Announcement/
Updates:

• 1997-1998 Compendium of Asian Patent Medicines - brief overview

• Annual essay contest - Isabel discussed and distributed information on nutrition essay contest for high school students in Orange County. Information on requirements, judging criteria, resources, prizes, and topics for essays can be found on the flyer/entry form.

• Nutrition claim related topics on "monitor weekend radio ad and spot false nutrition claims", "health, wealth, and unwise."
• Provide incentives for teacher and students in order to increase awareness on nutrition.
• Essay projects can be done during/outside of class time; teachers may give extra credits to students.
• Participants must obtain information from credible sources.
• Add more websites for references (link to Isabel’s website).
• Guidelines will be given to Teachers early December, before the Christmas break.
• Entry from will be distributed when children come back from Christmas break in January.

• Health Fair Updates - Isabel informed guests about the upcoming senior health fair at El Modina on November 21, 2002, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (coordinated by the county pharmacist - Bill Lu)
  Donna volunteered to help set up and answer questions.

• Annual San Bernardino and Orange County Quackery Luncheon 2003 - this will be the 2^nd annual luncheon offered. It will be held on Jan. 14, 2003, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Perspective location for this meeting - Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda area for convenience for both Counties. Everyone will receive a book from Health Dining.

Isabel will add the Dairy Council of California and will wait for Vaughn to contact her to let her know how much the Center for Inquiry West is willing to donate to the Essay Contest.

Member sharing

• Don - announcement on new book "The Naked chiropractor"; discussed wrongful claims by Dr. David Freedman on "Sea Silver". Dr. Freedman is using the PDR to promote his product and support his claims. Ref page 1542 on PDR according to Dr. Freedman.

• Ann from FTC - Discussed case settlement (Oct 28^th) on false promotion of cancer treatment (Tx BioResource Therapy). In July, FTC extensively conducted web search on any false claims and identify all questionable sites. As a result, ½ of the websites disappeared, ¼ eliminated false claims, and the remaining websites are under open investigation. Discussed another case involve in clinics in Tijuana - FTC is suing Bio Pulse International for its wrongdoing and false claims (no scientific bases for their current treatment plan).

• Vaughn from Center for Inquiry West - shared his experience at the LA Times/USC Health Fair and was concerned that ¼-1/3 of booths were promoting "alternative nonsense." He also went to the LA county fair to look for new age, alternative therapies and found promotion on "magnetic related product," "flea treatment on pets - alternative way" - questions: FDA on pseudo science that deal with veterinarians. Announced new book "Quacks & Crusaders."

Presentations and Reports

• Heather Rampello from California Dairy council - briefly discussed and provided information on programs offered by the Dairy council: provide free nutrition education for all school teachers and students in California. They worked closely in conjunction with health professionals and health educators on program research, development, and testing. Programs focused and targeted specific age group on behavior change, positive learning experience, brain based learning and hands on experiences (detailed on handout given).
  Using scientific, age specific nutrition materials
  Suggestion: Help teachers to detect unproven claims

• Vaughn Rees from Center for Inquiry West - Discussed and shared his experiences on Cancer Control Society founded in 1966. In their latest 4-day conference in Studio City, Vaughn found high numbers of topics related with alternative medicine claims on cancer w/o appropriate clinical trials. Some legitimate doctors were careful on what they said. Vaughn is concerned that how can professionals be informed on wrong health claims and get their education credits?
  Question:

  Can FTC go after them? No, because they only offer printed materials, which are well, protected by the First Amendment (freedom of press).

• Maria Robledo from the American Heart Association - discussed the Latino program in OC. CPR classes are currently offered for speaking population. Introduced comprehensive walking club and field trips to members:

• Goal development according to patients’ baseline
• Every month, one topic will be discussed (risk factors)
• Increase prevention and awareness to participants
• Provide baseline on glucose, cholesterol testing
• Monitor participants’ blood pressure, weight, etc. every month and track their progression up to 1 year; 1 year program evaluation
• Success rate: 70% program retention
• Provide healthy cooking ideas, social activities, and motivations
• Empowering the community on nutrition, physical activities, and lifestyle change (train the trainers - pass on what they learn)
• Announcement: health fair, American heart walk, marathon, bring exercise physiologist to talk.

Maybe include new recommendation of exercise 1hr/d, 4x/week, but for now they have to follow guidelines from AHA.

Spring Conference

• Location: FDA
• Date: May 2, 2003
• Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.
• Speakers: Ellen Coleman (popular supplement/sports nutrition), Dr. Jarvis (how to spot dubious doctor and radio phony claims), Dr. Wally Sampson (alternative medicine therapy)
• Budget: try to get sponsors, donations, silent auctions

Suggestions - fitness clubs, spa, hotels, restaurant, gift certificates, movie tickets, Disneyland/CDA tickets, Universal Studio Tickets, airline tickets and have a silent auction - include lists of auction items in the information packet, raffle tickets during conference.

• Planning committee for the Conference: Rosario Vior (FDA), Melissa Manning (CDA), Vaughn Rees (CFIW), Don Paulin, Julie Mortimore (SB County), Ann Stahl (FTC), Hellen Lee (intern). Meeting: December 11, 2002, 9:30 a.m. at OCHCA
• Title: need a title for the conference

Next meeting schedule