Issue 3, March 2018
Annual National Conference Agenda & Information is Now Available As my term for ACDA President is coming to an end, I want to thank the ACDA board and membership for the opportunity to serve. ACDA has made huge strides in the last few years promoting the improvement of USDA Food Distribution Programs and I’m proud to have been part of the effort. I also want to thank prior leadership that has encouraged and supported both myself and others to step into leadership roles for ACDA. We look forward to seeing so many of you next month for the ACDA ANC! Pre-conference workshops begin on Sunday, April 29th and the ANC will conclude on Wednesday, May 2nd. With new and informative sessions, a first-timers session available during pre-conference workshops, and fun social outings, this conference is sure to be a must-attend event! Highlights also include the first evening reception located at US Bank Stadium, home of the last super bowl! General session presenters include:
Click here to view the conference agenda. Please note that many of the educational enhancements to conference including pre-conference sessions, deep dives, and learning labs require pre-registration. Still not registered to attend? Don’t worry, there is still time! Click here to link directly to the registration page. ACDA: Working together to Nourish the Nation Sincerely, Chris Facha Don’t miss an informational session on the work conducted to chart ACDA’s Strategic Plan for the next three years! Presenters for this information session include:
ACDA Members may attend at no-cost. Click the link below to register. Monday April 16, 2018 (1:00pm – 2:30pm ET): Register Interested in attending this webinar for free? Click here to learn about all the amazing benefits of becoming an ACDA member, and join today!
On Thursday February 1st, 2018 several members from ACDA’s Leadership and Committee’s teams went to Capitol Hill to discuss the many program aspects and anticipated changes to USDA Foods Programs. Attendees of these visits included Chris Facha, ACDA President, Mike Birkmeyer, Vice President, Stephanie Bruce, Legislative Committee Chair, Debra Huffman, Industry Representative, Roxann Greenlee, Mountain Plains Regional Representative, Nicole Lander, Household Program Recipient Agency Representative, Andrea Denning, Buy American Task Force, Jose Quinones, Membership Committee Chair, and Carol Erb, Processing Committee Chair.
Chris Facha, ACDA President and Roger Szemraj, ACDA Washington Counsel were interviewed in mid-February by Tami Luhby, Senior Writer at CNN Money. CNN published an informative article taking an inside look at USDA foods already being distributed throughout the country. On February 21, 2018, the Washington Post also interviewed both Mr. Facha and Mr. Szemraj to discuss USDA foods already being distributed throughout the nation.
On January 21st -23rd, ACDA presented at the School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) 2018 School Nutrition Industry Conference (SNIC). The theme of the 2018 SNIC was “Solving Your School Nutrition Puzzle” with a focus on procurement topics. ACDA released our 2018 Legislative Issue Paper on February 6th. We look forward to continuing work with Congress to make responsible improvements in the Farm Bill Household Programs and USDA Procurement, along with further action on Child Nutrition Programs. The USDA Foods program distributes American Agricultural products valued at more than $2 billion each year, with $1.4 billion for Child Nutrition Programs in FY 2017. This distribution makes critical contributions to farmers, ranchers and recipients. Strengthening these programs will benefit more than one in five Americans. ACDA members are encouraged to visit the public policy page to stay up-to-date on issues. Read the complete 2018 Position Paper. The President submitted his FY 2019 Budget Request to Congress on February 12, 2018. This budget will fund all federal programs, including domestic feeding programs, from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. ACDA legal counsel Roger Szemraj has completed a thorough analysis of the budget request. If you would like to see the full analysis, you can login to the ACDA member only website under public policy to view. | FOLLOW US
Member Spotlight
Annette McBrideTitle: Administrator, MN Food Distribution Program Employer: Minnesota Department of Education, Roseville, MN Bio: Annette McBride is the Administrator for the Food Distribution Program with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Over the past year, she has worked with Food Distribution where she has handled entitlement management, commodities ordering and logistics of USDA Foods for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). She is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Strategy and Organization Management and a minor in English. She is active in several civic and social organizations. She volunteers with many groups including the Ramsey County Reading Together Program that teaches English and Reading to persons where English is a second language and Dress For Success a non-profit group that coaches women re-entering the work force how to dress and prepare for the interview. Fun Fact or Quote: "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people". ~ Eleanor Roosevelt Tell us the benefits of being an ACDA member: Not having a background in Food & Nutrition Services the relationships and partnerships that I have cultivated as an ACDA member have been immeasurable. The organization has been integral in providing a depth of knowledge and information about the commodities industry that I did not think I would easily learn. Being an ACDA Member, what do you especially like or appreciate about ACDA? -Submitted by Annette McBride ACDA IS GROWING ACDA is evolving and growing!What better time to issue a new membership brochure highlighting all of the great reasons to be a ACDA member. If you are interested in obtaining copies to hand out at food shows or other events, contact info@commodityfoods.org Public Policy UpdatesStay in the know about issues that impact the USDA Food Distribution Program. The posts listed below are available to the public. Click here to subscribe to receive the public policy notices available to the general public. |
On January 24th, FNS announced its first ever mobile application, putting critical information at the fingertips of food service professionals and making it easier for them to serve wholesome, nutritious, and tasty meals through FNS’s child nutrition programs.
