2016-2017 TASN Election page 14 2016 TASN Annual Conference page 27 TASN Scholarships & Awards page 47 ewsWinter 2016, Vol. 12, No. 2 TASNA Publication of the Texas Association for School Nutrition 2015 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT PRESIDENT ELECT VICE PRESIDENT Terry-Mendez Arauz, Los Fresnos CISD Debbie Needham, New Caney ISD Laura Mason, Pasadena ISD
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER Gracie Garcia, Sinton ISD Sam Guajardo, Belton ISD Jamal Hazzan, Klein ISD
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR EDUCATION CHAIR INDUSTRY CHAIR Deborah Pilgrim, Lampasas ISD Betty Stanley, Aldine ISD Candace Walker, J.T.M. Food Group
PUBLIC POLICY & LEGISLATIVE CHAIR ORGANIZATIONAL AFFAIRS CHAIR Ray Marshall, Brownsville ISD Elia Esparza, Pharr–San Juan–Alamo ISD
AREA 1 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 2 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 3 REPRESENTATIVE Robert Cuellar, Jr., Laredo ISD Michelle Skiles, Santa Fe ISD Lois Williams, Spring ISD
AREA 4 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 5 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 6 REPRESENTATIVE Flo Green, Beaumont ISD Melissa Bryan, Copperas Cove ISD Charlotte Hokett, White Settlement ISD
AREA 7 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 8 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 9 REPRESENTATIVE Shirley Price, Ector County ISD position not filled position not filled
AREA 10 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 11 REPRESENTATIVE AREA 12 REPRESENTATIVE Brenda Rodriguez, North East ISD position not filled position not filled
EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE CHAIR OF AREA REPRESENTATIVES TASN Executive Director Karlyn Thomas, Klein ISD Jeannie Stallings, Spring ISD Karen Andrasi, TASN Headquarters WINTER 2016 TASNews 2016-2017 14 Election 2016 Annual 27 Conference X
TASN Scholarships Highlights 47 & Awards 14-25 2016-2017 Election Information 27-33 2016 TASN Conference Information Departments 47 TASN Scholarships & Awards 2 President's Message by Terry Mendez-Arauz 48 Building a School Garden 3 Headquarters Highlights by Karen Andrasi, TASN Executive Director
4 Calendar 4 Association News
Industry 34 Publication of the Texas Association for School Nutrition Local News 3520 Executive Center Drive, Suite 165, Austin, TX 78731 36 (800) 444-5189 Karen Andrasi, CMP Membership 43 Executive Director
Tanya Noujaim Education 45 Meeting and Events Coordinator Shelley Livaudais 50 TDA Update Design/Layout PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I hope everyone had a to Industry Seminar to fi- great and restful holiday nalize. Once completed, season, enjoyed your time we will communicate goals, with family and friends, actions needed to achieve and made memories to share for a these goals, and other per- lifetime. tinent information.
I am sure we all agree that the first As we begin the new year, I am half of the school year has gone by looking forward to seeing many extremely fast, and has been jam of you at our Industry Seminar in packed. It has certainly been for Rockwall. Laura Mason and the the TASN Board and headquarters planning committee have done an staff. Our fall was busier than usual, excellent job in preparing valuable since we not only had Leadership sessions for all. This year, we have Camp and the October Board included a session on preparing for meeting but also tackled strategic “Hill Visits” with our legislators planning and a few other ventures during the Legislative Action as well. Conference in Washington, D. C.
Strategic planning was held in Debbie Needham and the Austin on November 12 - 13, 2015. The committee Conference Planning Committee are also working met to formulate our Strategic Plan for 2016 - 2019. diligently as we finalize our annual conference. The committee is composed of Board members, We hope to see many of you in Austin, not only TASN headquarters staff, and industry members. for conference, but for TDA’s Team Up for School Facilitated by Paul Adams, our committee reviewed Nutrition Success workshop as well. and discussed our association’s vision, mission, values, and goals. We engaged in lively and candid I also want to take the opportunity to encourage Winter 2016 discussion as we completed a SWOT analysis, our members to nominate and/or apply for TASN including discussion of our strengths, weaknesses, and SNA award opportunities. Please check the 2 opportunities, and threats. As we progressed, we set TASN website for information. priorities, identified energy and resources needed I am looking forward to our progress and successes to strengthen operations, established agreement in 2016. Best wishes for the new year! around intended outcomes/results, and agreed that our Strategic Plan will be a “living document” to assess and adjust the organization’s direction in Terry Mendez-Arauz, MEd, RD, LD, SNS response to the changing environment. Our work Los Fresnos CISD is not complete, and we will reconvene just prior 2015-2016 TASN President ASSOCIATION NEWS
By Karen Andrasi, TASN Executive Director Headquarters Highlights
changes to enhance the certification program. As we move forward to an online certification system, we have been notified that we will need to separate member numbers from certification numbers. So, Now that the holidays are over, and we all enjoyed drum roll please….. some much needed rest, it is time to ramp up for 2016 and all it has to offer. Effective February 1, 2016, each TASN certified member will have two numbers: a In the past few months we have been busy, not member number and a certification number. only preparing for the holidays, but also hosting the TASN Leadership Camp, TASN Board and The TASN Industry Seminar is just a few weeks committee meetings, the TASN Strategic Planning away. This year’s theme is Work Hard, Play Hard, Meeting, and celebrating Tonra Hayes’ and Leanne Go Zen. This will be a time to relax and rejuvenate
McAleer’s one-year anniversaries with TASN. as you learn. The seminar will be held at Hilton www.TASN.net Both of these ladies have been hard at work Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront in Rockwall, Texas, creating new opportunities for our members. If January 27–29, 2016. Join us as we gather to share you are interested in having them visit your school ideas, create new opportunities, and relax. to discuss membership and certification, please contact the TASN office to schedule a visit. I also President-elect Debbie Needham has been hard want to give a public thanks to Tanya Noujaim and at work preparing for the 2016 TASN Annual Valerie Delarosa for their dedication to their work Conference. The conference will take place June 3 at TASN. 19–22, 2016 at the Austin Convention Center. The host hotel is the Austin Hilton. The hotel block Although the storms were treacherous at the board is now open so book your rooms early to get the and committee meetings, we still accomplished TASN discounted rate (see more information on pages many things. Thank you all for your participation, 27–33). We look forward to seeing you there. flexibility, and ideas. In closing, thank you all for your continued support We are pleased to announce that there will be some of TASN. We look forward to a great year! 2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS TASN Industry Seminar January 27-29, 2016 | Rockwall, TX SNA SNIC January 17-19, 2016 | San Diego, CA TASN 3RD Board Meeting February 11-12, 2016 | Austin, Texas SNA LAC February 28 – March 1, 2016 Washington, DC SNA Leadership Conference April 20-22, 2016 | Baltimore, MD TASN Annual Conference June 19-22, 2016 | Austin, Texas
Summary of Special Board of Directors Meeting October 30, 2015
The Special Board of Directors meeting on October 30, 2015 was held at the Marriott South in Austin, Texas. This special meeting was called by the Executive Committee to address a change to the nomination form policy and procedures.
Attendance w Have served on a committee or sub-committee of TASN There was no roll call, just a visual count of Board w Have attended at least two TASN Conferences of Director members. w Be a voting member of TASN and SNA w Absent members: Must have financial experience President Terry Mendez We would like to change this for now to remove Membership Chair Debbie Pilgrim the following requirement: Public Policy and Legislation Chair Ray Marshall* “Have served on a committee or sub-committee of (*absent from special meeting only) TASN.” Winter 2016 President-elect Debbie Needham called the We feel that it limits us having qualified candidates meeting to order at 9:45 a.m. 4 for the office of treasurer and other office positions. Policy & Procedure Change Proposed Many qualified members would like to run but are Discussion of the Policy and Procedures not able to, due to not being asked to serve on a of the nomination form for the office of committee or sub-committee. The nomination Treasurer: form will be changed after the Organization Affairs chair reviews the changes to the bylaws at the Currently in order to be considered for the office February Board of Directors meeting. of treasurer you have to: ASSOCIATION NEWS
Currently we have two people interested in the “Move that we adjust the time of the Board of office of treasurer but they have not served on a Directors meeting to 10:00 a.m. to allow everyone committee or subcommittee. time to head home safely due to the weather.”
Discussion & Vote There was a call for a vote. Yes 19 / No 0 There was a call for discussion. Motion passed No discussion. The meeting was adjourned. There was a call for a vote. Yes 19 / No 0 Respectfully submitted by: Motion passed Sam Guajardo TASN Secretary 2015 – 2016 There was also a vote to change the BOD meeting Belton ISD to an earlier time due to severe weather in the area.
Summary of Second Board of Directors Meeting October 30, 2015
The second Board of Director’s meeting for the 2015 – 2016 program year was held on October 30, 2015 at the Marriott Austin South in Austin, Texas.
