DELEGATE SCRIPT FOR CHAPTER MEETINGS

Welcome to our Chapter Meeting.

We’re so glad that you took time out of your busy lives to be here!

Kudos to you for wanting to increase your knowledge about your profession!

Before we get started with the presentation, I’d like to talk about the benefits of becoming a member of SNA:

  • Enhance & further your career thru certification & credentialing (I will talk about this a bit later) (next page)
  • Increase your wealth of knowledge with professional development (such as meetings like this & conferences)
  • Stay informed & on top of things with news about current regulations, legislation as well industry topics
  • Express your concerns & show your support of child nutrition programs to local, state, and national gov’t officials. (Massachusetts usually has a large delegation of members attend the LAC in Washington D.C…explain what this is, i.e. “storming Capitol Hill”)
  • Network with peers, share information & discover best practices to apply to your programs by attending meetings & conferences
  • Subscription to SNA’s award-winning publication School Nutrition Magazine

(have some magazines for people to view at the meeting)

  • Enjoy discounts to conferences, meetings, certification, insurance plans & more
  • Membership is necessary to be eligible to apply for SNAgrants…examples of:
  • Future Leaders: all expenses paid to attend National Leadership Conference
  • Professional Development: $500 for any courses related to school nutrition
  • First timer grants: fees paid to attend your first ANC or LAC
  • Access to members only website section…resources galore!
  • Provides talking points/support during crisis’s in our profession (example: Jamie Oliver or food recalls)

COST to be a member: under $50.00 per year for managers & line staff! ($142 for directors)

Ask your director if they can afford to pay for your membership. For under $50 per year, the benefits really do pay for themselves, and it is an allowable expense.

We have membership applications at the registration table…ask your director if they can purchase it for you!

If you have any questions about membership, please see me.

Delegate Script, continued

Why become certified or credentialed?

SNA encourages the highest standards in school nutrition programs, and provides on-going educational opportunities for its members to maintain these high standards.

It is critical for districts to run quality programs.

By becoming certified or credentialed, it lends credibility to your position & program. There are 3 levels of certification, based on education level. Recognize new certified and credentialed members at both chapter and director meetings.

SNS Credentialing requires levels of formal education + a written exam.

It tells people in your workplace & community that you are serious & care about what you do by:

  • Increasing your knowledge & skills of food safety & nutrition
  • Enhances your professional image with parents, children & school administrators
  • Keeps you current on issues concerning school nutrition initiatives
  • Demonstrates commitment to your profession
  • Provides a career ladder you can use to advance in the field from assistant to cook, to manager to director
  • Encouraging lifelong learning

And it is pretty simple: for instance, a level 1 certification only requires

  1. ServSafe
  2. Nutrition 101 course

This year, SNA of Massachusetts has a goal of increasing certified members by 40...that’s not a lot…we can do it!