Volume 8, Number 3 - May 10, 2002

The agenda for the June meeting has been finalized, and includes a great slate of speakers. The meeting will kick off with a welcoming cocktail reception Sunday night, June 2, at 6:00 p.m. Monday morning, the roster includes Agriculture Undersecretary Bill Hawks, new GIPSA Administrator Donna Reifschneider, and senior FGIS staff. Monday’s luncheon will feature the National Grain & Feed’s Kendell Keith. Tuesday morning will begin with a breakfast, during which we’ll hear from Jula Kinnaird, president of the National Grain Trade Council, followed by our general session, including addresses by Albert Schatzke of the Canadian Grain Commission, Dr. Eluned Jones of Virginia Tech, former FGIS Administrator Kirk Miller, now with the North American Export Grain Association, and Gary McKinney of the U.S. Grains Council. Tuesday night we’ll gather for a banquet, and finish up Wednesday morning with AAGIWA’s business meeting.

Speaking of June’s meeting, the Crystal City Marriott wishes everyone to know that they have a courtesy shuttle that goes to and from Reagan National airport every 15 minutes. It is a white and red van and says “Crystal Gateway/Crystal City Marriott”, and stops at baggage claim areas 5 and 9. They tell me it is less than 5 minutes from the airport to the hotel. To get from one of the other airports, you will have to take a cab or a commercial shuttle service.

GIPSA’s Advisory Committee had asked that GIPSA commission a study to look at the feasibility of centralizing many of its review and quality control functions, i.e., the “Central Lab” concept, and that report was expanded by GIPSA and the contractor, Clemson University’s Dr. John Surak, to include other topics as well. That report is now out, in preparation for next week’s Advisory Committee meeting. If anyone wishes to see a copy, and is unable to obtain one from GIPSA , contact Tim Adams at mphsgrain@aol.com to get a photocopy of the report.

In keeping with an AAGIWA continuing resolution, that states that any member appointed to the GIPSA Advisory Committee who is not already a director shall be named as an ex-Officio director, David Ayers of the Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection Departments was so designated, owing to his recent appointment to the committee.