September 7, 2010 - SNA is calling on all members to contact their Members of Congress and ask them to remove Section 409 from H.R. 5504, the House version of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. If passed, Section 409 would, for the first time, establish Federal requirements for locally determined paid school meal prices. School nutrition programs would require schools to establish rules for the amount of per-meal revenue collected for paid meals. SNA is concerned that increasing school meal prices will result in a drop in participation and increase social stigma for children receiving free and reduced price meals, as well as place an increased financial burden on parents during a difficult economy.
Please send an Action Alert to your Member of Congress, asking them to remove Section 409 from H.R. 5504. For a suggested letter, please visit the link below.
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill Needs Your Help!
September 2, 2010 -- “We keep our menu up-to-date and I stay on top of the latest trends in nutrition like salad bars, organics, and farm-to-table. But parents seem to think we’re serving either funnel cakes or gruel.”
“Once the kids hit high school, it’s over. There’s no way we can compete with off-campus fast food.”
“I haven’t had a teacher eat in my cafeteria since the Carter administration.”
If you’re a food service manager or director, these probably sound familiar. School nutrition has changed, and you’ve no doubt spent a considerable amount of time and money keeping your program current. But if a tree falls in the forest…. Parents, students, and faculty are like any other consumer—if they’re going to care about your product enough to buy it, they need to hear why it’s better. That’s where SNF’s Marketing 101 comes in.
Marketing can be a loaded term—people think “focus groups,” “consultants,” and of course, “expensive.” But really, marketing is simply figuring out who needs to hear your message and then telling them in the most effective way.
SNF developed its new online course, Marketing 101, for you and your food service staff. We walk you through the principles of marketing—messaging, budget, implementation, and more. With Marketing 101, you have the tools to create a complete marketing plan. What’s more, the course has materials for you to use in training your staff.
Interested? Join us September 29 for a FREE webinar that will introduce you to Marketing 101—you’ll hear from fellow food service directors that have taken the course, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get ideas on how it can help you promote your program.
Stop the lunchroom exodus—register today for our FREE webinar, “Introducing Marketing 101 Online.”
Click here to register! Remember, it’s free!
September 1, 2010—Staying on top of the quickly changing world of technology can be a challenge for even the most tech-savvy of us. The September issue of School Nutrition, SNA’s award-winning flagship publication, takes a look at what you should know about the newest technologies available for both professional and personal use. Also included in the issue are a look back at this year’s Annual National Conference in Dallas, a spotlight on the work of SNA’s Global Child Nutrition Foundation and an overview of made-to-order meal options and suggestions for incorporating custom-made meals into your own operation.
Learn how technology helps many districts evolve and enhance their school nutrition programs in “Tech Check.” Operators from across the country explain how technology such as POS systems, video and community networking systems help with job functions.
“Sweet Tweets!” picks up where “How ‘Friend’ Became a Verb” from the February 2010 issue took off by exploring the success stories of school nutrition operations that have incorporated social media into their communications efforts.
If the latest commercials from phone companies touting the merits of the newest data plans, smart phones, apps and more leave you feeling overwhelmed, “Help! My Phone Is Smarter Than I Am!” lays out what you should know about these increasingly essential communications devices.
Were you unable to attend this year’s Annual National Conference in Dallas, or did you take part but want a look back at the event? “Livin’ Large in the Lone Star State!” offers a look at some of the conference highlights.
Since its establishment in 2006, the Global Child Nutrition Foundation—SNA’s international arm—has hit many milestones, and its momentum only continues to grow. Don’t miss “We Are the World” for a look at recent highlights.
Some school nutrition directors are finding that made-to-order menu items can increase participation and student satisfaction. Get inspiration from their stories in “Having it Their Way.”
School Nutrition–September 2010
September 1, 2010 - Online registration is now open for SNA’s Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC), which will be held January 16-18, 2011, in Seattle. This annual meeting of operators and industry partners will focus on “Quality: Achieving Nutrition, Financial and Marketing Excellence” and will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, situated in the heart of one of the most charming cities in the Pacific Northwest. Whether you’re new to CNIC or a seasoned attendee, this year’s conference is your best forum for sharing information, ideas and resources for integrating quality practices into every aspect of your operation or business.
Here are just a few reasons why you can’t afford to miss CNIC 2011:
SNA also has lined up an exciting mix of speakers for this year’s general sessions, including Vince Lombardi Jr., the author of What It Takes to Be #1 and son of National Football League coaching legend Vince Lombardi Sr. During his presentation, Lombardi will help you develop the qualities necessary to produce winning results in your business life, as well as inspire you to lasting positive growth and personal excellence. You will also hear from Cathy Calhoun, president of Weber Shandwick North America, who will share insights from some of the most well-known consumer marketing campaigns to help you increase participation and elevate awareness of your school nutrition successes and innovations.
And with the vibrancy of “The Emerald City” as our backdrop, CNIC 2011 is sure to be one of the year's best learning, sharing and networking events! To learn more about CNIC 2011 or to register, see the Related Links.
CNIC 2011
Register for CNIC