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Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation

Commentary From The Executive Director
October, 2000

Why become affiliated with IAFP?
By David W. Tharp, IAFP Executive Director

In this month's column, I want to inform you about our Affiliate organizations and how a group may become affiliated with the International Association for Food Protection. But before doing so, I have to make mention of the Annual Meeting recently completed in Atlanta. We are proud to report that we smashed all records with the 87th Annual Meeting by having 1,318 attendees from 31 countries. That number increased over our previous record by 187 - an increase of nearly seventeen percent. Congratulations to everyone who had a part in this success. We will provide a recap of the Atlanta Meeting in our November issue of DFES; be sure to watch for it.

Now, back to the topic of Affiliates. We have seen a surge in groups interested in forming Affiliates and in fact have had five new Affiliate organizations chartered in recent years. Beginning in 1997, a Korean Affiliate was formed followed in 1999 by a group from British Columbia, Canada. Then in 2000, we chartered three new Affiliates; one in Mexico; one in Quebec, Canada; and one in the Washington, D.C. area by the name "Capitol Area." This brings our total to 37 Affiliates.

Why the recent interest in forming Affiliate organizations?
We believe there are multiple reasons for seeing this increase. First and foremost is that there is an increased demand for food safety information and an increased desire to network with people having the same interests. Affiliate organizations offer both these attributes by holding meetings where presentation of information takes place and time for establishing new contacts is allowed. We also believe that our Affiliate Council and office staff have actively promoted and communicated with existing Affiliate organizations our desire to expand the network of Affiliates. We are fortunate to have Members working on our behalf who have helped establish Affiliates and who have fostered relationships with our new Affiliates.

Why become affiliated with IAFP?
For a newly established group, the answer is that the Affiliate will provide an opportunity for a localized group of individuals to gather with similar goals of food safety in mind. A driving force in developing an Affiliate is the ability to offer educational opportunities to Members. By Affiliating with IAFP, the organization immediately becomes a recognizable entity and has a direct connection to the Inter-
national. This lends credibility to the new Affiliate, thereby giving a basis from which to build upon.

What does IAFP offer?
The International supports our Executive Board Member's travel to your Affiliate meeting to present technical information on food safety related issues. We provide the transportation (airfare, etc.) to allow our Board Member to get to your meeting city; you (the Affiliate) provide local expenses such as meals and lodging. It is a wonderful program designed to allow you direct access to our Executive Board for direct information about the International and up-to-date presentations on food safety. Last year, 21 such presentations took place at Affiliate meetings.

Free copies of Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation and the Journal of Food Protection are provided for distribution at your meeting. In addition, we provide other handout information including Audiovisual Library listings, coupons for Membership discounts and IAFP letter openers.

Each quarter during the year, we publish an Affiliate Newsletter and distribute it to Affiliate Board members and Delegates. This is an important form of communication from our office to the Affiliates. Affiliate accomplishments and activities are published giving recognition to deserving Affiliates. By reviewing this Newsletter, Affiliate Officers can keep up-to-date on important deadlines affecting Affiliate organizations.

The Affiliate Awards Program is another benefit offered by the International to Affiliate organizations. By completing an Annual Report and submitting the report to our office, the Affiliate organization will be considered for recognition through the Affiliate Awards program. Affiliate Awards are given at the International's Annual Meeting recognizing the best Annual Meeting, best Educational Conference, best Communication Materials and the overall best Affiliate organization receives the C.B. Shogren Memorial Award.

Each Affiliate designates a Delegate to the Affiliate Council, which meets annually at the IAFP Annual Meeting. The Council provides input to the Executive Board on the direction of the Association and provides an exchange of ideas, activities and information between Affiliates. The Affiliate Council Chairperson serves as a Member of the IAFP Executive Board representing all Affiliate organizations.

What is required of an Affiliate organization?
Affiliate organizations are required to maintain a minimum of five Affiliate members as Members of IAFP. The current President and Delegate must be Members of IAFP and may be included in the five minimum Members. The Affiliate organization must hold an Annual Meeting where they also hold an Annual Business Meeting. An Annual Report must be submitted to the IAFP office by mid-February each year.

There are no financial obligations between Affiliate organizations and the International. Each Affiliate organization operates independent of each other and independent of the International.

Interested in forming an Affiliate organization?
If you are interested in forming an Affiliate organization, please contact me at the IAFP office. You may also contact Fred Weber, Affiliate Council Chairperson at 609.584.7677 or E-mail: fredweber@earthlink.net or you may contact Lucia Collison, Affiliate Liaison at 515.276.3344; or 800.369.6337; or lcollison@foodprotection.org.

We look forward to working with you to establish an Affiliate organization to serve the needs of food protection members in your area!

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