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<< back to the 1999 archive listing << Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation Commentary From The Executive Director Advancing Food Safety Worldwide Advancing Food Safety Worldwide. That slogan was put in use about two years ago with the approval of the Executive Board. One of the reasons behind its development was to create an identity for IAMFES Members and other food safety professionals to easily recognize the Association and link "IAMFES" to "Advancing Food Safety Worldwide." It was felt this was the focus of all IAMFES Members - to expend their efforts to advance food safety worldwide! The slogan and our mission, "to provide food safety professionals with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply," go hand-in-hand and serve as a description of IAMFES and its Members. We feel that the IAMFES mission is accomplished in many ways such as the exchange of information through our journals (Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation and the Journal of Food Protection) and from presentations at the IAMFES Annual Meeting. In addition, we have excellent resources available to our Members like the Audiovisual Library of videotapes and a series of Investigation Manuals. I should note here that the fifth edition of the Procedures to Investigate Foodborne Illness is now available by calling our office or completing the order form on page 311. IAMFES is fortunate to have many Members who willingly give their time to the Association for the benefit of all. There are more than 250 people serving in various capacities on over 20 Committees, Professional Development Groups (PDG) and Task Forces. This is another example of how we fulfill the IAMFES mission. These groups are a vital part of IAMFES and they provide guidance, leadership and input to the Association's operations and programs. To become involved with any of these groups, review the list in your Membership Directory or on the IAMFES Web site, then contact the Chairperson of the group(s) of interest. You may obtain additional details from the Chairpersons or contact our office. I'm certain that by now you have learned about the proposal to change the name of IAMFES to the "International Association for Food Protection." Soon, all Members will receive an official notification giving the time and place where the vote will be taken. It will, of course, be taken at the Annual Business Meeting on August 3, 1999 at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn Hotel. Additional details will be included with the official notice. The Constitution & Bylaws Task Force spent many hours reviewing and revising our existing Constitution & Bylaws and the review continues at the present time by our Committee, PDG and Task Force Chairpersons. Once this review is completed, it will again be presented to the Executive Board for their review. Our thanks to Michael Brodsky and the Constitution & Bylaws Task Force for their service to IAMFES. So many people are coming together to rally behind the new Association name! It is great to see support building as we approach the Annual Meeting and the vote date. With your support, IAMFES will become the International Association for Food Protection and will retain the mission "to provide food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply." The International Association for Food Protection will also continue to "Advance Food Safety Worldwide!" |