November 30, 2011 – There are just two days left to save on your registration for SNA’s upcoming Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC)! If you haven’t yet registered, this is your last opportunity to take advantage of the Regular Rate registration deadline. SNA will only accept registrations at the Regular Rate until this Friday, December 2nd. But hurry—after that date, all registrations received will be charged at the Onsite Rate! Please note that the last day you can make your reservation and receive the CNIC discounted room rate is December 23rd.
This annual meeting will be held January 15-17, 2012, at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort, and is your roadmap for navigating the most complex challenges on today’s bumpy school nutrition road. With timely sessions covering kid-consumer trends, personal wellness, meal patterns and the implementation of the pending new regulations, you’ll drive away with a clear sense of direction for the future of your operation. Plus, this conference is a unique opportunity to interact with your school nutrition peers who are experiencing many of the same day-to-day challenges you face in running a successful program.
Highlights of this year’s CNIC will include:
So, what are you waiting for?! Register by December 2nd and get ready to join us next month in Orlando for CNIC 2012!
CNIC 2012
Register for CNIC
CNIC Housing
School nutrition professionals compete on Chopped!
A special episode of Chopped on the Food Network features four school cafeteria chefs competing to raise awareness about the importance of good meals for kids. The school chefs seek to make a big impression with their first dishes, made with dill pickles and canned tuna. Then in the entrée round, quinoa is a new ingredient for two out of the three chefs. Will they be able to take something unknown and create something great? The two finalists pour their hearts into making fantastic desserts that include grapes and cream cheese. And an emotional victory brings an incredible competition to its conclusion. This one is a tearjerker so plan to have a box of tissues nearby!
In case you missed this special episode of Chopped last week, you can watch it on the Food Network on Saturday December 3, 2011 12:00PM ET/PT; Tuesday December 6, 2011 6:00PM ET/PT or Saturday January 7, 2012 9:00 PM ET/PT!
More info:http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/class-acts/index.html
School Milk Resources SNA has compiled a number of milk related resources from the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) and the National Dairy Council to help explain the important nutritional benefits of milk to parents, reporters and other members of your community. You’ll find several resources to help you present a strong case for the important role of flavored milk in schools. The tools from MilkPEP include fact sheets on the essential nutrients in lowfat milk, both white and flavored, and the impact on student consumption when flavored milk is eliminated from the lunchroom.
National Dairy Council’s Flavored Milk Toolkit also includes a number of helpful handouts and presentations on the importance of flavored milk.
To download all of the resources please login and click:
http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Level2_TrayTalk.aspx?id=16274 (member login required).
November 22, 2011 – Get ready to stand up, make some noise and help attract attention to school nutrition programs and children’s health! It’s time once again to join SNA and your fellow colleagues and descend upon Washington, D.C., for the Association’s 40th annual Legislative Action Conference (LAC), March 4-7, 2012. Over the last 40 years, LAC has been touted by attendees as one of the most exciting and informative conferences in child nutrition, and this year’s anniversary gathering will certainly continue that tradition. We are counting on you to help us celebrate this milestone in our history by bringing your passion to Washington to advocate on behalf of the children that we serve every school day.2011 was a busy year for child nutrition programs in Washington, and 2012 promises to be even busier. Over the last several months, since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was signed into law in December 2010, USDA has taken on the monumental task of implementing the many provisions of this new law through the issuance of guidance, memos and proposed rules—all of which will have a major impact on child nutrition programs for many years to come. That’s why your attendance is so critical. Together, we must work to strengthen school nutrition programs by educating Members of Congress on the issues that matter most in advancing the nutrition needs of our nation’s children.
A few of the program highlights for 2012 will include:
The keynote speaker for LAC 2012 is Charlie Cook, one of the nation's top political analysts and editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report, which provides a direct line to the heart of politics. When Cook makes a pronouncement about the political scene in America, people tend to sit up and take notice. For more than two decades he has been Washington's most trusted-and most accurate-voice on all things politics, whether he's analyzing political trends or predicting the likely outcome of the next Congressional, gubernatorial or presidential election.
