This month we are honoring Chris Rehmer CDM, CFPP, of the Iowa (IA) ANFP chapter, as our Volunteer of the Month. Chris has been a member of ANFP since 2003. After completing the dietary manager specialist certificate program at Des Moines Area Community College (Ankney), he was approached to volunteer as a chapter leader. At the time, Chris was hesitant as he was not always comfortable with speaking in front of others, something often expected of chapter leaders. However, he quickly learned the IA ANFP chapter has a long history of well-trained and knowledgeable volunteers to help him prepare for his role.

During his time as a chapter leader, Chris was the president-elect for one term, followed by three terms as chapter president. He also served as the program chair for one term and currently holds the expo chair role, which he has held since 2007.

Through his various volunteer roles with the chapter, Chris has been at the forefront of helping all members keep an open mind when it comes to new ideas, including ways to give back to IA ANFP members.   

Looking ahead, Chris continues to see IA ANFP as a resource for its members as well as other states. Additionally, he would like to see IA ANFP continue mentoring new CDMs, an initiative that has led to the success of the chapter.  

Having been a hesitant member that has turned into a well-respected, long-time veteran volunteer, Chris states “It has been an honor to serve our chapter and has opened doors that I never thought I would be interested in! The leadership in Iowa ANFP is second to none and will be there to help you succeed at any position you chose to volunteer for. So, let those fears subside and step out of your comfort zone; you will not be disappointed!”

Thank you, Chris, for your dedication, enthusiasm, and the hard work you have done for IA ANFP during these many years of service! We are incredibly appreciative of volunteers such as yourself! We look forward to working with you in this volunteer year!

If you would like to nominate yourself or another volunteer, please e-mail Abigail Solazzo at asolazzo@ANFPonline.org.

This is a reminder of the approaching deadline for rebate requirements. 

• End of the Year Financial Statement (June 2019 - April 2020) - PAST DUE
• Update officers in chapter portal - Due June 1 (incoming or current officers must now be entered as 'Add Position Current Term' at this time and click here for instructions.)
• Affiliate Agreement and Code of Conduct signed and submitted to National - Due June 15
• Fall meeting date and location submitted in chapter portal - Due July 15
• First part of the Bi-annual Chapter Report (upload to chapter portal) - Due July 15
• IRS Form 990 e-receipt (upload as image, PDF, or Word document to chapter portal) - Due July 15

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE

We hope you are well and safe during these unprecedented times. The current situation we are facing has introduced new challenges including staying connected with loved ones and friends, as well as fellow members. Some chapters are exploring the possibility of holding virtual meetings as a means to provide CE and networking opportunities. Below are a few options chapters can explore for their virtual meeting and networking needs. 

Zoom – Zoom is an online video/audio platform where participants can see each other live, face to face. Members can also view live webinars as an audience member as well as recorded programs when it is more convenient for them. Zoom offers a variety of plans that fit into all budgets. 

Houseparty – Houseparty is a free app that lets multiple users video chat together at one time. This is a great tool for networking, quick meetings, or mentor-mentee coaching sessions. 

FreeConferenceCalling.com – This website allows you to conduct conference calls (audio only) with up to 1,000 callers and 6 hours of call time. Speakers are also able to share their screens, allowing them to present virtually as well as record their program for later use. 

Google Hangouts – Google Hangouts is another video/audio platform. Like Zoom, users can conduct meetings live, face to face. This feature is free for those with Google e-mail accounts. Time of calls is unlimited and the platform is available via mobile or desktop. 

Now more than ever it's important to keep in touch with members, even if it's a brief chat about the challenges you are currently facing or the last great book you read. Reach out to your members and stay connected!

We will be conducting a live webinar to review the changes we have made to the prior approvals process on Wednesday, May 13 at 2:00 PM (Central). For those that are not able to join, we will record the webinar and make available to view at a later time. We will also send a follow-up communication summarizing the changes. 

Registration is required. To register for the webinar, please click on the link below. 

Register

This month we are honoring Regina St. Clair, CDM, CFPP of the Georgia (GA) ANFP chapter. Regina joined ANFP in 1992, when it was known as Dietary Managers Association, and became a Certified Dietary Manager in 1994. She started her volunteer career with the Ohio ANFP chapter very humbly, by handing out fliers and helping clean up after meetings. Then in 1995, Regina moved to Georgia and reignited her volunteer career with the ANFP Atlanta District in 1998.

