Just two months ago we launched RadonLeaders.org and today we are an online community of more than 300 members! Thank you all for helping achieve this important milestone. If you are not yet a member, join today.

What Can RadonLeaders.org Do for Me?

We hope you will make the most out of RadonLeaders.org, particularly the interactive features of the portal, including the community Calendar and discussion Forums. Here are some of the ways you can collaborate with your colleagues on RadonLeaders.org:

• Post your questions to the Forums and check out other postings.
• Publicize upcoming events on the Community Calendar.
• Add your leadership story to the Radon Change Package.

Did you know?

• You can “Subscribe” to a topic thread in the Forums to have new messages forwarded directly to your email address.
• Check out “Get Local” to see what events are going on near you.

For more helpful tips check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.

California Radon Program Reaches Out to High School Students with Radon Video Contest

Right on the heels of EPA’s successful national Radon Video Contest, the California Department of Public Health Radon Program has partnered with EarthTeam to host its own video contest aimed at California high school students. The contest seeks 30-90 second radon public service announcements (PSAs) that raise awareness about the risk of elevated levels of radon gas in homes and encourage homeowners to test for radon.

George Faggella, Environmental Specialist with the California Department of Public Health Radon Program, first conceived the idea for a radon video contest for high school students during the 2007 National Radon Meeting in Jacksonville, FL. George had been questioning how he could make a significant impact in radon awareness in a state with a population of over 30 million people; he knew he would have to get creative. Then, it came to him: harness the creativity of the people themselves to generate buzz through a radon PSA video contest. George decided to aim the contest at teens, whose creativity and tech savvy he knew would be a wellspring for fresh ideas to engage a whole new generation on the dangers of radon, as well as the student’s parents.

The program created a Radon Comic Book to teach students about radon and build interest in the contest in a compelling way. Students may enter videos in three categories of competition (individual, group, and class) for great prizes, including Apple iPods and a video camera. Winners will be announced on www.EarthTeam.net in January 2009, during National Radon Action Month.

George wants his colleagues in the radon community to know:

• Hosting a contest like this is easier than you might think, and “the bang for the buck is very big!”
• In reaching out to teens you gain access to a great creative resource, a new audience, and their parents.
• Unlike traditional PSAs, a contest involves your audience in the creative process, which becomes a news story of its own.
• California’s Radon Comic Book can be easily modified and is available for other states to use. Anyone interested in using the Radon Comic Book should contact Lana Husser (Lana@earthteam.net).

For more details about the California radon video contest visit www.earthteam.net/radon. We will update you on the contest in January, when the winners are announced. Feel free to share your thoughts on the contest or other radon outreach below in the comment section. Please join us in wishing George good luck!

Do you have an idea to improve RadonLeaders.org or for a future InFocus?
We’d love to hear it. Please contact RadonLeaders.org with your questions, comments, and suggestions at www.radonleaders.org/help/contact.