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<< back to the 2004 archive listing << Food Protection Trends COMMENTARY from the executive director “January Begins a Flurry of Activity Related to IAFP 2004, the Association's
91st Annual Meeting” This month begins yet another new year. Can you believe that it is now the year 2004? Just four short years ago, we turned the century to the year 2000, now here we are approaching the halfway mark on this decade! One thing for certain, time keeps marching along, faster and faster it seems. January begins a flurry of activity related to IAFP 2004, the Association’s 91st Annual Meeting. The Program Committee meets mid-month to review submitted abstracts and symposia. During this two-day meeting, the entire scientific program for IAFP 2004 comes together. By early February, a tentative program will be available on the IAFP Web site for your review. Additional detail including presenter names and presentation times will be added as we get closer to August and the start of the meeting. I have two items that you need to be aware of, and then I want to tell you more about the resort in Phoenix. First off, watch your mail (postal service mail) for the Secretary ballot for 2004. Ballots will arrive early in February and are due back at the IAFP office by March 19, 2004. Candidates will be announced late in January on the IAFP Web site and in the February issue of FPT. Be sure to vote and exercise your Membership voice when your ballot arrives! The other item I want to call to your attention is our Call for Awards Nominations (see page 26). Think of your many colleagues who are working day in and day out to protect the public’s health. Think about how deserving they are of being recognized. NOW, take time to nominate them for the IAFP Awards! There are six Awards given by IAFP that cover all segments of our Membership. The Awards are titled Industry, Education, Sanitarian, Citation, Laboratorian and Inter-national. In addition to these six Awards, we have the Black Pearl Award for corporate excellence in food safety and quality, the Fellow Award for Members who have contributed to the Association over an extended period of time, and the Honorary Life Membership Award for those Members’ dedication to the high ideals of the Association and for their dedicated service to the Association. Surely, you know someone that should be nominated for one of these Awards! Detailed information on all Awards is available on the IAFP Web site (www.foodprotection.org) by looking under “What’s New” and clicking the “Call for Awards Nominations.” Nominations are due at the IAFP office by March 15; that gives you plenty of time to submit a nomination, so get busy now! Now, let’s talk further about the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, the host hotel for IAFP 2004. This is a brand-new, 950 room resort in northeast Phoenix bordering Scottsdale. There is an on-property 24,000 square foot spa for all your relaxation needs along with two 18-hole, championship golf courses (one designed by Arnold Palmer, the other by Nick Faldo). The resort has 4 acres of pool area highlighted by the Lazy River float pool. You will want to extend your stay to take advantage of the lovely pool area! Even though it will be warm in Phoenix in August, the cool indoor beauty of the Desert Ridge Resort will comfort your mind. It is a beautiful setting in which to hold our Annual Meeting, so plan now to be with IAFP in Phoenix for the best food safety meeting around! You can make your hotel reservations through our Web site (www. foodprotection.org) by going to the Annual Meeting page and clicking “Hotel Information” or by calling 800.228.9290. Be sure to identify yourself as an IAFP 2004 attendee to receive our special discounted rate. While you are making your hotel reservation, don’t forget to register for the meeting! Online registration is now open (also at the Annual Meeting page on our Web site) or you may complete the registration form on page 47 in this issue. We look forward to seeing you in Phoenix this summer for a magnificent Annual Meeting! Don’t forget to send your Awards nominations and your Secretary ballot to IAFP by the deadline dates. Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year! |