FoodSHIELD Announcements

Foodshield Twitter

Foodshield is now using twitter to send out messages about recalls and announcements.  You can follow the twitter here.

FAS-CAT Release Update and Webinar Training Sessions

FAS-CAT Version 1.1 will be available for download beginning Monday, February 9th. Version 1.1 will include several ease of use enhancements, but will not effect the basic functions of the tool.
 
Version 1.0 of FAS-CAT, which stands for Food and Agriculture Sector Criticality Assessment Tool, is currently still available for download with guidance document to familiarize yourself with the FAS-CAT tool.

FAS-CAT live webinar training sessions will be available during the following dates.  If you are interested in participating in this webinar training, please email [fascat@foodshield.org] for specific information on joining the webinar audience and dial-in information for the linked phone bridge.
 
Thursday, February 12, 2009  11-1 PM CST Presented by: John Hoffman
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 1- 3 PM CST Presented by: John Hoffman
Thursday, February 26, 2009  11-1 PM  CST Presented by: Shaun Kennedy

Online Meetings Upgrade to Connect 7

FoodSHIELD has recently upgraded the web-based meetings tool to Adobe Acrobat Connect 7. 

Members who have used our online meeting space will notice the overall layout is very similar, but Connect 7 offers several enhancements and new features:

• Easier room- and participant-management for meeting hosts
• Easier way for participants to set their status and communicate with the presenter
• Break-out room feature for meetings that require small-group work

The break-out room feature is new to Connect 7. To find out more about this feature, watch the following introductory video:

Breakout Rooms: An Introduction

New member profile pages

The member account information pages have just been upgraded to a cleaner interface and added functionality.

Here's a summary of what's new:

• Left navigation bar provides improved organization and more information to be displayed
• Address Book allows you to save other member's contact information in an easy-to-access page (for more information see How to Use the Address Book)
• My Interests provides a place for members to identify their professional interests and expertise
• My Workgroups displays a list of your workgroups with hyperlinks for quick access to workgroup pages

(Click image for larger view)

To view your profile:

• Click on the blue profile icon in the upper left of the Member Portal, OR
• Go to My Profile under the Home menu of the gray menu bar

To view another member's profile:

• Click on the person's name from the member directory or workgroup participant list

Using the Address Book feature

The Address Book feature allows you to create a personal member address book within FoodSHIELD. 

• Quickly add contact information of any FoodSHIELD member for quick reference
• Contact information is automatically updated when any changes are made to the member's profile
• Always accessible from your My Profile page
• Initiate an e-mail message to a member by clicking the e-mail address

To add a member to your Address Book:

1. Click the Address Book icon next to the members name in the Member Directory or a workgroup participant list.
   
2. A new message window will open.  To add the contact, select the green Yes button.  To cancel, select the black X to close the window.
   

To view your Address Book:

1. Go to your My Profile page by selecting the blue Profile icon in the upper right of the Member Portal (or click My Profile from the gray Home menu bar).
    
2. Select Address Book under the Communicate section of My Profile.
    

Browse open access workgroups

Want to see all the open access workgroups active on FoodSHIELD? Just go to the GROUPS menu after you login and select "View Public Workgroups". These workgroups are open to all FoodSHIELD members, just click on the group name to request access.

New feature: Who's Online?

FoodSHIELD has just added a new Who's Online? feature to its Member Portal. Members can now see who is currently logged into FoodSHIELD and their abbreviated contact details.