Financial Report o Financial impact: $1,000.00 o Motion by Finance Committee Financial statement report by TASN Treasurer o Seconded by Jamal Hazzan Jamal Hazzan: The financial report was sent out about a month ago. I hope everyone got a chance • Motion #3: I move that the TASN policies to review. I am ready to answer any questions you and procedures regarding travel for SNA have on report. annual conference include the following EC members: President, Vice President, President Treasurer Jamal Hazzan motioned that the budget Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive with changes be passed. Director effective 2016 – 2017. Motions by the Executive Committee (EC) Travel for SNA Leadership Conference shall include President-elect, Vice President, Incoming Vice President, and Executive Director effective www.TASN.net • Motion #1: That the contract for Parliamentarian Betty Green be extended for one year. 2015 – 2016. o Rationale: Ms. Green has been the TASN o Rational: Cost to be good stewards of TASN Parliamentarian for 20 plus years funds o Financial impact: would be approximately o Financial impact: savings of registration and $3000.00 for the contract year. travel expense o Motion by: Finance Committee o Motion by: Finance Committee 5 o Seconded by Laura Mason o Second by: Laura Mason o Third by: Sam Guajardo • Motion #2: That TASN budget $1,000.00 dollars to fund the SNA budget for ANC • Motion #4: I move that TASN accept the volunteer uniforms. proposal from Dairy MAX to hold a blood drive o Rationale: To help offset the volunteer costs. at the TASN 2016 Annual Conference. SNA will also budget a $1,000.00 dollars for Participants would get extra recognition at the this. general session. o Rationale: One pint of blood can help up to • Education Chair three people. This would be a gift from TASN • Area 2 Representative and Dairy MAX to the community. • Area 4 Representative o Financial impact: No expense to TASN. • Area 8 Representative o Motion by: Executive Director • Area 10 Representative o Second by: Laura Mason • Area 12 Representative
• Motion #5: That the position of the Chair of The Executive Committee approves the slate with Area Representatives and the position of these positions open. Employee Representative be reduced to a one- year term, effective 2016–2017. Remove Announcements the position of the Immediate Past President completely from the Board effective 2016–2017. Remove Chair of Area Representatives from the A. SNA SNIC executive committee but keep position on the January 17–19, 2016 | San Diego, CA Board. The position of Secretary will be added to the Finance Committee, effective 2016 – 2017. B. TASN Industry Seminar o Rationale: Reduce the size of the EC, shorter January 27–29, 2016 | Rockwall, Texas time commitment and reduce expenses. C. TASN 3rd Board Meeting o Financial impact: Savings to TASN February 11–12, 2016 | Austin, Texas o Motion by: Executive Committee o Second by: Gracie Garcia D. SNA LAC o Third by: Sam Guajardo February 28–March 2, 2016 | Washington, DC
All motion were voted on and passed – any E. SNA Leadership Conference motions that affect the bylaws will be voted April 20–22, 2016 | Baltimore, MD on in June 2016. F. TASN Annual Conference Slate of Candidates June 19–22, 2016 | Austin, Texas
G. SNA Annual Conference Slate of candidates for the elections. July 10–13, 2016 | San Antonio, Texas • President Elect: Laura Mason • Vice President: Shelly Copeland • Treasurer: Ashley Cane Kevin Trong Respectfully submitted by: • Education Chair: Betty Stanley Sam Guajardo • Membership Chair: Debra Glover Belton ISD Pamela Malory TASN Secretary 2015 – 2016 • Chair of Area Representatives: Elia Esparza Jeannie Stallings • Area 2 Representative: Michelle Skiles Winter 2016 • Area 4 Representative: Flo Green • Area 6 Representative: Tammy Clayton Welch 6 Dawn Foos • Area 10 Representative: Brenda Rodriguez • Employee Representative: Gladys Rodriguez Karlyn Thomas
In addition, the following positions have only one candidate nominated or no nominees: • Vice President ASSOCIATION NEWS
Greetings from Area 1 Representative Robert Cuellar
I hope all is well in the sessions and meetings that were conducted. Area 1, with local chapters lining up to get Un grande abrazo to the TASN headquarters team certification classes or for keeping in good spirits and heads high as they to recruit new members. did their best to keep and follow the agenda. Un Please do not despair abrazo also to the Area Representives’ captain of the or get disappointed if ship, Jeannie, for making sure that all of the Area things do not turn out as you expected. Just keep it Representatives are measuring what is realistic in simple and make it exciting when you recruit. Let terms of TASN President’s Plan of Action. Captain new members know about the fascinating world of Jeannie, as I am imagining her tell us --- “ALL the Texas Association for School Nutrition and all ABOARD!” the benefits that the association has to offer, one On behalf of my fellow colleagues (Area of those being that you get to go to conference at Representatives), the TASN Board of Directors, a good rate and network with awesome individuals and TASN headquarters staff, I want to say: “Well, and, most of all, take classes that will count toward not quite.” professional standards—Yippee! There are still many that are by the shore that we I am relieved that we all made it through the storm need to assist and get into the “TASN Ship” and and flooding while at both the Leadership Camp see that our and get more people on October 23–24 and the Board of Directors Mission is Possible meeting October 30. The severe weather did not on the ship. stop our dedicated and passionate TASN officers, Don’t worry; just hop on! Like me, at the end you Board of Directors, Area Representatives, TASN will enjoy the sailing of the ship that will take headquarters staff, and TASN local chapters from its course, even through thunderstorms, floods, various areas from attending. We survived and each or tornadoes. Don’t delay - contact your Area of us managed to “stay afloat” and in tune with all Representative today.
Greetings from Area 2 Representative Michelle Skiles
Hello to all! Let me learn so much and to attend conference to network introduce myself. My name with my peers and sample new foods. is Michelle Skiles, and I www.TASN.net am your new TASN Area The classes that are offered help me to do my 2 Representative. I live best as both your representative and a manager. in Santa Fe, Texas, and TASN classes also count toward the professional work for Santa Fe ISD. I development training that is now required for all am TASN certified level café staff. 1 and have been accepted As your new representative, I promise to do my to the TASN Managers Academy. I have been the 7 best to help you and your chapter to POWER manager at SFISD Junior high for 15 years. I love UP FOR MORE KNOWLEDGE AND MORE my job and all the challenges that come with it. I MEMBERS and to have fun doing it. I will be love working with the students and making their available to visit any chapter in Area 2 to offer you my satisfaction my goal. support. My main goal as your area representative With all the new rules out there, I know some days is to help your chapters be successful. I want to can be challenging, but being a member of TASN recruit more members and spread the word of all will help you succeed. TASN has allowed me to the things TASN has to offer. Greetings from Area 3 Representative Lois Williams
Happy New Year to all! knowledge and networking. I also want to thank I hope everyone enjoyed the TASN staff for its hospitality during the their holiday season. It is unpredictable weather for our last two meetings. now back to business as We are truly family. we move forward with our President’s Plan of Action. It won’t be long before it is conference time. We We want to pay close are doing a lot of fundraisers in Spring so that attention to our deadline if members want to attend they can. I have a dates for our scholarships challenge for Area 3 chapters: let’s see how many and awards. I want to thank some of the other members we can encourage and motivate to attend Area Representatives for visiting us as we host our conference this year. Area 3, let’s rock Austin! workshops in Area 3; it’s all about sharing the
Greetings from Area 4 Representative Flo Green
It has been an exciting Action, we discussed membership certification and year so far! We had a great fundraising. time in New Braunfels, Texas, at Leadership Our board meeting in Austin, Texas was very Camp. The theme was informative. We talked about the annual conference Mission: Possible. Even to be held this year in Austin, Texas, as well as though the weather was the national conference held in San Antonio. We bad on Saturday, it didn’t also discusssed the Legislative Action Conference stop the courageous (LAC) and encourage everyone to attend. In spite Area Representatives. of the weather, the Directors Academy also had a Under the leadership of good number of attendees. Jeannie Stallings, Chair I visited several asssociations in Area 4. They were of Area Representatives, busy with the job of feeding our children hot and and Betty Stanley, Education Chair, the Area nutritious meals, and working with fundraisers to Representatives and Employee Representative send members to the annual conference and to give were ready for their “mission.” Our mission: there scholarships and donations to different charities. is nothing too small or too large that can stand in Some fundraiser ideas I saw include baking for the the way of completing the job the representatives holidays, RADA sales, raffle items, and much more. face on an everyday basis. Winter 2016 National School Lunch Week (October 12–16) Our team-building activities were great. We was a success here at Fletcher Elementary. The divided into different groups. Of course, if I can 8 theme Snapshots was also a success as all the staff say so, the group of people labeled “Duck” did an and students loved taking snapshots. Everyone on outstanding job with their rap song and beautiful the campus joined in and had a great time. I would designer apron. Everyone did a great job. Overall, like to thank everyone in Area 4 for what you do we came together to make decisions as a team and on a daily basis. A special thank you goes out to worked together to get the job done. In addition our president, Terry Mendez, and to the Board of to discussion of President Terry Mendez’s Plan of Directors and TASN staff for a job well done! ASSOCIATION NEWS
Greetings from Area 5 Representative Melissa Bryan
It is hard to believe that the win-win! We all come from different districts and school year is halfway over places, but we all need to be talking the same already! Time flies when you language: MISSION: POSSIBLE! are having fun…and if you are not having fun, then you should be! I have heard time Greetings from Area 6 and time again that we should not just go about our day, but Representative should be creating memories for the kids that come into our cafeterias each and every day! I want Charlotte Hokett to be an experience creator! It’s our MISSION!
We made it through a very wet and stormy Hello from Area 6! Leadership Camp, where we came together and brainstormed about how we can accomplish our I hope that everyone had a mission as area representatives for the different wonderful holiday season and school districts that fall in our region. As area got lots of rest. It has been a representatives, we are here to help you and very busy past year and it is your chapters achieve more members, help with going to be a very busy new fundraising goals, and also give information and year. All area representatives help with reaching your goals with educational were busy brain storming at needs and getting certified. Remember, just Leadership Camp for the new year. And for the last because your district does not have a chapter, it Board meeting, the ideas and plans flowed through does not mean you cannot join TASN or encourage the room. The new year is going to be a blast, other child nutrition staff members in your district and there are a lot of meetings and fundraisers to join; you would just be classified as a member that are going on for the conference in Austin. I at large. Who knows…you might encourage the hope that everyone is planning to go. It is always a right person who is interested in starting a TASN great learning and meeting place for new ideas and chapter in your district! friends from all over the state. Chapters: keep in touch with your area representatives, and let them Area 5 chapters have wrapped up their holiday know what is going on in your area. If you need events and raised money for the TASN Conference. information or help, they are there for you. Lampasas School Food Service Association’s Chapter President, Juliet Johnstone, has been I would like to take this time to thank everyone having a very productive year! The chapter has for all the help and support that you have given me www.TASN.net added 15 new members this year! Juliet and the over the last four years. It has been a great pleasure president-elect both attended the Leadership to work with the TASN headquarters staff. These Camp in New Braunfels and not only came back gals work their tails off for all of us. They have with a lot of new and exciting ideas, but also had a taught me a great deal, and I’m very grateful for chance to meet with other chapters and visit. The this. I have enjoyed working with all the area Lampasas chapter had a big National School Lunch representatives. These people have a great job, and Week at all of its campuses and gave away many they have great ideas for the future. We are very 9 great prizes. It also participated in the “Squared lucky to have them with us. A special thank you to Silly” Halloween festival by offering a train ride Jeannie Stallings for all the help and support that and a cake walk! she has given me. She is a gem.
Remember to keep encouraging all the staff you Have a great new year, and remember that “WE work with about the perks of joining TASN and ARE FAMILY.” becoming part of a great group of people. It’s a Greetings from Area 7 Representative Shirley Price
Every child nutrition de- In this social media age, the parents now watch the partment knows that one of school nutrition Facebook page to see when Moo the requirements from the Day is going to be and get their information sooner. USDA is to show some kind of parental involvement. One Area 7 child nutrition department has successfully Greetings from Employee used the same promotion for Representative sixteen years to meet that goal. Karlyn Thomas In 1999 Odessa (Ector County ISD) manager Linda Robertson came up with a plan. She proposed to her principal to hold a milk jug decorating competition. This fall I spoke about Not only would it be a fun project, it would teach the benefits of being some nutrition facts. Linda decorated her kitchen a TASN member at with cow spots and set up a corral with hay and a many different places. stuffed cow. That year there were 400 entries that So far I have visited covered every table in the eating area. Child nu- the certification classes trition supervisors were the first judges, and some at Aldine ISD and at prizes were supplied from Ed Lechler, sales rep- Klein ISD, my school resentative for Gandy’s Dairy. Mr. Lechler was so district. Next, I plan to impressed with this promotion that he became a visit Spring ISD during supporter for many years and shared the idea with their classes. I will continue to promote TASN many other child nutrition departments in his busi- membership at school districts in our area that ness area. Dairy MAX became a supporter and even host certification classes throughout the school started its own promotion. year. The next year every school participated in Moo In October I was able to attend Leadership Day as it is named now. Over the years the number Camp in New Braunfels. I learned a lot and of entries and the creativity has been staggering. enjoyed networking with others as we learned Since it is scheduled in October, there are always how to improve our programs in child nutrition. many Halloween-themed entries: skeletons, spiders, witches, pigs, cats, cows, and dogs always My favorite part of the training was our Mission: show up. Then there are the cars, airplanes, trains, Possible skit. space craft, robots, tractors, windmills, bird houses, The local chapter for my school district, the Klein and every kind of popular super hero imaginable. Association for School Nutrition (KASN), has Panoramas of barns, corrals, houses, stores, picnics, grown to a membership of 120. At our monthly carnivals, villages…well, the list goes on and on. meetings I have reported about Board meetings, Winter 2016 They are always amazed that a new idea shows up Leadership Camp, and other TASN events. I enjoy each year. Many hours are spent between parents being a part of such an active group and hope to and children doing these creations made from milk 10 encourage other districts to continue to grow their jugs, chugs, and cartons. memberships. Since its inception, each school participates and This school year I will continue to spread the the manager directs that school’s competition. word of the importance of TASN membership. I They have found unique ways to get their students look forward to continuing my role as Employee interested from special prizes to “celebrity judges”. Representative and plan to spend time with many Even though it is a lot of work, the honor of having more school districts. the grand prize winner from their school is great. ASSOCIATION NEWS
Greetings from Area 10 Representative Brenda Rodriguez
Greetings from Area 10! years of service in TASN. We covered the I am Brenda Rodriguez, President’s Plan of Action and ended the evening your Area Representa- with area representatives in a motivating “who let tive! The start of the the dawgs out” dressed in camouflage! Despite the year has been very busy weather, we all had a great time. for all. After attending the TASN conference in The following weekend was time for the second Grapevine, I looked for- Board of Directors meetings, committee meetings, ward to spreading the TASN mission and reaching and the Directors Academy held in Austin. And out to members that are in this area. My hope for yes, once again, we braved the weather! this area is to increase membership. Also, for all that For those that have been silent members, I simply are involved in school food service to know that we want to challenge you to make yourself available are all in the mission to nourish our children of the to get involved. Getting involved with such a future. dedicated, professional and passionate group of As part of Commissioner Sid Miller’s Farm Fresh people has to be one of the best decisions that Friday initiative, San Antonio was the first one I have made. From headquarters, led by Karen of four Texas cities, hosted by Northeast ISD, Andrasi to the Board of Directors, led by Terry that brought a rock & roll nutrition show “Jump Mendoza, to Area Representatives, led by Jeannie with Jill”. This highly energized show with catchy Stallings, all have and share the passion that even tunes brought excitement to students educating the silent members have, and that’s school food them about fresh grown produce service. Enrich yourself and get involved ! and encouraging them to taste vegetables they might not taste on a normal basis.
