A Message from Your SNA President-Elect |
“For all of its uncertainty, we cannot flee the future.” Barbara Jordan.
Those of us in school food service are living in uncertain times indeed. Everyone wants answers and the questions keep coming. It is hard to know which task to tackle first. And even harder to deal with the fact that some things cannot be solved immediately.
Stories about school food service workers from all parts of the country reveal immense grace under pressure. The reaction time, creativity and commitment of our frontline workers has been astonishing. Our communities are taking notice.
The end to COVID-19 will come. The frustration and confusion we are living through will be replaced by something far more powerful. People will remember how we stood up to this challenge. We will be able to say, “I was there. I was there to meet the moment. I was there to put things right.”
For now, there are three things we can do:
- Reset expectations with parents, teachers and vendors.
- Lean on each other. Step back, take a breath and know that our path forward depends on the teammate next to us and our industry partners.
- Stay flexible. There are many more challenges ahead. If we stay focused, rested and kind we will come out the other side stronger than before.
SNA Superheroes always step up when we are needed most. As Guy Clark wrote; Life is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape
Sincerely,
Beth Wallace
SNA President-Elect
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DID YOU KNOW
95% of SNA member school districts reported providing emergency meal assistance during COVID-19 school closures in spring of 2020. Learn more about how school nutrition operations showed up for the nation in SNA’s COVID-19 Impact on School Nutrition Report
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SNA CALENDAR
Virtual Event
August 17-18
Virtual Event
Virtual Event
November 17-19, 2020
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SNA’s 2020 Innovative Solution Sessions
If you are looking for ways to showcase your product, service, or piece of equipment to Directors and decision-makers in the K-12 school feeding industry, then you will not want to miss the opportunity to do just that through SNA’s New Innovative Solutions Showcase. Attendees have been raving about it for the past couple weeks as School Districts still need to place orders for product, services, and equipment for not just the coming school year, but potentially to meet the need of continuing to feed kids throughout the summer.
We have made a few more adjustments to the format and here’s how it works. Each week we will be offering up to 6 (3 per day) virtual industry presentations using the Zoom platform. Showcases will be hosted in 2-hour blocks (See schedule below), two days a week on Monday and Tuesday afternoons throughout the end September, except for Labor Day. The Innovative Solutions Showcase will be similar to the Innovative Solution Sessions we offer at SNIC; however, these would be offered virtually. All attendees will be in one room and each company will present one at a time.
1:00-1:05 Intro and Welcome
1:05-1:35 1st Innovative Showcase timeslot
1:35-1:40 pm: Break
1:40-2:10 pm: 2nd Innovative Showcase timeslot
2:10-2:15 pm: Break
2:15-2:45 pm: 3rd Innovative Showcase timeslot
The cost to participate is $4,000. If you want to present more than one time during this time period, we will be happy to work out a package price for you. All presentations will be recorded and sent to all registered attendees along with the company’s presentations. We are also working to create a dedicated area on our website to post the recordings for SNA members to access.
Hurry and sign up to reserve your spot! Download the application form here. All exhibitors will also receive 1 additional priority point when signing up to participate.
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SNA’s Level I Fall Industry Boot Camp Goes Virtual! REGISTRATION OPEN!
Don’t miss SNA’s Fall VIRTUAL Industry Boot Camp Seminar – Level I
Register now for SNA’s Fall Virtual Industry Boot Camp session, November 17, 18 & 19, 2020. Industry Boot Camp is an intense educational seminar designed to help industry representatives new to school nutrition, and seasoned veterans, who want to brush up, or better understand the ins and outs of the school nutrition segment. Topics include school meal program basics, USDA regulations, menu planning, offer versus serve, reimbursement rates, trends in school feeding, and more, and includes an overview of how Covid-19 has impacted these areas. The highlight of every Boot Camp Seminar is the Directors Panel including some of the top Foodservice Directors in the nation, several representing districts in the top 100.
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NEW SPONSORHSIP OPPORUNITY!
SNA’s Fall Directors Best Practices Conference:
Coming Together to Feed Kids During a Pandemic
Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with peers on the best ideas to feed kids in response to virtual and blended learning environments, staggered academic schedules and different service delivery models. Find out what's working, what's not and gain access to proven templates and practical ideas you can use. The series will be hosted on SNA’s Training Zone and will also be recorded and available year-round. Learn More!
Sponsor Benefits:
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Exclusive sponsorship opportunity for only TEN (10) sponsors at $5,000/ea (5 slots remaining)
- Individual and exclusive sponsor page with the opportunity to upload videos highlighting product/service, PDFs, description and contact information.
- (5) Five complimentary registrations for your team to attend the conference and network with Directors.
- Sponsor/Logo recognition shared during breaks, email blasts, rotating housekeeping slides and registration page.
