I’m particularly excited about CNIC 2010 and I'm interested to see what the vibe will be like at this year’s conference. My guess is that many of you will be focused on cutting costs and saving money, and the educational program certainly will not disappoint in that regard, with plenty of out-of-the-box sessions that will provide ideas for maximizing the resources of your school nutrition program.

Also, at the new Innovation Stations, which were previously known as What’s New For You sessions, you can look forward to getting an up close and personal look at a variety of innovative products, services and equipment from fifteen different vendors over a three-day period. As an industry representative, I know these sessions are an excellent opportunity for us industry members to gain insights from the operator perspective. A lot of our new product ideas start with you!

The Industry Information Sessions are shaping up to be better than ever. During these one-hour, interactive sessions we will hear from directors, brokers, manufacturers and distributors—all key stakeholders within the school nutrition procurement supply chain. Each panel will discuss the challenges they face on a day to day basis, as well as solutions they have found to eliminate waste and inefficiencies.

Finally, I am anxious to see how many of my industry colleagues are familiar with golf lingo. Well, you guys better learn some or brush up because during the “19th Hole” Networking Reception and Volunteer Activity, we will have the opportunity to team up with our operator customers and help them win some exciting prizes.

I hope to network with many of you soon! See you in Florida!

Lynn Burke
CNIC Program Co-Chair

Wow, I’m so excited how the CNIC program has evolved into one fantastic succession of events. Talk about sessions that are on the cutting edge of what's happening in school nutrition, with dynamic and innovative speakers who will enlighten each of us with their experiences and knowledge. As an operator, I know I’m not alone when it comes to dealing with a multitude of issues day in and day out. Well, I think CNIC 2010 will nail some of those top concerns on the head and we’ll all walk away with plenty of ready-to-use ideas and a renewed enthusiasm for what we do.

Although the conference is still 7 weeks away, I’m charged up and ready to go! Just ask me about any of the sessions in the comments section below and I’ll be happy to tell you about them. I’m personally looking forward to “New World Expectations: No Hormones, No Preservatives, Go Green and Turn a Few Cartwheels.” Isn’t that the best title? It certainly sums up a lot of what is going on in this demanding profession. See you at CNIC in January!

Jean Ronnei
CNIC Program Co-Chair

Hurry, the Early Bird registration deadline for CNIC 2010 is drawing near—November 6th. So, this is the time to dust off that registration form and get it in to save some dollars—or better yet, you can register online today by clicking here.

Here are just a few reasons you can’t afford to miss CNIC:

• You will walk away with innovative ideas, solutions and strategies gained from interesting and timely general sessions…with topics ranging from indirect costs, meal-charge policies, saving money through innovative purchasing practices and much more.
• Inspiring keynote speakers, including the author of The Courageous Follower: Standing Up To and For Our Leaders, Ira Chaleff.
• The new Innovation Stations, an exciting series of 15-minute mini sessions, will introduce you to a variety of innovative products and services either in development or recently introduced to the school market.
• Numerous networking and information-sharing opportunities, including the “Meet and Greet” Progressive Lunch and the First-Timers Session, as well as the “19th Hole” Reception and Volunteer Activity.

Plus, you get to discover the charming seaside village of Ponte Vedra Beach, which lies along a stretch of brilliant blue Atlantic Ocean. This small town is known for both world-class golf and world-class spas, and it offers plenty of recreational activities, fine dining and shopping.

What are you most excited about at CNIC 2010? Let us know by commenting below!

Your district, like many others, is likely looking for ways to reduce costs and to ensure that the money it spends to meet students’ needs goes as far as possible. But professional development is important, too, and the 2010 Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida promises to provide bang for the buck.

So, why not ask your supervisor to send you to CNIC to ensure that you’ll gain valuable ideas and suggestions to bring back to your district? CNIC Sessions will provide concrete ideas on how to streamline business practices, increase efficiency and stretch our budget. This year’s sessions will address everything from purchasing strategies, charge policies and indirect costs to cutting edge menu items.

The letter in this blog entry, attached in Word, is a template for a letter you might consider submitting to your supervisor to let him/her know about how important it is that you attend CNIC 2010, especially in these difficult economic times as school nutrition professionals work together to provide healthy meal options for all students. Feel free to tailor the information as suggested to your and your district’s own needs.

 CNIC Letter to Supervisor  (doc)