As we all celebrated National School Lunch Week, we were honored to have Joe Strauss, Texas House Speaker, visit our district and serve lunch for a day! Many of the campuses welcomed administrators and faculty. What a It’sIt’s whatwhat youyou eat!eat! treat for the children! In October, I attended the Leadership Camp for area representatives and chapter presidents across the state. Those APPLES that attended braved the weather to reach the T Bar M Resort in New Braunfels to gear up for our Mission: Possible!
Group activities started it off as we shared ideas to increase membership and plenty of fundraising ideas. We met new members, and members who have Matt Bowles Jim Cook C 817-913-0520 C 832-724-6675 [email protected] [email protected] www.petersonfarmsinc.com Treasurer’s Corner
by Jamal Hazzan 2015-2016 TASN Treasurer
In an effort to maintain After a thorough review of the balance sheet I transparency in financial move on to the profit and loss statement (P&L). reporting, I would like to share I examine the reported revenue by category such with you one of my monthly as conference income, income from training, and duties as your treasurer. One revenue from membership dues. The total income of my duties is to review for the month of September 2015 was $274,848.76. and present on the financial I then look at the expense side of the report and state of TASN. The TASN review major expense accounts such as conference treasurer report is presented expense, headquarters expenses and Board of four times annually at the Board of Directors Directors expenses. Total expenses for the month meetings. In preparation for the treasurer’s report, of September was $82,553.43. The net income for I review TASN financial reports on a monthly the month of September 2015 was $160,067.59. basis. Finally, to ensure that TASN is on the right I start by reviewing the TASN balance sheet and by financial track, I review the profit & loss budget examining the current assets such as checking and performance report. This very important report saving accounts, accounts receivable, fixed assets, shows the actual monthly revenue and expenses as and depreciation. Total assets as of September it relates to the budgeted amount. If discrepancies 30, 2015 were $1,287,501.28. I proceed to review are noted, necessary adjustments to the budget are the liabilities such as accounts payable, payroll made and those adjustments are presented to the liabilities, Medicare, and deferred revenue. Total TASN Board of Directors for approval. liabilities as of September 30, 2015 were $7929.65. I finally review the equity account, my favorite By following the above steps I can ensure that account, where TASN reports our monthly and TASN remains financially stable, and by following year to date profit. I’m happy to report that as of the approved budget and providing the necessary September 30, 2015 TASN’s total equity account resource to accomplish TASN strategic goals. was $1,279,576.63. Winter 2016
12 ASSOCIATION NEWS 2 0 1 5 TASN LEADERSHIP CAMP MISSION: POSSIBLE OCTOBER 23-24, 2015
2015 Leadership Camp Highlights
Leadership Camp was a weekend of excitement as leaders from all over the state came together at T BAR M Resort in New Braunfels, Texas. TASN offered some great learning sessions for chapters to learn their structure and responsibilities. A session was done on fundraising and membership drives. Leaders learned about the many awards TASN has to offer. The Chair of Area Representatives, Education Chairman, Area Representatives, and the Employee Representative put on a fabulous evening activity to show everyone that our mission is possible. Unfortunately, we woke up Saturday morning to see that the water was coming in heavily from the Guadalupe River and it was time to go. The rain did not stop any of us from having a great adventure; we enjoyed the company and interaction with others from across the state. Leadership Camp is a great experience for everyone that attends. I hope you can attend next year. www.TASN.net
13
by Jeannie Stallings 2016-2017Election
On the next few pages you will read about the candidates’ membership, involvement, education, and goals. All candidates were given the same election biography form to fill out and return to TASN Headquarters. This election is being held for the following positions: Vice President, Treasurer, Education Chair, Membership Chair, Chair of Area Representatives, Area 2 Representative, Area 4 Representative, Area 6 Representative, Area 10 Representative, and Employee Representative.
Voting members are employed by a Texas school non-profit nutrition department, both public and private or governmental agencies that work with schools such as TDA or an ESC. Individuals with retired, affiliate (administrative duties at ISDs, colleges, etc.), student, and industry memberships are not eligible to vote. To find your area, please reference pages24-25 . Please take a moment to place your vote for the candidates of the 2016-2017 election. Remember, voting is online and by phone this year. Please check your email for updates. The phone number can be found on page 24. If you do not receive the link to vote, please email Tonra Hayes at [email protected] for assistance. Winter 2016 14 V TE ASSOCIATION NEWS
Vice President
Shelly Copeland Director of Child Nutrition Spring ISD
TASN Member: 9 years SNA Member: 16 years
TASN Board Positions Held: Vice Chair of TASBO School Nutrition Committee; School Recipient Agency Representative for the • None American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA)
TASN/SNA Presentations: Goals for Office: • SNA: Processor Inventory Management • Work to strengthen the relationship of TASN with TDA (ANC 2015 – Salt Lake City) • Market the strengths of TASN and help to build relationships between the board, industry and state Education/Certifications: members. • Form collaborations with other organizations such as • Registered Dietitian, School Nutrition Specialist (SNS), TASBO and ACDA. SNA • Invest in the future of TASN by actively participating in Board meetings and committees. Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Support the TASN strategic plan. • TASBO Course Trainer: Commodity 101;
No opposing candidate www.TASN.net
15 Treasurer
Ashlee Kane Intermediate Accountant Klein ISD
TASN Member: 2 years SNA Member: Current year
TASN Board Positions Held: • ServSafe Certification • None • Food Handler’s Certification Other Information You Would Like to Share: TASN/SNA Presentations: • TASBO member • TASN Certification Class Nutrition 101 • TASN Certification Class Basic Math Goals for Office: Education/Certifications: • To oversee the financial operations of TASN to the best of my ability. • RB.S. in Nutritional Science • To work together with the Finance Committee and the • M.A. in School Counseling HQ staff to find the resources needed to operate TASN • TASN Directors Academy in the best interest of the members.
Kevin Truong Assistant Director of Child Nutrition Spring ISD
TASN Member: 4 years SNA Member: 4 years Winter 2016 TASN Board Positions Held: Education/Certifications: 16 • Public Policy and Legislative Committee • School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) TASN/SNA Presentations: Goals for Office: • None • Keep TASN financially sound • Be transparent in all matters • Fill the shoes that Jamal Hazzan has worn for years! ASSOCIATION NEWS
Education Chair
Betty Stanley Child Nutrition Supervisor Aldine ISD
TASN Member: 21 years SNA Member: 11 years
TASN Board Positions Held: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Education Chair • Although I have served in this position already there • Area 3 Representative are so many things to share with the members because • Education Sub-committee things are always changing. I feel that we must stay up • Conference Planning Committee to date with what is happening in the job that we have chosen. TASN/SNA Presentations: Goals for Office: • TASN Conference Learning Session – First Timers Session • As Education Chair I will do my best to share all information with members and to promote the continuing education program as new things occur. Education/Certifications: • TASN Directors Academy • TASN Level 5 Certification • Train the Trainer Instructor
No opposing candidate www.TASN.net
17 Membership Chair
Deborah Glover Manager Trainee Galena Park ISD
TASN Member: 11 years SNA Member: N/A
TASN Board Positions Held: • TASN Certification Level 4 • None • TASN Leadership Camp
TASN/SNA Presentations: Goals for Office: • None • Try to get more members for TASN • Try to let them know what they can do for TASN Education/Certifications: • TASN Managers Academy
Pamela Mallory Field Supervisor Klein ISD
TASN Member: 1 years SNA Member: 1 year
TASN Board Positions Held: Goals for Office: • None • Increase total membership by targeting and growing local chapters • Maintain high renewal of current members TASN/SNA Presentations:
Winter 2016 • Develop new leaders in TASN • None • Align the committee to meet TASN Strategic Plan membership objectives 18 Education/Certifications: • Bachelor of Business Administration • Attended TASN 2015 Annual Conference • Attended SNA 2015 Annual National Conference • Currently enrollled in the Directors Academy program ASSOCIATION NEWS
Chair of Area Representatives
Elia Esparza Child Nutrition Department Purchaser Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
TASN Member: 19 years SNA Member: 10 years
TASN Board Positions Held: Education/Certifications: • Executive Committee • Texas State Technical Institute • Area 1 Representative (Chair) • Continuing Education Committee Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Local Arrangements Committee As the previous Chair of Area Representatives for 6 years, I am • Industry Seminar Committee a dedicated individual that is always willing to take challenges • Conference Planning Committee in a leadership role. I also know that together we can make a • Membership Committee difference. • Task Force Committee • OAC Chair Goals for Office: TASN/SNA Presentations: • Increase membership and participation of school nutrition • TASN Annual Conference employees in the association. • Region One Summer Conference • Maintain a positive image at local, state and national level. • Taught certification classes for TASN, Region 1, • Work with the TASN budget to ensure that we continue to stay RGVASN, PSJA-ASN in Customer Service, Interpersonal solvent. Assist in offering more certification classes. Skills, Safety, Sanitation, Baked Goods, and Desserts
Jeannie Stallings Child Nutrition Supervisor Spring ISD
TASN Member: 25 years SNA Member: 20 years www.TASN.net
TASN Board Positions Held: Education/Certifications: • Area Representative 1995-1998 • Bachelors in Business Administration • Area Representative 2002-2004 • TASN Certification level V • Chair of Area Representatives 2004-2005 • Area Representative 2009-2011 Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Chair of Area Representatives 2014-2016 Married with two children and one grandchild, youngest 19 daughter serves in the U.S. Army in aviation. My family supports TASN/SNA Presentations: me with everything that I do with TASN; they realize it is an outstanding professional association. • Taught Managers Academy in 2011 • Teach session’s at all State conferences • TASN instructor for certification classes for 18 years Goals for Office: • Help increase membership in TASN. • Promote certification classes across the state of Texas and help raise the level of performance Area 2 Representative
Michelle Skiles Cafeteria Manager Santa Fe ISD
TASN Member: 15 years SNA Member: N/A
TASN Board Positions Held: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Area 2 Representative I’ve been in TASN for 15 years. Last year is when I took charge and learned the right ways of doing what needed to be done to get my staff trained and certified. I want to Local Positions Held: take charge of Area 2 and make our area the best it can be. • President leader of our group for past 10 years Goals for Office: Education/Certifications: • To learn from others and teach others what I’ve learned. • Certified TASN Level 1 • Working on Managers Academy
No opposing candidate Area 4 Representative
Florence (Flo) Green Child Nutrition Manager Beaumont ISD
TASN Member: 25 years SNA Member: 15 years
Winter 2016 TASN Board Positions Held: Education/Certifications: • Area 4 Representative 2013-2015 • Associate Degree in Management, Lamar University
20 TASN/SNA Presentations: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • 2015 TASN Annual Conference: Assisted “Come get • Member of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Energy when you have Synergy” • Member Fletcher PTA • Top Ladies of Distinction Inc.
