Food Protection Trends

COMMENTARY from the Executive Director
July 2007

“It has been a busy time for the Board and staff of IAFP”
By David W. Tharp, IAFP Executive Director

As you might imagine, it has been a busy time for the Board and staff of IAFP. Over the last couple of months, we completed the final stages of planning for the Association’s 94th Annual Meeting held this month at Disney’s Contemporary Resort along with establishing details for the Third European Symposium on Food Safety titled “Advancements in Food Safety.” These plans take place as other “business” of IAFP continues, such as producing two monthly journals and our new Online newsletter, the IAFP Report .

First, let’s talk about the Annual Meeting. There are so many details that need to be planned and confirmed for a meeting like IAFP 2007 that it is sometimes overwhelming. I want to first and foremost commend the IAFP staff for their attention to detail in the planning process. We meet weekly; all year-round, to plan for IAFP’s showcase conference. During each of these meetings, we review the timeline of items that must be completed in order for our Annual Meeting to take place. I am proud of our staff and the enthusiasm in which they approach these tasks at hand.

As the months tick by and the meeting dates come closer, our list grows longer as to what needs to be done. For instance, for each of the meeting rooms we use during the Annual Meeting, specific hours must be provided to the hotel along with what audiovisual equipment is needed and if food or beverage will be provided. We work closely with the hotel to assure they know what our needs are for each room and event.

Communication with presenters, convenors and organizers is ongoing up to the actual start of the Annual Meeting. Scheduling begins months in advance to make our best attempt at placing sessions in the appropriate-sized rooms. With the assistance of the Program Committee, sessions are positioned, speakers are cross-checked and schedules are firmed up for the best program possible. We also need to be assured that we have student volunteers to assist with audiovisual and other issues that may arise in the session rooms. This schedule is coordinated by the Student PDG leaders each year.

When it comes to the social events, we need to be sure we have enough volunteers to assist with moving attendees from the hotel, to busses, to the event site, and back to the hotel. This year, the Florida Association for Food Protection (FAFP) provided the volunteer staff to help at registration, with social events and other essential functions to make IAFP 2007 run smoothly. The hospitality provided by FAFP members was an integral part of IAFP 2007. Thanks to all who helped out!

The exhibit portion of IAFP Annual Meetings has also become a large part of why food safety professionals attend our Annual Meeting. With the opportunity to learn of the latest products and services available to the industry, the IAFP Exhibit Hall attracts leading companies, educational institutions and governmental agencies from around the globe. We are fortunate to have a large number of supporters who are with us year after year providing their products and services for your review. This year, we even recognized five 20-year exhibitors. We truly appreciate the support and participation provided by our exhibitors.

As Frank Yiannas reported in his “Point of View” President’s column, we set new records of attendance for an IAFP Annual Meeting this year. We are still counting for a final number to report, but we are assured it has reached to new heights this year! We are proud to be the leading food safety conference and are elated to have your continued support!

In all the excitement about IAFP 2007, I want to be sure you do not overlook the Third European Symposium on Food Safety titled “Advancements in Food Safety.” This stimulating symposium will be held October 18–19 in Rome, Italy at the Sheraton Roma Hotel and Conference Center. We distributed registration information in program materials at IAFP 2007. If you were unable to be with us in Florida, we will mail a conference brochure to all IAFP Members or you may review the details on our Web site.

This year’s European Symposium promises to be a great gathering of food safety professionals from Europe and beyond. Presentations will be delivered by speakers from Italy, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, United States and Switzerland. This symposium is developing into a “must attend” for not only European Members and food safety professionals, but many of our IAFP Members from around the globe.

We look forward to further developing the European Symposium on Food Safety in the coming years and hope to see you in Rome this October!

I want to conclude with a “thank you” to the organizing committee who helped to form the program for our European Symposium. In addition, back to IAFP 2007, I want to thank all of our speakers, organizers, convenors, exhibitors, sponsors and volunteers. Without help from everyone, we would not be able to produce these high-quality, educational presentations and symposia .