Happy New Year

" This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change." - Taylor Swift

Happy New Year! A new decade! A leap year! Summer Olympics! Election year! 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment and a year of transition for ACS! So many exciting things are happening this year. Change is good, and while things will be different, the mission and vision of the American Cheese Society remain unchanged: 

Vision Statement: ACS is the leader in promoting and supporting American cheeses.

Mission Statement: ACS provides the cheese industry with educational resources and networking opportunities, while encouraging the highest standards of cheesemaking focused on safety and sustainability.

Core Values
Engagement: Support, promote, connect, and represent cheesemakers to the broader community and industry.
Education: Create and provide access to resources, programs, and education for our evolving industry.
Sustainability: Commit to a holistic approach to sustainability ensuring long-term physical and financial viability, so members survive and thrive.

To quote ACS Marketing & Development Director, Dawn Schipper, "we're blazing ahead into the new year!" which couldn't be truer as the ACS management team sprints towards our annual conference in July, Blazing the Trail for Cheese.

I would be remiss if I did not give Nora Weiser a big shout out for all the hard work, dedication, and passion she has given to ACS. Her vision, leadership, and perspective have enabled ACS to move to a new level, and I cannot thank her enough. All of us at ACS want to wish Nora good luck in her new endeavors, wherever they may take her.

Time Flies When You're Having Cheese

 

After ten amazing, busy, wonderful, challenging, educational, jam-packed, fun, inspirational, and non-stop years at the helm of ACS, it is hard to believe this is my last letter for CheeseBytes. I could not have imagined all those years ago that this experience would be so fulfilling and leave such an indelible mark on me both professionally and personally. I have had the good fortune to work with an endless array of amazing people over this past decade, and to forge many true friendships. The list of Board members with whom I've had the privilege to serve reads like a Who's Who of cheese industry greats. Over the years, I was also fortunate to work with hundreds of other dedicated committee members and volunteers. At a unique time in the industry's life cycle, I had a front row seat to the magic of American cheese - and the opportunity to do my part to help it grow and thrive.

 

The highlight reel is long, but some things stand out. The small seed of an idea to create our Official Conference Cheesemonger program grew to something incredibly special that allowed me and the dedicated ACS staff to get to know so many rockstar mongers who shared their passion with us. A small, determined group of visionaries had the idea to create an industry certification which ACS launched in 2012 and has now grown to over 1,000 Certified Cheese Professionals® and Certified Cheese Sensory Evaluators®. I had more fun making up cheese puns to put on t-shirts than I would have thought possible. I also learned more than I ever imagined about cheese, cheesemaking, and all facets of the specialty food industry - truly gaining insight into the meaning of "Farm to Table." I learned about molds and microbes and mesophiles, and, unexpectedly, even made some friends at the FDA. Through my work in cheese I was invited to engage with other parts of the specialty food industry, and I happily ate and drank my way from beer and cider to ice cream and charcuterie. I am pleased to report that I am leaving with the skills to put together a pretty mean cheese board!

 

I must express special gratitude to my dear friend, David Gremmels of Rogue Creamery, the first President under whom I served; and to the illustrious Marianne Smukowski of the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research, the last President with whom I served. Both were instrumental in collaborating with me during times of great change and excitement for ACS, and both have all the attributes needed to succeed in such times - kindness, integrity, intelligence, diplomacy, humor, leadership, and a shared love of cocktails for when the going gets tough! When David's Rogue River Blue was named the best cheese in the world this past year, it felt like a culmination of the rise of American cheese and a full-circle closure of my tenure with ACS.

 

To all of you with whom I've shared laughter, challenges, a great meal, or a quick drink, I extend a heartfelt "Thank You." ACS has achieved so much towards its vision to be the leader in supporting and promoting American cheeses because of you, our members. What you do and how you do it will inspire the next generation in cheese - and I am so proud that ACS is now a mature organization poised to lead the industry into its next chapter.

 

" They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol

 

Keep in touch!

Nora Weiser

Executive Director, 2010-2020

Director Emeritus, 2020+

linkedin.com/in/noraweiser/

noraweiser@gmail.com

Conference Scholarship Applications Open Soon

Have you been wanting to attend ACS Conference in the last few years but haven't because of costs? Apply for an ACS Conference Scholarship in 2020!

ACS 2019 Scholarship Recipients

Applications will be open February 3 - March 31 and may be partial or full. They are available in five buckets:

• Retailer
• Cheesemaker
• Student
• Chef
• Comté Association Conference Fund for those accepted to take the ACS Certified Cheese Professional® exam the same year

Funding for these scholarships comes from the American Cheese Education Foundation, the Comté Association Conference Fund, and support from ACS.