- Attendee roster with contact information to follow-up post-conference
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SNA Back to School (BTS) Webinar Series – Partnership Opportunities
This is a complex time for school nutrition programs and operators are looking to SNA’s Back to School Webinar Series to help them navigate feeding students with virtual and hybrid academic schedules, social distancing requirements and meals in the classroom.
Take advantage of this remarkable opportunity to partner with SNA! All webinars are recorded and hosted in the SNA Training Zone, which over 18,000 participants/year have taken advantage of. Please contact us for more information!
Sponsor Benefits:
- Marketing reach through various newsletter and social media channels, exceeds 35K members.
- Logo included in marketing materials and featured at the beginning and end of each webinar.
- Option of introducing the speakers on each webinar.
- Include up to two questions on the post-webinar survey.
- A detailed analytics report approximately one-month post webinar.
If you are interested and would like more details, please contact SNA Business Development Manager Nita Artis at nartis@schoolnutrition.org.
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Call for 2021 SNA Election Nominations
The 2021 election nominations process is open and SNA is seeking nominees for the Industry Advisory Council Chair. We encourage you to nominate yourself or a colleague for this important position. Check out the SNA website at schoolnutrition.org/LeadershipOpp for information about the role as well as the digital nomination form. All paperwork is due Wednesday, September 30, 2020, so get your form in early! The Leadership Development Committee will meet in October to select the candidate slate for the 2021 election. The selected candidates will be announced in November and the election will be February 15-28, 2021.
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SNA 2020 Industry Member of the Year – Virtual Celebration!
Congratulations to Jose Quinones, from JTM Food Group on winning the 2020 Industry Member of the Year! Read the special School Nutrition supplement honoring the 2020-21 award winners and check out the spotlight on the Industry Member of the Year.
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Calling All Interested Equipment Companies
Never in the history of SNA, has the need for new or updated kitchen equipment and COVID-19 emergency feeding supplies been greater than it is today. This was proven once again in 2020 when over 250 directors applied for one of the four available SNF Equipment Grants – representing a miniscule percentage of schools that are so desperately in need. It’s time for SNF to create opportunities so more SNA members can benefit from equipment grants.
If your company can join SNF in its pursuit of providing more equipment grants for SNA members in 2021 and to inquire about the benefits of becoming a grant partner, please email Sherry Carrigan at scarrigan@schoolnutrition.org or Heide Voss at hvoss@schoolnutrition.org.
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The non-profit School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) has created the "Help Feed School Kids Now!" fundraising campaign to support school nutrition professionals’ emergency feeding operations during COVID-19 school closures, summer feeding and schools re-opening this fall. SNF will award grants to schools to address urgent needs due to the transition from traditional cafeteria service to grab-and-go meal pick-up and delivery models. School meal programs operate on extremely tight budgets, funded by cafeteria sales and reimbursements for meals served. With revenue declines due to closures, many school meal programs lack critical funds to purchase necessary equipment and supplies or cover transportation, temporary staffing and other costs associated with COVID-19 feeding programs. Learn More.
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Annual National Conference Reminders |
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ANC2021 Chicago Exhibit Hall Sign-up:
“Feeding the Feature” as you network with your fellow exhibitors, demo your culinary expertise, and meet influential decision-makers.
If you haven’t done so already, visit: SNA"s Exhibits Page to see what exhibit space is still available for the upcoming 75th Annual National Conference in Chicago, Illinois at the McCormick Place on July 12 – 13, 2021 (2-day tradeshow).
Deadline to receive the early bird booth rates is September 30, 2020. Contact Crystal Harper-Pierre, SNA Exhibits Sales Manager at 800/877-8822, ext. 140 or charper@schoolnutrition.org, to reserve your booth space. Crystal would be glad to hear from you.
ANC is School Nutrition Event of the Year!!!
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Legislative & Regulatory Update |
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The Child Nutrition Relief Act of 2020
On August 5, 2020, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) introduced S.4447, the Child Nutrition Relief Act, the companion bill to Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez's (NY-07) H.R.7764. Read the full press release.
Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act
On July 30, 2020, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) introduced H.R.7887, the Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act. This bill would guarantee every child has safe access to healthy school meals during SY 2020-21. Read the full press release.
Take Action: We Need Your Voice!
Safe and consistent student access to school meals this fall continues to be threatened by unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 and we need your help to raise awareness and support! Go to SNA’s Action Network to speak up now.
New Nationwide COVID-19 Waivers
Six nationwide waivers for school meal service during COVID-19 closures have been posted by USDA. Read More
Senators Send Letter to USDA Regarding the Extension of School Meal Waivers
On July 29, 2020, U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and 34 other senators signed onto a letter sent to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expressing support for the extension of critical COVID-19 school feeding waivers. |
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