Photos: Priscilla Lucero, Grant County Community Health Council chairwoman presents award to Tony Trujillo. Second from right is GCCHC Coordinator Tiffany Knauf, and at right is outgoing GCCHC chairman Gary Stailey.

Bottom photo is Alan Berg receiving his award.

Silver City, New Mexico, November 28, 2011:  This year, the Grant County Community Health Council recognized the achievements of two extraordinary members: Tony Trujillo and Alan Berg. Trujillo was honored with the annual Senator Ben Altamirano Health Council Member of the Year award, while Berg received the first Above and Beyond award for his part in the Quail Ridge Fire asbestos abatement.
 
Trujillo was astonished with the recognition, “Obviously, it's an honor to be recognized. It was very much a surprise after receiving the Health Council's Cornerstone award last year. That was more than I ever expected, and then to be honored as Member of the Year…This award was the icing on the cake.”
 
Trujillo was nominated for Member of the Year for his dedication and long-term commitment to the Health Council. As a founding member and previous chair of the Health Council, Trujillo has invested innumerable hours towards the health and wellness of Grant County. Trujillo serves as the Health Council's Mining sector representative through his position as Director of Government Relations of the New Mexico Operations Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.
 
Chair of the Health Council, Priscilla Lucero, praised Trujillo's commitment to the Council as a “dedicated individual that really cares about the community. Such dedication comes from within and he wants to see our community well taken care of, now and into the future.”
 
Trujillo attributes the continued success of the Council to more than his individual efforts, “We have great work by a lot of excellent Council members that makes us all look good, and great staff aid in our work.” The Health Council is composed of 30 members each representing a health and wellness sector of the community. The members are leaders in the community able to mobilize resources and effect policy for a greater impact on the health and wellness of Grant County residents.
 
Berg is one such Health Council member, whose efforts were able to impact the entire community though the knowledge of his sector: Environmental Health. After the devastation of the Quail Ridge Fire, Berg brought to the forefront the concern of the possibility of asbestoses in the burned houses, as an environmental hazard.
 
Lucero said, “Alan took the community health concern one step further, to see that families were protected health-wise, not only the victims of the fire, but the people that live in the area. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have known about the asbestos.” Berg volunteered his time to testing for asbestos. With a coordinated effort with local officials and a generous donation from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, via the Community Enhancement Fund, the abatement was completed.
 
Berg was awarded the Above and Beyond award for his efforts on this project. Lucero adds, “Berg is very passionate about the work he does and the well-being of his community.”
 
For more information on the Grant County Community Health Council call 388-1198 ext. 22.