Food Protection Trends - November/December 2024 - 505

AFFILIATE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JULY 14, 2024
aren't being updated on a regular basis, so Susan encouraged them to keep
websites updated to access upcoming meetings, Affiliate officers, etc.
Twenty-four Affiliates held meetings in 2024 but not all of them requested
speaker support from IAFP. The IAFP Board Speaker and Expanded Speaker
Programs are available, and 13 Affiliates benefited from using it in 2023.
IAFP pays the speaker's travel to and from the meeting; Affiliates only pay
lodging, local transportation, and food. This is a great resource to schedule
high-level speakers for Affiliate meetings.
Speakers can also present remotely at no cost for the Affiliate or the
Association. Those Affiliates which collect dues through IAFP should
inform the Association if dues are increased. Affiliate members were
encouraged to register on IAFP Connect to receive communications from
IAFP. No new charters were issued in 2023, but Susan talked about how to
help establish a new charter for those who wish to start one in their area.
Question from audience: IAFP website is not good for cell phone viewing.
Would IAFP develop an app for cell phone use? Lisa will check if this is
possible. Neil Bogart thanked Susan for her support throughout the years.
Discussions: Attendees were asked about any Best Practices utilized
to support Affiliates to increase membership. In 2023's Affiliate Council
Meeting, several options were discussed, and attendees were asked if these
options had been put in place, with any results.
Ontario Affiliate: Students were invited to be part of the Affiliate Board
to bring in new ideas. For example, they refreshed the way the Affiliate
manages social media. The Ontario Affiliate is very satisfied with the
results.
Georgia Affiliate: How to get universities engaged: Check those which
have related departments and invite them to present their research during
Affiliate meetings.
California Affiliate: The state has so many complexities and diversity in
food safety with some associations overlapping. Therefore, the Affiliate is
partnering with others to leverage the strengths for each.
Chinese Affiliate in North America: It is also trying to get students more
engaged. Members have talked with recruiters to map the student profiles
needed so they can connect the recruiters to the students who fit the
required profile. The Affiliate plans to hold webinars during this year.
Taiwan Affiliate: The Affiliate supports the creation of a new PDG, Nutrition
and Food Safety, and believes it can bring in new members with a meeting
on Sunday, July 14, at 1:30 p.m.; audience members were encouraged to
join.
Southeast Asia Affiliate: How can webinars be shared with students
who aren't IAFP Members but are Affiliate members? Tim: The cost of
membership for developing countries will decrease, so we believe it will
encourage students to become members. If, with the new tier-structured
membership rates, they still can't afford membership, we should look for
sponsors for student memberships.
Argentina Affiliate: The Affiliate also struggles to increase membership
despite strong attendance at events and webinars.
Presentation of Certificates of Merit to the Ontario Affiliate: Ontario
President Jessica Burke proposed in advance that Certificates of Merit
be presented to Ellen Gravi and Nadia Narine, Ontario Delegate and Past
President, honoring their valuable support during the organization of IAFP
2023 in Toronto, Ontario.
Jessica also received one for her work and her recognition of her
colleagues' efforts. Fabiana reminded attendees that anyone can propose a
Certificate of Merit.
Election of Affiliate Secretary: Fabiana called for nominees from the floor.
Potential candidates were reminded they need to serve as their Affiliate
Delegate for the next two years, and be an active IAFP Member. Two
candidates volunteered to stand for election: Ellen Gravi, Ontario Affiliate
Delegate, and Helen Taylor, UK Affiliate Delegate. Fabiana asked them to
introduce themselves and provide a brief summary that included number
of years with their respective Affiliate and as Affiliate Delegate, and the
number of IAFP Annual Meetings they have attended.
Ellen Gravi: Works with Gravi Food Safety Inc. as a consultant; IAFP
Member for two years; Delegate for one year; supported the Local
Arrangements Committee for IAFP 2023 in Toronto.
Helen Taylor: IAFP Member and UK Delegate, both since 2006. She also
served as the UK Affiliate President and has attended every IAFP Annual
Meeting since 2006. She served on the Organization Committee for the
IAFP European Symposium in UK in 2016. She also served as part of
the Food Safety Association in UK and is a Technical Director for the
ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Candidates left the room while Delegates voted. Helen Taylor was elected
by a majority vote.
Kristin Schill, Wisconsin Affiliate, asked about the requirements for Affiliate
Secretary. Susan answered that the qualifications and requirements for
serving as Affiliate Secretary are posted on the IAFP website, including the
requirement that the candidate must be the Delegate of the Affiliate and an
active IAFP Member.
Don Schaffner asked if the Affiliate Council is aligned with Constitution
and Bylaws. Lisa Garcia answered yes, but the Affiliate Council also has
Operational Guidelines.
2024 Affiliate Awards Presentation: Fabiana highlighted the achievements
of the award recipients and presented the 2024 Affiliate Awards as follows:
Affiliate Membership Award: Upper Midwest Dairy Industry Association -
The Affiliate had a 15% increase membership. One of its strategies was to
provide scholarships for new student members as a way to expose new
professionals to the Affiliate. (No representative from the Affiliate was
present to accept the award.)
Affiliate Communications Materials: Georgia Association for Food
Protection - The Affiliate demonstrated the simultaneous use of several
communication channels, and showed to be very proactive in sharing
relevant content with its members, such as 15 YouTube videos; posts
on Instagram and LinkedIn; communicating through Mailchimp; and
interactive food safety quizzes.
Affiliate Member Education: Ontario Association for Food Protection -
The Affiliate organized 12 webinars throughout 2023; sent a monthly
Eblast with food safety news; held an Annual Technical Meeting and two
additional Technical Meetings; and held networking social meetings with
impressive attendance.
Best Overall Affiliate Meeting: Arkansas Association for Food Protection -
The Affiliate's Annual Meeting was attended by a record 230 attendees. It
was a two-day event with 18 diverse speakers and varied topics.
November/December Food Protection Trends 505
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