February 27, 2012 – Are you headed to Washington, D.C., this weekend for SNA's 40th annual Legislative Action Conference (LAC)? Well, get ready for four inspiring days in the nation’s capital—where history happens every day and where you’ll join together with hundreds of your school nutrition colleagues to walk the halls of Congress and help attract attention to school nutrition programs nationwide. This year’s conference will be the largest LAC to date, with more than 900 attendees already registered. If you don’t want to miss being a part of this memorable event but haven’t yet registered, it’s not too late! Simply fill out the onsite registration form and turn it in at the LAC Registration desk when you arrive.
LAC will be taking place March 4-7, 2012, at the JW Marriott Hotel in the heart of downtown D.C., and just minutes from some of the most recognizable landmarks and monuments of our nation. Highlights of this year’s conference will include:
And when the learning and lobbying is done on Monday, March 5 and Tuesday, March 6, you will meet old and new friends during the LAC Banquet and the Global Child Nutrition Foundation’s A Possible Dream Gala, a special evening that celebrates the champions of child nutrition.
If you’re starting to pack for your trip, business attire is appropriate for LAC sessions and your day on Capitol Hill. Business-formal to evening-dressy attire is recommended for the LAC Banquet, while cocktail attire is appropriate for the A Possible Dream Gala. The projected weather forecast during LAC is partly sunny with highs in the mid-50s. For current weather information, as well as details about things to see and do in the nation’s capital, visit www.accuweather.com and www.washington.org.
Every meal you serve makes a difference for children in your district, but you can do even more by helping to shape national policies about school nutrition programs and children’s health. Come to Washington for LAC 2012 and let your legislators know, loud and clear, your priorities as a child nutrition expert! To register onsite, please download and complete the onsite registration form and turn in at the LAC Registration desk.
LAC 2012
LAC Onsite Registration Form
February 24, 2012 – Is there something you think your program does particularly well? Have you recently conducted research related to school foodservice? If so, highlight your success story and show off your work at the Child Nutrition Showcase Poster Session taking place during SNA’s Annual National Conference in Denver, July 15-18, 2012.
The Child Nutrition Showcase is a display of “posters” highlighting successful practices and research in school foodservice and nutrition. The display will be available during the conference on Monday, July 16 and Tuesday, July 17. Two different types of posters will be included in the Showcase:
Awards will be given to one poster from each of the above categories. All posters and authors will be listed in the ANC Program Guide. Research poster abstracts will be published in The Journal of Child Nutrition & Management.
Visit www.schoolnutrition.org/cnshowcase to learn more and to submit a poster idea. The deadline to submit a poster idea is March 16, 2012.
February 23, 2012 – Are you an industry representative new to the multi-billion-dollar school nutrition market? Confused by the intricacies of this complex marketplace? Perhaps you’ve been involved in the market for years but are looking for a quick way to get up to speed on the new meal pattern regulations? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then you can’t afford to miss SNA’s Spring Industry Boot Camp, taking place May 16-17, 2012, at SNA Headquarters in National Harbor, Md.
Held each May and November, this dynamic educational seminar will sharpen your school nutrition I.Q. by providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the ins and outs of today’s school foodservice segment. Over the course of two days, you will learn about school meal nutrition guidelines and regulations, market trends, school nutrition procurement, USDA Foods and much more. In addition, you will have the unique opportunity to tour a local school cafeteria and participate in a two-hour moderated panel discussion with school nutrition directors from the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Of course, don’t just take our word for it. Read what your industry peers have had to say about their Industry Boot Camp experience:
Whether you’re new to school nutrition market or have been knee deep in the industry for years, Industry Boot Camp maximizes the return on your time out of the office by providing targeted information and knowledge. For more information, see the Related Links or contact SNA Industry Relations Coordinator Jessica Garrett at (800) 877-8822, ext. 173, or jgarrrett@schoolnutrition.org.
Spring Industry Boot Camp
Take Part in the Annual School Survey TodayYour Input Can Help Shape Future Programs!
Milk is an important component of school meal programs. The School Nutrition Association, the National Milk Mustache “got milk®” Campaign (MilkPEP), and the National Dairy Council ask you to take a few minutes to complete the Annual School Survey. The information collected in this survey is very important and will help us bring you effective programs that support your nutrition, foodservice and wellness goals. It’s easy. If you work in a school nutrition program, you may complete the survey online at www.primeconsulting.biz/schoolsurvey.
After completing the survey, you will be eligible to win a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate (1 out of every 20 surveys win)! As an added incentive for completing the survey online, we will draw 2 grand prize winners from completed submissions who will each win a $100 American Express gift card.
Your completed survey must be received by March 16, 2012 to participate in the grand prize drawing. If you have any questions, please call Nina or Barb at Prime Consulting: 1 (888) 945-1155.
