Bridgeton Landfill: Rolling Stone Magazine Puts Spotlight on Underground Fire

The fugitive emissions and underground fire stemming from the Bridgeton Landfill in North St. Louis County has received national coverage from an article published  Friday in Rolling Stone Magazine. The article by Steven Hsieh is called “St. Louis is Burning.” The reporter provides an investigative look into the problems surrounding the landfill and considers the long terms implications of the toxic mess currently smoldering in St. Louis’ backyard.

“There's a fire burning in Bridgeton, Missouri. It's invisible to area residents, buried deep beneath the ground in a North St. Louis County landfill. But the smoldering waste is an unavoidable presence in town, giving off a putrid odor that clouds the air miles away – an overwhelming stench described by one area woman as "rotten eggs mixed with skunk and fertilizer." Residents report smelling it at K-12 school buses, a TGI Fridays and even the operating room of a local hospital. "It smells like dead bodies," observes another local….

Click here to read the full article on the Rolling Stone's website.

Simmons Employee Golf Tourney to Feed Area Elementary Students

Elementary school children in the free and reduced lunch program in the Alton School District will receive additional support during weekends this coming school year.

The beneficiary of the 9^th Annual Simmons Employee Foundation Golf Tournament is Blessings in a Backpack. The national program discretely provides weekend meals to children who might otherwise go hungry by distributing food in their backpacks on Friday afternoons. 

Approximately 150 students who qualify for Blessings in a Backpack have been identified in the Alton School District. To fully fund the program for its 3-year duration, a total of $40,000 must be raised. All net proceeds from this year’s SEF golf tournament will benefit the program.

The tournament takes place June 14 at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville. Registration costs $100 per player or $400 per team. Tee off times are at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Prizes for first and second place will be awarded.

Nationwide more than 62,000 children are being fed at 437 schools in 42 states through Blessings in a Backpack programs. Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have been attributed to the program.

Please help Simmons employees reach their goal to feed Alton elementary kids by signing up for this year’s golf tournament or becoming a sponsor.

Teams registered and paid by May 31 will be entered into a drawing for four St. Louis Cardinals baseball tickets.

Click here to download the registration & sponsorship form.

Sponsorships for 2013 include the following opportunities. (Registration is not required to become a child or hole sponsor.)

Sponsor a child | $80

 This one-time donation of $80 will feed one child on the weekends for an entire 38-week school year. To sponsor a child, please select the “Sponsor a Child” option on the registration brochure.

Hole sponsor | $100

This one-time donation of $100 will provide you or your company with a sign on the green next to a hole on the green. Space is limited, so hurry to reserve your spot!

Birdie Sponsor | $1,000

The Birdie Sponsor costs $1,000 and includes entry fees for one team, one  hole sponsor, golf shirts for all team members, skins and mulligans, and reserved dinner seating.

Eagle Sponsor | $2,500

The Eagle Sponsor costs $2,500 and ensures your team plays in style. It includes the Birdie sponsorship benefits PLUS a personal beverage cart with your own driver and your choice of beverages and snacks and signage at the tournament.

Click here to download the registration and sponsorship PDF.

Please return the registration and sponsorship form with a check payable to SEF to:

Amy Stiebel
Simmons Employee Foundation
One Court St.
Alton, Illinois 62002

For additional questions about the tournament contact Amy at 618-259-2222 or astiebel@simmonsfirm.com.

Learn more about Blessings in a Backpack at http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/.

Asbestos Facts and Stats You Should Know

April 1 through 7 was officially designated as “Asbestos Awareness Week” by Senate Resolution 66 by the U.S. Senate. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has officially assigned the theme of the 2013 awareness week as “Asbestos: One Word. One World. One Week.”

One of the main goals of Asbestos Awareness Week is to educate as many people as possible on the dangers of asbestos exposure, where exposure can occur, and how to prevent it in an overall effort to eliminate serious asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. By providing valuable information on asbestos, such as facts and statistics, more individuals can be knowledgeable about its dangers.

The Simmons Firm joins the effort to eliminate asbestos exposure and, inevitably, mesothelioma. Below are some of the most important facts and statistics you should be aware of regarding asbestos and the potentially dangerous consequences of its exposure.

