Posted on April 23, 2015
On behalf of everyone at The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), I would like to thank all of our attendees, speakers, honorees, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who participated in the 11th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference! This year’s conference, “Where Knowledge and Action Unite,” held April 17 – 19, 2015 in Washington, D.C., marked 11 years of ADAO’s leadership in raising mesothelioma and asbestos awareness and action to prevent exposure to eliminate all asbestos-caused diseases. The conference brought together medical, academic, occupational experts, asbestos victims, and friends from nine countries to spread awareness about asbestos, clarify recent academic and legislative news, disseminate educational/preventative resources, and work towards a ban on asbestos. The conference was comprised of nearly 40 international conference presenters, an Awards and Recognition Dinner, a Unity and Remembrance Brunch, and a candle light vigil honoring and supporting all those touched by asbestos. ADAO’s new campaign, “Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention.” became an underlying theme repeated again and again by conference attendees, mesothelioma warriors, and experts alike as their voices resonated in unison with a call for hazardous chemical regulation reform.
Here are some of the 2015 11th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference highlights and related links!
- Livestream broadcast of all conference events (still available)
- ADAO Facebook Conference Album
- Academic Conference Keynote Speech by Dr. Jorma Rantanen
- Family Trolley Tour of Washington D.C.!
- Speakers and Honorees Dinner Friday April 17
- Photography Exhibit by Earl Dotter – “Badges: A Memorial Tribute to Asbestos Workers”
- Awards and Recognition Dinner with special performance by National ADAO Spokesperson Jordan Zevon
- Unity and Remembrance Brunch with Keynote Speech by Susan Vento
- Candle light vigil, in honor and support of asbestos victims
- Passage of Senate Resolution 125 – Declaring April 1-7 as National Asbestos Awareness Week
- U.S. Surgeon General Statement on the Dangers of Asbestos
Videos from the entire conference and its presentations will be published on ADAO’s website this summer and archived for future public reference. Three of the many photographs are below. You can easily view and share Tony Rich’s wonderful photos from the ADAO Facebook conference album.
ADAO would like to acknowledge a few individuals who, unfortunately, could not attend the conference in person: Troi Atkinson, recipient of the 2015 Warren Zevon “Keep Me in Your Heart” Award; Herman Hamilton, tireless ADAO Executive Assistant and supporter; Dr. Richard Lemen, whose wisdom as an ADAO Science Advisory Board Member has been critical to ADAO’s success; and the inspirational Lou Williams, Mesothelioma Warrior. We missed and were thinking of you!
We are so proud and thankful for all of our experts and community members who made this amazing conference possible – your voices, stories, and willpower inspire us daily and make our work and this event possible. And a special thanks to all of our 2015 Sponsors that made this and other ADAO efforts possible! Corporate sponsors include Motley Rice LLC (Platinum Sponsor), Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLC (Platinum Sponsor), Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett (Gold Sponsor), and Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney and Meisenkothen (Silver Sponsor). Individual donors include Lisa Crandall (Diamond Donor); the Von St. James Family, the Gundlach Family, and Jill Cagle (Emerald Donors); Bud Vaughn and the Amento Family (Sapphire Donors); Paul and Yvonne Hall (Garnet Donor); and The McOnie Agency for their in-kind donation.
You are saving lives, you are making a difference, and you are being heard.
Together, change is possible.
Linda
Event pictures:
Professor Dean Fennell accepting the 2015 Tribute of Hope Award on behalf of iMig at the Awards and Recognition Dinner (c/o Tony Rich).
ADAO National Spokesperson and musician, Jordan Zevon, performing Saturday, April 18, 2015 (c/o Zeel TV).
ADAO Unity and Remembrance Brunch, Sunday, April 19, 2015 (c/o Robin Tucker).