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Connect with MIFFS at 2009 our Annual Meeting on March 10

February 16, 2009 - Calling all MIFFS Members! Join us for the 2009 Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) Annual Meeting on Tuesday evening, March 10 in Kellogg Center Room 105 AB in East Lansing. See the Save the Date...

All members and interested folks are invited to learn what MIFFS has been up to this past year, see what plans are for 2009, vote on by-law changes, elect council members and more! If you or someone you know isn’t a member but is a family farmer, local food enthusiast or just interested in sustainable agriculture for Michigan, this gathering is a great opportunity to learn about MIFFS programs, meet council, staff, partners and members and connect with others.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., we’ll have a small networking reception for everyone to get acquainted and catch up over tea, coffee and cake. Being a statewide organization with members all over Michigan, chances are there’s someone you haven’t met or haven’t seen in a while, so join us before the meeting to catch up.

At 7 p.m., the meeting itself will begin. Hear about MIFFS activities, challenges and successes in 2008 and how our plans and funds are shaping up for 2009. Also, we will be voting on a by-law change and will be electing council members, so don’t miss this opportunity to exercise your MIFFS member voting privileges! If you’d like to run for the MIFFS council or would like to nominate someone, we have five positions opening up. Please contact MIFFS Council Vice-Chair and head of the Nominating Committee, Joe Colyn, at joe.colyn@juno.com or Elaine Brown at browne@msu.edu or (517) 432-0712 for more information or to make your nomination.

Our meeting takes place during Michigan State University’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Week, so there are plenty of other great educational and networking opportunities to take advantage of while you’re in the area. Visit www.miffs.org/events.asp for some other meetings and workshops pertaining to farmers markets, local food and sustainable production.

If you're planning to attend this event, please RSVP to the MIFFS office at (517) 432-0712 or miffs@msu.edu to save your spot.

MIFFS is a recognized leader and resource to establish and develop more sustainable food and farming for Michigan, nurturing successful partnerships that result in healthy people and communities. Our mission is to advocate and initiate local food choices for healthy people and communities.

Our programs are organized around these core strategies: assisting family farmers, growing market opportunities, supporting agricultural stewardship, and informing and influencing public policy. Some of our current projects include working with multicultural farmers, increasing access to local food for all through the Michigan Farmers Market Association, extending Michigan’s growing season with unheated hoophouses and getting more local food into restaurants and onto store shelves with our value chain work.

To join or learn more about projects and initiatives, please visit us online at www.miffs.org/about.asp, e-mail miffs@msu.edu or call the office at (517) 432-0712.

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Founded in 1998, MIFFS is a statewide membership organization (501c3) whose purpose is to promote diverse efforts that foster and sustain food and farming systems that improve economic, ecological and social well-being.  MIFFS has been effective at establishing successful partnerships among producers, markets and institutions that have created more profitable, environmentally friendly food systems in Michigan.    

The organization’s vision is based on the premise that agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship and profitability reinforce each other for the benefit of Michigan’s rural and urban communities.  To learn more, please visit www.miffs.org or call (517) 432-0712.