President’s Message
Spring Conference Update
We are excited to continue finalizing the plans for the 2019 Spring Conference. The conference will be held on March 21-22, 2019 at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, MS. We will have an agenda of some very talented speakers and presenters offering a wealth of information on a variety of topics to meet this year’s theme: Expanding Your Horizons. The MS-AND Board of Directors along with numerous other volunteers have worked tirelessly to create a schedule of events that will appeal to all RDNs.
We will also be having a reception shortly after the closing session on Thursday March 21st to be held at Table 100 where you will have time to meet and mingle with fellow RDNs while also viewing student poster sessions for 1 hour CEU. All of the scheduled speakers will be invited to attend this reception to help increase our networking opportunities.
Please be looking for future email updates and mailings which will include a complete schedule and agenda along with promotional information to enlighten you on the work of our slate of speakers.
Registration is now open through the Academy’s system. Please make sure to log in with your Academy/CDR number and password, and log on from a computer (registration will not work through a smartphone or tablet).
Create Your Own Future in Pearl
“The City Creating Its Own Future” is not just the slogan; it is a way of life in the City of Pearl. Join MS-AND March 21-22 at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, MS to create your future and expand your horizons at the 2019 MS-AND annual conference. There will be general sessions and breakout sessions. Click here for the current version of the agenda. The planning committee has applied for 14 hours of CPE credits (see the article below about the 1 hour available at the conference reception on March 21 at Table 100). Paper registration is available here, and online registration will be available soon (conference rates are below). Hotel information is available here:
Are you Ready to Mix and Mingle?
The 2019 MS-AND Conference planning committee has coordinated a Member Reception during the annual conference at Table 100 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Table 100. There will be time for you to catch up with professionals in your field, as well as guests at the 2019 conference.
In addition, there will Professional project and research posters presentation. An application for one hour of CPE credits has been submitted.
Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. To register click on the button above.
MS-AND: We Keep Moving Forward
The MS-AND 2018-2019 Board of Directors is working hard to continue to move our organization forward. Most recently, they have worked to update our organization’s bylaws. MS-AND members are invited to comment on the updates through March 29, 2019.
Overview of changes:
- Removed mission from bylaws to integrate into the strategic plan to allow review of mission with the strategic plan versus mission with the bylaws.
- Combined the COER and CPI Chair positions into the Professional Development Chair. This will be a voting member of the MS-AND Board of Directors.
- Added a Treasurer-Elect position. This will be a non-voting member of the board.
- Clarification on removal of office and term length for all positions.
Please review the Current Bylaws and the Suggested Bylaws. Feedback can be sent to [email protected].
Food and Nutrition Experts Advance Nutritional Health in Mississippi
Our field produces the food and nutrition experts and we translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. The 2019 Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MS-AND) Annual Conference planners want to highlight the stellar programs, projects and research in which registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), dietetic interns (Dis), and food, nutrition and dietetic students are involved. All MS-AND members and supporters are invited to submit a propals to present a poster at the conference reception and poster session at Table 100 on March 21, 2019.
Often people consider poster sessions only for research through universities. However, there are many RDNs, DIs, and students across the state are working on quality assessment, quality improvement, plan-do-study-act (PDSA) projects, and other professional development projects. It is important for others to know about to know about this important work.
Please read the “2019 MS-AND Call for Abstracts” for more information and complete the “Abstract Submission form”. Applicants do not have to be a member of MS-AND.
To submit an abstract, emailed “Abstract Submission Form” to the MS-AND 2019 Poster Session Chair, [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on February 22, 2019.
Please share this information with colleagues, as well as other RDNs, DIs and students. Poster presenters do not have to be a member of the MS Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
MS-AND’s Outstanding Student of the Year Award
MS-AND is now accepting nominations for the Outstanding Dietetic Student of the Year Award for 2019. We are seeking outstanding dietetic students and interns to recognize at the MS-AND Annual Conference in March this year, so please contact Rebecca Butz ([email protected]) for a nomination packet today so that you can submit your nominations before the deadline of February 22, 2019 by 5:00pm.
NW MS-AND District Winter Meeting
The NW MS-AND District will be having their winter meeting on February 27th from 2-4 pm at the CAPPS center in Indianola, MS. We will have guest speaker, Stephanie Mobley from MS Blue Cross Blue Shield speaking on “The Role of a Wellness Coach.” If you would like to be added to the NW MS email list, please email [email protected].
Gulf Coast District Spring Meeting
The MS-AND Gulf Coast District will host their spring meeting on March 12, 2019 at the Biloxi Yacht Club beginning at 4:00 p.m. Brittany Simmons will present “Primary Care Home and Wellness Coaching”. GCAND will provide light snacks. Coffee, tea, sodas and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Central District February Meeting
Join the Central MS Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for their February meeting to hear Renee Rupp, MS, RD, LD discuss the Ornish Diet at Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Mississippi. Lunch will be provided. You must RSVP to [email protected] to attend the meetings (you will have to check in at the front gate and your name has to be on the list to be able to come to the meetings).
Careers in Dietetics and Nutrition
MS-AND Diversity Liaison, Qula Madkin, MS, RD, LD, CDE, talked with juniors and seniors this month at the Clinton High School Career Complex about the various career options in the fields of food, nutrition and dietetics.
Remember to Renew Your License
Our Mississippi dietitian license expires March 31, 2019. Licensed dietitians received their one notice of renewal from the Mississippi State Department of Health last month (see image below). If you have moved since your last renewal, and not updated the Mississippi State Department of Health, you will not receive the notice.
The easiest way to renew is online by clicking here: https://www.ms.gov/HealthLicensing/Main.do (you can also apply for a license, click here for the pdf: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/564.pdf).
The Mississippi State Department of Health recommends that you renew as soon as possible to avoid last minute complications.
National Nutrition Month® – How Will You Celebrate?
March is National Nutrition Month®! In an effort to support the original purpose of National Nutrition Month®, “to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of good nutrition and position members as the authorities in nutrition”, the campaign will serve as its own theme. This allows the diverse areas in which National Nutrition Month® is celebrated to have more flexibility in the promotion and messages.
Be sure to check the National Nutrition Month® website periodically for updated information. There is a National Nutrition Month® Celebration Toolkit with promotional resources such as: web banners, half page ads, press releases, and a PowerPoint presentation. Soon Nutrition Tip sheets, activity handouts, and a social media toolkit will also be available.
A graphic promoting National Nutrition Month® is available to Academy groups for their websites, newsletters, and signage for events and other activities promoting National Nutrition Month® by filling out this form and sending it to [email protected].
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day will be March 13, 2019. The National Nutrition Month® website also features “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day Event Ideas”, and there is a graphic for RDN Day available upon request.
There is a National Nutrition Month catalog featuring a variety of items that will add to your celebrations. It is available for download or may be accessed through a link from the National Nutrition Month® website.