USDA APHIS Alumni Organization (AAO)

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH            APHIS ALUMNI ORGANIZATION
INSPECTION SERVICE                 USDA
USDA                               WASHINGTON, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C.




                                         January 7, 1997


Dear Colleague:

Over a year ago, Dr. Frank Mulhern, former APHIS Administrator, took the lead
in establishing an APHIS Alumni Organization (AAO) at the suggestion of APHIS
personnel.  From its beginning, APHIS has fully supported this new organization. 
The AAO has spent much of its time this past year putting together a charter
and bylaws, making contacts at local APHIS field locations, and developing its
goals and objectives.

The purpose of this letter is to emphasize to members of the Alumni group and
employees of APHIS the importance of establishing a close working relationship
between current APHIS employees and members of AAO.  All have a continuing
interest in protecting American agriculture through sound, science-based
regulatory programs.    

The principal goal of the AAO is to make its members' experience and expertise
readily available to APHIS.  Some Alumni are willing and able to take on
projects or specific tasks to fill in any gaps APHIS may have in technical
manpower availability, particularly in emergency situations.  In such emergencies
when APHIS must mobilize additional highly qualified personnel to carry out
Agency duties on a moment's notice, the AAO could be a critical resource.

AAO members are also interested in staying in contact with old friends,
associates, and colleagues and in knowing what is happening in APHIS.  The
AAO is striving to make the organization truly national and any former APHIS
employee who has an interest can join AAO.

At headquarters, APHIS has been most cooperative in permitting use of its
teleconferencing facilities so that groups of APHIS Alumni and current APHIS
employees from various field locations can join in monthly meetings.  Also, Terry
Hall of APHIS serves as liaison with the AAO and is committed to helping the
Alumni organization achieve its objectives.  The AAO appreciates APHIS' support
and its recognition that our two organizations have shared interests and common
goals.

AAO's number one priority action now is to see State organizations take form
and become the main focus of the organization.   Close ties between APHIS and
the AAO at the local levels of both organizations would help ensure a strong
and lasting relationship.

In addition to the general "staying in contact" type of activities, the AAO has
plans to assist APHIS by establishing a roster of former employees and their
skills that Alumni could make available to provide direct support through advice
and counsel to APHIS and to assist APHIS in development of an historical
archive.  Other suggestions about activities that AAO might take on would be
welcomed.

APHIS top management, for its part, fully supports the AAO and urges its field
managers at State and local levels to establish and maintain contact with
members of this new part of the APHIS family.   As we downsize, we see the
AAO providing us with continued experience and expertise and helping APHIS
deliver its important services to American agriculture.  For these reasons, among
others, we encourage field offices to stay in touch with the AAO and provide
support to its activities.  We hope that managers will make a special effort to,
where feasible, make facilities available to the AAO and also attend meetings to
affirm the significance of this organization.

In the past, there have been efforts to use alumni in various activities.  We
trust that emphasizing such involvement will become an organized and formal
part of management activities in APHIS and that APHIS employees will make a
special effort to join together in the support of the APHIS Alumni Organization

Sincerely,

    /s/                                            /s/

Terry L. Medley                                Harry Mussman
Administrator                                  President
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service     APHIS Alumni                    
                                               Organization

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