During her time as a district volunteer, she worked closely with the president and assisted with a variety of jobs, including serving food, answering calls, coordinating raffles, and just about anything else where her help was needed.

Regina then began to volunteer at the chapter level starting with the role of the Newsletter Editor, from 2015 - 2018. Even to this day, she will occasionally help with these duties. However, now that she is currently serving as GA’s president-elect, she has focused her attention on continuing GA’s legacy of a strong chapter and improving the chapter for members. In addition to her district and chapter volunteer roles, Regina also served on the Chapter Leadership Team (CLT) from 2017 – 2019 as well as the Job Analysis Task Force from 2018-2019 and is currently serving on the Program Review Committee.

As a seasoned volunteer, Regina’s impact has been felt throughout the chapter by communicating with members on a regular basis, listening and placing value on their feedback, and not being afraid to tackle challenges head-on.

Moving forward, Regina would like to see the chapter embrace technology to expand and enhance their meetings, as well as see younger members get involved and eventually serve on the board. She would also like to see more collaboration and networking opportunities with other state chapters in the southeast region of the country. She ultimately wants to continue in her role as an agent of change and continue to move the chapter forward.

For those that are interested in volunteering, but have not worked up the courage, Regina has these encouraging words to share: “Volunteering can be very rewarding and challenging. You have to think outside the box and be ready for the ride; it could be long and bumpy. Look forward to new beginnings, stay focused, don’t let the word ‘no’ stop you from elevating your leadership skills. Reach out to members for support and guidance and once you get where you are going, pay it forward.”

Thank you, Regina, for your dedication, determination, and the time you have given to ANFP, the GA Chapter and our members. We are incredibly grateful for volunteers like you! We look forward to working with you in the coming volunteer year!

If you would like to nominate yourself or another volunteer, please email Abigail Solazzo at asolazzo@ANFPonline.org.

This is a reminder of the approaching deadline for rebate requirements. 

• End of the Year Financial Statement (June 2019 - April 2020) - Due May 15
• Update officers in chapter portal - Due June 1 (incoming or current officers must now be entered as 'Add Position Current Term' at this time. Click here for instructions.
• Fall meeting date and location submitted in chapter portal - Due July 15
• First part of Bi-Annual Chapter Report, formerly known as the State Achievement Award (upload to chapter portal) - Due July 15
• IRS Form 990 e-receipt (upload as image, PDF, or Word doc to chapter portal) - Due July 15

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.

Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions!

Illinois ANFP
Indiana ANFP
Iowa ANFP
Kansas ANFP
Minnesota ANFP
Oklahoma ANFP
Oregon ANFP
Texas ANFP

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.

Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions!

Illinois ANFP
Indiana ANFP
Iowa ANFP
Minnesota ANFP
Texas ANFP

Adversity Rebate
ANFP offers an adversity rebate for chapters that need additional financial assistance in addition to their bi-annual rebate and revenue produced from chapter programs. The adversity rebate is to help off-set ANFP chapter operational costs related to meetings, programs, or other initiatives. If you would like to apply for the adversity rebate, the next deadline is June 1, 2020 for a June 30 rebate distribution. Applications are accepted quarterly and can be found on ANFPConnect, Volunteer Resources, Chapter Management.

Approaching Deadlines

• Chapter End of the Year Financial Statement Due May 15 (policy implemented in August 2018). Submit to chapters@ANFPonline.org. (Report should include dates form June 2019 - April 2020)
• Officers entered in chapter portal for future volunteer year (June 1 - May 31). Officers must be entered each year regardless of length of term. For directions on how to add future electees, click here. Due June 1. 

This month we are featuring Dorothy Radermacher, CDM, CFPP, of the Minnesota (MN) ANFP chapter. Dorothy, a 50-year member, joined ANFP in 1970 and has a long and robust volunteer career with ANFP as well as many other organizations. At the national level, she is currently serving on two ANFP committees, the Chapter Leadership Team and the Program Review Committee. Dorothy is also currently serving as a Foundation trustee. Dorothy is just as involved at the chapter level as well. Within her state, she is currently serving on the Awards & Recognition and Leadership Development, Education Committee, Strategic Planning Committees, and the Impact and Legislative Team. She has held many past positions at the chapter and national level as well. 

