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MSNA was proud to present a $1,000 donation to the flood relief project in southeastern Minnesota this fall. The money was presented to flood victims who are school food service employees. The Minnesota School Food Service Director's group matched that donation for a total of $2,000!
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On December 7, Sue Holger, Dover-Eyota HS Cook, received her gift from Chapter 11 President Carrie Frank on behalf of MSNA and the FS Director's Group. Susan and her family reside in Rushford. |
On December 12, Dixie Shea, Winona HS Cook, and Pat Mertes, Jefferson Elementary Cook, received their gift. Lyn Halvorson, FS Director for the Winona Area Schools and Superintendent Paul Durand were present. |
On December 10, Pat Arnold, Nutrition Assistant with the Rochester ISD, received her gift. Pat and her family live in Elba. The Principal of the school, Dwight Jennings along with Chapter President Carrie Frank were also present.
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“Lunch Ladies” Honored at Community Event
 Many thoughts race through our minds when we hear the term “lunch ladies”. Some of us like the term and some of us feel it is an outdated term. But at Edison High School in Northeast Minneapolis, “lunch ladies” is a term of endearment both at school and in the community!
The 60 – year old school houses 1,100 students of all nationalities and is well established in the community. As part of the Edison School staff, the lunch ladies have been asked to participate in community events such as judging the annual “Hot Dish” competition.
On August 30, 2007, the community hosted a neighborhood barbeque to celebrate the revamping of a destroyed house right across the street from Edison School. The organizer of the event invited all of the Edison school staff, including the “lunch ladies”. However, the lunch ladies received a huge surprise at the barbeque – they were honored guests. The six ladies were seated at a table with a tablecloth, china, water goblets and linen napkins. One of the food service staff has worked for over 20 years and two of them for over 10 years at Edison. They were treated to a four-course meal, elegantly served by the chef who prepared this outstanding dinner! There was even press and reporters at the event. They were in “Lunch Ladies Heaven”.
Monika Marsh, food service coordinator at Edison High, had this to say about the event, “I personally do not like the “lunch lady” description of my position. But for this instance everyone knew what we “lunch ladies” stood for – taking care of the kids in the neighborhood high school, feeding them every day breakfast and lunch, no matter what, and providing nurturing smiles and words for our “Kids”. That’s why I think lunch ladies is a nationwide, recognized title for taking care of the kids. Personally speaking, I correct individuals and tell them our real titles.”
WAY TO GO LUNCH LADIES AT EDISON!!!! You make us proud!
We Work Hard! We Care Deeply! We Have Fun!
MSNA Celebrates 51 years at Annual Conference
August 5-8, 2007
Over 700 registrants, speakers and guests enjoyed four lively days of educational programming, entertainment, and networking at the 51st
MSNA Annual Conference. The Conference was held this year at the Mayo
Civic Center in Rochester, MN. Highlights of the event included a blood drive coordinated by the Mayo Clinic, food packaging for Kids Against
Hunger, the traditional exhibit hall filled with over 150 vendor booths, and the installation of officers ceremony. Take a quick look at some of the
photo highlights.
2007-08 MSNA President Tom Pellegrino helped prepare a BBQ
feast using a smoker to cook beef and pork for attendees.
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Over 64,000 meal bags were packaged by MSNA members and Rochester area kids for "Kids Against Hunger." Each meal bag will feed 6 people. |
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Over 40 MSNA members participated in the Mayo Clinic Blood Drive. Mayo Clinic representatives said it was the most successful drive in a 4-hour period they have ever held!
More Photos of 2007 Annual Conference... |
Thank
you!
A deeply felt tbanks goes out to the Minnesota
Nutrition Council, Inc. MSNA was recently the recipient
of a contribution of nearly $3,000 from MNCI as a result of their
dissolution. MNCI has asked that the money spent on a speaker with
a timely nutritional topic at the annual MSNA conference this summer
in St. Cloud. We will be proud to honor that request. Look for notification
in the annual conference program booklet of the specially selected
speaker. Thank you, again, to the past members of the MN Nutrition
Council, Inc.
MSNA Celebrates 51 years at Annual Conference
August 5-8, 2007
Over 700 registrants, speakers and guests enjoyed four lively days of educational programming, entertainment, and networking at the 51st
MSNA Annual Conference. The Conference was held this year at the Mayo
Civic Center in Rochester, MN. Highlights of the event included a blood drive coordinated by the Mayo Clinic, food packaging for Kids Against
Hunger, the traditional exhibit hall filled with over 150 vendor booths, and the installation of officers ceremony.
