Giving Back to the Community

'Tis the season to be merry and bright! It's that time of year when folks are thinking about how they can give their time, talent and treasure back to the community. There are several ways to do that as members of ACS.

One way is to nominate someone to the board (see article below). Board of Directors members are asked to be supporters and promoters of American cheeses, creating ways to strategically move ACS forward. They take an active role as leaders, advising on matters of strategic importance and organizational policy, serve on committees and task forces, develop future leaders, and work with staff and volunteers to foster a vibrant, passionate, and knowledgeable cheese community.

Another way is to donate to the American Cheese Education (ACE) Foundation. This group provides scholarships, webinars and research information to ACS members. Educating and informing ACS members is an ongoing process and scholarships through the ACE Foundation help ensure that future students are able to continue their education by knowing that the support of industry is behind them. Webinars keep current employees up to date on the latest findings. Research helps guide the questions that need to be answered.

Yet another way is to be part of a committee or panel. Committees such as Certification, Education, Judging & Competition, Nominating, and Regulatory & Academic are always looking for more members. The Marketing & Development, Scholarship, and Sponsorship panels are currently actively looking to add more members. As a member of a committee or panel, you will be ensuring the mission (providing the cheese industry with educational resources and networking opportunities, while encouraging the highest standards of cheesemaking focused on safety and sustainability) and goals (engagement, education and sustainability) of ACS are met.

What are some ways to give back to your community?

There is always a call for blood donors. Donating blood or platelets can save lives. Did you know that cancer patients often need blood to compensate for the effects of chemotherapy? Chemo affects both normal cells and cancerous cells, thus the need for a blood transfusion.

Become a Girl Scout cookie leader and help organize a troop's cookie order. Help the girl scouts gain confidence by learning interpersonal skills along with money management. In addition, there is the joy of storing and sorting the thousand boxes of cookies that arrive at your house (I hear if you freeze the Thin Mints, they taste better and last throughout the year)!

Donate your time or supplies to your local animal shelter. Take the time to just go in and pet an animal. Read to it. Let it sit on your lap. Even dropping off old towels, blankets, and bedding can make the world of difference to an animal. The animals appreciate the comfort and care, and the employees appreciate the additional help given to them.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to give back. Find your passion and run with it. It will define who you are, and you will be helping others in the community.