MSNA Minute: September Edition
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Dear Member,
Congratulations on your start to the school year! We hope the first few weeks have been successful for your teams. As temperatures are now cooling down and the beautiful array of colors in nature begin to show, the fall season is officially here.Along with fall comes the MSNA Minute September 2024 newsletter - welcome! In this newsletter, you will find important and timely updates from MSNA key players, a recap of the 2024 MSNA Annual Conference, a welcome to our new board members, and much more. As always, don't hesitate to reach out to MSNA with any questions or how you can get involved!
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New MSNA Webinar Available
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Looking for convenient ways to earn CEUs in the comfort of your own office/home? MSNA's new webinar series can help! Registration is open for our October webinar "Addressing Student Behavior in the Cafeteria" on Tuesday, October 29 from 3:00-4:00 PM.
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Ready for National School Lunch Week?
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National School Lunch week (#NSLW24) is October 14-18, 2024. Is your school ready to celebrate? Chart your course for the 2024 National School Lunch Week celebrations with the NSLW24 Toolkit, exclusively for SNA/MSNA members!
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MSNA 2024-2025 Executive Board Installed
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MSNA is pleased to announce that ten individuals were installed into the 2024-2025 Executive Board. Past President, Amy Thering, led the installation ceremony on the final day of the MSNA Annual Conference. Emily Malone, Director of Child Nutrition at Prior Lake-Savage Schools, will represent MSNA members as MSNA President, and serving under her leadership is:
- President-Elect Glen Ritter, Food Service Director for St. Michael-Albertville ISD#885
- Vice President Ashley Schneider, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Moorhead Area Public Schools
- Secretary/Treasurer Jess Peña, Director of School Nutrition for Red Wing Public Schools
- Public Policy Chair Darcy Stueber, Director of Nutrition Services for Mankato Area Public Schools
- Education Chair Renee Arbogast, Director of Nutrition Services at Fridley Public Schools
- Member Services Chair Spencer Fischer, Food & Nutrition Services Coordinator at Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, ISD 196
- Nutrition Chair Julie Kronabetter, Director of Food & Nutrition Services for Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191
- MN State Agency Representative Nicole Barron, School Nutrition Supervisor - Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of Education
- Industry Chair Jeremy Kurth, GVM Food Marketing
This year's elected board has a track record of voluntary service, leadership, talent and a genuine interest in child nutrition. The newly installed leadership will continue to serve as thought leaders and provide integral resources and support to membership as they continue this effort. Congratulations to these individuals!
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Recapping the 2024 MSNA Annual Conference
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It’s been over one month since MSNA’s 67th Annual Conference on August 4-7 at the River's Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, MN. MSNA staff and committee members were thrilled to welcome over 700 attendees, including 160 first-time attendees. Throughout the conference, we hope you loved the variety of activities held, including dozens of educational breakout sessions, the ”Nutrition Champions Challenge,” wellness activities such as yoga and the wellness walk along the river, food demonstrations, and more.
On Tuesday, we were delighted to host 158 companies at the exhibit show. Did you know 108 companies (68%) were MSNA members? We hope you enjoyed the new exhibit layout, the samples, and conversing with vendors.
On Wednesday, ten individuals were installed into the 2024-2025 MSNA Executive Board. Congratulations! Lastly, but certainly not least, thank you for helping us surpass our 2023 scholarship fund amount, raising almost $3,000 for the 2024 MSNA scholarship fund. As we look back, here is what our attendees thought of their experience.
- 94% of survey-takers said the conference met or exceeded their expectations.
- 83% ranked workshops as Good or Excellent in terms of usefulness, relevancy, variety, knowledge and effectiveness of presenters, and opportunity for Q&A.
- 96% ranked the product, equipment, and services represented at the exhibit show as Good or Excellent.
Thank you for helping make this conference another successful year! Our staff and committee members have read your survey feedback and comments and will use them to create an educational and exciting 2025 Annual Conference. Save the date for August 3-6, 2025 at the Mayo Civic Center in the beautiful city of Rochester, MN.
View more conference photos on the MSNA Facebook page here.
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What About Membership with SNA/MSNA?
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Networking, resources, awards... oh my! There are a multitude of reasons why being a member of SNA and MSNA is invaluable. MSNA's new Member Services Chair, Spencer Fischer, explains just what SNA and MSNA can do for you.
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Looking for Your Leadership
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Joining an MSNA committee can transform your role and leadership skills. Take it from Michele Hawkinson, 2023-2024 MSNA President. Michele discusses her experience serving MSNA and explains how you can get involved in various MSNA committees, as well as join our new mentoring program.
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Reflections and thanks are in order for MSNA's Annual Conference. MSNA President, Emily Malone, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, discusses her thoughts on the conference and on the 2024-2025 school year, MSNA's goal to continue with the Annual Conference theme "MSNA For All!"
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With the Annual Conference in the rear view and the SNIP conference ahead, MSNA planners are busy. Reflect with and welcome our new Industry Chair, Jeremy Kurth, and hear from our SNIP Co-chairs, Mike DeRosia and Sarah Motl, on what's to come at SNIP 2024.
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Executive Director Update
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MSNA is picking up pace following 'Annual Conference season' and leading into SNIP and the end of the year. MSNA's Executive Director, Margaret Winchell, details us on what's planned for MSNA and the Executive Board.
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The School Nutrition and Industry Partner ("SNIP") Conference will be held on October 23-25, 2024 at the beautiful Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, MN! A new venue means new opportunities you don't want to miss out on. Get excited for a fun-filled Wednesday-Friday convening of school nutrition directors and industry partners.
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SNA SNIC Conference Scholarships Available
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Need some help making it to SNA’s School Nutrition Industry Conference (SNIC25)? SNA has you covered!
The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is offering scholarships for SNA members, amounts of $1,000 and $1,400, to help offset the costs of attending SNIC25, January 19-21, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The application deadline for all SNIC scholarships is Friday, October 18.
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Minnesota School Nutrition Association
1400 Van Buren St. NE #200-239
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: 320-251-2344
[email protected]
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