Online registration for LAC 2012 will open soon. Until then, you can visit www.schoolnutrition.org/lac to check out the schedule of events that make LAC so exciting. And while the conference registration is not yet open, you may want to take this opportunity to make your reservation at the J.W. Marriott Hotel.
We look forward to seeing you in the nation’s capital in March!
LAC 2012
LAC Hotel & Travel
LAC Speakers & Events
November 21, 2011 -- On Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at 2:00pm EST (1:00 pm CDT/11:00 am PDT) the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) in partnership with the National Dairy Council (NDC) will be hosting the final Webinar Wednesday of 2011 with a webinar entitled: “Chefs in Schools: Increasing Participation and Gaining Renewed Excitement around your School Meal Program.”
Are you a food service director exploring the idea of bringing a chef to your child nutrition program? Join us on December 14th for the following:
For more information about the webinar, and to register, visit: www.schoolnutrition.org/chefsinschools.
SNA members will earn 1 CEU for attending the webinar. The SNF Webinar Wednesdays are offered at no charge.
November 18, 2011 – Members of the School Nutrition Association have spoken, casting their ballots in the annual election for the Association’s top leadership positions. Nine new members to the Board of Directors will be installed in July 2012 and four members, representing different SNA regions, will join the Nominating Committee.SNA congratulates the following candidates for their election to the Association’s Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, and thanks all the candidates for their enthusiasm and commitment to serve the national Association.
Vice President Julia Bauscher, SNS, Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky
Secretary/Treasurer Melanie Konarik, SNS, Spring Independent School District, Texas
Member Services Committee Chair Sheila Parisien, SNS, Manchester-Essex Regional School District, Massachusetts
Nutrition Committee Chair Becky Domokos-Bays, PhD, SNS, Alexandria City Public Schools, Virginia
School Nutrition Employee/Manager Representative Nancy Thatcher, Carlsbad Municipal Schools, New Mexico
State Agency Representative Lynn Harvey, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Northeast Regional Director Cheryl Goffus, SNS, New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Northwest Regional Director Linda Aljets, Woodburn School District 103, Oregon
Southwest Regional Director Jill Vincent, SNS, Emporia Unified School District 253, Kansas
Mideast Nominating Committee RepresentativeKathleen Kane, SNS, Michigan City Area Schools, Indiana
Midwest Nominating Committee RepresentativeKathy Burrill, SNS, Chisago Lakes Area Schools, Minnesota
Southeast Nominating Committee RepresentativeBeverly Girard, SNS, Sarasota County School District, Florida
West Nominating Committee RepresentativeMary Ann McCann, Taos Municipal Schools, New Mexico
These winning candidates will be installed in July during the Association's Annual National Conference in Denver, and will serve under the leadership of incoming President Sandy Ford, SNS.
SNA Election
November 9, 2011 – Who will win in SNA’s 2012-14 Board of Directors and Nominating Committee Election and be the voice for your interests and concerns in the years to come? Don’t let your peers decide for you, choose to have your voice heard!While yesterday may have been Election Day around the country, today is the day you can join fellow SNA members nationwide in voting for the candidates you think will make a difference in advancing the Association and its efforts to improve school nutrition programs. With less than a week left to vote, it is critical that you take advantage of this opportunity. The polls will only be open through November 15.This year, the election features 25 candidates from around the country who share a common interest: a passion for child nutrition. For the full list of candidates and their biographies, log on to www.schoolnutrition.org/snaelection. You can also learn more about the two candidates running for Vice President by opening to pages 46-47 of your October issue of School Nutrition magazine. When elected, this person begins a four-year cycle that includes the positions of president-elect, president and School Nutrition Foundation president. The newly elected officers and Nominating Committee representatives will be announced in late November and officers will be installed in July 2012 at SNA’s Annual National Conference in Denver.How to VoteIt is imperative when voting online that you have your membership number available; this is located on your SNA membership card or on the label of your School Nutrition magazine. In order to vote, your SNA membership must have been valid and current as of May 31, 2011. You will NOT be eligible to vote if you became a member or reinstated your membership after this date. Members in the Affiliate, Other or Student membership category are not eligible to vote. The slate of candidates that you are eligible to vote for is based on your membership section and the SNA region you work in.To cast your vote, go to www.schoolnutrition.org/snaelection and click on ‘Vote Now’ to be directed to an independent, secure voting site. 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. Prompts will guide you through the online voting process, but to save time, please make all of your selections in advance. It is critical that you participate in this annual voting process and have your voice heard. This responsibility is significant to the Association and to the overall future of school nutrition programs nationwide. For questions about the SNA Election, please contact the SNA Service Center at (800) 877-8822.