No opposing candidate ASSOCIATION NEWS
Area 6 Representative
Tammy Clayton-Welsh Manager Mansfield ISD
TASN Member: 13 years SNA Member:10 years
TASN Board Positions Held: human relations. • None • Certified level 1 in SNA • Classes in National Food Service Management Institutes, Local Positions Held: Serve safe/health food card, Train the Trainer, Manager • Local chapter officer training class, and first aid/& CPR Red Cross
TASN/SNA Presentations: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Local tasting test & assist in teaching certification classes I’m a hard worker and a quick learner so I take every extra nutrition class I can take, along with lots of notes from the veteran staff. And I ask LOTS, LOTS, and LOTS of questions. I love the Education/Certifications: child nutrition program! And I’m always looking to better myself • Some college (medical & nutritional) so when I heard about the position you are offering, I was • 280 hours of course training excited. I would love the opportunity to grow with your school program. If I don’t know something I WILL LEARN IT. • Level 1-5 in TASN child nutrition; certification in Other roles: Church leader,Girl Scout leader, PTA, food service sanitation, safety, customer service, professionalism, association officer.
Dawn Foos Child Nutrition Coordinator Glen Rose ISD
TASN Member: 2o+ years SNA Member: 20 years www.TASN.net TASN Board Positions Held: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Area Representative (two terms) & Chair TASN has been a very important part of my job. I am a strong supporter of TASN. I believe that to keep an organization strong Local Positions Held: you have to do your part. That is why I run for positions in the local chapter and at the state organization. • Chapter President, six terms
TASN/SNA Presentations: Goals for Office: 21 • Award Ceremony, two years • Area Representatives are a very important part of keeping • Area Representatives on Fund Raisers TASN members informed of what is available to them and what decisions are being made on their behalf. • Presentation on Cans for Kids • Communication is the biggest part of being a representative. • The other is being available to the TASN Board and to each Education/Certifications: chapter in their area. • Two years college • TASN Level V certification • Directors Academy Area 10 Representative
Brenda Rodriguez Area Supervisor Northeast ISD
TASN Member: 4 years SNA Member: N/A
TASN Board Positions Held: Education/Certifications: • Area 10 Representative • TASN Directors Academy
Local Positions Held: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • President leader of our group for past ten years I currently live in San Antonio, and share my passion for school nutrition with my husband who is an area supervisor for school food service in another district.
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Synergy Enterprises – Addison 20 Alex Culin • 800-285-6789 [email protected]
Synergy Enterprises – Houston Eve Patterson / Anna Rosa •800-234-2002 [email protected]/[email protected]
Synergy Enterprises – Austin Lori Young / Terrie Horkulic • 800-926-1838 [email protected]/[email protected]
©2015 Jennie-O Turkey Store, LLC ASSOCIATION NEWS
Employee Representative
Gladys Rodriguez Manager Spring ISD
TASN Member: 5 years SNA Member: 2 years
TASN Positions held: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • None I have taught numerous certification classes. I love to teach and meet people from all over the state. Education/Certifications: • TASN certified level V Goals for Office: • Help employees all over the state become TASN certified. • Recruit new members for TASN and let them know all the wonderful things TASN has to offer.
Karlyn Thomas Nutrition and Food Services Manager Klein ISD
TASN Member: 15 years SNA Member: N/A
TASN Positions held: Other Information You Would Like to Share: • Employee Representative, 2013–2015 I served in my local chapter as president and president-elect. I was also able to attend LAC in Washington, DC, for two years,
which gave me more information on how our organization www.TASN.net TASN/SNA Presentations: works. I am a proven leader who goes above and beyond job • Award Ceremony at TASN Annual Conference duties to complete a task.
Education/Certifications: Goals for Office: • TASN certified level V • I will represent my office to the best of my abilities and to assist • TASN Directors Academy graduate 2009–2010 wherever needed. • Region IV Managers Academy graduate • I will continue to reach out to areas that don’t have area representatives and will be a voice about what TASN has to 23 offer. Dallam Sher man Hansford Ochiltree Lipscomb
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Starr Willacy Hidalgo It’s that time again! Cameron TASN will be offering a quick and easy online and telephone voting system for the 2016-2017 Board of Directors election. Voting We are using the professional services of Vote-now.com to Information conduct and certify our election. Members will need their Dates: TASN member numbers to vote. Information concerning
Winter 2016 Feb 25 – Mar 25, the election will be emailed to each member (if you have 2016 an email address on file with the TASN office.) You will then 24 be able to log into our voting site by using the internet or by calling a toll-free telephone number to cast your vote! (888) 992-2825 Be sure to have Before voting, be sure to review the biographical material your TASN included in this issue of the magazine. We hope you take membership active advantage of this quick and easy way to voice your vote! by January 25, 2016 in order to vote. Please refer to the list on the next page to locate your county of residence and area number. ASSOCIATION NEWS
Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5 Area 6 Brooks Aransas Austin Anderson Bell Archer Cameron Bee Brazos Angelina Bosque Baylor Dimmit Brazoria Burleson Bowie Collin Callahan Duval Calhoun Chambers Camp Coryell Clay Hidalgo Colorado Grimes Cass Dallas Cooke Jim Hogg De Witt Hardin Cherokee Ellis Denton Jim Wells Fayette Harris Delta Falls Eastland Kenedy Fort Bend Houston Franklin Fannin Erath Kleberg Galveston Leon Gregg Freestone Foard La Salle Goliad Liberty Harrison Grayson Hardeman Live Oak Gonzales Madison Henderson Hamilton Hood McMullen Jackson Milam Hopkins Hill Jack Nueces Karnes Montgomery Jasper Hunt Johnson San Patricio Lavaca Polk Jefferson Kaufman Montague Starr Matagorda Robertson Lamar Lampasas Palo Pinto Webb Refugio San Jacinto Marion Limestone Parker Willacy Victoria Trinity Morris McLennan Shackelford Zapata Wharton Tyler Nacogdoches Mills Somervell Walker Newton Navarro Stephens Waller Orange Rockwall Tarrant Washington Panola Throckmorton Rains Wichita Red River Willbarger Rusk Wise Sabine Young San Augustine Shelby Smith Titus Upsher Van Zandt Wood
Area 7 Area 8 Area 9 Area 10 Area 11 Area 12 Brewster Brown Bandera Atascosa Andrews Armstrong Crane Cole Edwards Bastrop Bailey Briscoe Culberson Coleman Frio Bexar Borden Carson Ector Comanche Kerr Blanco Cochran Childress El Paso Concho Kinney Burnet Cottle Collingsworth Glasscock Crockett Maverick Caldwell Crosby Dallam Hudspeth Irion Medina Comal Dawson Deaf Smith Jeff Davis Kimble Real Gillespie Dickens Donley Loving Mason Uvalde Guadalupe Fisher Gray Midland McCulloch Val Verde Hays Floyd Hall Pecos Runnels Zavala Kendall Gaines Hansford Presidio San Saba Lee Garza Harley Reagan Schleicher Llano Hale Hemphill Reeves Sterling Travis Haskell Hutchinson Terrell Sutton Williamson Hockley Lipscomb
Upton Tom Green Wilson Howard Moore www.TASN.net Ward Jones Ochiltree Winkler Kent Oldham King Parmer Knox Potter Lamb Randall Lubbock Roberts Lynn Sherman Martin Swisher Mitchell Wheeler Motley Nolan 1525 Scurry Stonewall Talyor Terry Yoakum
Volunteer and Moderator Request Form TASN Conference Phone: 512-371-0087 / Fax: 512-371-0125 Volunteers/Moderators help make every TASN Conference a success.
Please complete the form below and return to TASN Headquarters. Choose One or Both: Volunteer Moderator Name: Email: ______Phone: ______Emergency Contact Name: ______Emergency Contact Phone: ______Please Note: Although we value and appreciate our volunteers/moderators, TASN is unable to reimburse volunteers/moderators for travel and/or conference expenses.
Volunteer Preferences: Please rank the following opportunities 1 through 4, with 1 being your first choice. Ribbons Booth: Assist members in finding ribbons to display their professionalism and TASN connections. Hotel Directional Hostess/Greeter: To be placed strategically throughout the Headquarter and flow hotels to provide direction to conference attendees (mainly needed during first and second day of conference). Convention Center Directional Hostess/Greeter: To be placed strategically throughout the convention center to provide direction to conference attendees. ______Moderator: Assist speakers at assigned learning session by helping with introducing speaker, handouts, providing thank you gift, etc.
Volunteer Availability Please place an “X” by the times you are available ____ Morning, Sunday, June 19, 2016 ____ Morning, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 ____ Afternoon, Sunday, June 19, 2016 ____ Afternoon, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 ____ Morning, Monday, June 20, 2016 ____ Morning, Wednesday, June 22, 2016 ____ Afternoon, Monday, June 20, 2016 ____ Afternoon, Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Winter 2016 LIABILITY & INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT: Each form must be signed before registration can be processed. I request that you accept me as a participant at the 26 TASN conference to be held in Austin, TX June 19-22, 2016. I understand there is some risk inherent in traveling to and from and as a result of attending the conference. The undersigned hereby releases TASN and the committees, members, officers, employees and directors from all liability for injury, death and property damage that may be suffered in connection with such activities, whether due to negligence or otherwise, accepting such risks involved and waiving all rights of any kind that might otherwise arise. The undersigned agrees to indemnify TASN, its committees, members, officers, employees and directors against all judgments obtained and against the cost of defense of such claims, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
Signature: ______Date: ______TASN 2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 19-22, 2016 AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER www.TASN.net X 27 X President-Elect’s Greeting Welcome all to the fun and entertaining city of Austin, Texas, the host of the 2016 TASN Conference. The theme for this year is “Nutrition: the Great Adventure.” What a great occasion to enjoy an adventure and explore the capital of our great state. Austin is known as the live music capital of the world and is the home of the Texas Longhorns football team as well as a multitude of eclectic and upscale restaurants, entertainment and shopping venues. Austin offers a variety of activities for all ages. Within minutes, visit the town of Gruene, home of Gruene Hall, providing shopping and live music nightly; or visit New Braunfels, the fun and relaxing town with water activities like tubing and the Schlitterbahn water park.
Each day is an adventure in child nutrition. As we step into the nutrition conference, join me as we thank our industry partners and sponsors that make the child nutrition profession a success. The conference will offer many educational opportunities, networking, professional inspiration and growth opportunities, so don’t delay! Join us now for a fun and educational adventure in Austin.
