June marks the start of the new ANFP volunteer year. It is a busy time of year for chapter leaders with new volunteers coming onboard, rebate requirement deadlines, and likely many are in the midst of planning fall meetings. It is important to work with your fellow chapter leaders as a team during these times and share the workload, collaborate on solutions, and reach out for support. We can also use our network of chapter leaders throughout the country for support and collaboration as well.
Each month during our Leadership Happy Hour Calls that take place on the first Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. CT, chapter leaders have the opportunity to network, ask questions, and bring their challenges, questions, concerns, and wins to this group of peers. Learn more about the benefits of attending our monthly Leadership Happy Hour calls.
Learn from Your Peers – The Leadership Happy Hour is one of the best opportunities to learn from your peers. Chapter leaders share their successes, best practices, ask questions, as well as provide feedback, giving everyone on the call a chance to learn. During our last call, Felicia Smith of the WY ANFP chapter shared their success with hybrid and virtual meetings. She spoke about the process of learning and understanding the technology, preparing for tech issues that may arise, as well as the positive feedback they have received from members.
Crowdsource Ideas – Oftentimes, chapter leaders bring their challenges to the group to crowdsource ideas. Learn how chapters are handling the same challenges you are facing. Many times, we share speaker recommendations, agenda topics as well as feedback with National for resources or tools that will support our chapter leaders.
Share Your Wins – The call is also a chance for chapter leaders to share their wins and successes. We were thrilled to hear about the successful spring meetings for both the Iowa and Michigan chapters. By supporting one another, and our successes, we are building a community that better serves our members.
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Food For Thought
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Changes & Updates
Come chat with your fellow chapter leaders about all your chapter challenges, solutions, and experiences on Tuesday, July 7, at 2:00 PM CT. Click here to register for the call!
Support NFEF and ANFP Members!
The Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation (NFEF) is excited to host a raffle fundraiser during the Expo at ANFP’s Annual Conference & Expo this summer in Orlando, Florida!
We’re kicking off plans for this year’s main fundraising event and can’t wait to make it a huge success with your chapter’s support. This fundraiser plays a vital role in advancing the NFEF’s mission by generating critical funding for grants, research, and educational opportunities that support current and aspiring CDM, CFPPs - and the future of our profession.
All the details you need, including a donation form are available here. We invite your chapter to consider supporting this event and helping us make it a success. Thank you for your continued commitment to the Foundation and for helping us make a lasting impact. -
Chapter Champions
Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE. -
Celebrate Belonging, Community, & Culture
ANFP is celebrating and recognizing holidays/observances and month-long celebrations throughout the year. To learn more about these observances, please visit our Facebook page, BCC webpage, and check out eNews, which will include links to our toolkits and other resources as well as other significant holidays. This month ANFP proudly recognizes:
June 1-30: Pride Month
June 19: Juneteenth – New Toolkit Available here! -
Food For Thought
Recruitment, retention, and engagement of members is an ongoing effort and the responsibility of chapter leaders as well as members. We are often asking ourselves, “How do we do this?” We can start by building relationships right from the beginning of a member’s journey through consistent, meaningful, and intentional outreach, and creating a sense of belonging. During our last chapter best practices session, Relationship Building for New Member Engagement, we discussed several strategies to build and strengthen relationships with our new and current members, including a few below.
Communicate Early and Consistently – Our first communication with new members should take place within their first month of membership and should remain consistent from that point. Current members can help with this by engaging with them at meetings and on social media or other virtual events.
Intentional Connections – Building strong and sustainable relationships means intentional and meaningful engagement and outreach. Start by asking, “How can we help?” or “What do you want to get out of your membership?’” These questions will help us understand how we can connect with our new and current members to ensure they are getting the most out of their membership experience.
Peer-to-Peer – While being approachable, visible, and a go-to resource as a chapter leader is important, it's also important for new members to connect with their peers to build relationships. Current members can become new member advisors and help new members navigate their first year of membership, answer their questions, and introduce them to other members.
For additional strategies to build sustainable relationships and create a welcoming environment, please view the webinar here. -
Changes & Updates
Join Us! Chapter President & President Elect Training for incoming and current presidents and presidents-elect will take place on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 p.m. CT. Please click here to register for this session. We will discuss the responsibilities for these roles, and the next steps to get started and need-to-knows.
Join us! Leadership Happy HourCome chat with your fellow chapter leaders about any and all your chapter challenges, solutions, and experiences on Tuesday, June 2, at 2:00 p.m. CT. Click here to register for the call!
Support NFEF and ANFP Members!
The Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation (NFEF) is excited to host a raffle fundraiser during the Expo at ANFP’s Annual Conference & Expo this summer in Orlando, Florida!
We’re kicking off plans for this year’s main fundraising event and can’t wait to make it a huge success with your chapter’s support. This fundraiser plays a vital role in advancing the NFEF’s mission by generating critical funding for grants, research, and educational opportunities that support current and aspiring CDM, CFPPs, and the future of our profession.
All the details you need, including a donation form, are available here. We invite your chapter to consider supporting this event and helping us make it a success. Thank you for your continued commitment to the Foundation and for helping us make a lasting impact. -
Chapter Champions
Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions:
Michigan ANFP
Indiana ANFP
South Dakota ANFP
Iowa ANFP
Texas ANFP
Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE. -
Celebrate Belonging, Community, & Culture
ANFP is celebrating and recognizing holidays/observances and month-long celebrations throughout the year. To learn more about these observances, please visit our Facebook page, BCC webpage, and check out eNews, which will include links to our toolkits and other resources as well as other significant holidays. This month ANFP proudly recognizes:
May 1- 31: Jewish American Heritage Month
May 10: Mother's Day -
Food For Thought
As chapters begin to gear up for the new volunteer year, there is a lot that needs to be done before June 1. Spring meetings are in the works, the first set of rebate requirements are coming down the pipeline, and new chapter leaders will be taking office in June. Training incoming chapter leaders is one of the keys to their success in their role. It ensures they understand chapter management, policies and procedures, and equips them with the tools they need to perform the work. There are additional benefits when volunteers are trained properly, including:
- Consistency and seamless transitions between officers as training clarifies roles and responsibilities.
- Increased retention among volunteers as it builds confidence and prepares volunteers for mentoring.
- Clear communication to ensure projects, tasks, and goals are achieved, and the chapter is compliant.
To help support your incoming officers or those who need refreshers, we are pleased to once again offer chapter training webinars throughout April and May.
The Annual Chapter Board Orientation will take place on Wednesday, April 29, at 2:00 PM CT. We will review chapter leadership roles, governing documents, rebates, and discuss next steps for new and returning chapter leaders. To register for this session, please click here. (Please forward this information to your incoming chapter leaders.)
Chapter Treasurers Training for our incoming and current chapter treasurers, please join us on Wednesday, May 6, at 2:00 PM CT. To register for this session, please click here. We will review the responsibilities of this role, the financial report, as well as Crowded.
Chapter President & President Elect Training for incoming and current president and presidents-elect will take place on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 PM CT. Please click here to register for this session. We will discuss the responsibilities for these roles, the next steps to get started, and need-to-knows.
BONUS TRAINING: Chapter Best Practices: Relationship Building for New Member Engagement will take place on Tuesday, April 21, at 2:00 PM CT. We will discuss relationship-building strategies to engage our new members and involve our current members in our engagement and retention initiatives. Click here to register. Participants attending the live session will receive 1.0 CE GEN. -
Changes & Updates
Join Us! Leadership Happy Hour
Come chat with your fellow chapter leaders about any and all of your chapter challenges, solutions, and experiences on Tuesday, April 7, at 2:00 PM CT. To register for the call, please click here.
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Chapter Champions
Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions:
Michigan ANFP
Indiana ANFP
South Dakota ANFP
Iowa ANFP
Texas ANFPLearn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.
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Celebrate Diversity & Inclusion
ANFP is celebrating and recognizing holidays/observances and month-long celebrations throughout the year. To learn more about these observances, please visit our Facebook page, DEI webpage, and check out eNews, which will include links to our toolkits and other resources as well as other significant holidays. This month ANFP proudly recognizes:
April 1-30: Autism Awareness Month
April 14: Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) -
Food For Thought
March, the cusp of Spring, signifies resurgence, change, newness, and moving forward. It signifies a fresh start and creates an environment hospitable for growth. ANFP chapters are also always working on creating a safe and welcoming environment that fosters growth, and more importantly, belonging. Chapter meetings and events are a place for members and attendees to gather to share their challenges, questions and successes among peers and colleagues who understand their perspective. Chapters are also often the first touchpoint for member interaction and networking, so creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, in person and throughout the year, is key to keeping members engaged. So how can we create a welcoming environment?
Communications – Like most chapters, you are likely sending new member (and long-time members) emails regularly, which is one of the first communications they receive. Think about the language you use to address them, images included, as well as various ways to contact/connect with you or the chapter (i.e. phone, email, social media).
