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<< back to the 2004 archive listing << Food Protection Trends A View from Wisconsin “The IAFP Annual Meeting has become the one-stop shopping of professional
meetings” “What a great meeting!” “I haven’t been to this meeting in years, but I’ll be back next year.” “There are so many good sessions to go to; I can’t get everywhere I want to be.” These were the types of comments that I heard in the hallways of the convention area of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona during our August 2004 Annual Meeting. Yes, this year’s meeting was clearly the most successful ever for IAFP in terms of attendance, exhibitors, and sponsorship. This month’s issue of Food Protection Trends features pictures, reports, and session summaries for those who would like to refresh their memories and for those unfortunate Members who may have missed this premier meeting in food safety. The August Arizona heat obviously did not deter the hearty professionals in our field. In last month’s column, our Executive Director, David Tharp reported we had 1,584 attendees (a 7% increase over 2003), a 20% increase in exhibits, and a 22% increase in sponsorship! But, these numbers are only an indicator of our success. The true success came in the form of a quality educational program, the symposia, the technical presentations, the posters, and the exhibitors who offered explanations of their services and products. Furthermore, the opportunity to network and the camaraderie among the attendees was unsurpassed. The IAFP Annual Meeting has become the “one-stop shopping” of professional meetings for anyone involved in food protection. We recognize that many of our Members must deal with a large variety of food protection issues in their daily jobs. This year’s program, thanks to the Professional Development Groups, ILSI-North America, and active individuals, covered not only food pathogen issues for many commodities and retail food safety, but expanded the food toxicology program. Hot topic issues included discussion of emerging pathogens Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, Enterobacter sakazakii, and BSE. Our meeting always provides ample opportunities for professionals to gather and discuss current research and solutions to common problems not covered formally. Since 1990, when I attended my first IAFP conference, I have had the fortune to meet numerous internationally respected scientists. Their advice has been invaluable to my career. But, just as importantly, I have made contacts with experts who can help me with my day-to-day questions such as the best conditions to isolate a fastidious microorganism, why an antimicrobial may be more effective in one food compared with another, or how do Europeans handle a particular food safety issue. Our Annual Meeting has grown consistently over the past several years, largely in part to the attract-ion of a first-class educational pro-gram, but also because attendees share their enthusiasm with others and promote the meeting among their colleagues. Each year, although I am physically tired from the long hours, I come back energized from the new information I have learned and the new contacts I have made. I know that many of our attendees feel the same way. They encourage their co-workers, their students, the personnel from places that they audit, to join our organization and to attend our Annual Meeting. I invite you to do the same. Involvement in our association is worth the financial and time commitment because it helps make us better in our jobs and better as individuals. Mark your calendar for next year’s meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, August 14–17, 2005, and be sure to invite at least one other person to join us for another successful conference.
Before I close, our thoughts and prayers go out to the people whose lives have been disrupted by the 2004 hurricanes. In particular, we hope that all our friends in Florida escaped the devastation associated with the four hurricanes that have hit the state this season. Agencies responded rapidly after the storm and the residents are resilient, but some areas may be without electricity and basic services for weeks. While government disaster loans will assist in rebuilding the infrastructure, many individuals, especially the poor, may suffer greatly. I ask that you consider donations to a reputable disaster relief fund to assist in their recovery. As always, I welcome your ideas and comments. Please feel free to E-mail me at kglass@wisc.edu and let me know your view. |