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<< back to the 2003 archive listing << Food Protection Trends President's Perspective “May Your Hopes Rise to the Stars!” Henry Ford, the great American inventor and entrepreneur once said, “You can do anything if you have the enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars.” I believe that all of us should approach whatever task is at hand with enthusiasm and energy — even the most mundane or boring of tasks. It’s all a matter of perspective. Chances are that if you approach a challenge with enthusiasm and energy, it will get done sooner and will be better than if you approach it with dread or ambivalence. Another great American, the sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln said, “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” It’s the act of doing that gets things done. Enthusiastically taking action to get things done, whether in your professional life or your personal life, usually ensures an outcome that you want – allowing your hopes to rise to the stars, as Henry Ford put it. What does all of this have to do with IAFP? I have been blessed to have made many friends over the years though my association with IAFP. I have served on many committees and worked with a number of individuals that served with enthusiasm and energy over the years. One great example of this is the recent initiative to develop International Food Safety Icons for the foodservice and retail food segments of our industry. This initiative was spearheaded by Frank Yiannas through our Retail Food Safety and Quality Professional Development Group. These Inter-national Food Safety Icons are pictorial representations of important food safety tasks conducted in restaurants and foodservice establishments that can be recognized and understood regardless of an individual’s native language. This effort has been well received and has been unanimously endorsed by the National Restaurant Association’s Board of Directors. This Board- approved resolution is very prestigious and gives our food safety icons the highest form of recognition by the NRA. Frank and the Retail Food Safety and Quality PDG are to be commended for their enthusiastic and exuberant work on this project. Mark Carter, another active IAFP member, is taking up the banner and is spearheading an initiative to develop a series of International Food Safety Icons that can be used in food manufacturing plants. We look forward to Mark’s enthusiastic leadership in this area. If you are interested in learning more about these icons, please visit IAFP’s Web site at www.foodprotection.org. IAFP has a number of Professional Development Groups in addition to the Retail Food Safety and Quality PDG. There are a total of thirteen PDGs ranging from the Applied Laboratory Methods PDG to the Meat and Poultry Safety and Quality PDG to the Water Safety and Quality PDG. The purpose of these PDGs is to promote professional development in specific disciplines or areas of interest consistent with the goals of IAFP. The PDGs are a great way to meet colleagues and make friends that have a common food safety interest with you. If you not already involved with a PDG, I encourage you to enthusiastically get involved. It will be a rewarding experience both professionally and personally. If you’re interested in starting a PDG in an area that isn’t currently covered by an existing PDG, I encourage you to contact any of the Executive Board members or David Tharp, IAFP’s Executive Director in Des Moines. I would like to close this month’s column by enthusiastically wishing everyone a safe and joyous holiday season. Spend time with your family, friends and loved ones. They are what truly count in the big picture. Renew your energy so that you may approach 2004 with enthusiasm and zest. Take action to get the most out of the upcoming year both personally and professionally. Most of all, may your hopes rise to the stars! As always, please share your thoughts with me at phall@kraft.com. Until next month… |