Meetings & Events – Chapter meetings are a great time to make members feel seen and heard. It’s also important to give them a sense of belonging. And we can do this by creating networking events that allow everyone an opportunity to share/speak (round tables), developing sessions that support inclusivity (diversity of speakers), and ensuring accessibility for all attendees (layout of venue or offering virtual options).
Embracing Differences – Each of us brings something unique to our chapters, either as a member, chapter leader or peer. Be sure to allow time and opportunities for members and attendees to share that about themselves with icebreakers and team building events, either virtually or in-person, to continue to build trust and respect and embrace our differences in a safe and welcoming environment.
For more resources to create a welcoming environment, please see the Chapters DEI Toolkit. -
Changes & Updates
Come chat with your fellow chapter leaders about any and all your chapter challenges, solutions, and experiences on Tuesday, April 7 at 2:00 PM CT. To register for the call, please click here. -
Chapter Champions
Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions:
Michigan ANFP
Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE. -
Celebrate Diversity & Inclusion
ANFP is celebrating and recognizing holidays/observances and month-long celebrations throughout the year. To learn more about these observances, please visit our Facebook page, DEI webpage, and check out eNews, which will include links to our toolkits and other resources as well as other significant holidays. This month ANFP proudly recognizes:
March 1-31: Women's History Month
March 21: World Down Syndrome Day -
Food for Thought
Although its only February, chapters are already gearing up for the months ahead. Some chapters are planning milestone anniversaries and spring meetings, others are training their incoming officers and preparing for the new volunteer year. While preparing for the months and year ahead, it’s always a good idea to regularly review your chapter’s strategic goals, evaluate initiatives and best practices to ensure we meet our goals as well as our members’ needs. However, before adjusting our plans and practices, we encourage you to take some time to understand our members’ needs with feedback provided from the ANFP Membership Survey, which was distributed to members in November of 2025. This information helps us understand what we may be doing well and what we need to improve, and how we need to do so, which will affect our planning for the year ahead.
Chapter Meetings – We surveyed members and asked if they had attended chapter meetings in the last 5 years. For those that did not attend (66%), here are the top 3 reasons for not attending:- Scheduling conflict
- Location
- Cost
Consider This: Chapters may want to explore alternate options to address these concerns and accommodate more members including hosting a virtual or hybrid meeting (or series of webinars), rotating your location throughout the state, surveying members on their preferred dates/time of year/date pattern.
Reasons to Attend – Of the members that responded to the survey who are attending meetings (33%) here are top 3 benefits:- Affordable, quality education
- Networking opportunities
- Opportunity to earn CEs
Consider This: Each of these benefits are great motivators to entice attendees and for chapters to use when promoting meetings. Be sure to highlight these benefits as well as others in your marketing materials.
Chapter Offerings – Overall members were mostly satisfied with chapter offerings, including educational meetings, networking and volunteer opportunities, communications, and member recognition.
Consider This: Chapters can use this information as a springboard to dig deeper into how we can improve satisfaction in these areas or explore new chapter offerings members may be interested in. Chapters may wish to conduct a mini-survey that focuses on offerings and ways to improve overall satisfaction or ‘test the waters’ on potential, new offerings.
Thank you to all chapter leaders that completed the member satisfaction survey and provided feedback on how National can also improve. Chapter leaders will receive a follow-up, mini-survey in the coming weeks, along with the summarized results specific to chapter involvement as highlighted above. -
Changes & Updates
Join Us! Leadership Happy Hour
Come chat with your fellow chapter leaders about any and all your chapter challenges, solutions, and experiences on Tuesday, February 3 at 2:00 PM CT. To register for the call, please click here.
We will also be joined by Mindy Theesfeld, Foundation & Analytics Manager, to chat about NFEF’s Chapter Competition - Giving Today, Impacting Tomorrow - Take part in a little friendly competition with your fellow chapters!
Giving Today, Impacting Tomorrow Chapter Competition returns during ANFP’s Pride in Foodservice Week, February 2–6, 2026! Chapters are invited to support NFEF’s mission by encouraging member donations through our secure online or text-to-give platforms. Every gift helps fund grants and research that strengthen our profession. Chapters with the highest member participation and highest dollars raised per member will be recognized at the Volunteer Lunch during the 2026 Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, FL. (June 15-17, 2026). Social media toolkits and flyers are available here to help spread the word! -
Chapter Champions
Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions:
Michigan ANFP
Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE. -
Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion
ANFP is celebrating and recognizing holidays/observances and month-long celebrations throughout the year. To learn more about these observances, please visit our Facebook page, DEI webpage, and check out eNews, which will include links to our toolkits and other resources as well as other significant holidays. This month ANFP proudly recognizes:
February 1-28: Black History Month
February 16: President’s Day