Lung Association threatens to sever ties to NW chapter

The American Lung Association threatened to cut ties with its Northwest chapter Thursday, giving it one month to rectify violations of the nonprofit's policies.

The American Lung Association of the Northwest has recently changed its mission statement, declined to run an anti-smoking program for teenagers and refused to commit to a campaign promoting influenza vaccinations — all in violation of its agreement with the national organization, said Carrie Martin, spokeswoman for the national group.

But most troubling was that the Northwest chapter launched a new nonprofit corporation this summer without approval from the national board. The American Lung Association received tips from a dozen people within the Northwest affiliate expressing concerns; some of those people claimed the chapter planned to divert American Lung Association assets to the new corporation, Martin said.

"All of these things were indicators of their departure from the nationwide mission and programs, which is extremely disconcerting to us," Martin said.

Mike Alderson, who started in June as president and chief executive of the Northwest chapter, issued a statement saying he disagrees with the national organization's interpretation of the agreement.

"The ALA of the Northwest will address these allegations through the appropriate channels," he wrote. "The ALA of the Northwest will continue to help people in the states of Washington, Alaska and Idaho as we have for the past 102 years."

The American Lung Association of the Northwest has $4 million in assets and an operating budget of $8.1 million.

The national organization was founded in 1904 to fight tuberculosis but now works to prevent all forms of lung disease, focusing on asthma, smoking and air pollution. It has 14 affiliates around the country and conducts direct-mail fundraising for those chapters. Money raised in each region stays in that region, with the national lung association keeping a slice for administrative costs.

The money raised must be used to support the mission of the American Lung Association.

But the Northwest affiliate changed its mission in August: Instead of "preventing lung disease and promoting lung health," it's about helping individuals who have lung disease and helping prevent future incidences of lung disease. Because the national organization has a policy of not caring for patients directly, the chapter's new mission statement is inconsistent with the national organization, Martin said.

The Northwest chapter established the new nonprofit in August, registering it with the Secretary of State. First called the Lung Foundation, its name was changed to the Pacific Northwest Lung Cancer Foundation early this month.

Alderson, who previously served as president and chief executive of the nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Seattle, is listed as a founding member and director of the new organization.

Martin said the national organization is committed to keeping a presence in the Northwest, and would have to decide how to do that if the regional affiliate doesn't change course.