A Message from Your SNA President-Elect
Military Boot Camp— a short, intensive and rigorous course for training.

SNA’s Industry Boot Camp— a short, fun, intensive and action-packed meeting filled with school nutrition industry leaders hungry to learn!

The Association’s Spring Industry Boot Camp was held in Alexandria, Virginia on May 1-2. This year’s event included representatives from over 30 businesses and foodservice directors from several school districts around the country. The always-popular “District Directors Panel” included schools from Maryland and South Dakota. Hearing from school nutrition professionals is always a high point for our industry attendees!

Attendees were also given the opportunity to take a field trip to tour the school nutrition operation at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Va., as well as being treated to a delicious lunch. What a great location! A big thank you to Assistant Foodservice Director Maria Perrone, RDN, for hosting everyone!

USDA was also in the house! Sarah Smith-Holmes was there to help explain and try to simplify the Buy American Provision and how it relates to procurement in our school nutrition programs. The more that our industry partners know about school nutrition procurement rules, the better able they will be to help operators feed their kids!

In an effort to continue to keep these events on the cutting edge, this year’s Boot Camp was revamped through the work of K12 Consultant Mary Begalle and the SNA Industry Advisory Council. Through previous evaluations, it was suggested that we create a 2.0 version of Industry Boot Camp! SNA listened and this program is in development.

As one meeting wraps up, another is on the horizon. I hope to see some of you this week at the SNA National Leadership Conference in Sarasota, Florida. As I write this, it snowed in Vermont, so I have to say that I am looking forward to seeing the Florida sun! And, of course, it's not too late to register for #ANC19— and even to grab one of the last exhibit spaces. Come meet ME in St. Louis this summer.

Sincerely,

Doug Davis, SNS
SNA President-Elect
DID YOU KNOW

52.2% of school districts have specifications that determine geographic preferences for local or regional sourcing—beyond Buy American—included in all, or some, of their solicitations or purchases. Learn more in SNA’s 2018 Operations Report .
SNA CALENDAR

July 14-16, 2019
St. Louis, Mo.
Important Announcements
Take the SNS Exam at ANC on 7/13!

The School Nutrition Specialist Credential is a mark of excellence and achievement that reflects the expertise needed in today’s school nutrition profession. Show your commitment and understanding of school nutrition programs and take the SNS credentialing exam at ANC. Find out more about how to apply and the eligibility requirements here or email certSNS@schoolnutrition.org with questions.

Become a Sponsor at SNA's Annual National Conference (ANC19) in St. Louis

Now is the time to contact SNA to increase your visibility at ANC and help build brand familiarity with potential clients. For sponsorship opportunities (Banners, Clings & Floor Decals), please contact Sherry Carrigan, Staff Vice President of Business Development & Meetings at (800) 877-8822, ext. 151 or scarrigan@schoolnutrition.org .

Hip! Hip! Horizon!

Horizon Software has found a new way to increase its booth traffic at state conferences and donate to the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) at the same time. For every attendee that comes by its exhibit booth and mentions the School Nutrition Foundation, Horizon will make a donation. The roll-out of this exciting fundraising campaign took place at the Georgia SNA state show. Horizon representatives reported a huge increase in the number of attendees who stopped by their booth, knowing it would help support SNF. Horizon plans to replicate this unique campaign at other state conferences this spring, including Tennessee, Colorado, Utah, Ohio, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. For more information, please contact SNF at snf@schoolnutrition.org .

Smile! It’s Mother’s Day

You can bring a smile to your mother’s face when you shop for her through the AmazonSmile Program that supports the School Nutrition Foundation. Sign up through the AmazonSmile Program and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to SNF. There is no cost to you or to the Foundation.

All you do is go to smile.amazon.com/ch/84-6039412   and once your selection is made, every time you purchase something through the AmazonSmile Program, SNF will benefit. It is the easiest way to give back to the Foundation that gives to SNA members!

Gain the Competitive Edge with School Nutrition Magazine

When you advertise in School Nutrition (SN), your products and services are being considered by readers who represent an ever-expanding market. Are you ready to gain the competitive edge in the K-12 foodservice market segment? SN magazine can offer you unmatched access to the decision-makers who need your creative solutions to their unique challenges. Check out the magazine’s editorial highlights for the remainder of 2019 , and put these advantages to work in your efforts to gain the competitive edge.
Annual National Conference Reminders
ANC 2019 St. Louis Exhibit Hall Sign-Up: Less Than 30 Booths Available!

You don't want to miss an opportunity to network with fellow exhibitors, demo your culinary expertise and meet influential decision-makers. ANC is the "School Nutrition Event of the Year"!

If you haven't done so already, visit ANC 2019 Exhibit Hall Sign Up , to see what exhibit space is still available for the upcoming 73rd Annual National Conference in St. Louis, Mo. at America's Center on July 15-16, 2019 (2 day tradeshow).

Contact Crystal Harper-Pierre, Exhibits Sales Manager at (800) 877-8822, ext. 140 or charper@schoolnutrition.org , to reserve your booth space. Crystal looks forward to hearing from you.

ANC 2019 St. Louis Exhibitor Service Kit

The new ANC 2019 St. Louis Exhibitor Service Kit is available through GES/Global Experience Specialist, SNA’s official trade show decorator. The Exhibitor Service Kit will assist you with the rental of utilities, furniture, services and accessories. Please contact Crystal Harper Pierre at (703) 824-3040 or  charper@schoolnutrition.org if you have any questions.

Submit Your Program Description for ANC (deadline extended to May 17, 2019)

The official ANC Program Guide includes all session and event information, as well as an in-depth buyers’ guide section. It is a valuable onsite tool and future desk reference guide for attendees. Visit Submit Your ANC Program Guide Company Description .

