Guest guest Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 Hello again. The plot thickens! Just to clarify one part of the discussion on the EEF, I am copying the following new email message from Long of the EPA: " EPA's Reply: ---------------------------------------------------------------- After getting some clarifying correspondence from the board of EEF, I would like to amend my previous response. I had no way of knowing that the EEF has been a cooperative partner with the EPA since the late 1980s and is a current contractor (4W-2121-NANX) to assist the EPA in addressing Indoor Air Quality issues. By providing the response I did to you previously I was not intending to insult the EEF in any way. I apologize for any misunderstandings I might have caused and encourage all professionals in Indoor Environmental Quality to work together. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please contact us if you have additional questions. " Well, this confirms the EEF statements about doing work for the EPA since the late 1980's. For me that's the end of the issue regarding the EPA, however, it doesn't change the fact that I don't think that this forum is the place for any organization to aggressively promote their programs. Simple announcements of new courses are ok. Rod Roderick Thorpe, MSc, CIAQC President Enviroparfait (Enviroperfect Inc.) Montreal, QC Canada fax: Cell: Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 22:13 Subject: Re: Wait a minute! [was: ASHRAE...] Hello all, First let me apologize for not contributing more often- very often I see that someone has beaten me to the punch and with a far better answer than I can muster. I want to add my voice too to say my deep appreciation to you, Jim Holland for maintaining this forum- it is full of useful advice, at times controversial (which is essential) and almost always remains civil. Now I must add something to the useful points raised by , Sharon, Stacey, Steve, Wayne and others. I am always annoyed when an individual or organization (whether they claim to be " non-profit " or not) makes announcements designed solely to blow their own horn. I have been deluged recently with frequent emails from the EEF (I don't know how I got on their email list- certainly not voluntarily!) repeating over and over again how they are aligned with every group that is important (to them) regarding mold. Finally I decided to contact some of the organizations they cited to see if there is any truth to their claims. Here is the reply I received from the EPA on May 11, 2005: From : long.james@... " Your Comment: ---------------------------------------------------------------- I keep getting unsolicited emails from the Environmental Education Foundation which claim that they have a contract from you as to ''Advisory Group convened by the Environmental Education Foundation (EEF) under a contract from the Environmental Protection Agency - US EPAs headquarters. The non-profit Environmental Education Foundation (EEF) is the world's largest environmental charity focus-ing on environmental, health and safety issues, with 5500-members worldwide''. I am just wondering if this organization's claims are legitimate and they actually do have a contract from you. I don't mean to ask you about any details about any contract you may have with them. The sole purpose of my question is to find out if this organizations claims are legitimate or not. Thanks in advance. ---------------------------------------------------------------- EPA's Reply: ---------------------------------------------------------------- Beware solicitors making claims.... Yes, they may be a " partner " but they are not acting on our behalf, nor are they receiving funding from EPA. Looking at their website, I am a little concerned, but we have no power to stop them from representing themselves as a partner or controlling what they say or do. I can't verify if they have a contract with us directly. I'd ask to see a copy of their 501©(3). Just a thought... ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please contact us if you have additional questions. " Interesting that a spokesperson from the EPA who is supposedly enthusiastically supporting their work, in actual fact happens to also have questions about their activities. Without rehashing, basically I agree with everything that , Stacey and Sharon said regarding this subject, especially the point that their spokesperson, Emma Chastain, is not answering directly the questions we raise but merely answers by saying to go see the promotional material on their website. I challenge the EEF then to clearly explain all of the points raised by this group or stop trying to promote their courses and instant certifications on this forum! Rod Roderick Thorpe, MSc, CIAQC Re: Wait a minute! [was: ASHRAE...] Hello All. And, although this topic is certainly not the most important one I have read on this board, here is another mold advocacy group throwing in our two cents worth of concern as well. I agree with many others on the board that there seems to be a lot of information being left out by EEF, and what is being made available is worded in such a way that it *may be* a bit misleading. Are they simply trying to get members on this board to sign up for their 'Training' sessions? Has this become such a hot topic simply to use this group as a marketing tool? By keeping this topic going, have we all just played into their hands and helped them to promote their 'Training' sessions? What is the deal with this? And, why won't it go away? Either put all of the cards on the table, or let us get back to what we were doing. Like Sharon, it is not my intention to sound accusatory either, but, it would be nice to get to the true facts, assess them and put this issue to rest. ~ Papi, Executive Director MoldAcrossAmerica, Inc. P.O. Box 770991 Lakewood Ohio 44107 lisa@... http://www.moldacrossamerica.org http://www.moldpets.org (877) 280 MOLD (6653) > Okay, well as long as everyone is throwing in their two cents, I might as > well, too. The mold advocacy groups are a bit perplexed about the identity and > goals of the EEF. And we have been for quite some time. > > As this is such a diverse multifaceted issue that impacts not only the > health and well being of US Citizens, but also the financial assets of many other > US Citizens, sometimes the goals of different groups are not the same. > > An example would be that when I hear the term " environmental risk management > company " it often times indicates to me: A company hired to limit financial > liability for those who have managed to exposure others to an environmental > risk. > > So what exactly is EEF? Are there companies out there whose primary goals > are to achieve profit by supporting this non-profit? It is not my intent for > this email to have an accusatory tone. But as long as others on this board are > asking questions, this is what the mold victim advocate groups would like to > know: > > What companies are the driving force and contributors who support this > particular non-profit? If we knew that, it could go a long way in helping us to > understand and to instill our trust in this particular non-profit. > > Thank you, > Sharon Kramer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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