Chapter Champions

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.

Obtaining sponsors or donations can be tricky for some chapters, even when a pandemic is not taking place. Often, we may not know how to approach potential sponsors or how to “sell the chapter.” However, sponsors play a significant role for chapters that allow members to build relationships and discover new products and services to help better serve our residents/customers. Sponsors also play an important role in supporting chapters through in-kind donations or monetary donations to help offset the costs of meetings and events. These relationships are important for both the members as well as the sponsor and we would like to see all our chapters have strong and sustainable partnerships with each other. In order to help foster these relationships, ANFP will be hosting a webinar, ANFP Chapter Sponsorship Best Practices, Tools & Resources, on Thursday, September 10 at 2:00 PM CT. Here are a few highlights that will be included in the webinar as well as the toolkit that will be available on the same day in ANFPConnect:

Important Questions to Ask – The best way to get started is to ask important questions, not only of your sponsors but about your chapter as well. What you ask can help you determine what your needs are as a chapter and how your sponsors can help. You will also want to learn more about the products and services your sponsors will be selling and how you can form a collaborative relationship that is mutually beneficial.

Tools & Templates – There are several tools and templates that will prove to be useful when approaching prospective sponsors. These tools will help you stay organized, collect information and data, and present a professional and cohesive sponsor package to potential sponsors when it comes time to sell.

Best Practices - During the webinar we will be providing tips and best practices when it comes to selling to sponsors and building and maintaining relationships so both parties benefit from the partnership.

These highlights and much more will be discussed during the webinar. Please join us on Thursday, September 10 at 2:00 PM CT to learn more about building sponsor partnerships.

Registration for this event is required. (The webinar will be recorded and posted on ANFPtv for those that are not able to join the live program.)

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

Chapter Champions

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.

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

Learn more about becoming a Chapter Champion HERE.

As we approach the middle of summer, many of our chapter leaders have already turned their thoughts to fall meetings. Unforeseen circumstances presented challenges for our chapter spring meetings, and we may face those same challenges in the fall. Depending on your state and/or facility’s recommendations for travel and/or gatherings of large groups, an in-person meeting may not be feasible. If your chapter decides to forego the in-person meeting, keep some ‘do’s and don’ts’ in mind when developing the meeting or sessions to present virtually.

DO Start with Learning Objectives – Similar to any face to face course or session, virtual sessions should also include objectives, and attendees should still be able to walk away with takeaways. For more information on how to write objectives, please refer ‘How to Create Learning Objectives’ in the Prior Approvals Toolkit on ANFPConnect.

DON’T Try to Re-Create a Live Event on a Virtual Platform – Trying to give your attendees the exact same experience as an in-person meeting is not feasible. Sitting in front of a screen watching a slideshow or a ‘talking head’ is far less engaging than being in a room with other attendees and a live speaker. Keep this in mind as you develop your agenda and consider a shorter program broken up over several days or even weeks.

DO Plan for Interactive Activities - Maintaining engagement during a virtual session can be difficult. Often, attendees have many behind-the-scenes distractions that compete for their full attention. To make the session more engaging, consider implementing polls, asking for feedback via the chat function (depending on the platform), Q&A sessions, trivia, or bingo (related to the learning objectives) through the session.

DON’T Use a Platform You are Unfamiliar With – For many of us, we have been forced to learn new technology that includes video/audio features. Whether it was for meetings, trainings, or even seeing the faces of our loved ones, we have likely had to learn to use a platform such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, etc. When it comes to your virtual events, go with what you know. Take the time to become more familiar with all the features available of the preferred platform and ensure your speakers feel comfortable with the technology as well.

DO Assign Volunteers to Help Facilitate the Session – While you may have one or two chapter leaders responsible for developing the program, there are many facets of a virtual session that require support and attention. Consider having one volunteer dedicated to monitoring the questions that come through on chat, dedicate another volunteer for troubleshooting for attendees that have difficulty with the technology, and designate someone as the virtual emcee/host.

This month we are honoring Toni Skaggs CDM, CFPP, of the Wyoming ANFP chapter, as our Volunteer of the Month. Toni became certified in 2016 and jumped right into volunteering with her chapter as the president-elect. She then stepped into the role of president shortly thereafter and continues to serve in this role as of today. In 2019, she also served on the Young Members Advisory Council, a group of appointed members that guides the direction and focus on member recruitment and retention of individuals new to the profession and persons under the age of 35.

