President-elect Letter
Happy National Nutrition Month!
And Happy Spring Break for many of you! There is so much to celebrate!
It was great to see several of you at the 2022 Ceremonial Proclamation signing by Governor Tate Reeves, as he declared March National Nutrition Month and March 9 as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day in Mississippi.
I really can’t wait to see many more of y’all at the 2022 MS-AND annual meeting and kick off to our 75th year as an organization on March 24-25 at Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis. You can still register online, or use the paper registration form found here: https://eatrightmississippi.org/2022-annual-conference/. We will also have onsite registration.
Here is the agenda for the meeting:
A larger image of the agenda can be found on the website referenced above.
Have a great rest of your National Nutrition Month, and look for more programs and projects from MS-AND in the coming months.
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.
Sincerely,
Lydia West, MPH, RDN, LD
MS-AND President-elect
The 2022 MS-AND Annual Meeting is Next Week!
There is still time to register. Click here to register.
Please visit https://eatrightmississippi.org/2022-annual-conference/ for more information.
LAND 2022 Virtual Annual Conference!
The Louisiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (LAND) invites MS-AND members to participate in its 2022 Virtual Annual Conference!
This virtual event will take place on Friday, April 8, 2022, and Monday, April 11, 2022. Each day will run from 11:00am to 3:00pm and consist of educational presentations, a dedicated posters webpage, and membership event. Attendees will be able to earn continuing education credits and learn alongside colleagues from the comfort of their homes.
We are excited to offer MS-AND members the same registration rates as LAND members for this event. You can visit https://eatrightlouisiana.org/annual-conference/ for more information and to register before April 6, 2022.
National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month® – an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits. This year’s theme, Celebrate a World of Flavors, embraces global cultures, cuisines and inclusivity, plus showcases the expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists. DPG, MIGs and Affiliates are encouraged to help celebrate National Nutrition Month.
Mississippi Governor Declared March as National Nutrition Month in Mississippi
This year, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day was March 9, 2022. On March 8, Mississippi registered dietitian nutritionists, dietetic interns and a student met with Governor Tate Reeves as he had a ceremonial proclamation signing to declare March as National Nutrition Month and March 9, 2022 as Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist Day.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day started in 2009 as a way to honors how registered dietitian nutrition advance the nutrition status of people around the world. As the nation’s food and nutrition experts, registered dietitian nutritionists are committed to improving the health of their patients, clients and communities. Click here to learn more.
Have You Joined the ACT now for MNT Campaign?
Passage of the recently introduced Medical Nutrition Therapy Act would be a win-win for our profession and our communities – practitioners would receive more opportunities for reimbursement while also addressing the gap in care for seniors in the United States who only have access to MNT for diabetes and renal disease, a crucial step needed to achieve health equity for racial and ethnic minority populations. Please join the ACT now for MNT campaign if you have not yet done so! Once you have taken action, use the official ACT now for MNT campaign’s social media toolkit to spread the word!
House of Delegates – Critical Issues and Updates
Critical Issues (previously known as Mega Issues) are overriding issues of strategic importance that cut across multiple discipline areas. Academy members are key contributors to identifying critical issues.
Please contact the MS-AND Delegate, Teresa Carithers, if you have any questions.
To ensure agility for the Academy House of Delegates to address issues that have short- and long-term impact on food and nutrition practice, the HOD has a call for Critical Issues annually in the spring; although they recognize members may have submissions during other times of the year. The Constituent Engagement and Communications Subcommittee and House Leadership Team will review it. Please review the definition of a critical issue below before submitting the survey.
The House of Delegates values your input on future Critical Issues. Academy members are the key contributors to determining Critical Issues.
Critical Issues:
- have strategic importance to the Academy and dietetics practice.
- can cut across multiple discipline areas or relate to a specialized practice area.
- have immediate or intermediate impact on the profession (3 or more years).
- reveal novel threats and opportunities in a VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) environment, and often require a systems approach or solution.
Continue Your Academy Benefits into 2022-2023: Renew Your Membership
You can renew your Academy membership for the June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023, membership year, and renew or add dietetic practice groups, member interest groups and other Academy groups. Sign in to your account on the Academy’s website or call the Member Service Center at 800/877-1600, ext. 5000 (weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time). International callers can call +1-312/899-0040, ext. 5000. If you prefer to submit your dues by check, watch your mail for printed renewal materials in mid-April, or print an invoice after signing in to your account. To make payment easier, the Academy has an installment payment option. By starting earlier, you can make smaller payments spread over more time. Call the Member Service Center to enroll.
Recruit Academy Members – Special Promotion
This is the perfect time to recruit Academy and DPG/MIG members. New and rejoining members can start their Academy and DPG/MIG memberships now and continue them through May 31, 2023 – that’s up to 15 months of membership. Refer applicants to: www.eatrightPro.org/join.
USDA Actions on Nutrition Security: March 17
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack will deliver an address on USDA Actions on Nutrition Security on Thursday, March 17 at 2:15 p.m. (Eastern Time). The event will be available on usda.gov/live as well as shared on Facebook Live. A captioned stream will be available on USDA’s YouTube channel.
Request for RDN Information for Breastfeeding Month
As part of our efforts to promote RDNs/NDTRs who are also practicing in the lactation field, we are requesting quotes/head shots to post during National Breastfeeding Month in August. We would like to spotlight the many RDNs across the country who combine lactation care with their dietetic practice explaining how they utilize this expertise along with their role as an RDN and how the unique skills of a dietitian can be utilized in this effort. Action shots of RDNs engaged in lactation care are also welcome! Please send your information to [email protected] by May 1.
Seeking Nominations: President’s Strategic Advancement Groups
To accelerate progress toward achieving the Academy’s Strategic Plan, President Kevin L. Sauer, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, is appointing Strategic Advancement Groups consisting of Academy members. The groups will increase members’ engagement in determining the direction of the Academy; accelerate inclusion, diversity, equity and access by creating a pipeline for a diverse pool of members to participate in new pathways to volunteer leadership; and offer more flexible, focused, short-term leadership opportunities in response to top challenges identified by members. All members are invited to nominate themselves or other members for potential service on Strategic Advancement Groups. Click here to learn more. Email nominations to [email protected].
Join the Academy’s Affinity Groups
Get involved and connect with fellow Academy members to advocate for top policy priorities impacting our profession. The Academy’s affinity groups meet once a month and are a forum-based event where staff, policy leaders and members discuss Academy advocacy priorities and strategies, share their experience and determine how they can become involved in advocating. The groups include:
- MNT Expansion Affinity Group
- Nutrition Security Affinity Group
- Maternal and Child Health Affinity Group
- Licensure Initiatives Affinity Group
- Health Equity and Diversity Affinity Group
Learn more and register for the meetings here. For any questions, contact [email protected].