A Vote for Volunteerism

Our volunteers fill a variety of roles at IFT, including serving as our elected leaders, and the time has once again come to cast your vote for next year’s president-elect, board of directors, and members of the Nominations & Elections Committee. Our elected leaders, who come with diverse experiences and perspectives, are critical to IFT’s future. They ensure we live up to our promises so we can continue to meet the needs of our members and generate positive changes throughout the profession and the global food system.

You will have an opportunity to select individuals whose commitment to IFT and the profession of food science and technology will advance our strategic priorities. Voting begins February 15 and will continue through March 15, 2016, but you have the opportunity to get to know the candidates in advance. Visit ift.org/elections to view candidate videos and read details about their backgrounds. IFT’s voting membership must select one member for president-elect, four members for the board of directors, and three members for the Nominations & Elections Committee.

This year’s nominees are a diverse group of accomplished and hardworking professionals who offer their own experience in the food profession, a history of volunteer service within IFT, and a steadfast belief in the value of our organization. For president-elect, the candidates are Martin Cole and Cindy Stewart. Board member candidates are Cornelius Dick (Kees) de Gooijer, Chris Findlay, Sarah Kirkmeyer, Roger Lawrence, Lauren Shimek, Gunnar Sigge, and Geoffrey W. Smithers. Candidates for the Nominations & Elections Committee are Brian E. Farkas, Carmen L. Gomes, Hongda Chen, Nicolas Bordenave, Sam Millar, Danielle Robertson, and Enrique Palou. They all have impressive credentials, which makes for difficult choices. I therefore encourage you to get to know these nominees via their profiles and cast your vote for individuals who you think will best contribute to our mission and vision in the upcoming years.

Why vote? Your participation in the election is critical to IFT’s future, and the individuals you choose will continue our legacy of progress over the last 75 years. Our current volunteers on the IFT Board of Directors, IFT Student Association, and Feeding Tomorrow trustees are a talented group of individuals who have been instrumental in building on our strategic planning efforts and our promises to create opportunities to develop, innovate, network, and advocate. Most recently, we’ve reinvigorated the strategic plan for our foundation, Feeding Tomorrow. Guided by our Feeding Tomorrow mission to improve the world by bringing the best and brightest to our field and supporting their work, we’ve set up two committees composed of volunteers. These members will bring together their collective knowledge to encourage the pursuit of careers in the science of food, promote and reward excellence, and pursue food and nutrition for those in need. I am grateful to those who have volunteered to contribute to this important work and the work of all our boards in ensuring that our priorities for the student association, Feeding Tomorrow, and IFT are aligned and synergistic. Please take the time to make your choice—it is simple, convenient, and so important to the future of IFT.

As you cast your vote, I ask you also to consider volunteering within IFT this year. Volunteering is an incredible opportunity to serve your community and contribute to your profession. I consistently hear from members who already volunteer that working with IFT enhances their membership experience in many different ways. Volunteering often starts in the student association, sections (as in my own case), or divisions, but there are numerous other opportunities in terms of shaping the scientific program for our annual meeting, focusing on enhancing our processes and procedures, recognizing leaders by serving as an award juror, or changing the life of an aspiring scientist by awarding scholarships.

Residing in the United Kingdom and being one of IFT’s international members, volunteering has been so much more than just getting involved. It is about learning new perspectives and skills, collaborating, leveraging each other’s knowledge, expanding your professional and personal network, and supporting a global community passionate about the science of food. It has impacted very positively on my career, and the valuable and lasting friendships have greatly enriched my experience.

IFT thrives because of the input and thought leadership of its volunteers. I do hope that you will take advantage of volunteer opportunities to gain new experiences, expand your personal network, and develop friendships that last a lifetime. Please visit ift.org/volunteer to learn more.

I hope you’ve had a successful 2016 thus far, and I am looking forward to another year of progress and increased member engagement!

Colin Dennis, CBE, PhD, CFS, CSci
IFT President, 2015–2016
Chairman, IFIS Ltd., Reading, United Kingdom
[email protected]