October 2, 1998


INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM: R&D-98-050

TO:      All Reinsured Companies
         All Risk Management Agency Field Offices

FROM:    Tim B. Witt        /s/ Tim B. Witt
         Deputy Administrator

SUBJECT: New Program Review Council Meeting

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has scheduled a New Program Review Council (Review
Council) meeting from 1 to 4 p.m. Central time, October 21, 1998.  It will be held in room 142 at
RMA's Kansas City Office at 9435 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

The Review Council was created as a management review and coordination group for new
product development.  The Review Council reviews the design of pilot programs at various
milestones in the development process and makes recommendations as necessary for the
continued direction of each program.  As provided in the New Program Development Handbook,
members of the Review Council include senior RMA officials from Kansas City and
Washington, D.C.  Presentations to the Review Council are generally made by the project
manager of each developmental team.  Presentations proposed for this meeting include pilot
programs for citrus (Dollar plan for Arizona and California); mint (Pacific Northwest, Indiana,
Montana, and Wisconsin); alfalfa seed (California, Nevada, Pacific Northwest, and Montana);
and strawberries (California).  Attached is a draft agenda for the meeting.

As part of the Business Process Reengineering effort for Tool Management and to improve
communications and awareness of new program development with industry partners, reinsured
companies are invited to participate in the discussions and provide feedback, comments, or any
other information pertinent to the developmental work.  Please advise Elaine Taylor of the name
of the person who will be attending the meeting by October 14,1998, and indicate whether
attendance will be in person or by teleconference.  She can be reached at (816) 926-6343, or by
fax at (816) 926-7343.  Materials will be provided to attendees prior to the meeting. 

DISPOSAL:  

This Informational Memorandum is for the purpose of transmitting information and the
expiration date is December 31, 1998.

Attachment

                New Program Review Council Meeting
               Kansas City, Missouri (RMA Offices)
           October 21, 1998 - 1:00 p.m. (Central Time)


                              AGENDA


 
  1:00 p.m.    Introduction and         Bill Jones
               Review Council Overview  RMA Specialty Crops Coordinator

  1:20 p.m.    Citrus Proposal          Diane Bertelsen, Project Manager
                                        (Sacramento RSO)

  1:50 p.m.    Mint Proposal            Janet Naglich, Project Manager
                                        (Research & Evaluation Div.)

  2:15 p.m.    Break


  2:30 p.m.    Alfalfa Seed Proposal    Jamie Koch, Project Manager
                                        (Billings RSO)

  3:00 p.m.    Strawberry Proposal      Diane Bertelsen, Project Manager

  3:30 p.m.    Discussion (Other Projects)        Bill Jones
                                        
  4:00 p.m.    Adjourn