I look forward to seeing each of you as we embark on the “Great Adventure” of our future.
Debbie Needham Director, New Caney ISD TASN 2015–2016 President-Elect
Winter 2016 28 X X Headquarters Hotel Hilton Austin Hilton Austin is situated adjacent to the Convention Center in downtown Austin. It’s a quick walk to exclusive shopping, amazing restaurants, and fun live music venues on 6th Street and the surrounding area. Guests of our renovated hotel also enjoy fantastic views of the Capitol of Texas and Lady Bird Lake from 31 stories up. Hotel dining, a full-service spa, VIP perks - they’ve got you covered for a great stay in Austin.
Hilton Austin 500 East 4th Street, Austin, Texas, 78701 TEL: +1-512-482-8000 FAX: +1-512-469-0078 Single/Double: $189 Triple/Quad: $229
X Events Award Ceremony Monday, June 20 | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Conference is the perfect time to honor TASN members’ achievements. Come cheer on this year’s award winners!
Installation Ceremony and Reception Tuesday, June 21 | 6:00 PM TASN would like to invite you to the Installation Ceremony & Reception Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 6
p.m. We will be hosting this event at the Austin Convention Center and would like for you to be in www.TASN.net attendance.
Debbie Needham will be installed as our 2016-2017 TASN President. Additionally, the 2016-2017 TASN officers and area representatives will be installed. TASN members are encouraged to come and be a part of this memorable ceremony. 29 Industry Evening of Entertainment Tuesday, June 21 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
The Industry Committee is proud to host this year’s industry event! Come and join us as we recreate the city of Austin for this event. It will be filled with food trucks, photos and dancing! X Paid Workshops Paid Workshop – Aric Bostick Sunday June 19 | 2:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Aric Bostick is BACK! Did you attend last year’s closing general session? If you didn’t this is your chance to see what you missed and if you did, this is your opportunity to gain more knowledge from one of the most inspirational speakers!
If you really want to get FIRED UP, if you want to experience what it’s like to be a SUPER HERO ON DUTY, or if you just want to take a GIANT LEAP OF FAITH toward your next level of GREATER POTENTIAL AND AWESOMENESS—you will want to hear what Aric Bostick has to say! Aric is one of the nation’s leading motivational speakers and success trainers. He’s also a bestselling author.
Aric has ignited the potential and fire within more than a half-million people with his one-of-a-kind FIRED UP MESSAGE! You’ll want to be attending this session and meet A Real Life Super Hero!
Get ready to get FIRED UP!! $40
SNS Credentialing Exam - Sunday, June 19 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (tentative)
Train the Trainer – 3 Parts: $100 Sunday, June 19 | Noon – 5:00pm, Part 1 Monday, June 20 | 8:30 AM– 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, Part 2 Wednesday, June 21 | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Part 3
LEArning Sessions Winter 2016 30 Monday, June 20 and Tuesday, June 21 The 2016 TASN Annual Conference will feature in-depth learning sessions to provide you with deepened knowledge, sharpened skills, and renewed motivation. Certification credit will be given to all attendees based on attendance at sessions. GENeral Sessions
First General Session and Luncheon Monday, June 20 11:30 AM-1:00 PM Growing up in the football town of Auburn, Alabama, Patrick Henry has seen firsthand how fans are made. For ten years he was a professional songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee where he wrote songs and radio jingles for a Nashville based publishing company.
As a regular performer at the world famous Blue Bird Café, Patrick became known for his funny songs and the stories he told about them. After a performance one evening, a man approached Patrick and asked him to perform at his company meeting the next month in Nashville. He eagerly agreed and never even discussed fee because in those days he happily played for free.
Patrick put together a show filled with funny songs and stories and after his performance the man approach him saying, “I sure enjoyed your speech.” Patrick thought, “Speech? What speech? I’m not a speaker, I’m a songwriter.” The man then handed him a check for five hundred dollars. Patrick looked at that check and said, “I’m glad you enjoyed that speech.” A career was born. Since then, Patrick has spoken to over 1,000 audiences in 46 states and is played daily alongside Jeff Foxworthy and on the Sirius/XM Radio Family Comedy Channel and Blue Collar Radio. He lives in North Carolina with his smoking hot wife Lesley and three “sometimes adorable” children, Jack, Robert, and Meredith. Patrick Henry is what happens when keynotes, comedy, and concerts…collide!
Second General Session Wednesday June 22 | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Hailing from a small town outside Chicago (and now making his home in the Windy City with his wife and daughter), Tim has brought to bear all his experiences from his years as an award-winning educator, his training at Second City and decades in stand-up comedy, and has synthesized his calling as a humorous motivational speaker and corporate entertainer. www.TASN.net After a decade as a professor of communications and speech, Tim took his then-budding comedy writing skills to the clubs. During his years as an ultra-clean comedian, Tim swiftly progressed to working with many well- known comics—such as Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Wright and Larry Miller, to namedrop just a few—and you may have caught some of Tim’s humor on YouTube or XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. As a playwright and director, Clue’s stage comedy “Leaving Iowa,” nominated Best New Play in the Country during its premiere at actor Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre Company, is now published and performed in 31 theaters all over the U.S. and Canada.
Now, as a humorous motivational speaker and team builder, Tim has spoken before such notables as former President George H.W. Bush and economist Paul Krugman. Bringing “social” back into the meeting space and inspiring and connecting his audiences through laughter, Tim Clue is dedicated to reinventing conferences one funny experience at a time.
As Tim often says, “If you want them to hear it, tell them. If you want them to remember, make them laugh.” X Conference at a Glance Sunday, June 19 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Outgoing Board Luncheon (invitation only) Noon – 5:00 PM Train the Trainer (Part 1) 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM SNS Credentialing Exam (pre-registration required, Hilton Austin Hotel) 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Registration Open (Convention Center in front of Exhibit Hall 4) 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Paid Sessions (ticket required, Convention Center) 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM General Session Rehearsal (Convention Center – Ballroom DEFG) 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Fourth 2015-2016 Executive Committee Meeting (private meeting, Convention Center) 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM First Timers Session (Convention Center) 4:15 PM – 5:30PM Fourth 2015-2016 Board Meeting (Convention Center) Monday, June 20 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM Fitness Session (Convention Center) 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Exhibitor Move-in (Exhibit Hall 4 and 5) 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM Chapter President’s Breakfast Flag Parade Line up Rehearsal (invitation only, Convention Center – 13) 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Registration and Chapter Sales Open (Convention Center in front of Exhibit Hall 4) 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Learning Sessions for all (Convention Center) 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Train the Trainer (Part 2) 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Learning Sessions for all (Convention Center) 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Awards Ceremony Rehearsal (award participants only, Convention Center – Ballroom DEFG) 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Learning Sessions for all (Convention Center) 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM First General Session Luncheon (Convention Center – Ballroom) 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Train the Trainer (Part 2 continued) 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Learning Sessions and Texas Department of Agriculture Update (Convention Center) 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Maintenance/Operations Classes 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Awards Ceremony (Convention Center – Ballroom DEFG) Tuesday, June 21 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Annual Meeting (Convention Center) 8:00 - 9:20 AM Tours - Maintenance/Operations 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Registration and Chapter Sales Open (Convention Center in front of Exhibit Hall 4) 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Exhibits Open for Decision Makers Only (Exhibit Hall 4) 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Learning Sessions for Non-Decision Makers (Convention Center) 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM Learning Sessions for Non-Decision Makers (Convention Center) 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Learning Sessions for Non-Decision Makers (Convention Center) 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Past Presidents Lunch (invitation only) 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Exhibits for All (Exhibit Hall 4) 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Learning Sessions (Convention Center) 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Learning Sessions (Convention Center) 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Learning Sessions (Convention Center)
Winter 2016 6:00 PM Installation Ceremony - Reception – Hors d’oeuvres / Drinks - Sylvester Sax during reception 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM Industry Event for all (Convention Center – Ballroom)** 32 Wednesday, June 22 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Second General Session – Sponsored Breakfast - Door Prizes - Intoduction to 2017 Conference 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Registration (In front of Exhibit Hall 4) 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Train the Trainer (Part 3) 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Exhibits Open for All (Exhibit Hall 4) Noon – 1:00 PM First 2016-2017 Executive Committee Meeting / Lunch (private meeting, Convention Center) 1 PM - Exhibit Tear Down and Move Out (Exhibit Hall 4) 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM First 2016-2017 Board Meeting (Convention Center) 2016 TASN Annual Conference Registration Form Austin, Texas | June 19 – 22, 2016 Early Bird Payment Deadline: March 30, 2016 Purchase orders will be accepted; however, PO payment must be received by due date. Badges will be assigned per the paid TASN Membership Category Registration Information For ISD, TDA, and ESC Personnel Only Name: ______Member Number:______School District: ______Title: ______
Summer Address: ______Address will be given to exhibitors City: ______State: ______Zip: ______Phone Number: ______Email (required): ______Fax Number: ______Special Accommodations or Dietary Restrictions: ______REGISTRATION FEES Conference Registration Package Options - Includes meals - Early Bird Fee Regular Registration Fee Onsite Registration Fee Paid Before 3/30/16 Paid Before 5/31/2016 Paid After 5/31/2016 (Bring form to Conference with payment) TASN Member $230 $270 $330 $ ______Non-member $450 $480 $500 $ ______College Student $100 $100 $100 $ ______Please check any of the following that describe your role: q Equipment q Maintenance q Operations Please select meals you will be attending: q Monday Meal (tentative) q Tuesday Meal (tentative) q Industry Evening Event
T-Shirt Size: (Only for Early Bird Registration paid by 3/30/16. *No changes will be made onsite*) q S q M q L q XL q XXL q XXXL One Day Conference Registration Retired Member Conference Registration Does not include meals or T-shirt. Must be a TASN member. Does not include meals or T-shirt. Must be a TASN member. One-Day Conference Attendance: $175 $ ______Retired Member Please select q Monday q Tuesday q Wednesday Conference Attendance: $50 $ ______
SESSIONS, CLASSES, & EVENTS Paid Certification Classes Paid Session / Industry Guest Event Ticket Sunday, June 19 – Wed, June 22 Sunday, June 19 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Train the Trainer (3 parts) $100 $ ______Speaker: Aric Bostick $40 $ ______
TASN is partnering with the community to host a blood drive. Are Tuesday, June 21 | 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM you interested in donating blood? q Yes q No Industry Evening Event $100 $ ______
GRAND TOTAL $ ______
Payment Deadline: Early Bird – 3/30/16 | Regular – 5/31/16 **Payments must be received by the deadline dates to receive that package price** Purchase orders will be accepted; however, PO payment must be received by due date.
