SEBSA History

In November of 1999, Mr. Russ Sharpe of ENV Services, Inc. set plans in motion to form a region chapter of the American Biological Safety Association. This occurred after years of discussion between members of the American Biological Safety Association regarding the need for a Southeast Chapter. On November 4, 1999, he emailed 60 prospective members an agenda for an organizational meeting of which the now chapter members were in attendance. The membership, Steering, and Bylaws committees were formed at this organizational meeting. Dr. David Taylor of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta assumed the leadership responsibility of drafting the chapter Bylaws.

At the 1999 CDC Biosafety Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Sharpe announced the formation of a region chapter and invited interested parties to attend and informational meeting. There were 32 people in attendance and several people volunteered to assist in the finalization of plans for the region chapter. Ms. Lynn Harding, Mr. Lee Alderman, and Mr. Frank Beadle served as the nomination committee and presented the candidates that now form the SEBSA Board for consideration at the first meeting. The members voted and elected the officers as nominated. Dr. David Taylor presented a draft of the Chapter Bylaws. The Bylaws were approved as presented. Mr. Russ Sharpe proposed the name of the Southeast Biological Safety Association (SEBSA) for consideration and the members present approved adoption of the name.

SEBSA has registered members from Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. These growing cast of members consist of individuals in such professions as:

• Occupational Health and Safety
  
• Environmental Compliance
  
• Biosafety Containment Design
  
• Waste Management
  
• Veterinary Medicine
  
• Education and Research

…to name a few