Summer 2024 Newsletter

Sep 10, 2024 | Articles, News

President’s Message

Dear Members of the Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics,

I am filled with excitement and optimism about the opportunities that lie ahead for our Academy. This year promises to be a period of renewal, growth, and significant strides toward our shared goals. Your dedication and commitment are the backbone of our success, and together, we are poised to achieve great things.

Rebuilding Membership
One of our primary focuses for this year is revitalizing and expanding our membership base. We are actively working on strategies to engage both new and existing members, ensuring that everyone feels valued and connected. Whether you’re a long-standing member or a new face, we want to hear your ideas and feedback on how we can make MS-AND even more relevant and beneficial for you.

Legislative Advocacy for Compact Licensure
Advocacy remains at the forefront of our goals, and we are excited to collaborate with legislators on advancing compact licensure. This initiative aims to streamline and standardize licensure across states, making it easier for dietitians to practice and serve clients across borders. Our involvement in this legislative process is crucial, and we will keep you informed on how you can support these efforts and make a difference in our profession.

Continuing Education Opportunities
Professional development is key to staying at the cutting edge of our field. We are committed to offering a range of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities throughout the year. From the Joint Symposium to the Annual Conference, we will provide diverse and valuable learning experiences to help you stay informed and enhance your skills.

Strategic Planning
In addition to our ongoing efforts, we are embarking on a strategic planning process to set a clear and actionable direction for the future of MS-AND. This process will involve gathering input from members, assessing our current strengths and challenges, and developing a comprehensive plan to guide us forward. Your involvement and feedback will be crucial as we work together to shape our vision and objectives for the years to come. If you are interested in serving on the Strategic Planning Committee, please let us know.

As we embrace this new fiscal year, I want to express my gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication. It is your passion and commitment that drive the success of our Academy, and I am confident that together, we will achieve remarkable things.

Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and success!

Warm regards,
Rebecca Bagwell
President, Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Announces Decision on Executive Director RFP

Dear Members,

We are pleased to share an important update regarding the leadership of the Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MS-AND). After a thorough and comprehensive review process, including a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) and a series of interviews, we have decided to continue our collaboration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for the role of Executive Director.

This decision reflects our commitment to ensuring that MS-AND remains at the forefront of nutrition and dietetics excellence. The RFP and interview process allowed us to carefully evaluate our options and assess the potential impact on our organization’s future. We are confident that maintaining our partnership with the Academy will provide us with the continuity and expertise needed to advance our mission and support our members effectively.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has demonstrated its dedication to the field and its ability to lead and support our organization’s goals. By continuing our relationship with the Academy, we are ensuring that MS-AND benefits from a wealth of experience and resources that will help us navigate the evolving landscape of nutrition and dietetics.

We want to extend our gratitude to everyone involved in this process for their time, effort, and thoughtful contributions. Your engagement has been invaluable in guiding this important decision.

As we move forward, we look forward to continued success and growth under the leadership of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Together, we will work towards enhancing our impact and advancing the practice of nutrition and dietetics in Mississippi.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to MS-AND.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Bagwell
President, Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Upcoming Events

Please save the date for these upcoming events:

  • Virtual MS-AND Board Meeting; September 27, 12:00-1:00pm
  • FNCE; October 5-8 in Minneapolis
  • Joint Symposium hosted by MS-AND and ALDA; Friday, November 22, 9:00am – 3:00pm (Virtual)
  • In-Person MS-AND Board Meeting; Saturday, November 16, 9:00am – 12:00pm in Ridgeland, MS

Email [email protected] with any questions about these events!

Public Policy Update

Hello MS-AND members! My name is Jessica Gamble, and I am honored to serve our Affiliate as Public Policy Coordinator. I am excited to work for and represent our field throughout my term. If you are interested in learning a little more about me, please be on the lookout for my upcoming Leadership Team Spotlight on our MS-AND social media pages! (*reminder to follow our Facebook & Instagram pages! You will find policy updates, action alerts, and so much more!)  

Currently, the world of nutrition and dietetics policy is quite busy, with many initiatives gaining at state and national levels advocating for nutrition legislation. Please watch for news and upcoming policy information via e-mail and MS-AND social media pages! While there is so much to discuss,, I would like to provide an update on a few key policy matters.

At the national level, the Farm Bill, the MNT ACT, and the Dietitian Licensure Compact are among The Academy’s top priorities. At the state level in Mississippi, the current focus is advocating for the Dietitian Licensure Compact.

Dietitian Licensure Compact:  
If you are not yet familiar with the Dietitian Licensure Compact – please be sure to visit the initiative’s official website to learn all about this important legislation: https://dietitianscompact.org 

  • The Dietitian Licensure Compact is a joint initiative between the Council of State Governments (CSG), the Department of Defense (DoD), and The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Once enacted, this legislation will “support the mobility of licensed dietitians through the development of a new interstate compact. This additional licensing pathway will facilitate multistate practice among member states and reduce the barriers to license portability.”  

