Column Saskia Stender: Thirty years, time flies

Thirty years ago, I sat down with Klaas and Monique Dijkstra to send out the OSV's very first mailing. A bag of watercress seeds and a cotton ball. The question was whether the recipient wanted to germinate this seed with us, to symbolically start the network. We spontaneously acquired 30 members from the meat sector after that first mailing, because yes: back then, the letter V still stood for Meat Sector. There was a need for a national network in the industry. That need is still there. 

We have been through a lot since then. We set up a youth group: Young Food Management (YFM), which merged into the OSV after 10 years. We turned the V of Meat Sector into the V of Food Industry, allowing more companies to join. We organised more than 100 company visits; some 45 barbecues; about 60 society meetings; at least 30 golf days. A number of mini-congresses; exhibition stands at various (inter)national trade fairs and the thoroughly enjoyable meetings with the Advisory Board of the OSV and the Key Group of the YFM. Too many to mention. 

Thirty years; with a tenfold increase in membership. And still the OSV is being discovered by new companies. Every year you see new faces. Unfortunately, acquaintances have also fallen away, due to passing away far too early or because they got another job. 

The call to come and celebrate the start of our jubilee year at the OSV Winter Barbecue last 1 February was answered by many members and former members. It was rightfully a huge party with all my friends!

On to the next thirty years!

Saskia Stender