington op-ed in Seattle Times

Erin McCallum, President of Enterprise Washington, wrote an op-ed published in The Seattle Times today concering The Washington State Redistricting Commission needing to set aside political partisanship and meet the January 1 deadline. The State of Washington has not been redistricted since 2001, and since these lines were drawn, the state's population has grown by 1 million, meaning not all men, women and children are being fairly represented in the current political process. The Washington State Redistricting Commission is negotiating in Olympia, and must reach a decision by January 1, 2012. As each day passes, concern is increasing that the commission will not meet the deadline because of political manueuvering.

To read more about what a delay in redistricting means for the state of Washington and to read the article in its entirety, visit The Seattle Times.

Erin McCallum, President of Enterprise Washington

Museum of Flight Names New Space Gallery in Honor of Charles Simonyi

On Thursday, Dec. 8, the Museum of Flight announced its new state-of-the-art, 15,500-square-foot space gallery will be named the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery in honor of Charles Simonyi, two-time space traveler, architect of Microsoft Word and founder of Intentional Software in Bellevue. Simonyi, who gifted $3 million to the $12 million building, also announced on Thursday that he is giving MOF - on a long-term loan - the Soyuz TMA-13 rocket module that carred him back from space in 2009, on his second trip to the International Space Station. Along with the Soyuz, Simonyi will be donating a space toilet and other artifacts that were part of his well documented and much followed trips to space.

Charles Simonyi and his wife, Lisa Persdotter Simonyi, after the
unveiling of the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery sign

"This imposing new Charles Simonyi Space Gallery could not have become a reality without Dr. Simonyi's continued support for The Museum of Flight and his vision about what our future can hold," said Doug King, President and CEO of The Museum of Flight. "While we are grateful for his monetary contribution, we truly named the space gallery in honor of Charles to recognize his commitment to aerospace education and his tireless enthusiasm for inspiring the next generation of space explorers."

The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery will be the home of the Full-Fuselage Space Shuttle Trainer (FFT), which will be delivered in NASA's Guppy airplane in various stages, beginning in June. The FFT is only one of its kind in the world and is the simulator in which every space shuttle astronaut trained for space flight. In addition to the Shuttle Trainer and the Soyuz module, there will be other rare space artifacts, both permanent and on tour - all part of this premier Space Gallery, to engage the next generation of scientists and engineers through hands-on learning.

Charles Simonyi in one of the many artifacts he loans
 to The Museum of Flight, his spacesuit

"The naming of the space gallery is a great honor for me and for my family," said Simonyi. "I have the highest regard for The Museum of Flight and now that we are at the threshold of a great expansion of civilian spaceflight, I fully support the Museum's efforts to engage the public on the issue of space exploration with a focus on civilian space: past, present and future."

"We are so honored by Charles' generosity," said MOF Chairman of the Board, Michael Hallman, himself a major donor. "His level of monetary and intellectual commitment will help to propel this Museum into an exciting future of continued leadership in educating and inspiring legions of young people to pursue and live their dreams."

The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery dedication was the beginning of a three-day experience at The Museum of Flight, followed by the 2011 Future Forum hosted by NASA on Friday, which featured panel discussions covering everything from innovation and discovery to commercial partnerships, education in space flight, and more. In addition, the space gallery was open to the public on Saturday to provide a sneak peek of what the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery will feature when it officially opens in June 2012, after the delivery of the Full Fuselage Space Shuttle Trainer. The doors of the space gallery will continue to be open to the public to view the future site of space artifacts. For more information on the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery hours of operation, please visit The Museum of Flight's website.