This month on Tray Talk we focus on how school nutrition professionals are teaming up with chefs to create nutritious dishes that please the pickiest young eaters.
This includes the new Tray Talk video which shows how Chef Tim Prosinski is making a difference in Connecticut's Berlin Public Schools.
Also, read more about how chefs are working with schools at the Tray Talk Website - http://www.traytalk.org/chefs-helping-schools-mix-up-the-menu/.
November 4, 2011 – What has been happening at the national and state level recently and what can you expect for the months ahead? Read your regional newsletter for a personal account of the past few months and events to look forward to this fall straight from your SNA Regional Directors.
Highlights in these letters include recounts of national and state meetings, important updates, as well as upcoming deadline reminders.
Click on the links below to read your region's newsletter.
(Newsletters are in .pdf format, view with Adobe Acrobat)
November 7, 2011— Front-line school nutrition employees are among the unsung heroes of any community in this nation. No matter the specifics of your individual site or whether you are a novice school nutrition employee or a seasoned veteran, the November issue of School Nutrition, SNA’s award-winning flagship publication, offers tips and work techniques relevant to your everyday work.
The November issue also features an overview of the unique and fun ways that school nutrition professionals and their students celebrated National School Breakfast Week 2011. In addition, this month’s magazine takes a look at the creative approaches of a number of school nutrition operators when it comes to serving nutritious potato breakfasts as school nutrition professionals await the final U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations regarding the proposed elimination of “white potatoes” at breakfast and limitation of the product at lunch.
In “Make My Day,” a front-line school nutrition employee walks through a day in the life of her job, sharing both what she loves about the profession and the daily challenges that she faces.
Employees at all levels, from the dishroom worker to the cashier to the manager, must juggle many responsibilities under enormous time pressure. By applying some of the work simplification techniques in “Work Wonders,” you can improve your own efficiency and that of your coworkers.
While the specifics of individual sites vary and managers bring differing levels of experience to their positions, a number of fundamentals about how to manage the one common factor to any and all school nutrition operations—people—apply in any situation. Take a look at “Becoming the Best Boss” for six supervisory strategies that every manager should keep top of mind.
Working with school nutrition professionals, kids used their thinking caps, investigative skills—and some select disguises—during the “School Breakfast Detectives”-themed National School Breakfast Week in March. Check out “Mission Accomplished!” to see exactly how the clues came together.
In “A Hot Potato in the Morning,” be inspired by the innovative, healthy breakfast offerings of school nutrition operators whose enticing potato breakfasts bring their hungry students to the cafeteria in anticipation. Bonus Web Content: Included as part of this piece are a number of recipe ideas for serving potatoes at breakfast, including the winning recipes of the Wake Up to Excellence 2011 Recipe Contest from the Idaho Potato Commission. Be sure not to miss several additional online-only recipes.
School Nutrition –November 2011
Introducing a new Fuel Up to Play 60 Toolkit created especially for School Nutrition Professionals. The toolkit can help YOU:
Get in the Game! Download the New Fuel Up to Play 60 Toolkit today at www.schoolnutrition.org/FuelUpToPlay60
© 2011 National Dairy Council®. Fuel Up is a service mark of the National Dairy Council. © 2011 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.
