Pacific Fisheries Technologists
55th Annual Meeting - Bellingham, WA
2004

Another George Another Prez. 

By Bruce C. Odegaard National Food Processors Association, Center for Northwest Seafood

     From the very beginning in 1948, the National Food Processors Association has been actively involved with the Pacific Fisheries Technologists (PFT). That involvement is as active as ever with George Berkompas, from the Center for Northwest Seafood, holding the president’s gavel along with the responsibility of hosting the 2004 PFT Conference. “I was totally surprised. I don’t have a PhD or a high profile, so I thought I was under the radar.” 
     
     “A medium for exchange of technical and scientific information among fisheries technologists and those interested in fisheries technology” is the primary purpose of PFT as stated in its constitution. “Collaboration with research institutes, universities and governmental agencies” is what George finds most impressive about PFT. “To me, it is the opportunity to expose the regulators (both US and Canada) to the real world on an informal, non-threatening basis and also show people in industry and academia that there are real people in the other disciplines.” 

     Membership to PFT is open to anyone interested in fisheries technology and willing to pay 10 dollars (U.S.) a year to remain on the mailing list. The location of the regular annual meeting is based on a six-year rotation through four states and our two neighboring countries along the Pacific Coast of North America. Representatives from British Columbia, Alaska, Mexico, California, Oregon and Washington continue to work together to keep the rotation going strong. George, who was first introduced to PFT in the early 70s has been a regular attendee since the early 80s. As George prepares to reside over the 55th annual meeting, he emphasized the friendships that develop over time as the key to keeping the organization healthy and strong. “The camaraderie that has been developed over the years results in unsolicited promotion of the organization. The seafood industry is a tight knit community and draws together during challenging times. The bottom line, though, is the people involved who are willing to go the extra mile.” 

     Each year the outgoing Executive Committee who is the governing body of PFT has the primary responsibility of recommending a slate of new officers for approval by the membership. The President with help from the Secretary and Treasurer is responsible for; establishing the time and place of the annual meeting; arranging and presiding over all meetings; the content of all meetings; and to make sure all related activities of the Secretary and Treasurer are executed so the meeting is well organized and conducted, so that all who attend have nothing but a positive experience. George said that his vision of a successful conference is, “good weather, a good location, a variety of topics, active participation, good support and having each attendee leave with a better understanding of their industry.” 

     Care is taken each year to try and keep costs down and students are encouraged to attend the meeting to present their research, with the opportunity to network with other seafood technologists. Further enticements of cash awards are offered to the students who produce the best oral and poster presentations. 

     An active member from the very beginning, George Pigott has kept a fairly extensive record over the last half century of the programs which illustrate an environment of progressive thinking that has and continues to address topics of timely concern. The first presentation in 1953 was on Consumer Education. In 1964 a large part of the program was devoted to irradiation. In 1967 the National Canners Association’s Northwest Laboratory Director Walt Yonker laid out the standards and regulations for Codex Alimentarius and in 1975 the influence of Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) on the Seafood industry was being discussed 22 years before it became part of federal regulation. Progressive thinking and interesting up-to-date topics is the torch that President George Berkompas carries as a gavel and is entrusted to keep a flame for next year. “The Seafood industry has fallen on hard times, politically, and in the market. I think it is time to focus on the next generation. Many of the most promising students are from foreign countries, and will take their technology with them after completing their education. We need to fill in the gap. The challenge is: How do we do it? I have some ideas. You’ll have to attend to find out what they are.”