• Approximately 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos at their workplaces. (World Health Organization)
• 55 countries have banned asbestos, but the United States and Canada have not. (ADAO)
• Asbestos exposure has been linked to mesothelioma, pleural plaque, asbestosis, and lung cancer. (Simmons Firm)
• More than 107,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases caused by occupational exposure every year, worldwide. (World Health Organization)
• Asbestos fibers can be 700 times smaller than human hair and are tasteless, odorless, indestructible fibers that can float in the air undetected. (ADAO)
• Asbestos exposure can occur 25 to 50 years prior to the appearance of mesothelioma symptoms. (Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation)

The above is a brief list of important statistics and facts surrounding asbestos; however this is not a comprehensive list. For more information regarding the topics covered during Asbestos Awareness Week, please refer to the ADAO agenda here.

U.S. Surgeon General Stresses Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure has been directly linked to the development of mesothelioma and other serious diseases. For many years, the dangers of exposure to the toxic fibers of asbestos have been well-known across the country. Despite this knowledge, the use of asbestos is not banned in the United States.

Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin released a statement in honor of Asbestos Awareness Week (April 1-7), saying, “there is no level of asbestos exposure that is known to be completely safe.”

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauded Benjamin for her remarks concerning asbestos. The organization concurred with Benjamin in a recent press release by adding, “all Americans [should] learn about the dangers of asbestos exposure and…understand the steps they can take to protect their health.”

The organization has been working with the White House and Congress for years in an effort to prevent asbestos exposure with the ultimate goal of eliminating all asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

Despite being aware of the dangers of any level of asbestos exposure, the substance is still used in industries and occupations, especially manufacturing. In the ADAO press release, it is reported that US consumption of asbestos was 1,060 tons in 2012, and was used to meet manufacturing needs. The toxic substance also still exists within homes, schools, offices and factories across the United States. Because of this, renovations, demolitions, or simple wear-and-tear can be dangerous should anyone come into contact with asbestos fibers through inhalation.

Being educated about asbestos and the risks involved with asbestos exposure is one way to help prevent further exposure and the development of serious asbestos-related diseases. Although the substance is not banned in the United States, we can all make a difference by learning more, knowing where asbestos may be found, and knowing how to handle the substance should we come into contact with it.

“Together, we can prevent the dangers associated with asbestos,” said Surgeon General Regina Benjamin in the ADAO press release.

Learn more about asbestos exposure, common occupations associated with asbestos exposure, and what you should know about exposure to asbestos now.

Honorees to Be Awarded at the 2013 ADAO Conference Dinner

As a new event on the agenda for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization 2013 Asbestos Awareness Conference, ADAO is proud to announce its Awards and Recognition Dinner. The dinner will take place March 23 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. The cost is $100 and the event is open to the public.

At the dinner, ADAO will award conference honorees, including U.S. Representative Lois Capps, Dr. Celeste Monforton and Mavis Nye. These women are being honored for their contributions to asbestos awareness.

U.S. Representative Lois Capps is being presented with the Tribute of Hope Award for her unwavering commitment to public health and safety. Specifically, the political career of Mrs. Capps is committed to helping people improve their daily lives through better schools, a cleaner environment and the highest-quality healthcare. In regards to public health initiatives, Mrs. Capps has helped pass legislation to address the national nursing shortage, curb underage drinking, improve mental health services, improve the quality of our air and water, and more.

Dr. Celeste Monforton is being recognized at the awards and recognition dinner with the Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of her firm commitment to increasing asbestos awareness in an effort to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. She is also a long-time supporter of ADAO.

Dr. Monforton is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at The George Washington University School of Public Health. She is chair of the Occupational Health and Safety Section of the American Public Health Association.

Mavis Nye, a mesothelioma patient, will be recognized with the Alan Reinstein Award for her commitment to education, advocacy, and support to countless patients and families.