February 21, 2012 – Can’t find the time to scan today’s headlines for the latest school nutrition news? With so many articles to read and so much information to digest on a daily basis, you may find yourself quickly falling behind. The solution is simple! Sign up to receive SNA SmartBrief and have a summary of the news that really matters delivered straight to your inbox each weekday. This e-newsletter is the ideal solution to help you stay on top of the latest issues and trends affecting the industry and school nutrition professionals around the nation. Since its launch last month, SNA SmartBrief already boasts more than 12,000 subscribers who depend on the daily brief to save time and keep current.
To help deliver this resource to SNA members and the school nutrition community, SNA has partnered with SmartBrief, Inc., an online media publishing company that gives readers in more than 25 industries a competitive edge by providing them with targeted news and information. Knowledgeable SmartBrief editors filter through thousands of news sources daily, handpicking and summarizing key articles and providing direct links to the original sources. In other words, SmartBrief does all the research and you get the latest news in your inbox, absolutely free.
“SNA’s partnership with SmartBrief will benefit SNA members and the industry as a whole by providing a new, faster way to stay updated on the latest child nutrition and foodservice trends to help us better serve America’s students,” said SNA CEO Frank DiPasquale.
To subscribe to SNA SmartBrief, and stay on top of the most relevant news affecting the school nutrition industry, visit http://www.smartbrief.com/sna. It’s that easy! You’ll be added to the mailing list and begin receiving the brief each weekday. While you’re at it, go ahead and share an issue of SNA SmartBrief with your school nutrition peers to spread the word and help them be in the know!
In addition to SNA SmartBrief, the Association will continue to provide its biweekly CN Direct e-newsletter, which highlights key stories, events and announcements specifically from the SNA website. To subscribe to CN Direct, subscribe here.
Sign up for SNA SmartBrief
SNA SmartBrief Archive
Sign up for CN Direct
Feburary 17, 2012 - Communities across the country are digging in to Farm to Cafeteria programs–in schools, preschools, hospitals, colleges, prisons and other institutions. On August 2-5, 2012, the National Farm to School Network will host the 6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Burlington, Vermont. The conference will bring together food service professionals, farmers, educators, policy makers, and more to learn about and be part of this rapidly growing movement.
The conference will feature skill-building short-courses, field trips to Vermont farms and institutions, inspiring speakers and a diverse workshop program. Participants will meet and network with folks who are working hard to connect their communities to local, farm-fresh food. For more information, and to submit workshop and poster proposals, visit http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org. The deadline for proposals is March 7.
Tray Talk – Student Taste Tests and New Meal Pattern
This month on Tray Talk we are discussing the new meal pattern and student taste testing.
To get kids excited about trying different foods, including their veggies, many school cafeterias use taste tests to help students adjust to healthy changes on the school menu.
The latest Tray Talk Video Spotlight highlights the taste test program in Norfolk Public Schools (Virginia).
Read the full story, including information for parents about the new meal pattern at the Tray Talk Website – http://www.traytalk.org/school-meals-will-meet-new-nutrition-standards/
Promote Tray Talk to ParentsNow is a great time to tell parents about Tray Talk (www.traytalk.org) as the new meal pattern is explained in simple and easy to understand terms!
February 7, 2012 – Do you find yourself enticed by the idea of continuing your education but stop short of actually going for it? Are you currently taking classes and need some financial assistance? It’s time to break through the barriers standing between you and your professional goals and educational aspirations by taking advantage of scholarships available through the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF)!
These opportunities include academic aid for those pursuing a vocational/technical, undergraduate, graduate or post graduate degree in a school nutrition-related field of study within the United States. And now, to make it even easier for you to apply, SNF is excited to announce a new 4-in-1 application for the SNF Professional Growth, Schwan’s Food Service, Winston/SNF Build Your Future and Nancy Curry scholarships. The aforementioned scholarships award up to $2,500 each, excluding the Nancy Curry Scholarship, which awards one scholarship of $500.
The application deadline for the 2012-13 academic year is coming up fast: April 9, 2012. Applicant must be an active SNA member for a minimum of one year from February 1, 2011, and have a history of employment in school nutrition. Children of SNA members are no longer eligible to apply for scholarships.
To apply, or to view all the eligibility requirements and tips for submission, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/scholarships. The time you take to apply just might be one of the best investments in your profession that you ever make.
SNF Scholarships
How to Apply for a SNF Scholarship
This year’s CNIC shared a source of inspiration within a dynamic learning and networking event that drew a record number of participants. To continue driving your operation or business like the well-oiled machine that it is, and guide it through the most complex challenges on the road today, we have provided the CNIC presentations to further review.
Please click here to review the CNIC presentations:http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Level2_CNIC2012.aspx?id=16703
Feel free to share this link with any of your colleagues who were unable to attend.
We hope to see you at SNA’s 2013 Child Nutrition Industry Conference, January 13-15 in San Antonio, TX at the Grand Hyatt hotel.
Join the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) for its Webinar Wednesday and Peer2Peer programs in February and March. Over the next few weeks, SNF has convened a great line up of topics and speakers including:
To see full program descriptions and register, please visit http://www.schoolnutrition.org/webinarwednesdays.