Having dedicated so many years to ANFP, Dorothy’s involvement, recruitment efforts, and confidence building in volunteers has made a lasting impact, that ultimately helped to advance their careers. Often, when members are asked why they got involved, or who their biggest influence has been, it is Dorothy’s name that is stated over and over again, clearly having left an impact on those that have followed in her footsteps. She is known for providing continuous encouragement and support to members and volunteers. Dorothy has a knack for spotting members with a set of skills that have leadership potential and is not bashful about asking them to get involved. She gets much satisfaction watching them grow and seeing them aspire to national leadership levels.

As Dorothy looks ahead at the future of the MN chapter, she will continue promote and build awareness around the credential and the CDM, CFPP profession. She would like to see a career path established that starts with foodservice in the home, the school, and introduction to careers in food and nutrition services. She believes CDMs are just as worthy as engineers, doctors, technology professionals, or professors.   

Dorothy’s advice to prospective volunteers is to start with one tiny step. She states “Challenge yourself, believe in yourself. If someone believes in you, trust them. Follow your hopes and dreams. It's amazing the opportunities and recognition's that will come your way by simply making yourself available with confidence.”

Dorothy was honored with the Legacy Award in 2018 to recognize her unyielding dedication to ANFP and the many generous years of service she has given this organization.

Thank you, Dorothy, for your passion, support, hard work and service to ANFP and the MN Chapter. We are beyond grateful for volunteers such as you!  We look forward to working with you in the coming volunteer year!

If you would like to nominate yourself or another volunteer, please email Abigail Solazzo at asolazzo@ANFPonline.org. 

Volunteer Appreciation Week Moved to May 
As many of our volunteers have been stretched thin over the last few weeks, which may continue for the weeks ahead, we want to ensure they are given the recognition they deserve and have time to enjoy it. Therefore, we will be celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week, May 4 -8, 2020. Our hope is that by this time, our volunteer’s workloads will have lightened somewhat, and they will have the opportunity to participate in the week’s activities. Look for more information in April about how ANFP will be celebrating our valued and treasured volunteers!

UPDATED - CE Chapter Approval Process Updates & Changes – Webinar 
The webinar addressing changes and updates to the CE prior approval process for chapters has been postponed. A new registration link will be sent out when the new date has been scheduled.  For those that will not be able to join us, the webinar will be recorded and available for viewing following the live program.

We hope you are well and safe during these unprecedented times. We know our members are facing unique challenges during this time, perhaps some they have never faced until now. The role of chapter leaders and volunteers has always been a generous and selfless act, and now as professionals, you are faced with giving more time to others than ever before. With that in mind, it’s still important to take care of yourself. Below are a few simple ways to practice self-care that you can use throughout the day.

Focused Breathing - When times are especially intense, take a moment to take a few deep breaths. Concentrate on inhaling and exhaling slowly. Try this a few times, somewhere quiet if at all possible, and practice this as many times as necessary during the day.

Meditation & Mindfulness – With all the noise we are surrounded by each day and the many requests and demands that are made of us, it’s important to carve out some time for a few peaceful moments, and allow your mind to “re-set” itself through mediation or a mindfulness activity. There are many apps that can help you get started, click here to find the right one for you. 

Eating Healthy at Work – One of the things we might overlook as we are nourishing and caring for others in a demanding environment, is eating nutritious foods ourselves.  Being mindful about what we choose to eat can be a simple yet satisfying way to practice self-care while at work. For a few helpful tips about eating healthy at work, click here.

Give yourself credit – Perhaps one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, is give ourselves a pat on the back at the end of each day. Perhaps we had a rough day, or an easier day for that matter, it’s important to recognize that your work, efforts, and dedication are important and so are you!

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.

Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions!

Illinois ANFP
Indiana ANFP
Iowa ANFP
Minnesota ANFP
Texas ANFP

Many chapter meetings will take place throughout the country over the next couple of months. Most programs have been confirmed and the agenda set - consider adding some unique sessions, whether for education or social events, that promote idea/solution sharing, brainstorming, teamwork and networking. While formal education (and CE hours) is important, we also want to give our members and attendees the opportunity to learn in unique formats and informal settings. 