Other awards being presented include the following:

• Karen Banton will be presented with the Tribute of Inspiration Award for her untiring efforts to protect workers’ rights and seek justice for asbestos sufferers and their families.
• The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers will receive the Tribute of Unity Award for its relentless efforts, both nationally and internationally, to protect workers’ occupational safety and health.
• Rob Cagle, who tragically lost his battle with mesothelioma in 2011, will be recognized with the Alan Reinstein Award for his commitment to education, advocacy, and support to countless patients and families.
• Jordan Zevon, ADAO National Spokesperson, will be honored for his tireless dedication to ADAO.

During the ADAO Awards and Recognition dinner, the Simmons Firm will be recognized for its contributions and long-time support of ADAO. Full agenda information on the ADAO 2013 Asbestos Awareness Conference, including the Awards and Recognition dinner, can be found here.

The awards dinner is open to the public and will be held on March 23 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Click here for registration information.

Meso Foundation to Host Live Stream of 2013 Symposium

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s 2013 Symposium is an event for mesothelioma patients, survivors, and family and friends of victims. The event is an opportunity to gather together to raise awareness for the disease, discuss the latest news and developments, share stories and hear from mesothelioma experts.

The conference is being held at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas on March 7 and 8. However, it’s understandable that not everyone can travel to Las Vegas to attend the event in person, especially people currently suffering from mesothelioma and undergoing treatments. For those interested in taking part in the event who are not able to attend in person, the Meso Foundation will host a live stream of several sessions of the conference.

The Simmons Firm is proud to be a sponsor of the 2013 Meso Foundation Symposium, and urges all individuals who can’t travel but are interested in the event to view the live stream online. This live stream will feature portions of the conference agenda, including topics on:

• Genetics and mesothelioma
• Support panels for mesothelioma patients, caregivers and those who lost a loved one
• Legislative updates
• Details on research, new drugs, and clinical trials
• Fundraising information
• And more

The full live stream will be available for viewing here on March 7 and 8. While watching the conference through the live stream, viewers will also be able to participate in a live chat, discussing the topics and details with other viewers and members of the Meso Foundation staff.

The Meso Foundation staff will also be live tweeting throughout the event, so join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #curemeso.

For more information on the 2013 Meso Foundation Symposium, contact the Meso Foundation or visit CureMeso.org now.

Mesothelioma Symposium To Feature Popular Event Fundraising Session

Six Steps to Fundraise for Mesothelioma Research

In 2007, St. Louis resident Shelly Kozicki was the first person to start a named grant through the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation in honor of her husband Craig who was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

In 2009, Craig passed away, but Shelly has continued the fight for both of them. This year she surpassed raising more than $250,000 for research during her Quartermania Fundraiser in October.

During last year’s Mesothelioma Symposium, she and Erica Ruble presented a session entitled, “The Six Steps of Fundraising.”  

Shelly told attendees that she took her anger and turned it into action. She hopes her story will motivate others to get involved as well. A summary of the session is outlined below.

Step 1 | Pick an Event Type

Pick an event that corresponds to the amount of time and work you can do. Writing a letter campaign and seeking donations from family and friends is much less time consuming than organizing a golf tournament or triva night.

Step 2 | Organize the Logistics

Pick your date, avoiding busy holidays, and set a budget. Remember you have to spend money to make money.

Step 3 | Choose a Venue

Location is a key factor. Is it easily accessible for everyone who you want to invite? Should you rent a hall or hold it in your home? Don’t forget about getting a venue contract and any other permits you might need.

Step 4 | Ask for Support

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family. Ask them to volunteer. Ask the Meso Foundation for help in organizing.  You’ll be surprised to find how much people do want to help. However, the sooner you ask for help in the process, the easier things will be.

Step 5 | Include a Money-Maker

A money-maker is a feature within your event that raises additional funds to benefit your charity. Examples include selling 50/50 raffle, hosting a silent auction, organizing a live auction, getting people to donate baskets to sell, making jello shots or having a drawing for a big ticket item.

Step 6 | Say Thank You

Thank everyone who donated time, money or resources. Thanking businesses who sponsored your event will make future requests easier. Also, don’t forget to share your success story!

Shelly and Erica’s session was so popular last year, symposium organizers asked them back. They will again present on Fundraising during the 2013 Mesothelioma Symposium from 3 to 4 p.m. PST, Friday, March 8 at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. If you can’t make it, don’t worry. This is one of the sessions that will be streamed live online.