Certificate of Insurance

Please provide Rain Protection Insurance (official SNA vendor) your company’s Certificate of Insurance (COI). It is mandatory for all companies exhibiting at ANC 2019 to carry worker’s compensation, comprehensive general liability (including products & operations), independent contractors, personal injury and blanket contractual liability. It is strongly recommended that exhibitors carry insurance to cover loss of or damage to their exhibits or other personal property while such property is located at or is in transit to or from the Convention Center. You cannot obtain access of your booth until SNA receives the COI. Deadline to submit your Certificate of Insurance (COI) to SNA is May 31.
 
Exhibitor Registration & Housing

The online exhibitor registration is now open! SNA has planned an outstanding series of education sessions and General Sessions. We encourage you to attend these sessions and learn more about the child nutrition industry. Each company receives five (5) complimentary badges per 10x10 booth space purchased. Once your company goes over their badge allotment, there is a $125 fee for additional badges. No badges above your allotment will be processed without payment. Online registration allows you to make changes and additions to your badge order up until the time the site closes on Friday, June 28, 2019. Badges will not be mailed, but available for pick- up onsite at the Registration Desk at the America’s Center Convention Complex.

The Online Registration:


  • Click on the icon: Exhibitor Registration
 
  • User Name: Find your company name
 
  • Enter Password: ANC19STL
 
  • Click on Add New Booth Personnel

Complete the information that is required. If you have questions about registration, please contact Convention Data Services at (774) 247-4018 or anc@xpressreg.com .

Housing: This year’s procedures require all Exhibitors to register for badges before they will be provided access to the SNA housing system and the discounted rates at the official ANC 2019 hotels. This change in procedure is designed to help the Association better control the inventory of available rooms, ensuring that a greater number of exhibitors will have the opportunity to book their first-choice hotels on their preferred dates and still receive SNA’s discounted rates.

  1. You MUST register for your badge first.
  2. Convention Data Services (our official registration company) will forward you a confirmation receipt that will contain a confirmation number and the link to the housing site.
  3. Click on the housing site link within the confirmation receipt and you will be able to reserve your hotel rooms.

If you wish to reserve a block of rooms, please call Conference Direct/the SNA Housing Call Center at (877) 440-7549; Monday–Friday, 9 am–5pm (EST) or email: sna@conferencedirect.com .

Be a Part of One of the Highlights of ANC—Culinary Demonstrations (Only 1 timeslot available)

The Culinary Demonstrations will be held during the education session time slots; more visibility for your company . Culinary Demos provide an opportunity to showcase your latest food products, recipes, techniques, nutrition and food presentation skills and offer ways to enhance school meals and increase participation. These demos will be available for purchase of $3,500 each. You must be exhibiting at ANC19 to present a demo.

2019 ANC New Product Showcase

Enhance your visibility at ANC by displaying your product within the New Produce Showcase. The Showcase is a one-of-a-kind display of the new products, services and equipment positioned outside of the Exhibit Hall in a high-traffic area. It is a quick and effective way to introduce and promote your product to the 3,000 ANC attendees. Slots are available on a first-come, first-served-basis. Take advantage of this tremendous opportunity and reserve your spot no later than May 31 . Don’t miss out!

Beware Unauthorized Solicitations

Don’t fall victim to the rash of unauthorized companies that solicit our attendees and exhibitors in regard to various services, ranging from housing to attendee lists to bootleg publications. Please do not respond to their emails or calls. Do not provide them with credit card information. You are welcome to contact SNA at any time to confirm the status of an official SNA vendor. Unfortunately, SNA has no control over the false claims that these unauthorized vendors make and is not able to assist in resolving issues that arise when our exhibitors enter into agreements with unauthorized companies. You can find a list of approved show vendors here.

Do You Know How to Increase Your Priority Points?

Priority points are earned from June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019 and are compiled based on the following criteria. There is still time to reach out to Sherry Carrigan, scarrigan@schoolnutrition.org , to discuss any sponsorships that might still be available for ANC!

Remember that these points will determine your scheduled appointment for exhibitor sign-up for ANC 2020 Nashville. Contact the following SNA Centers to show your support and to increase your points at (703) 824-3000:

  • Meetings (exhibits/booths) at ext. 140
  • Business Development (membership & sponsorship) at ext. 151
  • Communications (advertising) at ext. 112
  • School Nutrition Foundation (sponsorship) at ext. 131

Change in Personnel

Please notify SNA when there is a change in staff or management, so that we can update your company record. Email the information to meetings@schoolnutrition.org . Thank you.
Legislative & Regulatory Update
SNA Responds to School Meal Flexibilities Complaints

In a statement issued last month, SNA expressed its support for U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) December 2018 final rule on school meal flexibilities in response to lawsuits filed in New York and Maryland challenging USDA’s actions. Learn more .

Sen. Gillibrand Introduced Bill to Eliminate Chlorpyrifos in School Meals

In April, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Safe School Meals for Kids Act, which would phase out foods that have been treated with the insecticide chlorpyrifos. Learn more .

USDA Publishes School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study

USDA published the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study, the first nationally representative, comprehensive assessment of school meal programs since updated nutrition standards for school meals went into effect. Learn more .

New Guidance Memos on Food Crediting Available

In a set of new memos, FNS provides guidance on crediting various foods based on feedback from child nutrition professionals. The memos address: tempeh, surimi, popcorn, coconut, hominy, dried meats and seafoods, pastas made of vegetable flour, corn masa and corn flour. Learn more .