Conferences

A message from OSNA’s President

It’s with a heavy heart that I am making this announcement.  The OSNA Board has voted to cancel the OSNA Conference for 2021.  We had been floating the idea of a virtual conference instead of in-person, however after reviewing the results of the survey that was sent out a few weeks ago, the decision was made to wait until 2022 and plan for an in-person conference in March 2022.

Many of the comments on the survey were focused on how tired members were with a virtual conference format.  Many members suggested that we wait until 2022 and make it an Amazing in-person conference.

I know many school districts are in the process of planning for kids to return to in-person learning and switching gears to make that happen.  And with the date for submitting direct orders and diversion in WBSCM a week earlier than in past years, the OSNA Board felt there was not enough time to plan a virtual event that would be well done and well attended.

Keep your eyes open for a special election later in the Spring.  The OSNA Board is looking for Area Reps and a Vice President.  If you are interested in any of these position, please let me know.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you.

Becki Wicks, SNS

President, Oregon School Nutrition Association

OSNA has announced that the 2020 State Conference and Food & Equipment Show has been canceled, per Gov. Brown’s order that all events over 250 people are to be canceled effective immediately.

We are very sorry for this development and are working with SNA to determine a refund process. More information to come.

We thank OSNA members for their patience and understanding.

Thank you, OSNA members, for helping us Win the Day at this year’s OSNA Annual Industry Seminar & USDA Foods Show!

Dude! We’ve got a full slate of bodacious educational events for OSNA members this year.

Our top-notch lineup of school nutrition professionals, chefs and experts will share the latest trends and resources that will help you gain great ideas for your school nutrition program!

Download the 2019 OSNA Conference Program (.pdf) here before the show.

ODE’s Farm to School Grants are funded by the Oregon State Legislature, and funding needs to be renewed each session, through Oregon’s Farm to School Bill.  The Legislative Session began on January 22 and the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network (OFSSGN) has an ambitious plan to pass an expanded Oregon Farm to School Bill, to provide increased funding for Oregon’s Farm to School Grants.

HB 2579, the 2019 Farm to School Bill would expand the Farm to School Grant Program to provide additional funding for both Procurement and Education Grants, and additional funding for summer meals. HB 2579 requests a total of $8.5 million (this is $4 million more than is available for the current Grant Program). This is an ambitious expansion and our partners with the OFSSGN need everyone’s support to make it reality.

The OFSSGN is coordinating two Lobby Days for the Farm to School Bill on Thursday March 14 and Friday March 15 in conjunction with the OSNA State Conference.  We’re hoping that while you’re in Salem for the OSNA Conference that you can take an hour or so out of your day on Thursday (before the conference) or Friday (if you’ll have a break in your day) to head over to the Oregon State Capitol, which is six blocks away, to meet with your legislator(s) to express your support for the ODE Farm to School Grant Program.

The OFSSGN will schedule one or two meetings for you (they’ll last about 15 minutes each) accompany you to the meeting(s), and can help you prep what you’ll say if you’d like.  All you need to do is show up with your story about how the grant program makes a difference for your district, students, or community.

If you are willing/able to meet with your legislators on Thursday March 14 or Friday March 15, please RSVP using this form and someone from the OFSSGN will be in touch to schedule your meetings and provide all the info you need.

If you have questions contact Megan@oregonfarmtoschool.org. Thank you for your engagement!

Oregon SNA was well represented at the 2018 School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference in Las Vegas!

The Oregon School Nutrition Association (OSNA) is seeking proposals for sessions to be presented during our association’s annual State Conference at the Salem Convention Center, Salem, Oregon, March 15-16, 2019.

OSNA’s membership consists of school nutrition professionals and our conference attendees are school kitchen cooks, district nutrition directors, vendors and state agency personnel.

We hold this conference annually as a way for our members to attend professional development sessions, network with each other, and attend the Food and Equipment tradeshow held on the second day of conference.

We are issuing this request for proposal (RFP) because we believe that there are many organizations, vendors and businesses available to speak on topics that will interest our audience. We would like to give everyone the chance to submit a session proposal to help us make this our best conference yet. Our budget is limited for booking speakers who require payment; therefore, volunteer speakers are greatly appreciated.

Session proposals should include content that will meet the USDA Professional Development Standards. All school nutrition staff are required to earn a minimum amount of CEUs annually and many of our attendees use our conference as a way to complete those training hours.

If your business, organization, or network has content to share with school nutrition professionals attending our conference, please consider submitting a proposal for a session or keynote address. Sessions and/or topic areas that draw a crowd are:

• Marketing/Social Media/How to Market on a Budget
• Culinary Tips, Demonstrations
• Local Purchasing
• Expanding School Nutrition Programs
• Equipment/Smallwares (with an emphasis on affordable tips to make kitchens more efficient)
• Financial Management
• Increasing Participation in School Breakfast
• Lunch Shaming

Please submit session proposals, including any fees associated with your session or keynote address, to: Becki Wicks, wicksr@hsd.k12.or.us, by October 2, 2018.

Accepted proposals will be awarded by November 16, 2018.

Visit the State Conference page to download the 2018 OSNA State Conference program and the updated Schedule-at-a-Glance. Registration is still open!

In conjunction with the OSNA State Conference and Food Show, the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council is sponsoring a pre-conference Agriculture Tour on Friday, March 9. The bus tour will feature visits to Abiqua Dairy, Norpac and Truitt Bros. in the Salem area.

Registration is limited to 25 participants. Download the OSNA Agriculture Tour schedule here, and reserve your seat on the OSNA Conference registration form today!