The National Meat Association is going back to the future-50 years later. The association will hold its first convention under the NMA moniker at San Francisco's famed Palace Hotel, the site where the organization was originally formed as the Western States Meat Packers Association in 1946.
The convention is set for Feb. 15 to Feb. 18. It will feature seminars and workshops detailing regulations and legislation, marketing issues, labor relations and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point programs. USDA Acting Undersecretary for Food Safety Michael R. Taylor will speak Feb. 15.
The Western Independent Meat Packers met on Jan. 24, 1946, and adopted the name Western States Meat Packers Association. Cattleman E. Floyd Forbes was named as the association's first president.
WSMPA merged with the Pacific Coast Meat Association in 1982 to form the Western States Meat Association. The Mountain/Plains Meat Association merged with WSMA in 1993.
WSMA changed its name to NMA last year. Rosemary Mucklow has directed the association for 35 years.
Past presidents and founding members have been invited to take part in the event. Photographs and memorabilia dating back to 1946 will be on display.
Convention program
Feb. 14
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.-Golf tournament (Olympic Club)
3 to 5 p.m.-Registration
4 to 5:30 p.m.-Executive committee meeting
Feb. 15
6:45 to 8 a.m.-Continental breakfast
6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.-Registration
7 to 8:15 a.m.-Strategic planning committee
8:30 to 9:45 a.m.-Administrative committees: membership, education, associate advisory
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.-Spouse tour
10 to 11:15 a.m.-Seminar/roundtables
1 Microbial Testing: The Right and the Wrong
2 SOPs and Process Control Primer
3 Work Force 2000 Impact
4 Is Meat the Chip in Trading Negotiations?
11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.-General session/lunch
1:30 to 2:45 p.m.-Seminar/roundtables
1 Let's Talk Microbes: Good & Bad
2 Making HACCP Work for Both Small Large Businesses
3 Different Dimensions for Foodservice
4 USDA Choice: The Equivalency Issue
3 to 4:15 p.m.-Food Safety and Inspection Committee
7 to 10 p.m.-Sausagefest
Feb. 16
6:45 to 8 a.m.-Continental breakfast
6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.-Registration
7 to 8:15 a.m.-Specific interest committees: beef, small stock, processed meats
8:30 to 10 a.m.-Workplace issues committee
10 to 11:15 a.m.-Seminar/roundtables
1 New Processing Technologies
2 The New Inspection Rules
3 Concentration Study: Will It Make a Difference?
4 The '90s Consumer: What They Want and Expect
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Meet the experts luncheon
1:15 to 2:30 p.m.-Seminar/roundtables
1 Where Are the Pathogen Kill Technologies?
2 TBA
3 Food Safety as a Marketing Strategy
4 Strong Regional Packers Find Their Niche
2:45 to 4:30 p.m.-Board of directors meeting
3 to 5 p.m.-MICA 1996 West Coast meeting
5 to 7 p.m.-MICA reception
7 to 11 p.m.-Fabulous '40s dinner/dance gala
Feb. 17
7 to 8 a.m.-Continental breakfast
8 to 10 a.m.-General session/award presentations
10:15 to 11:30 a.m.-Shooting the breeze: convention wrap-up