Take a quick look at some of the
photo highlights. Photos of 2007 Annual Conference
Over 64,000 meal bags were packaged by MSNA members and Rochester area kids for "Kids Against Hunger." Each meal bag will feed 6 people.
Over 40 MSNA members participated in the Mayo Clinic Blood Drive. Mayo Clinic representatives said it was the most successful drive in a 4-hour period they have ever held!
Marty the One-Man Party lead conference attendees of to a rockin' and
rollin' start on Monday night. He was assisted, among others, by the
Wizard
of Oz characters -- aka Chapter 25 members Joan Mead (the lion),
Corrine
Wald, (Dorothy), Bubbles Greene, (the scarecrow), and Kathy Hoff (the
wicked witch).
Our thoughts are with the MSNA members in the southern Minnesota area devastated by the recent flooding.
Photos of flood in Rushford MN 2007
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Willmar's Farm to School Program Generating a Buzz in Front Offices of Minn.Schools
From the West Central Tribune, Willmar, May 22, 2007. Credit: Linda Vanderwerf.
The Willmar School District is gaining statewide attention for its Farm to School food service program. School districts from the Twin Cities area have contacted Annette Derouin, the district's food service director, for guidance in developing programs to use nutritious Minnesota products in their schools.
Read more and view photos...
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 Adrienne Gooley Wins Louise Sublette Award!
MSNA was proud to present Adrienne Gooley, Columbia Heights ISD, the 2007 “Louise Sublette” award for Minnesota! Each year, SNA honors school food service professionals with the Louise Sublette Award of Excellence, which is the highest honor a member can earn. It recognizes the importance of those closest to the school foodservice program, the foodservice workers and managers. Foodservice employees know that every special idea they use often improves the child nutrition program in their school. The award is given to the person who has taken a special idea, developed it into a goal and used that goal to help the school’s nutrition program grow.
Adrienne’s project focused on working with middle school students to develop signage promoting healthy food choices, instructing on offer vs. serve, and marketing to their diverse ethnic student population. Adrienne wins an all expense paid trip to Chicago for ANC, and moves on to the regional competition. We applaud Adrienne for winning this special “best practices” award.
Kathy Burrill wins SNA Midwest Regional Director election!
Congratulations goes out to Kathy Burrill, White Bear Lake ISD, and MSNA Public Policy Chair!!! Kathy won the SNA election for Midwest Regional Director. Kathy will be installed into office in July 2007 at the SNA National Convention in Chicago. Congratulations, Kathy! We are so proud of you!
"How to Put Fun, Passion, Creativity and Play into Our Lives"
Here are the responses from the presentation by Stuart Gray at the May 2006 MSNA Industry Conference at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge. The lists were compiled from the responses given by attendees at the conference. Take some time to look it over -- there are some great ways to bring fun, passion, creativity and play into our work day and our personal life! Click here for responses.
2006 Annual Conference Event Sponsors
Thanks to you – our conference was even better! Thank you for your support!
Advance Food Products • Brandaids • Campbell Soup Company • CenterPoint Energy • ConAgra • Custom Water Works • Diversified Snacks • Foster Farms • Frito Lay • General Mills • Hobart / Traulsen Corporation • Hockenberg Newburgh • Hollander Company • J&J Snack Foods, Corp. • Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc. • Kellogg's • Knouse • Midwest Dairy Association • Minnesota School Food Service Directors • Mission • PepsiCo, Inc. • Pierre Foods, Inc. • R&W Food Service Sales • Rich’s • Roisum Elite Marketing • RWI • Schwan’s Food Service • Sea Pak • Signs, Etc. • Sign Producers • Sunny Fresh Foods • Upper Lakes Foods
School Foods Report Card
A State-by-State Evaluation of Policies for Foods and Beverages Sold through Vending Machines, School Stores, A La Carte, and Other Venues Outside of School Meals. Click here to view the report (pdf format).
1/2 cent per Lunch Increase Begins July 1!
The final omnibus supplemental budget bill that the Legislature passed
on May 21 includes a half cent per lunch increase. School lunch reimbursement will rise to 10.5 cents per lunch beginning July 1. Please send thanks for Sen. LeRoy Stumpf who championed out cause. Stumpf can be emailed by clicking on this link.
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Cindy Kopacz Moves on to the National Competition for the "Louise Sublette Award"
Cindy Kopacz, Anoka-Hennepin ISD, was selected as Minnesota's winner of the prestigious "Louise Sublette" award, and earlier this week was announced as the Midwest Regional Winner! Cindy will now compete against the six other regions. Congratulations, Cindy! We are so proud of you! To view more photos, click here. |
Wellness Policies
See samples of school/district wellness policies from around Minnesota as well as USDA guidance.
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