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<< back to the 1999 archive listing << Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation Commentary From The Executive Director "We encourage you to focus on your vision on the future of IAMFES" "Effective visions prepare for the future, but honor the past." When I read that phrase, written by Tom Peters, I thought of IAMFES; the issues of changing our name and the image transformation for our Association. These issues had been discussed by the Executive Board and many IAMFES Members for a number of years, but were formulated into a plan in April of 1997. During the Board meeting held that April, the Executive Board approved using the slogan "Advancing Food Safety Worldwide" in order to bring an easily recognizable identity to IAMFES. Since that time, we have used the slogan on items related to the IAMFES Annual Meeting and in other places. We hope that you think of IAMFES when you see "Advancing Food Safety Worldwide." Another historic event took place at that Executive Board meeting. It was approved to begin a process intended to change the name of the Association to the "International Association for Food Protection." This was the beginning of a two-and-a-half year process to prepare for the future. A timeline was developed whereby we would publicize the new name and the voting date of August 3, 1999. We would also actively solicit comments from all IAMFES Members. We received many responses, and they have remained overwhelmingly in support of the new name. The topic was raised at the last two Annual Meetings during the Business Meeting and at Committee, Professional Development Group and other group meetings to ask for Member's comments. It was felt that by allowing such a long comment period, IAMFES Members will have had many opportunities to hear about the name change prior to voting at the Business Meeting or receiving a ballot in the mail. This plan also was intended to honor the past, by not rushing into a name change without having ample time to discuss the issue. Recently, we surveyed a representative sample of Membership to determine Members' awareness about the name change. The results will be tabulated and available in time for the February issue of DFES. From the surveys, we will assess what type of further communication is necessary to inform IAMFES Members of the vote for changing the Association name. With an affirmative vote at the 1999 Annual Meeting, ballots will be sent to the entire Membership. More than two-thirds of those voting by ballot, must select yes in order for the name change to become effective. With a positive vote result, steps to implement the name will begin and we anticipate the new name to be in place in January of 2000. There are so many details to cover when changing a name, you might ask, "why do it?" In order for IAMFES to grow both internationally and domestically, we need to have a name that identifies our Association quickly and easily. It needs to tell what our Members do in a short amount of time. Teamed together with the slogan, "Advancing Food Safety Worldwide," our new name does just that! Members of the International Association for Food Protection work and dedicate their lives to Advancing Food Safety Worldwide! It all seems to fit together and make sense. It is an effective vision for the future, while honoring the past. Speaking of the past, more than 32 years have past since the last name change of the Association took place and that was to add "Environmental" to the name. Prior to that, there were 3 name changes that averaged 18 years between each change. We are certainly proud of the past names of the Association and proud of what they stood for. We are proud of many Members that gathered together back in 1911 to form the "International Association of Dairy and Milk Inspectors" and we are proud of all Members who have followed in their footsteps to carry on the work of the Association. I believe we can all agree that many changes have taken place since formation of the Association in 1911 and Members that preceded us also faced decisions of whether to change the name or not. When faced with the decision, they too had to assess the benefits of making such a change to see if they outweighed remaining status quo. Just think for a moment, what might have happened if someone or some groups of Members were not looking forward to determine a need to change the Association name when it needed to be done. The name may have stayed the International Association of Dairy and Milk Inspectors and the prospective pool of Members would not be adequate to support the type of Association that we have built. We encourage you to focus your vision on the future of IAMFES, think about the image and the ability of the Association to present itself to prospective Members involved in food safety. Help us to help you by attracting new Members to the Association. Remember the next new Member to join may be the one who provides assistance or information to solve a problem you have been working on for sometime. They could bet he person you hire to work for you, or they may even hire you! Again, I encourage you to provide your input on the name change issue. Please send comments tome via E-mail at dtharp@iamfes.org or you may want to contact Bob Brackett, IAMFES President at rbracke@cfsqe.griffin.peachnet.edu. We look forward to receiving your thoughts. |