Milling & Baking News - June 2, 2009 - 27

I.A.O.M. Review

manager. He currently is general
manager for ADM's two operations
in Arkansas City.
During the meeting, it was reported
that the I.A.O.M. had a net operating profit of $96,000, the fourth consecutive year that the association has

operated with a net profit. It also was
noted that total donations for the I.M.E.F.,
the philanthropic partner of the I.A.O.M.
that was established in 2003, have
risen to $228,000. The I.M.E.F. is building an endowment to fund a variety
of educational programs, professional

development efforts and research projects for the grain milling industry.
Through I.M.E.F. funding, the
I.A.O.M. recently announced it will
grant a $2,500 scholarship each year to a
deserving student in Kansas State University's milling science program. MBN

Maier elaborates on challenges
to milling education
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - During
the keynote address at the International Milling Education Foundation
(I.M.E.F.) breakfast at the 2009 International Association of Operative Millers (I.A.O.M.) Conference & Expo in
Grand Rapids, Dr. Dirk E. Maier, Kansas State University Department of
Grain Science and Industry professor
and department head, talked about
the challenges that one of the international milling community's indispensable organizations is undergoing.
He said the Department of Grain
Science and Industry is facing a decline in scholarship funding, a challenge in replacing faculty who have
retired or resigned recently, and budget restraints.
Dr. Maier said that in the 2008-09
academic year K.S.U. was able to give
105 scholarships totaling $175,000 to
their Baking Science Management
(B.S.M.), Milling Science Management
(M.S.M.) and Feed Science Management (F.S.M.) students. He went on to
note that "unfortunately, we are facing
a shortfall of approximately $42,000
in scholarship funding for the 2009-10
academic year (in comparison to 200809) and are hopeful that our alumni
and friends will be able to make up for
some of this short-fall."
Because of budgetary constraints,
the Department of Grain Science and
Industry has been forced to give up
three faculty positions for the 2009-10
fiscal year due to retirements, and it expects to give up two additional faculty
also due to announced retirements to
meet anticipated further budget cuts
for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
"While we have already reshuffled
several teaching assignments and
student advising responsibilities for
this academic year and plan to do yet
more for the next academic year, our
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M.S.M. and F.S.M. programs will be
severely affected by the planned retirements of Drs. (Keith) Behnke and
(Ekramul) Haque," Dr. Maier said.
"Already, non-state funding through
the generous support of
$100,000 per year from
Buhler Inc. is providing critical support for
teaching key courses
in the M.S.M. program.
Due to the departure of
Kendall McFall in De- Maier
cember 2008, the Buhler
Instructor of Milling is being filled on
an interim basis by Chris Miller. The
only reason we have permission from
the university to fill this faculty position is because of the non-state funds
provided by Buhler Inc. in support of
our undergraduate teaching mission."
Dr. Maier noted that a search was
under way for Mr. McFall's permanent replacement.
The underlying issue binding all of
K.S.U.'s challenges together is budgetary constraints. Dr. Maier said that in
the middle of the current fiscal year
the state of Kansas insisted on a 4.25%

rescission in already appropriated
state funds.
"While we had set aside that amount
at the beginning of the fiscal year, it
nevertheless was a major hardship
and negatively affected our operating budget, including teaching of our
courses, supplies for laboratories, and
limitations on purchasing grain to run
our mills," he said.
Dr. Maier also noted that his department has been asked to plan on a base
budget cut of 10% for the 2009-10 fiscal
year, which begins July 1. He said they
have been told to expect another 10%
base budget cut in 2010-11.
"Despite such dire budget projections, our faculty and staff continue
to be creative and entrepreneurial,"
he said. "We continue to examine our
expenses closely and have identified
a number of places where we were
able to improve our effectiveness and
efficiency, which has resulted in cost
savings. We are also exploring ways
to expand our services via our existing
laboratories such as the Wheat Quality
Lab and via re-establishing our Microbiology and Toxicology Lab." MBN

I.A.O.M. to hold 2010 conference in Las Vegas
OVERLAND PARK, KAS. - The International Association of Operative Millers (I.A.O.M.) announced
that its annual conference and expo in 2010 will be held in Las Vegas.
The 114th annual event is scheduled for April 19-23 at the Las Vegas Hilton. It will be the first
time in I.A.O.M. history that the association has held its annual conference in Las Vegas.
Melinda Farris, executive vice-president of the I.A.O.M., said the board of directors in recent
years has tried alternating the event between more vacation-friendly locations and sites that are
more central to the wheat milling industry. For instance, in 2008 the conference was held in Orlando, Fla., while this year's event was April 27-May 1 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Ms. Farris said I.A.O.M. members in the Middle East and Europe have responded positively to the
idea of having the 2010 conference in Las Vegas, which is world-famous for its luxurious casinos
and nightlife.
"We might have a big group of international attendees next year," Ms. Farris said.
She said the 2011 I.A.O.M. conference tentatively is scheduled to be held in San Antonio. MBN

Milling & Baking News

June 2, 2009 / 27

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Milling & Baking News - June 2, 2009

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