WASHINGTON and OAKLAND, Calif. – The consolidation of the National Meat Association and the North American Meat Processors to form the North American Meat Association (NAMA) is on track for completion by July 1, according to the association. The executive committees for both NMA and NAMP met in Washington, DC, recently to work on the logistics of bringing the two organizations together.

The summer will be a busy time for the organization. Plans include publishing a NAMA membership directory July 1, the association said. Also, a new weekly newsletter will be combined and distributed to all current NMA and NAMP members before the July 1 startup date.

The group also plans to hold a strategic planning session and the combined committees from the two associations will work on critical issues facing the industry. A member-wide orientation will be a part of the association’s Outlook Conference in October.

The two executive committees also confirmed several other events. In October, the association will have its Outlook Conference. MEATXPO will be held in February 2013, and the association plans to continue education programs including the Center of the Plate Training program. NAMA said the group would continue the events that have been popular with NMA and NAMP over the years.