EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT 
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK

     One of the principal functions - and highest priorities - of our Section is to offer exceptional continuing educational programs. Bob Riggio, Michelle Williams, George Gramling and their CLE Committee already have a number of CLE programs lined up for this year, and they are working on more. Thanks to Joe Richards, the chair of our Internet Committee, you can find out more about these by visiting our web site at http://www.eluls.org/workshops.html.

      Most of these programs are directed at environmental and land use lawyers and others who work in these areas, including our affiliate members. By all accounts, the Section does a very fine job of educating these professionals.

     Our Section also seeks to educate the public generally about environmental and land use law. Suzi Ruhl and her Committee on Access to Justice have developed a series of brochures on various topics. These also are available on our web site at http://www.eluls.org/education.html.

     But we historically have not made as much of an effort to inform the public - including the media and other opinion leaders -- about environmental risk. Some of us think our Section should change that. In this connection, Richard Hamann, your chair elect, and Terry Zinn, the co-chair of our Affiliate Membership Committee, have agreed to spearhead a new project that will be designed to educate the public and the press on how to properly understand and communicate environmental risk. Among other things, the project will include a series of educational programs for the media, key opinion leaders and the public.

     Please feel free to help Richard and Terry with this new project, including any suggestions as to the topics to be addressed, the speakers they should consider inviting, and any organizations that might be suitable co-sponsors of our program.