From The President
I am seeing a trend in our industry which concerns me. The concern is that participation in professional associations is on a downturn. I believe this trend of limited participation with associations affects our own performance.
Several big issues keep us from participating in association events. Our peers relay that the two largest obstacles are money and time. Both industry and regulatory are facing budget restraints. Additionally, organizations are managing their business with fewer personnel. Fewer people take on increased responsibilities. Managers are finding it difficult to allow personnel off the farms, off the plant floors, or out of the offices to participate in the conferences.
AIMFES is taking up those challenges to provide you with networking and educational opportunities to enhance skills needed in your areas of expertise. We understand your budget limits and we work carefully to make the conference costs affordable. We bring industry and regulatory education to you in just two days away from your work site.
The larger question is, of course, can we afford not to participate in associations? A large risk of not participating in associations (professional groups) is the subtle isolation that creeps within our operations and our plant floors. When we are increasingly isolated from other professionals in our fields, we limit receiving valuable, timely information which positively affects our effectiveness on the job. Not participating in conferences can restrict our ability to exchange valuable insight with our peers. How many of us has experienced an “ah-ha” moment as we gain an idea from an industry or regulatory expert at a conference? That idea sparks a new way of looking at what we do, day in and day out. These ideas spur continual improvement and forward thinking within our areas of responsibility.
Our association deals with many topics that affect public health. AIMFES members are from private and government sectors. We exist to provide our membership with educational seminars and workshops dealing with current trends. We target regulatory issues, along with operational issues in production, processing, handling, manufacturing, sanitation, serving and distribution of safe, high quality food. We’ve broadened our scope to include speakers to address management and supervision issues because even though we deal with food and public health, we also work with people. Often, basic management skill training is not readily available on the job, but is greatly needed to perform well.
It is through our AIMFES Association that we bring affordable programs in the most efficient way possible. Give us just two days for an educational conference and let us provide you immediate value in essential tools and resources to enhance your skills, and benefit your organization.
Thank you for your participation and for your continued interest in strengthening our industry. Your
ideas and thoughts are welcome! Looking forward to hearing from each and every one of you!
Stephanie Roe Quinton
AIMFES Past President
815-973-2701
squinton@crestfoods.com