Meet and greets/mixers – Make some time for first-timers and new members to get to know your chapters leaders as well as each other. Also, consider hosting a meet and greet or mixer specifically for your younger members. Hosting the event over breakfast, drinks, or prior to the start of the meeting makes this a fun setting for members to network. 
 
Team Building– Consider including a team building session during your next chapter meeting. This is a great way to break the ice for new members, possibly learn a new skill, network, and build trust and respect among all attendees. 

Lunch and learns/roundtables – Ask your members to bring their challenges (and solutions) to your next lunch session and share those with attendees among their tables. You may also consider having a designated member ‘host’ tables to facilitate discussion about hot topics among members that promote sharing ideas and suggestions that members can bring back to their jobs. 

Young member panels – Oftentimes we don’t understand the needs and challenges facing our younger members. Consider putting together a panel of younger members to discuss their needs as members and new CDM, CFPPs. Be sure to designate a facilitator and allow time for questions from the audience. 

Unique tours/off-site events – Whether social or educational, unique tours and off-site events can offer something more to attendees. Depending on the tour or event, some may qualify for CE as well (i.e. 2019 ACE’s Kitchen Tour). Either way, it can offer your attendees a break from the lecture setting while providing an education or networking opportunity. 

This month we are featuring Amarilys Saluk, CDM, CFPP, of the Southern New England (SNE) ANFP chapter. While Amarilys has been in the foodservice industry for over 30 years, she first joined ANFP in 2001 and began volunteering with the chapter the following year. She served as chapter secretary for over four years and has held the position of the president for the last three years. 

During this time, Amarilys has become more passionate and devoted to the chapter and the credential. Because of this, she has inspired members to become more involved with the chapter, whether by attending meetings or volunteering. Additionally, she has made strides in having lapsed or dropped members re-join ANFP. Her goal is to continue this trend as well as get more members interested in serving on the chapter board of directors. 

In addition to increasing engagement and retention, Amarilys is also working on increasing the number of students that attend meetings and engage with the chapter. While she has many other goals in mind for the chapter, she will be focusing on this particular endeavor during the coming months.

As for those that are hesitant to volunteer, her advice is to give it a chance, as it can be very rewarding to volunteer for a cause that you are passionate about. She states “the benefits ANFP has for its members are incredible. The tools that are given to us are a huge factor in our professional development.”

Thank you, Amarilys, for your dedication, passion, and continuous hard work for the SNE chapter as well as ANFP! We very much value and appreciate volunteers like you!
If you would like to nominate yourself or another volunteer, please email Abigail Solazzo at asolazzo@ANFPonline.org. 

CE Chapter Approval Process Updates & Changes – Webinar

Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 18th, 2:00 PM CT, for the live webinar addressing changes and updates to the CE prior approval process for chapters. Registration is required for the webinar. To register, please click here. For those that are not able to join us, the webinar will be recorded and available for viewing following the live program.

One of the many ways ANFP likes to recognize our members is presenting an award for CDM of the Month. ANFP recognizes a CDM each month who has incorporated an innovative program or operational change in their facility/organization that has received positive results for the facility, staff, or residents. The CDM of the Month is featured on ANFP social media, in eNews, on www.ANFPonline.org and in the Edge Magazine CDM Spotlight feature.

If you would like to nominate yourself or another member, please click here to complete the nomination form.

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.

Congratulations to the following Chapter Champions!

Illinois ANFP
Indiana ANFP
Iowa ANFP

ANFP offers an adversity rebate for chapters that need additional financial assistance in addition to their bi-annual rebate and revenue produced from chapter programs. The adversity rebate is to help off-set ANFP chapter operational costs related to meetings, programs, or other initiatives. The next deadline for the adversity application is March 1, 2020. If approved, the rebate will be distributed by March 30 and expenditure should be completed by April 30. Applications are accepted quarterly and can be found on ANFPConnect, Volunteer Resources, Chapter Management.

The January rebate requirements deadline has passed. The following items are now overdue:

• Bylaws - Reviewed by all board members. Edited as needed.
• Policies & Procedures - Reviewed by all board members. Edited as needed.
• Bi-Annual Chapter Achievement Rebate Report - Download from the chapter portal.
• Annual Succession Plan - Download outline from the chapter portal.
• ACE Award Nomination - For more information or to submit a nomination, please click here.