Advantages of Attending
A school lunch conference can be an awesome experience or a big waste of time. We want to make sure it becomes a worthwhile conference that provides you with valuable information you can use in your school.
Chances are there are several conferences you might like to attend this summer. We think Everyone to the Table: Fostering Partnerships in School Nutrition is the one for you. You’ll discover trends in School Lunch Programs across the country. You’ll learn tips and techniques for involving parents and community partners. There will be many opportunities during the conference to meet new people who do what you do and compare notes, so consider this conference well worth your time and money.
Here’s a quick survey to see if this is the right conference for you:
Answer Yes or No to each question.
1. I am often looking for healthy and cost effective menu items
that are appealing to kids.
2. We are interested in balancing nutrition, quality and acceptability
in our school lunch program.
3. We want to learn more about developing and implementing
wellness programs.
4. Obesity among children is an issue at our school.
5. We want to know more about breakfast programs, food
service vendors and unique and innovative ideas that are
successful at other schools.
Count 3 points for a YES answer and 1 point for a NO answer.
11–15 points: Sign up today. You’ll find this conference valuable!
6–10 points: You will find the conference beneficial. Bring a friend!
1–5 points: Perhaps a different conference is right for you.
Before You Arrive
Give plenty of advance thought to why you are coming to the conference and what you would like to get out of it. Are there specific challenges with your school lunch program for which you would like to find solutions? With what issues are you and your colleagues grappling? What new lunch programs have you heard about and would like to explore? Before arriving at the conference, write down a few goals that you hope to achieve while attending Everyone to the Table. If you have an idea of what you want to get out of the conference, it is easier to make contacts, select appropriate sessions and get the most out of your time away.
You might even consider sharing the conference agenda with your supervisor or colleagues in advance. Ask them if they would like to attend with you or find out if there is information they want you to bring back on their behalf. If you are expected to report back on your conference experiences, it is easier to synthesize needed information if you have considered your goals ahead of time.
If you are at the conference on your school district's dime, know in advance what expenses the district will and will not reimburse. Know in advance what, if any, budget you have to spend on materials at the conference. Bring business cards or labels with you name, address and school information. Then when you meet someone new or sign up or register for information, it’s convenient to provide your contact information.
When You Arrive
The conference is being held at the I-Hotel and Conference Center in the Research Park at the University of Illinois. The Conference Center is connected to the hotel and located at 1900 S. First Street in Champaign, Illinois. The phone number is (217) 819-5000. Registration will be held in the Conference Center from 5pm–7pm on Monday, July 20, 2009. The Keynote Speaker will kick off Everyone to the Table at 7pm.
To get the most out of the conference, consider taking notes about practical ideas you don't want to forget. Note things you need to go back and research, get more info about, or follow up on; your notes might include names of specific programs, a school's Web site, or available resources. Consider stopping by the Resource Room and Exhibit Hall before and after sessions and at breaks, take a moment to visit exhibitors. They have a wealth of information and are very interested in talking with you about your school. The Resource Room has handouts, books and reference material you’ll want to pick up to read later or share with those back at home.
Networking is one of the most important advantages of attending a conference like Everyone to the Table, so seek out other cafeteria managers, school lunch directors and attendees like yourself. Sometimes you can learn as much or more from them as you can from the sessions. A great way to meet folks who share your concerns is to go to a session that really interests you and talk to the people gathered there. Get to the session early and introduce yourself to the people sitting near you. Ask for their business cards, and give them yours. Spend time talking to the speakers, book authors and vendors. It’s a great time to gain new ideas and approaches.
July in Champaign can be hot and humid, but ballrooms and meeting rooms can be cold and chilly. Bring a sweater or light jacket just in case.
After the Conference
On your way home, review the notes you jotted down and reflect on what new things you learned from the conference and how you might use what you learned in your school lunch program. Once home, take a look back at the goals you established for your attendance at the conference. Did you meet those goals? Did the conference meet your expectations? Is it a conference you might want to attend again in the future?
Follow up by phone or email, with colleagues, contacts and presenters you met. Getting to know new colleagues and peers is one of the most rewarding components of conference attendance. You never know where that new relationship might lead!
Even if you are not required to report on your time at the conference, you will retain new information and ideas better if you discuss them with co-workers. Share your notes or experiment with new ideas you learned about at conference.
