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Champions working for public health
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Brian Funk
April 10, 2008
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The road for making a change involves a little passion and persistence. For Greeley resident Rhonda Solis, the road toward passing a city ordinance banning the free distribution of tobacco at public events included both. A worker in the dental field for 20 years, and member of the Tobacco Free Weld County Coalition, Solis received pledge signatures from members in the dental field, and she testified before the Greeley City Council on the problems of tobacco she has seen within both her family and profession.
Solis will be among 12 other residents who will be honored today as Public Health Champions at the Greeley Senior Center by the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. The honorees were nominated for their contributions to various community programs.
The Tobacco Free Weld County Coalition, according to Solis, was the perfect organization for her to limit tobacco use in the city. In particular, she and the coalition wanted to make a new ordinance permitting free sampling of spit tobacco and cigarettes in public places.
"Giving out free samples at the Stampede, it was something that I don't think needs to be done at a community function," Solis said. "There is no reason to have something that can start an addiction or negative health for free at a Greeley community event."
Solis knows about the negative health effects of tobacco. She grew up in an environment in which both her grandparents smoked, and she said it wasn't until after she left her home that she realized what a life without tobacco was like. Solis still deals with tobacco daily, whether it is at home where her husband struggles with chew tobacco, or at work, where she sees patients with oral cancer or developing pre-cancerous sores.
Due to the success of ordinance banning free tobacco distribution, Solis and the coalition look to further educate the community on other tobacco problems. In fact, the coalition is in the process of providing an amendment to Senate Bill 88 that would penalize under-age users of tobacco products, which Solis said is an overlooked problem.
"I'd like to think that we're volunteering to work for a healthy community," Solis said. "I grew up in this community, my kids grow up here and it is very important to all of us; the health of the community."
Public Heath Champions to be honored at a noon luncheon today at the Greeley Senior Center, 1010 6th St. The luncheon is being put on the by Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment:
Randy Carter
Dale Dowling and Gary Van Gorp
Linda Gingerich
Erika Greenberg and Joseph Maier
The Greeley Board of Realtors
Rosie Martinez
Pieceable Friend Quilting Guild
Shannon Rea
Lana Reeves
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