The mobile app is now available to the public and can be an immediate resource to over 280,000 program operators responsible for USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Click here to access the Food Buying Guide.
Webinar slides with notes can be found in the member’s only section under “Recordings.” Feedback provided to the Processing Committee will assist in improving content for future events. The Processing Committee wishes to thank the following State Agency Representatives who have served the committee for the past several years:
Welcome to the following State Agency members who will join the Processing Committee as State Agency Representatives beginning with the ACDA 2018 conference:
We also with to thank Kerri Braverman, who has served as the RA Subcommittee Chair these past two years; and we wish to welcome Daren Zeller, Assistant Supervisor of Food & Nutrition with Harford County Public Schools, Maryland. The Processing Committee will be meeting briefly on Tuesday, May 1st during the ACDA Annual National Conference in Minneapolis. Please contact Tami Radcliff, Tami.Radcliff@vdacs.virginia.gov or Carole Erb, caroleerb@jtmfoodgroup.com, Processing Committee Co-Chairs, for additional information. During the Winter Planning & Board Meeting held January 30th -31st, we were excited to announce that social media platforms are slowly, but steadily growing, and have recently submitted some website improvement requests to make the ACDA website even more helpful. To stay in-the-know on all ACDA related news, make sure to “like” both our Facebook and Linkedin pages. The ACDA Communication Committee has changed structure with just one chair, Leah Sullivan, and seven committee members actively working to engage and provide ongoing communications to each member. We are actively seeking new members to join our committee. If you are interested in assisting with communications and social media, please contact Leah Sullivan (Leah.Sullivan@state.co.us). Make sure to stop by the photo booth that will be set up at the ANC, and posts those photos to social media using the designated hash tags #ACDA and #NourishTheNation If you ever have any suggestions or comments on how ACDA may improve their communications, please submit those directly to Leah Sullivan at Leah.Sullivan@state.co.us |
The Processing Committee’s first ever webinar was held on Tuesday, February 6th for those interested in Processing USDA Foods. The webinar was titled: “Processing USDA Foods: It begins with the Menu,” focused on the importance of forecasting, value pass through methods and resources. Many thanks to the presenters, who devoted time and energy to the project: Montana
Montana has just gotten their new Colyar software package up and running. Sadly, Tessa Bailly has taken a new job in the state government and we do not yet know who will be the replacement.
North Dakota
ND has increased their DoD Program significantly in SY19 and is adding 30 schools in SY20. Since SY16, ND has added 41 sponsors/48 sites to the DOD program. In SY19, we will have 50 sponsors/81 sites that participate in the program.
Tara Koster, USDA Food Distribution Specialist, has also received interest from two large district schools that are interested in attending the ACDA conference.
South Dakota
Sandra Kangas has retired as the State Director of CNP. Cheriee Watterson will be replacing Sandra Kangas as State Director. Pam McCown has been promoted to Assistant Director of the Community Nutrition Programs. She will be overseeing all of the Food Distribution Programs (FDP, CSFP, and TEFAP) in the office.
Thanks for Reading!Thank you for your continued support of ACDA. If you have any eNewsletter ideas or submissions for an upcoming ACDA eNewsletter, please send those to Leah Sullivan at Leah.Sullivan@state.co.us |
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