q PO Number: ______PAPERWORK MUST BE ATTACHED q Check Number: ______
q Credit Card: q Visa q MC q Disc q AmEx ______CC # Exp. Date. CVV Code (3 or 4 digits) Name on Card: ______
Billing Address/City/State/Zip:______
Liability & Indemnification Agreement: Each form must be signed before registration can be processed. I the undersigned, am employed in the Child Nutrition profession in conjunction with K-12 schools. I request that you accept me as a participant at the TASN 2016 Annual Signature______Conference in Austin, TX and I understand there is some inherent risk in traveling to and from and as a result of attending the conference. The undersigned hereby releases TASN and the committees, members, officers, employees, and directors from all liability for sickness, injury, Date______death, and property damage that may be suffered in connection with such activities, whether due to negligence or otherwise, accepting such risks involved and waiving all rights of any kind that may otherwise arise. The undersigned agrees to indemnify TASN, its committees, Please send completed registration forms with PO paperwork or payment to: members, officers, employees, and directors against all judgments obtained and against the cost of defense of such claims, including reasonable attorney’s fees. Photo Release: I grant TASN, its representatives and employees, the right to take photographs of me and my property. I authorize TASN Headquarters TASN to copyright, use, and publish the same in print and/or electronically. I agree that TASN 3520 Executive Center Dr., Ste. 165 | Austin, TX 78731 may use such photographs of me with or without my name and for any lawful purpose, including such purposes as publicity, illustration, advertising, social networking, and web content. Your Phone: 800-444-5189 registration application information will also be published for Exhibitors using Lead Retrieval. No badge changes will be made onsite. All cancellations must be received in writing no later than OR FAX TO: 512-371-0125 March 30, 2016. We will assess a $50.00 administrative fee on all cancellations. No refunds will be made after March 30, 2016. Purchase orders will be accepted; however, PO payment must be received by due date. 2015
TASN was honored agencies, national public relations organizations, to receive several 2015 design shops, production companies, and MarCom awards. The freelancers. MarCom Awards is an international creative TASN has won honors this year for the seventh competition that rec- year in a row. The 2015 Official Conference Guide ognizes outstanding received a Gold MarCom award, and the Sum- achievement by mar- mer 2014 issue of the TASNews receieved an hon- keting and communication professionals. The orable mention, along with the 2015 Leadership competition is well respected in the industry, Camp brochure. Thank you for your part in creat- and entries come from corporate marketing and ing publications we can be proud of! communication departments, advertising
REMINDER TASN 2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 19-22, 2016 AUSTIN, TEXAS AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER
Current TASN MembersX If you need additional June 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM information, $1500 Center Booth please contact: $1600 End Booth TASN Headquarters [email protected] Non-Members Fax: 512-371-0125 Winter 2016 Phone: 512-371-0087 July 29, 2015 at 10:00 AM $1950 Center Booth 34 $2050 End Booth
REGISTER YOUR BOOTH TODAY! Exhibit registration for the 2016 Conference X is available online at www.tasn.net. INDUSTRY
For more information, please visit: www.commodityfoods.org Early Bird Registration ends Monday, April 11, 2016
What is ACDA? Our Member Committees: The American Commodity Distribution Association • Resolutions & Bylaws Committee is the communication link between agriculture, • Communications industry, government, and recipient agencies. ACDA • Conference Planning provides a collective voice for policy decisions • Membership Committee impacting food distribution programs. • Nominating Committee • Finance Committee ACDA Members Include: • Processing Committee • State Distributing Agencies • Legislative Committee • Industry • TEFAP/CSFP Committee • Allied & Agricultural Groups • Associate Groups What We Do – ACDA Goals: • Recipient Agencies 1 To identify and address issues that impact the • Individual Members USDA Commodity Programs. 2 To affect legislative, regulatory and policy Our Mission Statement: changes for the improvement of the Commodity ACDA is committed to improving the USDA Food Distribution Program. Distribution Program on behalf of all stakeholders. 3 To develop an effective communication with stakeholders. Our Vision: 4 To encourage acquisition of commodity products in a form that is beneficial to recipient ACDA will be the recognized leader and voice for agencies and agriculture. continuation and improvement of USDA Food 5 To promote ACDA membership. Distribution Programs. 6 To provide educational and networking Benefits of Joining ACDA opportunities for members. 7 To initiate and strengthen strategic working • Network with other members relationships. • Take advantage of the knowledge of others 8 To enhance leadership.
• Receive bi-monthly publication of ACDA www.TASN.net Commodity Key • Attend commodity conferences and meetings, CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS influence commodity policy decisions that affect your program • USDA Regulations & Guidance RA Handbook • Receive up to date information on what is • Updated Resources: Understanding Entitlement happening in the Commodity Program • It’s Not Free Procurement 35 • Get the hows and whys of the Commodity • Best Practices Value Pass Through Program & Commodity Processing • What is the Financial Impact? • Identify options available to you and how they • Product Formulation Statements/CN Labels: can work for your district What’s the difference? • Utilize the ACDA School District Advisory • Inventory Management in Household Programs Committee to raise issues & concerns. CHAPTER NEWS Galena Park continued
We had a great time at the conference in Grapevine. Area 2 Galena Park was presented with several awards. Here are a few of them: a certificate of achievement Avin FSFA from TDA for participating in the Local Products Challenge during Football season came to an end, so we started School Breakfast getting ready for the holidays. Alvin FSA met on Week 2015; Helen November 10, 2015, and we had a wonderful time Mitchell, employee at visiting and enjoyed a great Thanksgiving meal. North Shore Middle We have lots of people that are going to classes and School, was the that is great. Our projects for the holiday season recipient of the 2014– were Breakfast with Santa, making some Christmas 2015 TASN School items for the elderly at a home of ladies in town Specialist of the Year and collecting items for the military. We at Alvin award; and Diana Moya, nurse at Galena Park FSA hope everyone had a safe and blessed holiday! High, was the recipient of the 2014–2015 TASN Partnership in Nutrition award. We are looking Area 3 forward to the 2016 TASN conference in Austin. Our officers for 2015–2016 are President Sonia Bryan ASN Silva, President-elect Deborah Glover, Secretary Ternika Hunter, and Treasurer Carol Simms. Bryan ISD really takes safety We had an association meeting in November and training to a new level! have started planning for our workshop January 9 Recently we had a visit from and January 16. two firemen from our county fire department to talk to us about safety in the kitchen, and they actually set Humble CNA up a controlled fire in our warehouse parking lot to let us experience putting out fires. As you can see Hello and Happy New Year 2016 from the Humble from the picture, BASN’s own Debbie Olexey was Child Nutrition Association. We ready to step up to the task. started our school year off with a membership drive and door The Christmas season was full of hope and sharing prizes during the child nutrition of love. We visited Sherwood Nursing Home and department return-to-school handed out homemade goody bags to the residents training. We recently took part in the American and homemade cookie tins filled with homemade Heart Association’s Greater Lake Houston Heart baked goods to the staff at Sherwood Nursing Walk held at Kingwood Home. BASN also sponsored an angel tree for the Lonestar on a rainy Saturday. kids at Still Creek Ranch here in the Brazos valley. We had a great time and Winter 2016 Caring for others is certainly in the heart of all raised money for a worthy food service workers. cause.
36 Galena Park ASN Our president and president- elect attended the Leadership The Galena Park ASN is having a great year. On Camp held in New Braunfels August 7, during breaks in our inservice, GPASN and came away with some had a membership drive. Carol, our treasurer, great ideas. Thank you to TASN for holding this recruited memebers while renewing current ones. awesome event. Our child nutrition staff members donated food items at our November meeting to LOCAL NEWS
Humble continued Klein continued
make Thanksgiving food baskets to help others We hope to start selling the cookbooks soon. At in need. In December we held a holiday meeting our September meeting we also started our pie and with goodies to eat, a gift roll sales. Our next fundraiser will be pan and knife exchange, and we made holi- sales. day wreaths. We are looking forward to an exciting 2016 KASN hosted certifica- starting in January with a white elephant gift ex- tion classes on October change at the January meeting, and in February we 31 and November 7 at will be participating in a district wide step-a-thon. Schindewolf Interme- diate. Even though the Katy ASN weather was horrible we had 212 attendees the first Saturday and 205 on the second Saturday. Greetings from the Katy Association for School Nutrition! It was a busy semester, celebrating Our president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer National School Lunch Week and National Food as well as TASN employee representative Kar- Day. KASN hosted a non-perishable food drive lyn Thomas, attended for a local food pantry at the Nutrition and Food the TASN Leadership Services building as well as the Educational Support Camp on October 23- Center. In addition, staff members in each kitchen 24 in Austin. It was a came together to participate in a food art contest crazy experience due to using fruit and vegetables. Kitchens competed for the weather, but it was the prestigious Golden Pumpkin while providing a great time of network- an exciting display for students and staff to view. ing with others and gaining ideas to strengthen our The winning entry from association. Wolfe Elementary, the goat Our chapter kicked off a food drive on November twins, is pictured. Students 2nd to collect food for Klein ISD Nutrition & Food participated in a coloring Services staff in need. We also collected gift cards and writing contest during for families before Christmas. Each year we are National School Lunch able to support many families during the holidays Week and winners are due to our generous featured on the department website. members. Through a partnership with H-E-B, select On November 11, elementary schools have been participating in the KASN also sponsored Farm Fresh Friday program. Nutrition and food our annual breakfast service coordinators set up a display of locally www.TASN.net honoring veterans in our grown produce during lunches. This interactive community. After the display features unusual produce such as a yellow breakfast our veterans were honored at a ceremony watermelon. It is also advertised as to which local at the Klein stadium. farm these items were grown. We hope to continue these exciting programs as the year progresses. Our membership is growing again this year. We’ve added 32 new members this year. We had 110 Klein ASN members attend our September meeting. We are 37 proud of our active group and are working hard to Hello everyone, from your friends at Klein. Our develop ourselves and support our community. chapter has been working hard on fundraising this year. For our first fundraiser, we created a KASN Chapter presidents and officers: please cookbook. Members submitted recipes and some remember to fill out and return the contact of the favorites from our schools were converted form on page 44 so you can get news & into household recipes. updates from TASN HQ! New Caney ASN Spring continued
It’s been a busy time of year for our members, makes us feel good to help others. with holiday fundraisers to help raise money for scholarships and We’re already making plans for the rest of the year conference funds for our and following the TASN President’s Plan of Action. members. Tomball ASN October 26–November 13 was our fall can food Greetings, fellow TASN members! drive. New Caney ASN teamed with the school campuses to collect cans Gayle Jackson, Tomball ASN president, and of food for our local mission! We held a Rada Melody Kiefer, Tomball ASN vice-president, were sales fundraiser from November 2–November 30. able to attend TASN Leadership Camp 2015 at November 9 started our annual Toy Drive for The the T Bar M Resort in beautiful New Braunfels on Mission. October 23–24. Despite the rainy weather, a good time was had by all. Lots of information and ideas We wish you all a happy holiday season and a were shared, and we were able to meet some really wonderful new year. nice people.
Spring ASN Our t-shirt this year was designed by our assistant director, Kevin White.We believe that he did Spring has been very busy since we attended an excellent job, and we are proud to wear our Leadership Camp and came home through TASN t-shirts on Wednesdays to promote our flooded waters. Besides all the rain at camp it was organization.
a worthwhile experience of learning and enjoying We are looking forward to the TASN 2016 Annual others’ company. Conference to be held at the Austin Convention Spring hosted certification classes in November Center in Austin on June 19–22, 2016. We hope to and had 374 in attendance. We had 15 other school send as many members as possible to conference. districts that came to our certification classes. It We are excited for our members to come so they was two great weeks, and we learned a lot. can enjoy making new friends, share ideas and sample some new food. Spring adopted families for the holidays; our school employees donated food and gifts for families. Our See y’all at conference! Spring staff are some of the most giving people; it Winter 2016
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Dallas Houston Longview Lubbock New Braunfels 469.384.6000 800.366.5609 866.596.5184 806.747.2678 830.730.1000
www.sysco.com LOCAL NEWS
Area 4 Rockwall continued
Beaumont ASN Week, Angel Tree donations, and a beautiful and unique tree for the Annual Festival of Trees benefiting Helping Hands. What a great time with wonderful friends while helping others! We are looking forward to the new year with many more events and volunteer opportunities. We will be involved with Relay for Life and helping our local animal shelter, as well as some fun social gatherings. Wishing everyone a happy new year and a great spring semester, from your friends from Above: BASN busy at work with fundraising, RASN! preparing jalapeño rolls, cinnamon rolls, peach cobbler, etc. We gave out several Thanksgiving Area 6 baskets to families in the district. Club members have donated several hours to the Food Bank and Gift of Life. We are looking forward to the state Birdville ASN and national conferences. Game On! We had some wonderful fun at our Area 5 September meeting. We played a variety of games and enjoyed some yummy snacks. Many people won door prizes, too. DeSoto ASN Witch Out! At our October meeting, members Hello from DeSoto ! could come in costume if they wished. We had some creative ones! We ate beef stew and cornbread We have kicked off our fundraisers for this year; as well as many delicious homemade sweets. We we are selling pans, spatulas, pan liners, cookies, played a Halloween trivia game and competed in and rolls. a cake walk.
