The APHIS Safeguarding Pest Detection and Response Committee met in Orlando, FL, May 8th - 9th.

Paula Henstridge, Coordinator for the APHIS Safeguarding Initiative, attended the meeting. The committee revisited and held open discussions of Pest Detection and Response (PDR) Action Plan "Pest Survey Systems". Paula had recently met with the Executive Team regarding this action plan and she brought the feedback to the committee for open discussion. PDR disucssed the resources, staffing, and alignment regarding the action plan. Paula will be meeting with the Executive Team the week of May 14th and she will take the feedback from the discussion.

The new APHIS Safeguarding video, PPQ Safeguarding video "Our Challenge, Our Opportunity" employee version was viewed.

Paul Hornby and Carol Russell, group leaders, covered the status of the remaining Pest Detection and Response Action Plans and gave an update on the National Safeguarding Review that was held in Washington, D.C. in February 2001.

The meeting was a success. Pest Detection and response addressed 7 recommendations to complete the process of writing the plans. They are now being coordinated, linked, and sent out for feedback. They will be submitted in June.

Awards for recognition of committee members were handed out to the PDR group members by Paul and Carol. All members were recognized and given framed certificates and buck knives with the USDA emblem with Protecting American Agriculture on the blade. Committee members include: Dick Bean, Barbara Diefendorf, Jacky St. Juste, Roeland Elliston, Dennis Hannapel, David Lance, Terry McGovern, Cliff Ramos, and Mike Stefan.

Carol with committee: (L to R) Dick Bean, Mike Stefan, Carol Russell, Terry McGovern, Roeland Elliston, David Lance	Terry, Paul and Paula: Terry McGovern (standing), Paul Hornby, Paula Henstridge
Paul and Mike: Paul Hornby and Mike Stefan receiving certificate for recognitionon the APHIS Safeguarding Pest Detection and Response Committee	Dave, Terry, and Dick: (L to R) David Lance, Terry McGovern, Dick Bean working on APHIS Safeguarding action plans
	Terry, Paul, Roeland, M: ( L to R in back) Terry McGovern, Roeland Elliston, Mike Stefan, (forward, speaking to group) Paul Hornby