Independent Organic Inspectors Association
P O Box 6, Broadus, Montana USA 59317-0006
Phone/Fax: (406) 436-2031 E-mail: Web:
September 14, 2004
Dear
This letter is your notification of acceptance to the 2004 IOIA Organic Farm and/or Process Inspector Trainings October 13-20, 2004 at AppelFarmArts & MusicCenter,457 Shirley Rd., Elmer, New Jersey08318-0888. The phone number at the Center is 856-358-2472. While at Appel Farm, you may be reached at extension #123. Incoming messages are posted on a bulletin board. You may find more information about the Center by visiting their website at
The specific training(s) is (are) checked.
______Basic Organic Farm Inspector Training, Wed. Oct. 13 – Sat. AM. Oct. 16, 2004
______Certification Agency Presentations, Sat. PM, Oct. 16, 2004
______Basic Organic Process Inspector Training, Sun. Oct. 17 – Wed. AM Oct. 20, 2004
Please note that you cannot check in on your arrival day until after 3:00 p.m.Attendees may arrive any time on their arrival day up until 9 PM. If you arrive after 9 PM, please plan to check into your room and register for the course the next morning. Registration is in the Dining Hall. Registration for the Farm training is scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on Tuesday, October 12, and again at 7:30-8:15 AM on Thursday, Oct. 13. Registration for the Process training is scheduled from 7:00-9:00 PM on Saturday, Oct. 16 and again at 7:30-8:15 A.M. on Sunday, Oct. 17. If you are not a commuter, please arrange to arrive for the trainings no later than 9 PM the night before your course begins and leave no earlier than the actual end of the course. Commuters may arrive on the morning the course begins. Evening arrivals should come to the Dining Hall and look for signage to find the IOIA registration table. Please note thatbreakfast is not included in course fees for commuters and that dinner on Saturday, Oct. 16, will not be provided unless you registered separately for those meals. If you have not already done so, please notify me immediately if you have any special dietary needs or allergies.We have many topics to cover and classes will begin on time. All courses must be prepaid in full before the course begins. IOIA accepts personal checks, money orders, traveler’s checks and VISA/MasterCard for payment.
The following items are enclosed:
Draft Agenda
National Organic Program (NOP) Final Rule (CFR 205) and Updated National List
IFOAM/IOIA International Organic Inspection Manual
Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
Pre-Course Assignment (required).
Confidentiality/Liability Waiver
OMRI Materials List Form (these optional for the course and are only available directly from OMRI).
Directions to the Facility; Facility Rules, Facility Map, and Brochure
If you paid dues with this training but did not submit a membership application, one is enclosed.
These materials are given to you now to study and review prior to the course. Please remember to bring all of these materials with you. We will be using them extensively during the course and we will not have any replacements available during the session. Please read the entire Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. Please review the Manual thoroughly (especially those topics that correspond to agenda topics). However, be aware that this manual was published before the NOP final rule was released. The USDA NOP Final Rule will be the standards used as the basis for the course. If you have attended an IOIA course earlier and received the IFOAM/IOIA Manual, OFPA, and NOP Final Rule, those items are not enclosed. Please bring your own copies or let us know immediately if you have lost them.
Read these Enclosed Materials for the Farm Course Before You Arrive:
IFOAM/IOIA Organic Inspection Manual, pages 1-165, general, farm and livestock sections
USDA NOP Final Organic Rule, Part 205, Subparts A, B, C, D, E, and G (pages 80637-80658)
Read these Enclosed Materials for the Process Course Before You Arrive:
IFOAM/IOIA Organic Inspection Manual, Sections 1.5.4; 2.3; 3.4; 3.9; 6; 7.1.1; and 7.4.
USDA NOP Final Rule, Subpart A Definitions; Sect. 205.270 to 205.305; and Sect. 205.605 to 205.606.
What to Bring to the Course:
All of the materials in this packet, including this letter.
Layered clothing, athletic or sturdy footwear, and hat for the field trips (weather will be unpredictable, and possibly cold). Rain gear and Rubber boots are suggested.
Extra Towel and washcloth (you will be provided with only one set of linens and towels)
Clipboard and Lots of notepaper for taking notes.
Black pens.
Calculator.
Signed confidentiality/liability waiver to turn in at registration.
Completed Pre-Course assignment to turn in at registration.
Coffee mug, if possible, to reduce dishes and disposables.
Laptop computer and floppy disc are strongly recommended. Legibly handwritten work is also accepted.
IOIA will have PC and MAC printers available for printing reports.
Alarm clocks and flashlights are recommended.
As you can see from the agenda, the course includes classroom presentations, large and small discussion groups, and field trips. The Farm Test is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15, 8:15 AM-12 Noon. The Process Test is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 20, 8:15 AM-12 Noon. Although the Certifier Presentations on Saturday are optional, these are an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from certifiers about their inspector needs and expectations, policies, and procedures, including an explanation of how to get on their approved inspector lists. Please let us know if you are interested in attending the Certification Agency Presentations but haven’t yet registered. Few people have registered for them. As an alternative to formal presentations, an open forum with certification agencies might be organized for certifiers and inspectors.We invite you to bring any interesting resource materials to share with others and pictures of your family and home. The course offers opportunities to learn from each other in both classrooms and informal setting. IOIA will also have resource books, IOIA T-shirts, and IOIA caps available for purchase at the training.
All buildings at the Center are smoke-free; smoking is allowed in designated areas. Phones, Internet access and TVs are not available in any of the sleeping rooms. One phone is available for our use (calling cards only for long distance). Sleeping accommodations are modest, comfortable, dormitory style rooms, each room sharing a common bathroom and shower area. Our rooms are in the “Hill Dorm” and the “South Dorm”(see facility diagram). Those of you who are lodging at the Center can expect 2-3 roommates. Basketball, volleyball, tennis courts, and walking trails are available.Alarm clocks and wake-up service are not provided. Please do not bring any pets to this facility.
Transportation: Individuals are responsible for making their own transportation arrangements to and from the Center for the trainings. Please do not contact IOIA for shuttle service. If you are not a local commuter, please arrange to arrive no later than 9 p.m. the night before your course begins and leave no earlier than the actual end of the course or final exam. Commuters may arrive on the morning their course begins. For transportation to and from Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, 24-hour direct shuttle service is available from the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Call Rapid Rover at 856-428-1500 to make arrangements for shuttle service. Advance reservations are not required. However, it may help you join others to reduce the per person cost. Cost one-way for 1-5 people is $70. Rapid Rover will attempt to group arrivals together to keep cost per person lower. Upon arrival at the airport, go to the ground transport desk in the baggage claim area, and dial #21. Payment accepted: cash or checks or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express).
If you paid IOIA membership dues with your application but did not submit a membership application, a membership application is enclosed.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call/fax (406) 436-2031 or Email: . IOIA Training Coordinators who will be leading these courses are Stanley Edwards, Idaho, (Farm), Al Johnson, NJ (Farm and Process), and myself (Process). We all look forward to sharing this time with you and wish you safe travel.
Warm regards,
Margaret Scoles
IOIA Training Manager