July 20, 2012 – The SNA Nominating Committee recently met at the Annual National Conference (ANC) in Denver to select a slate of candidates for the 2012 SNA election ballot.
After carefully studying the biographical information, supporting documents and goals for each candidate, the Nominating Committee selected the official slate of candidates (see below) for the ballot. The winners of this year’s election will serve on the 2013-15 SNA Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, with the installation to take place at SNA’s 67th Annual National Conference, July 14-17, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo.
The “polls” will be open for SNA members to cast their ballots between October 15 and November 15, 2012. Voting will be conducted online through SNA’s independent election house, which you can access through the SNA website, www.schoolnutrition.org/snaelection. You can feel confident that the election is a secure process, as it requires all members to enter their membership numbers prior to voting and ensures that each member only votes one time.
If the Association is to continue serving as the voice of child nutrition programs in the United States and around the world, it’s critical that you participate in the selection of your future leaders. Stay tuned to the SNA website for full biographies of all the candidates, as well as more information regarding how you can cast your vote for the future of the Association.
Vice PresidentMarilyn Moody, SNS, Wake County Public Schools, North CarolinaJean Ronnei, SNS, Saint Paul Public Schools, Minnesota
Education Committee ChairGay Anderson, Brandon Valley School District, South DakotaDiane Santoro, SNS, Orange County Public Schools, Florida
Public Policy & Legislation Committee Chair Linda Irby, SNS, Hampton City Public Schools, VirginiaWendy Weyer, RD, Seattle Public Schools, Washington
Research Committee Chair Jill Kidd, MS, RD, SNS, Pueblo City Schools, ColoradoBeth Mincemoyer Egan, SNS, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania
Industry Representative Gary Vonck, KeyImpact Sales & Systems, Illinois Kevin Woods, SNS, Unified Brands, Ohio
Mideast Regional Director Sara Gasiorowski, SNS, Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, Indiana
Midwest Regional Director Paula Kullman, SNS, Fox C-6 School District, MissouriMicheline Piekarski, SNS, Oak Park & River Forest High School-District 200, Illinois
Southeast Regional Director Jonathan Dickl, MBA, SNS, Knox County Schools, TennesseeMelissa Livesay, Warren County School District, Tennessee
West Regional Director Lyman Graham, Roswell Independent School District, New MexicoLynnelle Grumbles, SNS, Visalia Unified School District, California
Northeast Nominating Committee Rep. Paule Ralph, Nashua School District, New HampshireDonna Roy, SNS, Pembroke Academy, New Hampshire
Northwest Nominating Committee Rep. Dean Hamburg, SNS, Kenai Penisula Borough School District, Alaska
Southwest Nominating Committee Rep. Barbara Cole, Arkansas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, ArkansasBeth Wallace, SNS, Cherry Creek Schools, Colorado
If you have any questions about the SNA Board of Directors and Nominating Committee Regional Representatives election slate, please contact SNA.
July 19, 2012 – Ali Vincent, the first female winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” was the highlight of yesterday’s Final General Session at SNA’s 2012 Annual National Conference (ANC) in Denver.
Vincent’s positive and inspirational speech detailed her personal philosophy “Believe It, Be It,” and shared experiences from her book, Believe It, Be It: How Being the Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life. The importance of these beliefs were crystal clear as she detailed to the audience that by learning the power of goal setting and believing in herself she was able to take the first steps to her amazing transformation.
Vincent said, “There is no start and end to a healthy lifestyle -- it's a choice!”
Vincent’s positive message and attitude was a powerful and inspirational reminder to school nutritional professionals to take positive steps to reach their own goals. And it was also a perfect culmination of the entire conference, with a fresh reminder of this year’s ANC theme, “Explore New Horizons!”
Those in attendance at the Final General Session also saw the installation of 2012-13 SNA President Sandra Ford, SNS, who laid forth the strategic pillars that will guide the Association into the future. To learn more about SNA’s vision, mission and values that will connect all members—at every level—to the goals of our strategic pillars, click here.
SNA President Sandra Ford also introduced SNA’s new personal wellness initiative for members, which was a perfect complement to Vincent’s message. Sponsored by Jennie-O, the STEPS Challenge details its objective in the acronym STEPS:
Ford said, “Many of us struggle with making time to exercise and devoting ourselves to our overall well-being. Dedicating time and effort to our health can be a balancing act, but what better motivation than serving as role models for students?” To sign up for STEPS and gain access to healthy recipes, fitness ideas prize drawings and more, click here.
Attendees also gleaned valuable information from Wednesday’s education sessions, including offerings that covered the new meal pattern requirements, how schools can end childhood hunger, marketing a school nutrition operation’s efforts, and farm to school.
On Wednesday night, the ANC Final Event felt more like a day at the beach, with hundreds of conference attendees decked out in summertime garb to see one of the most iconic bands of all time, The Beach Boys. You could feel the excitement in the air as the band took to the stage and began to play some of their classic hits, including “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Surfin’ USA,” “Barbara Ann,” “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Fun, Fun, Fun” and an encore performance of “Kokomo."
This memorable evening was full of “Good Vibrations,” and the perfect conclusion to ANC 2012—where once again school nutrition professionals came together in fellowship and camaraderie for the good of the profession.
And while ANC may be over for another year, here’s a video that’s sure to get you jazzed about ANC 2013 to be held in Kansas City, Mo. We hope to see you there!
The ANC conversation doesn’t have to end just because the conference is over! You can keep it going on our social media sites—comment on our posts, share your thoughts about the conference and post pictures. Connect with SNA on Facebook, follow @SchoolLunch on Twitter and view candids of your favorite conference moments on Flickr, www.flickr.com/schoolnutrition.