The Dairy Practices Council began as the Northeast Farm Practices Committee of the New York Association of Milk and Food Sanitarians. In 1970 a decision was made to transform the Committee into an independent organization of 11 states named the Northeast Dairy Practices Council (NDPC), led by Chairman Dick March; the first 3 Guidelines were published in 1972. During the next 25 years the Council produced over 50 Guidelines and developed a sound reputation. In 1994 another major decision was made and NDPC was transformed into a national organization named the Dairy Practices Council (DPC).
After 25 years as a northeast organization, the constitutional change in 1994 opened the Dairy Practices Council membership to all states. An additional constitutional change in 2000 opened membership internationally.
The last 10 years have been years of growth and expansion. Many changes have taken place, however, the original objectives of "Quality and Uniformity through Education and Cooperation", with development and publication of Guidelines, have not changed. Currently, the DPC library consists of over 100 Guidelines.
As a national and international organization, growth and expansion have necessitated the need to update, to reformat and to stay current with industry needs. DPC has been able to make the transition mainly due to the fact that our current Executive Vice President and Executive Board members have been willing to participate in future planning and to maintain a vision for the future of DPC. They have worked together in a spirit of consensus and cooperation to move forward. A complete list of changes made over the last 10 years is included in this History. The list provides a chronicle of how DPC has evolved during the transition.
The main strength of DPC is a large core of dedicated members and key sanitarians who work very hard and volunteer many hours to author and review quality Guidelines. DPC membership is made up of representatives of all phases of the dairy industry. The Council's objective of uniformity through cooperation has to begin with a dialogue between all groups involved. DPC provides a place for such dialogue to take place.
The Task Force Directors are a key component of DPC since they carry a great deal of responsibility. They prepare Task Force sessions, coordinate the writing of many Guidelines and are responsible for the systematic review of Guidelines to ensure each one is current. Guideline topics often cover material which encompasses the work of more than one Task Force and requires a joint effort between Directors.
DPC sustaining members play a very important role in the success of the organization. The Council sincerely appreciates their valued support over the years.
The reputation of DPC has always been one of a hardworking organization where members work in the spirit of cooperation to provide a large volume of educational information to the dairy industry. When Donald George wrote the 25 year history in 1994, he included a statement which needs to be repeated in the 35 year history in 2004, "Much appreciation is extended to the membership for their outstanding dedication to the Council's objectives."
DPC also
owes sincere
gratitude to
the four Executive
Vice Presidents
who have led
the Council
over the years.
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A heartfelt
thanks to Professor
Dick March for
his wisdom in
forming the
Northeast Dairy
Practices Council
twenty-five
years ago. His
foresight brought
forth the formation
and the goals
and objectives
that are in
place today.
His outstanding
leadership for
twenty-one years
brought the
Council from
its formation
to an organization
internationally
recognized for
its contribution
to the dairy
industry through
educational
guidelines.¹
Dick
March
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Thanks also
to Dr. Gil Porter
for four years
of excellent
leadership.
Gil's seemingly
endless energy
for moving forward
with his endeavors
coupled with
his professional
conduct and
articulation
have kept The
Council technically
sound and moving
forward at a
good rate of
growth.¹
The contracts
he secured with
Hoard's Dairymen
and IAFP to
market Guidelines
raised national
awareness of
DPC and paved
the way for
expansion into
a national organization.
Dr. Gil Porter
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Thank you to
Don George whose
tenure included
the name change.
He had the task
of making the
change known
to all groups
involved with
DPC and of assuring
that the reputation
of the Northeast
Dairy Practices
Council, which
had been built
over the last
25 years, did
not get separated
from the new
name of The
Dairy Practices
Council; that
the well known
logo of NDPC
represented
the same organization
as the new DPC
logo. Don provided
excellent leadership
to the Council
during the crucial
transition from
a Northeast
Council to a
National Council.
Don George
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A sincere thank
you to Terry
Musson whose
experienced
leadership has
brought DPC
to increased
levels of state
regulatory membership
and participation.
The purpose
of the change
from NDPC to
DPC was to allow
expansion of
membership;
Terry has emphasized
direct communication
with members.
He has traveled
to represent
DPC at meetings
throughout the
United States
and also at
two International
Dairy Conferences.
The result has
been increased
state regulatory,
state educational
and sustaining
memberships
as well as international
members. He
has done an
outstanding
job of initiating
and maintaining
a network of
DPC contacts
across the United
States and now
across the global
dairy industry
as well. Terry
began the sale
of Guidelines
through the
Internet and
also began the
electronic Guideline
review process;
both essential
to relevance
in the current
workplace. He
has also provided
DPC with the
essential component
of continuity
in DPC leadership
as he begins
his third term
as Executive
Vice President.
Terry Musson
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