When Toni first stepped into the chapter volunteer role, she was not familiar with some of the responsibilities and faced various challenges. However, through this experience she has learned a great deal about chapter management and administration, and herself, and she has set an example for other members as a leader that is not afraid to step into the great unknown of chapter leadership.

She hopes by leading by example, that others will step outside their own comfort zones and volunteer with the chapter. Toni would also like to see the WY ANFP chapter continue collaborating with others states for chapter meetings as they have done in the past with Utah and Colorado with great success.

When asked about her thoughts on those members that may be hesitant to volunteer, Toni states “Just say yes. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and the experience has definitely added skills and knowledge to my toolbox I will carry to everything I do in life. It hasn’t always been easy but there has always been someone willing to help me from my state chapter or from nationals. It has truly been rewarding to be a part of something bigger.”

Thank you, Toni, for your dedication and service to ANFP! You have shown members that taking a risk is well worth the effort and has led to many great accomplishments! Congratulations on the many successes and more to come!

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

New Chapter Leader Resource!

In addition to the new Prior Approvals Toolkit that became available on June 1, we have also included a Food Broker’s Contact List in the toolkit on ANFPConnect. This list can be found within the Prior Approvals Toolkit under Additional Resources. This is a great resource for our individual members as well as chapters for prospective partnerships at the chapter level.

ANFP Government Affairs Update

New to Volunteer Leader, we will be providing updates on government affairs initiatives with our chapter leaders as new information becomes available. These updates will be provided as means to help our members understand the initiatives that effect our industry as well as members. All of the information is available in the ANFP’s ROOTS Roundup update. Please take a few moments to read through the update and share with your members.

• End of the Year Financial Statement (June 2019 - April 2020) - PAST DUE
• Update officers in chapter portal - PAST DUE (incoming or current officers must now be entered as 'Add Position Current Term.' Click here for instructions. 
•  Affiliate Agreement and Code of Conduct signed and submitted to National - PAST DUE
• 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.

As we kick off a new year, Barbara Thomsen, CDM, CFPP will continue to serve as the Chair of the Government Affairs committee. This committee is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive and effective government affairs strategies for the association on both the federal and state levels. Continuing their service on the committee are Judith Hazlett, CDM, CFPP; Cindy Cothern, CDM, CFPP; Larry Jackson, CDM, CFPP; Zlatko Jancic, CDM, CFPP; Richard Lind, CDM, CFPP; Bionca Lindsey, CDM, CFPP; Kenneth Owens, CDM, CFPP; Sue Rinkenberger, CDM, CFPP; and Sherri Williams, CDM, CFPP. 

Serving as the Chair on the ANFP-PAC committee is Shona McCue, CDM, CFPP.  This committee is responsible for assisting the Government Affairs committee in the development and implementation of effective government affairs strategies and recommends the disbursement of funds from the ANFP-PAC in concert with current legislative strategies. Continuing their service are Denise Choleva, CDM, CFPP; and Tina Day, CDM, CFPP.  Please welcome Andrew Aumann, CDM, CFPP; Dorothy Radermacher, CDM, CFPP; and Felicia Smith, MHA, CDM, CFPP as the newest volunteers. 

This year, the committees will focus on increasing the number of ANFP-approved training programs and will continue to promote the CDM, CFPP credential as the primary qualification for the Director of Food and Nutrition Services in the absence of a full-time dietitian.  The committee has developed a CDM, CFPP Credential at a Glance map that includes the current number of credential holders, long term care facilities, and ANFP-approved programs in each state.  To view this map, click here.

On July 18, 2019, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule making “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities; Regulatory Provisions to Promote Efficiency, and Transparency” would rescind the requirement that the director of food and nutrition services be a CDM,CFPP and ANFP submitted comments opposing this change (and generated additional like-minded comments). ANFP made a strong case to CMS for keeping the CDM, CFPP requirement; and this, in conjunction with growing press criticism of the entire CMS rule making stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, has delayed a final ruling from CMS for the foreseeable future.