A National Update:

  • 3 States (Alabama, Tennessee, and Nebraska) have officially passed the Dietitian Licensure Compact
  • A 4th State, Ohio, has legislation currently pending
  • Several more states are in the process of introducing legislation this fiscal year
  • Before the Compact can take effect, a minimum of 7 states must enact legislation

Update on Mississippi Efforts:

  • Last year, MS-AND created a workgroup to focus on the Dietitian Licensure Compact. This group, led by the amazing Lydia West MPH, RD, LD, CC, have been working diligently to advocate for Compact Licensure! We saw great potential and laid a strong foundation during the 2024 legislative session. While we succeeded in finding sponsors to introduce bills in both the Mississippi House and Senate (HB 177, SB2165), both died in committee. -With our “foot in the door,” so to speak, we are hopeful about the 2025 session! Our experience last year provided useful insight, and it will help prepare us going forward.
    • Mississippi participates in 9 Occupational Licensure Compacts – Of which, 2 passed in the 2024 legislative session, and a 3rd in the 2023 session. – So, this topic is fresh in the mind of our State Government.
  • We are excited to announce we have a sponsor in the Mississippi State Senate. Senator Jeff Tate (R), District 33, has generously said he will introduce The Dietitian Licensure Compact bill in the upcoming session. As Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, Department of Defense initiatives are important to him. Sen. Tate also sits on the MS Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, to which our bill would be referred. We are still in the preliminary steps of this process, but he has a positive outlook on our prospects!
  • Mississippi State Representative Becky Currie (R), District 92, sponsored the bill last year, and we feel she would do so again. Rep. Currie is a member of the MS Nurses’ Association and is thus familiar with the benefits of Interstate Licensure Compacts. She also sits on the MS House Public Health and Human Services Committee, to which our bill would be referred in the House.
  • CALL TO ACTION: We encourage members to contact your State Representatives and Senators. Once legislation is drafted, we will provide more specific information! In the meantime, we also encourage you to find out who your congressional representatives are!
  • We will provide further updates on these efforts as soon as possible. Watch our social media pages, & your emails!

The Farm Bill:  
From The Academy – URGENT Call To Action:
Tell Congress to Protect Nutrition Security in the Farm Bill

  • Urge your U.S. House representative to advance a Farm Bill that supports nutrition security and improved health for all, nutrition education, research, and a healthful and sustainable food system.  The House version of the Farm Bill, H.R. 8467 proposes eliminating future Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) benefit adjustments and would make detrimental changes to the Dietary Guidelines process.
  • PLEASE CLICK here to take the Farm Bill Action Alert! (This is a quick and easy form to fill out, that will send a pre-written letter to your Members of Congress. Less than 5 minutes of your time can make a BIG impact!)  

If you are interested in learning more about The Farm Bill, and why it is so significant to the field of nutrition and dietetics – here are a few resources:

The MNT Act:  
From The Academy – Call To Action: MNT Act Would Make Nutrition Care Accessible to Seniors

  • Passage of the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act would be a win-win for the profession and the communities Academy members serve. If the MNT Act is passed, Academy members would receive more opportunities for reimbursement while also addressing the gap in care for our country’s seniors 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 CLICK here to take the MNT Act action alert! (This is a quick and easy form to fill out, that will send a pre-written letter to your Members of Congress. Less than 5 minutes of your time can make a BIG impact!)
  • Additional ways you can help – Join the ACT now for MNT Campaign!:
    • Contribute $5 to ANDPAC* to support the advancement of the MNT Act and other key Academy policy initiatives
    • Share MS-AND’s MNT Action Alert to your social media pages! – click here to visit our Instagram page, & here to visit our Facebook page
    • The Academy’s goal is to have all Academy members join the ACT now for MNT campaign. – This online toolkit with social media graphics and messaging is available to help spread the word

If you would like to know more about our policy efforts or would how you can get involved – we would love to hear from you!

Jessica Gamble  
[email protected] 

Thank you to the 2024 Annual Conference Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors:

Computrition
Forrest General Hospital
Mississippi Peanut Growers
Nutrition Services Group

Silver Sponsors:

H.E.A.L. Mississippi
Marketing Agents South
MDHS Division of Aging and Adult Services

Legacy Sponsors:

Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition/ Mississippi Public Health Institute
Mississippi State University Office of Nutrition Education
University of Mississippi Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management

Stay tuned for more information on 2025 Annual Conference sponsorship opportunities!

Academy Now Accepting Nominations for National Office – Who Do You Recommend?

The Academy is seeking dynamic and visionary leaders who are ready to make a meaningful impact and be a part of this exciting journey towards a bright future for our Academy. Nominations for President-elect, Treasurer-elect and Speaker-elect have closed, but all other positions are accepting nominations until October 21, 2024. Self-nominations are encouraged!

Learn more about the responsibilities and qualifications for each role, then submit your nominations online or via email. Every nomination counts towards shaping the future of our Academy!