Monthly e-news for Oregon's school nutrition professionals

Happy Summer! As you know, OSNA has been working to improve its member communications, beginning with last year's redesign of the website, www.osna.us. Each month, the OSNA School Meal Scoop e-newsletter features updates on association activities and events, links to useful school nutrition tips and tools, and other resources that will help you provide healthy school meals one bite at a time! Feel free to email us and let us know what you think!
JUNE 2016

Send Us Your News!
OSNA wants the scoop on your school meal successes! Feel free to send us your news, links and images and we'll post them on our website and in our e-news!

2016-17
OSNA Officers

President
Troy Vennewitz 
North Wasco County SD
 
President-Elect 
Cheri Meeker
Newberg SD

Vice President 
Anne Leavens
Central Point SD
Immediate Past President 
Cindi Hiatt-Henry
McMinnville SD 
 
Treasurer 
Marcie Christensen
Lake Oswego SD

Secretary 
Rebecca Wicks
Hillsboro SD 

2016
CALENDAR


July 10-13
School Nutrition Association
Annual National Conference
San Antonio, TX

Hand writing the text Save The Date October 21
Oregon School Nutrition Association (OSNA)
Annual Industry Seminar & USDA Foods Show
Camp Withycombe
Clackamas, OR

COMMODITY VENDORS: RESERVE YOUR SPACE
Please visit the OSNA Events page for details on reserving booth space at the USDA Foods Show. Booth reservation details, floor layout and contact information are available to download.


Thanks to 
Our Sponsors







Advertise in the 2016-17 OSNA  Annual Directory
The OSNA Annual Directory reaches the state's 600 school nutrition directors and buyers with distribution at OSNA's October Industry Seminar & Food Commodity Show and its annual March State Conference.

Advertisers receive:

* Premium positions viewed by Oregon's school nutrition directors and buyers all year long

* Free Supplier Section listings, with live links to your website and email in the digital version 
 
* Budget-friendly ad pricing and free assistance with graphic design
SNA UPDATES MEMBERS ON BLOCK GRANT ACTIVITIES
Recently, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) sent a letter updating its members on the association's efforts to defeat a Congressional school meal block grant proposal. OSNA sent out a follow-up Action Alert to Oregon members with details.

SNA has a long history of fighting to protect school meal programs from the threat of block grants, which strip programs of vital funding, limit student access to meals and abolish federal mandates that preserve the quality of school meals nationwide.

Congress is currently considering the school meal block grant proposal, HR 5003. SNA is urging members to ask Congress to oppose school meal block grants. Please visit www.schoolnutrition.org/STOPtheBlock to learn about the House proposal and to take action today.

FREE GARDEN-TO-SCHOOL WEBINAR, JUNE 23

Have you ever wondered what it takes to get your school garden produce into the lunchroom? Slow Food USA is offering a free webinar, " From Garden to Cafeteria: Successes, Challenges and Models from Across the U.S.," at 3:00 pm, Thursday, June 23, 2016.

Guest presenters are: Kyla Van Deusen, Program Manager for Captain Planet Foundation's Project Learning Garden; Bang Tran, FoodCorps Service Member for Captain Planet Foundation in Atlanta, GA; and Drew Thomas, School Garden Coordinator for Chicago Public Schools.

To join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone, click on the Go-To Meeting link or dial in using your phone:

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/793288293
or (US) +1 (646) 749-3122.

CORVALLIS SD RECEIVES USDA's ONE-IN-A-MELON AWARD
The USDA has awarded one school district in each state the "One in a Melon" designation for having a successful farm-to-school program, including Oregon's Corvallis School District. Farm-to-school programs can help increase student meal participation rates,  reduce food waste, and make it more likely children will try new fruits and vegetables, according to the 2015 Farm to School Census.

Congratulations to our school nutrition colleagues at Corvallis School District! 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Source: USDA Farm to School Census, 2015

The newly updated Farm to School Census website
allows users to find information about farm to school programs in their state and in their particular school or district. The site also names three top school districts in each state that boast higher than average investment in local food purchasing.

Visit the website to find infographics and stats on how Oregon stacks up! You'll find results like these:  
  • 55% of Oregon school districts surveyed by USDA say they participate in farm to school activities
  • Another 13% of Oregon school districts surveyed plan to start farm to school programs in the future
  • 40% of Oregon school districts are using local foods in summer meals
JOB OPENINGS

Gervais Schools
Head Cook | How to Apply

Gervais Schools
Cook | How to Apply

Reynolds School District
Cook / Assistant Manager | Apply Online

Do You Have a Job Opening?
It's easy to post your school foodservice job openings on the OSNA website or in the School Meal Scoop eNews. Just send an email to Julie Larson Bricher with the URL link to the job description/application.

The Oregon School Nutrition Association (OSNA) is a collaborative group of school nutrition and foodservice professionals and industry suppliers who work together to ensure that Oregon's 600,000 K-12 students receive wholesome, nutritious foods in school meal programs all over the state. Founded 70 years ago, OSNA has more than 500 school nutrition members, including public school district, private and residential child care institution directors, managers, coordinators, chefs and foodservice staff. For more, visit www.osna.us