Raffle tickets have been sent out for our annual We sold Durham’s pecans, nuts, and dried fruits Turkey Basket Raffle. as well as RADA knives for our fall fundraising events. The proceeds from the sales will help us We planned a fun Christmas Party for our members get to Austin in 2016! www.TASN.net with door prizes , food and fellowship. We had an entry in the City of DeSoto Christmas Parade Christmas Bingo! Our December meeting on December 5. We also adopted an Angel for brought us together around a potluck dinner. We Christmas. have some fantastic cooks! We had a fun time of playing bingo, too. As a service project, members Hope everyone had a blessed holiday season ! brought new pairs of socks that we donated to the Birdville ISD Clothes Connection to help 39 some families in our district. Merry Christmas and Rockwall ASN happy 2016! RASN is excited about a New Year and all our upcoming events!
But first, let’s take a look back at a great fall semester…food drives, National School Lunch Glen Rose ASN White Settlement ASN
We are excited to welcome seven new TASN HAPPY NEW YEAR from all of us to all of you. members to our association! Our junior high school We hope that everyone had a great and wonderful won our membership drive prize. holiday season. We were very busy and the new year has started off just as busy. Our fundraisers We have held a couple of fund raisers for our senior went very well, and we came up with a lot of new scholarships and community projects. ideas. We can’t wait to try some of them.
Charlotte Hokett, Area 6 Area Representative, The chapter is getting ready to go to the annual attended our chapter Christmas party. She has kept conference, held in Austin this year. It is going to us updated on all TASN activities and we really be a lot of fun and very informative. We are looking enjoyed her visit. forward to classes and to seeing our friends that we have made over the years. Our Cans for Kids drive will be held during April. All food collected goes to the Somerville County We would like to thank the TASN headquarters Food Bank. We have also been collecting loose staff, the Board, and the vendors who help get change at each meeting to donate to the food bank all this going for us. We support you all the way! at the end of the year. Remember to have fun and keep smiling! See everyone soon! Zumba lessons were taught at our November meeting. We now know why it is so good for staying slim and in shape. Area 7
GRSFSA hopes everyone had a very happy Midland ASN Christmas holiday! On August 19, we had our first staff development Joshua ASN for the year. The chapter served breakfast to all in attendance and installed our 2015-16 officers. A We’re having a great year so far. Michael Kors bag and wallet giveaway to one lucky winner was a big hit. Brooke and Carolyn made it to Leadership Camp in New Braunfels. They learned a lot and got some On October 22 we had a fun bingo night. In pointers on some things. They had a good time, December we visited one of our local nursing minus the rain. homes, had a Christmas basket raffle, and had a big Christmas party where we gave away an iPad Mini. During the holidays we made and sold pies, rolls, and cookbooks. If anyone would like to buy one, We are currently holding certification classes. All let us know: [email protected]. of our employees and members are very glad we are having the classes in the district so we don’t have to We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at travel. We have created a web site for MASN and conference. a Facebook page. “Friend” us to see all the pictures of the creative way our managers decorated for fall Winter 2016 Mansfield ASN and Halloween. We are having fun here in Mansfield. On October Odessa ASN 40 28 we presented our local hospital with books and coloring books that we collected. This year has been a busy one and it’s time for For Thanksgiving we sold homemade yeast rolls, our first holiday break. So far we have had two monkey bread and jalapeño bread for one of our successful fundraisers. We have sold knives and fundraisers. pies. We sold more this year than last year. We sold more pumpkin than pecan this time. LOCAL NEWS
Odessa continued
Our biggest fundraiser happened in November. We had a Fall Festival at our warehouse outside in the parking lot. It was for all food service employees, family, and friends. We had all the favorite carnival games and events and it was a great success. We also recruited more members at this event. Our Area Representative, Shirley Price, even donated a turkey dinner with all the fixings to ABC7 COMBI future members. And the weather was beautiful! IMple OntrOlS S C . We also held certification classes after work to SMArt teChnOlOgy. those in need of re-certification. The Sanitation class had a pretty large turnout. In January we For your free quote, contact EPI at will be offering classes for Customer Service and epikitchen.com or call 214-536-2305 Safety.
We hope everyone is having a productive year like we are, and hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed holiday season.
DISTRICT NEWS School Lunch Snapshot: Capture Yours! National School Lunch Week October 12-16, 2015 North East ISD Beaumont ISD North East ISD celebrated National School Lunch Week by inviting local legislators, school board members, and community leaders to serve lunch. Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus and his wife stopped by to serve www.TASN.net 5th graders at Longs Creek Elementary School on October 13, 2015. NEISD NSLW at Fletcher Elementary participated in the TDA Local Representative Straus Products Challenge 41 serving with Dr. Brian Gottardy, and served local Superintendent of NEISD. products from each food group throughout the week. NSLW was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the great work going on in school meals year round.
DISTRICT NEWS
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD Child Nutrition Program accepted the TDA Local Products Challenge and Farm Fresh Fridays coming from Texas Department of Agriculture. TDA Commissioner Sid Miller wants to bring in more Texas products to cafeteria meals. During the month of October we brought in fresh local products to our schools which included watermelon, oranges, grapefruit, corn, tomato, morning sausage rolls, whole wheat sliced bread/buns and items from Farm To School (FTS), Department of Defense (DOD) to meet the challenge. Continuing the celebration during the month of October we also had taste testing of local grown fruits and vegetables throughout the school district. We promoted the 3E's of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right to our students in conjunction with Fuel Up to Play 60 from Dairy Max. Concluding our celebration we ended with a Drink Pink Milk Mustache promotion with students at Carman Elementary. The students participated and learned the benefits of drinking milk as a healthy beverage. The students were showing-off milk mustaches as they learned about the benefits of milk. Each milk carton contains nine essential vitamins and minerals, which is vital to child development. Milk as a beverage is good for the heart.
Child Nutrition Program staff at the Central Kitchen and with the help of Allen Williams, Landscaping/Wildlife Habit Specialist, has expanded its fall vegetable garden by two entire rows to promote our very own local grown vegetables. After the success of the first ever summer garden which grew beans, corn, peppers, tomatoes, basil and other spring crops, the expansion of the vegetable garden gave way to more variety of vegetables. This fall, in addition to corn, onions, jalapeño peppers, and tomatoes, new crops introduced were onion chives, chili pequin, chinese cabbage, swiss chard, flat dutch cabbage, garlic, curly kale, cilantro, and even chia. The new crops should be ready just before the end of the year. The Child Nutrition Program would like to continue to expand the garden and learn the life cycles of many of the vegetables that we eat in our everyday life. Texas agriculture and the health of all Texans matters!
Winter 2016
42
Hats off to all our CNP staff! MEMBERSHIP
TEAMWORK by Debbie Needham
Dear TASN Members,
As the President-elect I want to share with you the together, learning and experimenting as a team. importance of teamwork and support from fellow We should be tooting our horns about the job well TASN members. As a child nutrition specialist, done in child nutrition. worker, manager, director, or whatever your title may be, the role you play as a child nutrition team I encourage you to take a new step, reach out to member is very important. Each of us comes from a neighboring district, invite a co-worker to join a different background, has experienced a variety you as a TASN member as you have nothing to of challenges, and has different goals and ideas, lose, only a friend or team member to gain. Thank but one common area we share is our love for kids. you for your continued support and service to the The passion as a child nutrition team member students of Texas. to serve and reach kids is a unique quality, and it brings many challenges with regulations of the cans Debbie Needham and cannots. Again, each of you strives to reach Director, New Caney ISD more students daily with training, marketing, and TASN 2015–2016 President-Elect willingness to learn.
TASN is a great support team for you and your fellow workers, as it offers many avenues of training and opportunities to travel and meet other people in the same industry. In the twenty plus years that Chapter Officers Form I have been a member of TASN, I have met many people, and together I feel we make a difference TASN is in the process of updating in our great state. This year my goal is to try and the local chapter information. On meet more of you, grow the organization and gain the following page is the TASN knowledge through experiences shared. Upon chapter officers form. If you have entering this profession I thought I would only be a part of the district while my kids were in school, a local chapter and have not sent www.TASN.net as I had no knowledge of what the food service in your information, please take department entailed in those days. I truly fell in a moment to fill out the form and love with my job as I saw the opportunities to grow, meet new people and train in many areas. There send back to TASN Headquarters. is no other career like this that allows you the opportunity to build a relationship across the state Your assistance is appreciated. 43 because you have the same goal, regulations, and, often, menus….better yet, holidays with family.
My career in child nutrition has been an exciting adventure, allowing me to grow personally, and also to understand how important our jobs are and the difference we make each day. As we travel down this bumpy road of unknown regulations, we do it Winter 2016
44 EDUCATION
by Betty Stanley, Aldine ISD Education Update TASN 2015-2016 Education Chair
By now all the presents are unwrapped, and family has gone home. Many people may be saying that the excitement and fun is over until next year. I say it is just beginning.
There are still so many exciting things happening in TASN. Maybe you want to learn another language that would help you communicate with the students or parents at your school. There are many awards and scholarships to apply for that can open up a whole new world of opportunity.
Maybe you would like to attend the Managers or Directors Academy. Would you like to attend the TASN Annual conference? Or maybe you want to develop your skills by attending local certification workshops. Do not let negative talk or attitudes determine Check out the TASN website to learn more about your direction. You can take charge of your future, the upcoming opportunities and events that are and that can be the best present ever. Be good to available to you as a member: www.tasn.net yourself.
Point of Sale | Free & Reduced | USDA Nutrient Analysis | Inventory Management | Financial Management | Online Services
Graham’s always hungry. We make sure you’re always ready. Winter 2016
46
Keeping the lunchline moving. From the server room to the loading dock to the cafeteria floor.
MealsPlus.com | 800-541-8999 Superior CAFETERIA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY Certification Update TASN Directors Academy
As we at TASN headquarters begin moving TASN kicked off part one of the Directors forward in creating an online database for our Academy at the second Board of Directors certification program, the first step will be issuing Meeting in Austin, Texas, on October 29–30, all members who currently hold a certification 2015. Directors Academy is an in-depth training a new certification number that will be separate that is facilitated by the recruitment and training from the membership number. committee of the association and is designed to provide practical business skills for school food Beginning February 1, 2016 members will be service administration. receiving a letter notifying them of the changes. All active members in our certification program We have a great group this year who has been eager will be issued a new certification card with their to jump in and share their ideas; not to mention certification and membership number stated on good sports about the terrible weather we had! the card. Part one of the academy featured speakers Chaun Vaughn, Dairy MAX; Debbie Needham, TASN Please direct any questions to Leanne President-Elect; Grace Garcia, TASN Immediate McAleer, TASN Certification and Training Past President; and Laura Mason, TASN Vice Specialist, at [email protected] or President. (512) 371-0087 ext. 207. We hope to see you at the third Board of Directors meeting at the Austin Marriott South in Austin, Texas, on February 11–12, 2016.
