We have officially reached the mid-point of summer. June was a busy month for most of us, and the remaining months of summer will continue to be busy as well. In addition to our hectic work schedules, volunteer duties, and vacations, many of our chapter leaders were able to attend ACE that took place in Scottsdale, AZ, the last week of June. It was a unique opportunity for chapter leaders to network, learn, as well as discuss chapter related topics and the challenges many of our volunteers are facing. There were many other highlights that occurred during ACE which are noted below for those that were not able to attend.
Volunteer Luncheon – Each year at ACE we celebrate our volunteers with a luncheon and special recognition of our chapters and their accomplishments. Several states took home multiple awards for communications, government affairs, membership and the state achievement. In addition, we recognized our Diamond Award nominees that included, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, DE, DC, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Congratulations to all our chapters!
Chapter Best Practices – We had very engaging and dynamic session that featured four panelists/chapter leaders; Rick Eggert (WI ANFP), Robert McKeon (MD, DE, DC ANFP), Felicia Smith (WY ANFP) and Regina St. Clair (GA ANFP). The discussion was led by Omar Humes, National ANFP Chair, and we discussed resiliency in leadership. Many chapter leaders shard their challenges as well as how they have overcome these challenges and remained resilient during the last couple years. We shared many helpful ideas regarding recruitment, meeting planning, specifically related to speakers and session topics, and the importance of reaching out to one another for support and guidance.
Networking Circles – This year we introduced networking circles which were small groups of attendees (a mix of first-timers and veteran members) that met throughout the conference to chat, share a meal, ask questions and share what they had learned as well as network within a small group. Each circle was assigned a leader that helped them navigate the conference and introduced them to other peers. The feedback from participating attendees was positive and we will plan to facilitate these groups again next year for those that would like to participate or could not attend.
Honors Gala – Our week at ACE closed out with a spectacular evening at the Honors Gala. We recognized and celebrated peers and industry colleagues and one special chapter that have made a positive impact on the foodservice industry as well as ANFP. We concluded the evening with dancing and sharing laughs and good times among members. Congratulations to all our award winners! For a full list of award recipients, please click here.
Diamond Award – This year Minnesota (MN) ANFP was the recipient of the coveted Diamond Award. MN ANFP focused on assisting members and facilities with understanding and implementing the foodservice and nutrition components of the new regulations for assisted living in their state. The regulations allowed the chapter to highlight the expertise of the CDM, CFPP and all they can bring to the table. It was also the perfect opportunity to position the CDM, CFPP as subject matter experts in the assisted living environment. MN ANFP provided a continuous stream of education, information, and updates to their members to ensure they were informed and knowledgeable of all the changes and could be used a resource when implementing these changes. Congratulations, Minnesota ANFP, 2022 Diamon Award winner!
For those that were not able to attend, we hope you can join in is New Orleans, June 25-28, 2023!