Notes from Food Safety AoE Team Consumer Education Work Group 2-8-01 Conference Call

Those involved: Ellen Defay, Jeannie Nichols, Lisa Treiber, Sylvia Treitman, Jennifer Wagester

Preschool Handwashing Video: Video normally sells for $125, AoE purchased 60 copies for $69 each. This video is a good accompaniment to the Preschool Fight BAC curriculum developed by the Michigan Food Safety Task Force in Southeast Michigan. Ellen currently has them in her office. She agreed to offer the videos on a first come first serve basis to interested counties, with a limit to 3/county. If they want more, they'll be put on a waiting list for notification after the first round of offers comes in. Agreed to offer the video for $35, Ellen will do the E-mail notification, Jennifer will handle the incoming $$ to pay for them and reimburse the AoE for half the money spent. Was agreed that this is an opportunity for the Food Safety AoE to help promote food safety training materials in the state at a reasonable price to the county budget.

Mini-Grants: Agreed to offer one $750 mini-grant with the goal of the recipient working with other agencies or counties to promote food safety. Grant money could be used towards materials, give-aways etc. To receive money, report would have to be submitted to show what was done, who were the collaborators etc. Plan for grant to be used between April 1 and October 1, 2001. Jennifer agreed to do the RFP. Work group would make decision on who would receive the grant.

Mid-Michigan Food Safety Task Force: The work group agreed to put $750 towards the new Food Safety Task Force in Bay, Midland and Saginaw Counties. The group is planning an informative program for the community in April. Currently the group has divided into committees to seek a location to host the program, promote, develop content etc.

Updating Extension Bulletins: Jennifer informed the group that Les is currently working on this task, with a goal of having a Food Web Site up later this Fall, where these publications would be available. They would also continue to be available in the Extension offices.

Town Hall Meeting: Toby expressed interest in putting something like this together. The group discussed the possibilities, Lisa stated that it had already been asked for in Midland County. It was decided to "pilot" one of these programs in Midland, with a possible time in May. Extension Educators would be invited to attend, to see if this would be something they'd like to duplicate in their county. Lisa will check with her contact from Kiwanis, who originally expressed an interest in doing this, Jennifer and Toby will be involved in planning and implementing as well.

Food Safety Curriculum for Seniors: All agreed it was needed. Also realized that some things are already done, such as USDA's Senior Web Site, something new called "To Your Health, and what others are already using. It was decided to wait and review these items, with some investigation into what Extension Educators are already using. Will continue to monitor at this time.