November 3, 2011 – It's hard to believe, but SNA’s 2012 Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC) is just two short months away! We've been busy planning and preparing conference sessions, speakers and events to make this the most exciting and valuable CNIC yet! Are you ready to create your roadmap for change? This year’s conference will be held January 15-17, 2012, at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando, Fla., where you will tap into the ideas, insights and innovations of your school nutrition colleagues and industry experts in order to steer your operation or business through the most complex challenges on the road today. Not registered yet? If you register by November 15th, you will save $50 off the regular registration fees!
If you’re already registered and counting down the days to CNIC 2012, be sure you arrive in Orlando in time to participate in the School Nutrition Foundation’s Chippin’ for Children Benefit Golf Tournament. This 9-hole tournament will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2012, at 12:45 pm, on the International Course at the Omni ChampionsGate. This beautiful and serene course was designed by the legendary Greg Norman and is an authentic links-style golf experience, reminiscent of the great golf courses of the British Isles.
No matter if you’re looking to perfect your swing or you’re just interested in relaxing on the links, this event is sure to be a good time for all. This is also a great opportunity for industry partners to build and enhance their company’s relationship with director- and supervisor-level members from across the country by sponsoring a foursome. Foodservice operators are invited to play at no charge and each foursome will be divided between industry and operators. For more details about this event or to register to sponsor/participate, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/cnic. With the proceeds of this event going to benefit the Foundation’s Professional Growth Scholarship program, you don’t have to hit a hole in one to be a champion for child nutrition.
Another event that was recently added to the conference schedule is the MyPlate Mixer, a fun networking activity based on the USDA’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. MyPlate.gov is designed to remind attendees to eat healthfully and guide them to resources and tools to put the Dietary Guidelines into action. Through this food experience, you will have an opportunity to put those guidelines into practice. This Mixer is also your chance to network with all the Innovation Station companies. Each company representative will be available to answer your questions and provide information that you can use within your own school district. You don’t want to be out of the mix!
For details about CNIC, including sessions, speakers, events and more, please visit the dedicated CNIC 2012 section of SchoolNutrition.org.
SNF Chippin’ for Children Benefit Golf Tournament
November 3, 2011—What’s most important to you when it comes to equipment and the equipment procurement process? School nutrition operators shared their thoughts on this topic in a roundtable discussion with research and consulting firm Y-Pulse, LLC.
Participants cited a desire for equipment that is versatile enough for a variety of uses and that adds cost efficiency to their operations. Operators explained that when handling equipment purchases, they seek to do business with manufacturer equipment representatives who have a detailed understanding of school nutrition operations, are honest, can answer how the equipment will serve their needs and who will take the time to provide in-depth training and service after the sale. They explained that proactive support eliminates the underuse of sophisticated equipment.
Operators identified the first 18 months as an important period in building and establishing good habits in using new equipment, establishing who they should call for specific needs with the equipment and learning how to resolve installation- and performance-related issues.
School nutrition operators participating in Y-Pulse’s roundtable noted that because very few plans are executed exactly as planned when it comes to equipping new facilities and remodeling, they appreciate working with consultants who are collaborative and work together to review and adjust design specifications throughout the process. Participants also expressed a desire for more assistance in extending their existing platforms without remodeling or remaking their spaces and indicated an interest in access to advanced specialty equipment.
For more information about Y-Pulse and its research , visit www.ypulse.org.
Y-Pulse, LLC
(November 1, 2011) Today, the US Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, including language to lift USDA’s proposed meal pattern restrictions on starchy vegetables served in school meals. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of funds to implement a rule that sets maximum limits on the serving of vegetables in school meal programs or is inconsistent with the recommendations of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans for vegetables.
A conference committee will be assigned to resolve the differences between the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations bills. When the final bill is drafted, it must be approved by both Houses of Congress before being sent to the President for his signature. SNA will keep members apprised of any new developments.