THE PUBLIC MIND: LUNG ASSOCIATION DISPUTES CRITICISMS OF COLUMNIS WILLIAMS

Dear Editor:

It's a rare and unfortunate occasion when the American Lung Association finds itself the object of malicious and inaccurate accusations. When attacks do occur, the prudent response is silence, since rebuttal often only serves to spread the falsehoods further. But when the misinformation persists, and the accuser is granted a prominent forum, action is needed!

Such is the case with columnist Walter Williams, whose gift this Christmas season has been a syndicated column the second of two accusing the Lung Association of squandering funds and misrepresenting ourselves to the public and the IRS. With Scrooge-like precision, he has timed his assault to coincide with our annual Christmas Seal campaign, in the hope, it seems, that our appeals will be met with lumps of coal.

Why attack the American Lung Association? Our chief offense according to Williams, is apparently lobbying. Hardly an offense, in fact, we are downright boastful of our achievements as advocates for lung health. A review of the facts tells why.

The publicly stated mission of the American Lung Association is the conquest of lung disease and the promotion of lung health. Policies to achieve these goals are formulated by the American Lung Association's unpaid volunteer leadership. In eastern Missouri, this leadership includes 125 people who serve on our board or on a committee of the board. In addition, this leadership includes top members of the Missouri chapter of the American Thoracic Society, the association's medical section, and nationwide, the largest organization of pulmonary physicians. In condemning our advocacy, Williams makes the ludicrous assumption that these leading authorities on lung health should be muzzled as the U.S. Congress and the Missouri legislature debate such medical issues as the health effects of air pollution and the best ways to discourage tobacco addiction. Fortunately, Congress doesn't share this view, for they have called on us many times to offer expert testimony on such issues. This is one reason our advocacy expenses are so low: actions undertaken at the request of Congress are not "lobbying" under IRS definitions.

We played an important role in securing laws to restrict smoking on domestic airline flights, and we also helped to shape the recently passed federal Clean Air Act. Along with the medical community, we recognize that there are problems, such as pollution and passive smoking, which can only be tackled through the legislative process. Many of our donors have lung disease and suffer as a result of these problems; they and their families look to us as defenders of the right to have breathable air. We are proud that we haven't let these people down. The Lung Association takes flak from time to time, primarily from the tobacco lobby, with whom Williams appears to sympathize. But no amount of flak will makes us drop our opposition to the tobacco industry which contributes to the deaths of 1,000 Americans every day.

We will not dignify Williams' other distortions with a point-by-point rebuttal. The American Lung Association is well within guidelines established for responsible management of health charities. Approximately 75 cents of every dollar we raise goes into programs to prevent lung disease. These include school education programs, camps for children with asthma, smoking prevention and cessation programs, support groups for lung disease patients, advocacy, research grants and professional conferences to disseminate new medical insights on the lung. All major financial decisions are made by volunteers and executed by professional managers, whose salaries are significantly less than those in the for-profit sector. Despite this, we continue to benefit by good people who make their careers with us. Lung Associations do acquire assets, such as buildings and property, but they do so for the same reasons that motivate the average family: to build equity that does not accrue through renting, and to provide a foundation for long-term program commitments.

The activities of the American Lung Association contain no hint of impropriety, much less the "disgrace" that Williams suggests. If disgrace exists, it is his, because his distortions have sullied a reputation that thousands of volunteers nationwide have labored hard to build. We know that his distortions can't withstand the light of scrutiny; we ask any donors or volunteers concerned by Williams' column to step into the light by calling our Cape Girardeau office (314) 334-4007. Or if you would like to talk to our board president, the toll-free number is 1-800-467-Lung.

Judy Stricker, board member

American Lung Association

of Eastern Missouri

Dr. Jean Chapman, co-medical

director of Camp Superkids

American Lung Association

of Eastern Missouri