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<< back to the 1999 archive listing << Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation Commentary From The Executive Director What does it take to prepare for the IAMFES Annual Meeting? What does it take to prepare for the IAMFES Annual Meeting? How many years in advance do preparations begin? It just depends upon which aspect of the Meeting that you might ask about. The location for the Annual Meeting is discussed and selected about five years in advance of the date of the Meeting with the hotel property being firmed up between three and four years prior to the Meeting. More detailed work begins with the Local Arrangements Committee of the host Affiliate organization about two years before the Meeting and the Program Committee begins their preparations one year in advance of each Annual Meeting. Most details for the Annual Meeting are finalized within a year of the actual Meeting. The IAMFES Executive Board oversees the whole process with coordinating help from the IAMFES staff. Of course our staff deals with the contractual arrangements prior to each Meeting and the Board gives input and direction related to the Annual Meeting. Each year we strive to make improvements based on the success of past Meetings. Last year we held a reception in the Exhibit Hall after the completion of Monday's sessions. This reception was well attended and we will repeat the event again this year. For 1999, we added a dinner option for Tuesday evening and a new Member reception on Saturday afternoon to orient new Members and first-time attendees to our Meeting and to familiarize them with our Committee process. Just a note here to remind you that anyone may attend Committee, Professional Development Group (PDG), or Task Force meetings at the Annual Meeting. All such meetings are open meetings and your participation is welcome. Committees actually have Members who are appointed to serve on the Committee, but interested individuals may attend any Committee meeting. PDGs are groups formed to discuss specific topics and many times, develop symposium for the following year's Annual Meeting. PDG membership is open to all interested Members and nonmembers. You may join a PDG simply by attending the PDG meeting of your choice and expressing interest. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, contact the Chairperson of the PDG that interests you.Back to preparations for each year's Meeting. For this year's Meeting, we began working with the Local Arrangements Committee of the Michigan Environmental Health Association (MEHA) more than two year's ago. Co-Chairpersons Terry Anderson and Chuck Lichon have worked very hard in coordinating the volunteer staff for our Dearborn Meeting. MEHA Members will be very visible throughout the Meeting at the registration desk, in the session rooms, at all social events and providing directions and hospitality during the Annual Meeting. Please join me in giving a huge "thank you" to Chuck, Terry and the entire MEHA staff of volunteers for their contribution to the success of the 1999 IAMFES Annual Meeting. They have put forth a great number of hours of their time to assist in the smooth operation of this Meeting! Another group that deserves recognition is the Program Committee. Each year the Program Committee spends countless hours reviewing submitted symposia and technical abstracts; analyzing and discussing the merits of each to arrive at the final educational program for our Meeting. This year, Chairperson Jeff Farber has done an excellent job of guiding the Committee and working with our office to formulate the program. Again, a "thank you" to Jeff and the Committee is warranted. Over the past few years, we have more openly solicited sponsorship monies for the Annual Meeting. Last year, we were quite pleased with the response we generated from a very limited number of contacts made. This year has grown nicely and we are certainly fortunate to have the support of so many fine companies and organizations. On behalf of IAMFES Members everywhere, I want to pass on our thanks to these companies and organizations. They will be recognized by name in our Program and Abstract Book and I encourage you to express your thanks to them also. Lastly, I want to recognize the efforts of the IAMFES staff. Upon completion of each Annual Meeting, we immediately begin planning for the next one. We review the completed Meeting and record suggestions to improve for next year. Our staff is dedicated to providing a professional atmosphere in which to conduct the IAMFES Annual Meeting. We have an excellent staff of 12 individuals who work year-round on your behalf. It is rewarding to receive your comments, both oral and written and I'll again encourage you to express your thanks to our staff members. Personally, I am extremely proud of the work of the IAMFES staff and the teamwork that comes together to enable us to conduct the Annual Meeting. Keep up the great work! I hope that in this small amount of time you are able to gather a feeling of what it takes to stage an event the size of the IAMFES Annual Meeting. The number of people all pulling together to ensure a first class Meeting is truly amazing. If you have been involved with past IAMFES Annual Meetings, you know what it takes to accomplish success. If you will be helping with future Annual Meetings, learn all that you can from each Meeting preceding yours. These Annual Meetings are a great example of how a group working in unison can achieve more than might be expected. To everyone involved with the 1999 IAMFES Annual Meeting, please accept my sincere thanks for your contribution to its success! |