ANFP’s participation in the Occupation America Jobs and Careers Coalition (OAJCC) continues to provide ANFP with more visibility on Capitol Hill and more potential platforms for the CDM, CFPP credential. OAJCC coordinated a May 20 letter (that ANFP cosigned) to relevant Senate and House committee chairs and ranking members urging a flexible workforce-development component in any stimulus bill passed by Congress. This idea is gaining traction on Capitol Hill and in the White House. On May 29, OAJCC hosted a Zoom meeting with Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy James Redstone to discuss the White House American Workforce Policy Board’s call-to-action to help those on coronavirus-related unemployment find new jobs, and this provided an excellent forum to explain the value of the CDM, CFPP credentialing program. OAJCC has also facilitated Zoom meetings between ANFP and apprenticeship program experts at the Urban Institute to possibly become a national sponsor for a youth apprenticeship program in foodservice. The Urban Institute received a $2 million annual grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to establish more youth apprenticeship programs and can assist with all aspects of ANFP potentially becoming a national sponsor, with funding of up to $1,000 per apprentice.

ANFP’s political action committee, ANFP-PAC, has $8,000 cash on-hand and is reviewing U.S. House and Senate candidates to support for the 2020 election.

Learn more about the GrassROOTS initiatives or join the cause and become a member of the network here. Please also consider giving to ANFP-PAC, which is integral to our visibility and success on Capitol Hill.

The 2020 volunteer year has officially begun. We are looking forward to a great year with new and veteran volunteers. As you have seen in the previous weeks, we have made many changes that have gone into effect as of June 1. Included in those are the changes to the Prior Approval application and process. We have distributed much information about these changes in the previous months, as well as tools, resources, and templates to help simplify the process for our chapter leaders. All tools, resources, documents, and the Prior Approvals handbook and application can be found on ANFPConnect in Volunteer Resources (Prior Approvals Toolkit & Meeting Resources).

Below are the most significant changes within the application.

• Step 2 - Chapters can request multiple certificates, one for each day or for a special event that would be separately priced. If you are allowing your members to register for one day of of a two- or three-day meeting, please request separate certificates for each day. Individual prior approval numbers will be generated for reporting purposes. 
• Step 3 - Using Appendix C & D, you will need to decide the overall competency level for your meeting and select the most relevant topic areas the education included in your meeting will cover. There are 36 topic areas to choose from which follow the CDM Credentialing Exam blueprint. Refer to the Gap Analysis Tool found on www.CBDMonline.org under the Resources tab for a better understanding of how this tool can help evaluate continuing education goals. 
• Step 6 - A description of the overall content of your meeting allows you to advertise your meeting to members using the 'Find CE' tool. Find CE is an area of the ANFP website where CBDM Prior Approved education can be found. You must be logged in to access.
• Beginning June 1, 2020, ANFP will charge a $50 late fee for applications submitted less than 30 days prior to the event. ANFP staff will work with chapters on a case-by-case basis for this new policy. In most cases, we will process the application if reasonable time is permitted. 

• Example Applications - ANFP has provided samples of completed applications for chapter leaders to reference as they complete their own. This will ensure the submitted application is completed in its entirety and includes all required supporting documents in the correct format. 
• Speaker Directory - The new user-friendly speaker directory will allow chapter leaders to find ANFP approved speakers by topic, state, and type of CE awarded (GEN, SAN, and Ethics). It also includes biographies from each of the speakers, simplifying the process of tracking down speaker bios that are required as part of the application. The directory will be updated regularly with ANFP approved speakers. It will also include speakers that are recommended by chapters (pending ANFP approval). 
• Speaker Recommendation Form - Chapter leaders will have the opportunity to recommend speakers to national and other chapters. These recommendations will be added to the speaker directory. Speaker recommendations can include speakers that presented at chapter meetings or other industry workshops, conferences, or seminars. 
• How to Write Learning Objectives - ANFP has provided a step by step guide on how to write learning objectives for your audience. 
• Speaker Information Form - A form that can be sent to speakers to capture all their information, including contact information, learning objectives, name of session, CE type, and AV needs. 
• Event Planning Grid - This template allows the meeting/program chair to keep all information and details related to meeting logistics including: speaker checklist, food & beverage details/catering, daily schedule with room assignments and audiovisual needs, etc., in one place, for easy reference and organization. Additional tabs can be added and customized, like vendor information, budget or registration dashboard, or other important information related to the event. 
• Meeting Planning Checklist - This form allows the meeting/program planner to list all tasks that need to be executed for a successful meeting, along with the deadline for who is responsible for each task. 
• Evaluation Form Template - Though it may look very similar to the previous version, we have added a few additional questions that will serve the chapter well for future meetings. As this serves as a template, chapter leaders will still be able to format and edit the document to fit their needs. 
• Top 10s & Helpful Tips - A list of top ten tips for meeting planning and presenting, and other helpful tips, are available to help chapter leaders stay organized and prioritize these crucial components of the meeting. 

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.

• 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