Working Group #4 –

Email notes March 4, 2008

Hello all,

I am co-chairing output 4 of our Fresh Produce Safety Task Force.

Our first meeting is scheduled (tentatively) for March 27th at 1:30 PM at NCDA&CS Food & Drug (located at 4000 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, 27607) in the training room. Let me know by March 7th if you are able and willing to attend! Based on everyone's availability, date and time are subject to change.

Please review the attachment NCFPST Strategic Planning and begin brainstorming on how we'll accomplish our work - output 4.

One activity already in the works is…... On April 1, the Association of Food & Drug Officials of the Southern States (AFDOSS) is hosting an exercise on applying ICS and a web-based communications tools (FoodSHIELD) to manage a food emergency. The exercise will be in Myrtle Beach beginning at 8 AM at the Island Vista Hotel as part of our spring conference running from March 30 - April 2. We are asking for a registration fee of $25 (which includes your lunch) or $75 if you plan to stay for the entire day and attend the banquet that night. Or you may stay for the entire conference for $200 (agenda attached) - while I am biased, AFDOSS is a great organization representing the top food and drug officials in the Southeast region. Please email Mary Logan (copied above) and me with your registration. Hotel information is included in the registration form.

This is a great way for us to start learning more about ICS and begin developing our teams. Please plan to take the class online to get the most benefit from the exercise at: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp. A brief ICS overview will be provided prior to the exercise. ICS classes will also be offered across North Carolina beginning in April/May - more details to come on that.

Your tasks: 1. By March 7th: Confirm attendance for planning meeting on March 27th (or suggest alternate time) at 1:30 PM at NCDA&CS Food & Drug

2. By March 14th: Confirm attendance for exercise using ICS and FoodSHIELD on April 1st at the Island Vista Hotel in Myrtle Beach, SC. Complete registration form - send to Mary Logan and me.

3. By April 1st: Complete online ICS 100 training 4. On April 1st: Attend exercise Thanks, Wendy