This is a last-minute reminder that the hotel block for the Texas Association of Meat Processors Convention in San Marcos at the Embassy Suites closes THIS AFTERNOON at 5:00 PM.  Please make any reservations for rooms prior to that time.  We cannot guarantee room availability and certainly do not have any control over room price after 5:00 PM TODAY.  We would really like to have you join everyone for the convention and there are just a few rooms left under the block - please plan on joining us, but make your reservation TODAY to save on the room rate!

Please call the Embassy Suites NOW!
1001 E McCarty Ln, San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 392-6450

Block code is Texas Meat Processors (TMP)

2014 TAMP Convention Post

The 2014 TAMP Convention is scheduled for July 24-26, 2014 in San Marcos, TX!  Come join fellow TAMP processor and supplier members to gain more knowledge as well as have time away from the plant to network and discuss issues and new ideas with fellow meat industry professionals.  The Embassy Suites and Conference Center will serve as the host hotel for this year's convention.  Cutoff date for hotel rooms at the convention rate is Monday, July 7, so PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE - get those room reservations made.  This is a very nice hotel and conference center that I think everyone will  enjoy.

The conference will start on Thursday, July 24 with our annual Dr. Frank and Pearl Orts Scholarship Golf Tournament.  The course for this year's tournament is the Plum Creek Golf Course in Kyle, TX.  All the profit from the tournament (including hole sponsorship) goes directly into the TAMP Scholarship fund.  Last year TAMP again awarded two $1000 scholarships to tremendously talented recipients, so bring your clubs and come out to have some fun for a good cause!

Thursday evening we will host our annual welcome reception in the Embassy Suites reception area.  Come have a beverage of your choice and spend some time catching up with old friends and maybe make some new ones as well!

Friday morning, the first 40 participants to sign up will board the "TAMP Express" bus to tour Granzin's Meat Market in New Braunfels, then after a barbecue lunch at the famous City Market in Luling, they will tour J Bar B's QX Process in Weimer before returning to San Marcos.

NOTE:  Supplier Members, by request, your annual meeting has been changed to 4:00 PM on Friday afternoon.

Friday evening the convention will move to a close off-site venue.  Dick's Classic Car Garage is the site of our annual entertainment night.  Take some time to look over "The Greatest Cars in American History", then we have scheduled the group that led us through playing "Friendly Feud" for a second game night (game to be announced - maybe Price is Right).

Saturday is a tremendously busy day at the hotel.  The educational program will consume most of the morning.  At the same time, the Processed Meat Product Show will be receiving products early, then the judging will be going on in adjacent rooms.  The afternoon begins with our supplier members taking center stage during the annual suppliers show.  We typically have approximately 20 suppliers showing all the newest and best equipment and services in a very casual environment.

We will round out the convention Saturday evening displaying and awarding plaques to the winners of the Processed Meat Products Show as well as a very nice dinner and auction.

Lots of thing to see, learn and do, plus all the SHOPPING  in the San Marcos area.  Come join us for the convention!

Howdy!

We are mailing out the latest TAMP Town Crier today!  The packet will include a copy of the 2013 directory that was passed out during last year's convention, so if you did not get one there or one of the TAMP window stickers (provided by Klein Smoked Meats), check your envelope!  I am also posting this copy of the newsletter on line for everyone to see. We will not do that on the public area of the web site because this is a member service, but thought it would be good for anyone interested in joining the association!

Davey

TAMP has a Web Site

TAMP NOW HAS IT'S OWN WEBSITE!

Amy James has been working to develop a true web site for TAMP.  Check out the new site at http://www.txmeatprocessors.org.  We will continue to add information to the site as it becomes available.  If you have suggestions for the site, please send them to dgriff@tamu.edu.

Join TAMP

The Texas Association of Meat Processors is always looking for new processor and supplier members! Large and small companies alike can benefit from being in an association that encourages free exchange of information and ideas to enhance the meat processing industry.

If you are interested in joining TAMP, please click on the link to the right and download the application form.

2013 TAMP Convention - Great Success!

The 27th annual Texas Association of Meat Processors Convention was held August 8-10, 2013 in College Station, TX.  The convention was a huge success with 23 plant member and 24 supplier member companies in attendance.

Dr. Kerri Harris discussed regulatory changes and recall plan
strategies with TAMP members.

Texas A&M University Associate Professor Dr. Wes Osburn led a team including Rick Fitzgerald from A.C. Legg and Dr. David Hull from Wenda Ingredients to provide a tremendous convention educational program on the use of non-meat ingredients in all types of products.  In addition, Dr. Kerri Harris, TAMU Associate Professor and CEO of the International HACP Alliance led a detailed discussion about food safety regulations and how to develop a recall plan.

Dr. Wes Osburn works to get the batch just right!

Dr. David Hull discusses a processed bacon item with participants.

Other activities during the TAMP convention included the annual Dr. Frank and Pearl Orts Scholarship Golf Tournament that helps raise funds for student scholarships, a fun night playing the "Friendly Feud" game, a cupcake decorating class, the annual supplier show, the Processed Meat Product Show and the annual dinner and auction.

Winners of the golf tournament were
(l-r) Robert Henson, Justin Adendorff,
Davey Griffin & Richard Limmer.

Most colorful golf team (l-r) Scott Grumbles,
Candice Ronshausen, Amy James &
Bill Noble. 

Two foot long hotdogs were provided for lunch by Slovacek Sausage!

Processed Meat Product Show

Annual suppliers show brought together suppliers and processors .

Cupcake decorating

Officers and Directors for TAMP were installed during the convention.  They include:

• President                                    Rod Klemke (Klemke’s Sausage Haus)
• 1st Vice President                     Terry Moench (TM Moody’s Quality Meats)
• 2nd Vice President                   Wayne Hall (Kaufman Locker Plant)
• Treasurer                                  Laura Doskocil (Slovacek Sausage Co.)
• Sergeant at Arms                      Scott Grumbles (Hudson Sausage/Klein Smoked Meats)
• Past President                           Terry Wiese (Readfield Meats)
• Northwest Director                   Kent Wenzel (Wenzel Lone Star Meat Co.)
• Northeast Director                    Ben Buses (Bluebonnet Meat Company)
• Southwest Director                   Marvin Dziuk (Dziuk’s Meat Market)
• Southeast Director                    Jerrod Poffenberger (Bellville Meat Market)
• Director at Large                      Andy Riemitis (Summer Creek Farms)
• Director at Large                      Kip Thompson (Harvest House Farms)
• Director at Large                      Bill Roegelein (The Laxon Co.)
• Director at Large                      Allen Stanton (Stanton’s Shopping Center)
• Supplier Director 1*                 Cecelia Railey (Jim Henry Enterprises)
• Supplier Director 2*                 Mike Reagan (Dewied International)