Food for Thought

February is the shortest month of the year. Before we know it, spring will be here, and we will look back wondering where time went. While many of our chapters are preparing for their spring meetings, we also want to keep in mind the volunteer year ahead. Our spring meetings are the perfect catalyst to get prepared for the year ahead as well as get member feedback and buy-in, and discuss your chapter’s strategic plan for the new volunteer year. Here are a few ways to ensure you make the best of your face-to-face time with members and are prepared for the year ahead. 

New Mission & Vision – Last month, ANFP introduce the new mission and vision that will go into effect on June 1. 
    VISION: Enhance health and wellness through optimum nutritional care. 
    MISSION: Build an inclusive and diverse community of experts in foodservice management and food safety through: Education, Advocacy, & Research. 
Use your spring meeting to discuss the new vision and mission and remind attendees that your strategic plan will be tied to this as well as the goals, and members will be notified once it has been finalized. However, chapters can use this time to start discussing how members can support the mission, vision and strategic plan, at both the national and chapter level. 

Member Survey – While chapters will use their meetings as an opportunity to survey members about the meeting, its also a great time to get additional feedback and suggestions for their overall satisfaction with the chapter. Think about sending out a brief member satisfaction survey prior to the meeting, and then discuss the summarized results in person. Or consider adding additional member satisfaction questions to your meeting evaluation which can then be sent to the members not in attendance following the meeting. 

Budgets – Chapters should also be using the next couple months to develop their annual budget. Budgets should be completed by the spring board meeting so the board can review the final draft and approve it.