The winner of the Fall 2015 TASN Membership Drive is… Winter 2016 Diane Evans of Klein ISD 46
Diane is the lucky winner of a 2016 TASN Conference registration package. It includes a conference registration, t-shirt and conference meals for the 2016 Conference in Austin, Texas. Thank you for your continued efforts toward member recruitment, Diane! FEATURES
TASN Scholarships
TASN supports various educational programs and TASN Award Info awards a variety of scholarships on an annual basis. TASN awards are given each year to school All applications submitted by the deadline will be foodservice professionals to thank them for all their considered and the winners will be selected by the hard work and dedication to providing the best Education Committee in April 2016. Scholarship nourishment to children all around Texas. These winners will be recognized at the 2016 Conference awards promote achievement and management in Austin. Members are eligible to receive up to one excellence to help our members excel in their careers. scholarship per year. All applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2016 in order to be considered. Types of Scholarships • General ($150) Awards • ESL ($200) • School Nutrition Specialist of the Year • GED ($200) • Manager of the Year • College ($1000) • Director of the Year • Managers Academy ($395) • Partnership in Nutrition Award • Directors Academy ($550) • Outstanding Achievement Award for Continuing Education Scholarship Requirements • Nutrition Education Award • Must be a TASN Member. • TASN Membership Award • Prior to submitting an application, applicant must • TASN Certification Award be employed in a Texas school nutrition program • Breakfast Participation Award for at least 9 months. • Lunch Participation Award • All application information and attachments must • Local Plan of Action/ Yearbook Award be postmarked by February 15, 2016 • Diamond Leadership Award • Provide a personal statement explaining the purpose for the scholarship and how it will be used. • Additional information may be requested by the TASN Education Committee. Deadline: February 15, 2016 Deadline: March 1, 2016
Helpful Tips for Applying for TASN Scholarships & Awards www.TASN.net
• Applications that are not signed will not be • Please visit www.tasn.net for scholarship and considered. award details and applications. • Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. All applications must be submitted to Leanne McAleer at TASN Headquarters. • Letters of recommendation MUST be typed or 47 written on official letterhead and require a signature. Address: 3520 Executive Center Dr., Suite 165 • Please use spell check and have someone proofread Austin, TX 78731 your personal statement. Email: [email protected] • Please keep in mind all required written portions Fax: (512) 371-0125 must have complete sentences. Phone: (512) 371-0087 or toll-free at • Please feel free to contact Leanne McAleer at TASN (800) 444-5189 ext. 207 Headquarters to confirm your application was received. THE SCHOOL GARDEN Reasons to plan one for YOUR school now! by Shelley Livaudais
Have you considered building a school garden for your campus? If not, you should! There are many benefits to having one – kids learn healthy eating habits and build self-confidence, for starters – and winter is the perfect time to start planning your garden space.
And you don’t need gardening expertise to do YOU CAN it - there are many free resources available BUILD A online and in your community! The TDA GARDEN ANYWHERE! provides funding to any school that wants to In the ground, build a garden! on a roof, even in containers! See a list of resources inside the back cover of this magazine.
INVOLVING CHILDREN !!!!! IN THE PLANNING & EXECUTION OF PROJECTS BUILDS SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE!
PLUS, KIDS NEED MORE OUTSIDE TIME & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY!
Winter 2016 WORKING A GARDEN MAKES ‘EM STRONG!
48 Healthy eating habits: If they grow it, they’ll eat it! A 2015 CORNELL STUDY PUBLISHED IN ACTA PAEDIATRICA SHOWS THAT WHEN GARDEN GROWN VEGETABLES WERE SLIPPED INTO SCHOOL SALADS, KIDS WERE OVER FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY TO TAKE A SALAD. AND ON AVERAGE, STUDENTS ATE TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR SALADS!. (http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/OP/school_gardens) FEATURES
Math - Calculate the dimensions & area of the garden History - Where did this plant originate? When was it discovered?
Science - What makes a plant grow from a seed? Business - How much do the supplies cost? What is the profit of our farmer’s market?
Art & Computer Literacy - Sketch the layout of the garden
Getting STUDENTS involved in a garden helps them in NEARLY every school subject!
Gardening teaches kids about water conservation
School gardens foster relationships between students and farmers, master gardeners, staff, parents, and other members of the community. www.TASN.net
49 “Playing in the dirt” isn’t just fun; it’s healthy, TOO! Contact with soil boosts the immune Check out page 42 to see the system & fights wonderful things happening at depression! Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD! TDA UPDATE By Angela Olige
Welcome to a new year and a new age of exploration and discovery for school nutrition in Texas.
In 2016 we will pass many milestones as we build on our growing understanding of how to 2016 meet federal nutrition standards, focus on serving the healthy meals that children want to eat, and ensure school cafeterias are shining examples of the power of possibilities. We have arrived at a time when school nutrition in our great state is pushing past known limitations and embarking upon new adventures to achieve even greater standards of excellence in a manner worthy of any great science-fiction feature.
Since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 Adding to the excitement of this journey are became a reality it feels as if we have traveled light- the children, parents, principals, teachers, Winter 2016 years discovering previously unknown galaxies in superintendents, and entire communities that have the nutrition universe. In recent years several school joined us in exploring these new frontiers. nutrition teams have introduced food trailers on 50 campus, while others have established purchasing This year we are set to turn on the thrusters as relationships with local farms or created central we explore the outer reaches of school nutrition kitchens that would be the envy of any commercial possibilities with the latest tools of exploration and food service operation. Time does not permit the excellence. From new technology to professional listing of all of the innovative and forward-thinking standards, TDA is exploring all opportunities to propel ways you have discovered to promote the health and Texas forward. The school nutrition equivalents of a well-being of the young Texans served daily. map and a compass will not suffice in this brave new world as only the latest technology and committed TDA UPDATE leadership can show us the way and help us arrive at rests with you. As customer expectations increase where we want to be. and the influence and recognition afforded school nutrition in Texas grows, professional standards For several years TDA Food and Nutrition has regulations will be a testament to the ability and searched for a technological tool that would help capability of our nutritional team members. shore up the home base of all Texas schools. We believe the process of menu planning and all that it To help you meet those very varied and complex entails is a good place to start and will soon begin expectations, TDA introduced the Boost Meal Appeal testing a statewide menu planning and analysis initiative. That effort led us to develop the Meal Appeal software system. University which endeavors to organize resources and engage talented individuals with the expressed This new software is slated to debut this year and will objective of reaching new heights in nutrition for be provided to all Texas contracting entities in the Texas children. This powerful consortium of Texas National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Along school nutrition experts will share best practices, with this software TDA will provide comprehensive innovative ideas and collaborate on ways to capitalize support to assist users in planning creative menus, on the many opportunities that currently exist. This matching menus with dietary requirements, creating fluid flow of ideas and collaboration is destined to necessary worksheets and much more. In addition, ensure we achieve the highest levels of customer the new system will include a mobile application service excellence in serving meals children want to designed to provide students and parents with on- eat. In addition, Meal Appeal University has a lofty the-go access. This mobile application will allow goal of helping participants discover new ways to users to create personal nutritional plans and monitor create appealing meals, engage the local community, the personal impact of what they are consuming. promote healthy food choices, and reduce food waste. Having a single menu planning system will streamline compliance and assist schools in their daily operations In this new frontier, engaging the local community and the administrative review. is a priority for TDA. I believe that is true for you as well. The forthcoming Local Wellness Policy rule will While technology has enhanced every aspect of require greater local engagement to enhance current school nutrition, especially achieving efficiency and goals and objectives or implement new activities accuracy, it cannot do what you alone can do. No aimed at achieving healthier school environments. artificial intelligence device can scan the faces of To assist you, TDA has created the Local Wellness wide-eyed, curious and sometimes skeptical students Policy Advisory Council. This Council brings to interpret their thoughts about the value and impact together leaders from state agencies, educational of the healthy meals you serve every school day. We entities, health professions and nutrition interests. have not reached the day where a robot can serve the The objective of the Council is to ensure statewide 3 million plus meals provided in a typical school day coordination in developing resources and providing and at the same time ensure that each meal served a single point of support to school food authorities satisfies all the expectations and precise preferences for developing and implementing impactful and of every Texas student. That privilege and honor still sustainable local wellness policies. www.TASN.net (continued on next page)
51 From new technology to professional standards, TDA is exploring all opportunities to propel Texas forward. Index of Advertisers
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You have undoubtedly noticed a growing…pardon worlds of school nutrition. Children look to us to lead the pun…emphasis on agriculture in Texas school them to new frontiers of excellence in good nutrition nutrition. This trend is national in scope and we can and we have all grown in our roles as guides on a grand all take pride in the special meaning it has in Texas. journey into uncharted territories in recent years. In Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller made it a fact their curiosity has propelled us to new heights of priority and we are already seeing results in things like understanding as we respond to questions they have unprecedented participation in the Local Products regarding the things that will make them stronger, Challenge and the positive feedback from across the smarter and more successful. state. We are all so fortunate to enjoy an abundance of Texas products for school nutrition even during Having successfully navigated waves of change these winter months. That is one of the many reasons throughout the years and having achieved excellence in school nutrition at various stages and times, we are Winter 2016 I have so enjoyed the success of Farm Fresh Fridays and I know many of you are introducing children to confident and convinced that we will succeed in the the wonders of citrus in your cafeterias this season. face of whatever lies ahead. 52 Happy exploring and much success to you all! The possibilities for nutrition are boundless and the potential for adventure is endless as we explore new LAST BITE
SCHOOL GARDENING RESOURCES See Article pages 48–49
TDA’s statewide Farm to School initiative will support Texas schools seeking to: • incorporate more local products into school meals • incorporate nutrition education into classroom lessons • connect students with local producers • create and/or maintain a school garden http://www.squaremeals.org/FandNResources/TexasFarmFresh/ FarmtoSchool.aspx
Urban Schools Agricultural Grant Program The Urban Schools Agricultural Grant Program is an exciting agricultural-related program for urban elementary and middle public school pupils enrolled in districts with populations of 49,000 or more. The program helps improve students’ understanding of agriculture through projects such as school vegetable gardens, which can provide lessons not only in horticulture, but also in water conservation and nutrition. Projects are limited only by the extent of an applicant’s imagination. The program provides up to $2,500 each for the funded elementary and middle schools’ agricultural demonstration projects. Funding for these grants is sponsored in part by private donations. https://www.texasagriculture/gov/GrantsServices/ TradeandBusinessDevelopment/UrbanSchoolsAgriculturalGrantProgram.aspx
SCHOOL GARDEN WIZARD Help in setting up and maintaining a school garden. Free instructions & plans! http://www.schoolgardenwizard.org/
MASTER GARDENERS Want to start a garden but don’t know an aphid from an artichoke? Get in touch with the Master Gardners organization in your area. Master gardeners aren’t just experts, they’re also volunteers and active in their communities. http://www.ahs.org/gardening-resources/master-gardeners
USDA RESOURCES The USDA website has dozens of resources to help you along your way. http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/resource-library/school-and-preschool-gardens/ school-garden-resources BBQ Smokehouse*
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