Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023 - 496

safety professionals each with the
President's Recognition Award.
Standing Committee Chairs
delivered brief reports on their
activities; the Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion Council provided
updates; and Affiliate Council
Chair Amy Rhodes reviewed
the growth and efforts of the
Affiliate group and reported
on those Affiliates receiving
awards. Minutes of the Annual
Business Meeting can be found
on page 534. Official business
was interrupted by the Florida
Association for Food Protection's
insistence that Floridians
could indeed play hockey in
Toronto while sporting jerseys
with flamingo logos, oversized
shoulder pads, and cardboard
hockey sticks. FAFP members
engaged the audience by
distributing foam fingers to lend
their support as they struggled to
get the " puck " to the front of the
room. The Affiliate ended their
antics by spelling out formulas
for various bacteria on the backs
of T-shirts worn by the " players "
before generously donating to
the IAFP Foundation. Thank
you, FAFP, for your traditional
contribution and for always
providing an amusing break
during Annual Meeting!
IAFP's Silent Auction remains
one of our most popular and fun
events taking place each year.
This lively activity generates valuable
revenue for the Foundation
while providing entertainment and
competitive bidding up until the
final minutes. Eighty-five items
were up for auction this year, including
designer handbags; scientific
books and journals; gift baskets;
an Apple watch; handsewn
quilts, bibs, and towels; ballgame
tickets - even a hall tree filled with
various hats worn over the years
at IAFP's Awards Banquets by the
infamous " Brat Pack " - along with
dozens of other unique treasures
to take home as great souvenirs.
We are pleased to announce that
more than $7,100 in contributions
was received from this year's Silent
Auction, which will be added
to Foundation contributions of
more than $41,200 during IAFP
2023! Thank you to everyone who
donated items and to those who
successfully bid on their desired
purchases while helping the
Foundation!
Nearly everyone associated with
IAFP knows David Tharp, who
retired in April 2023 as IAFP
Executive Director. To honor his
30-years of service to the Association
and to formally extend
thanks and appreciation, a Cake
and Ice Cream Reception was
held during lunch on Wednesday.
Attendees had the chance to
congratulate David and his wife,
Connie, and share a few memories
during this time. Thank you,
David, for three decades of helping
to grow and improve IAFP!
Wednesday afternoon's Closing
Session featured the John H.
Silliker Lecture, this year presented
by Dr. Randy Huffman,
Chief Food Safety and Sustainability
Officer at Maple Leaf
Foods in Mississauga, Ontario.
Dr. Huffman's presentation, " Food
Safety with Purpose: Reflection,
Execution and Foresight, " covered
the three practices which are
integral in building a world-class
food safety program: Thoughtful
reflection, collaborative execution,
and strategic foresight. A summary
of Dr. Huffman's presentation
appears on page 514. IAFP gratefully
acknowledges the generous
contribution made by Mérieux
NutriSciences toward funding this
key lecture series.
All good things must come to an
end - and did so at this year's
Awards Banquet on Wednesday
evening. More than 570 attendees
celebrated another successful
meeting with a delicious meal
and a few raised glasses toward
their fellow professionals who
were recognized for outstanding
contributions to the food safety
profession over the past year.
This year's recipients are listed
on page 498. President Danyluk
496 Food Protection Trends November/December
Food Protection Trends - November/December 2023

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