August 2014 – Smart Snacks Rule and New Breakfast Regulations
Posted: August 14, 2014
A Message from Your Industry Representative,
This year’s Annual National Conference (ANC) in Boston was quite the success. It was sure great to see so many of you and to have the time to catch up. I was so impressed by the overwhelming positive spirit put forth. These are trying times, and your attitude and actions has been a beacon of light shining through during these struggles. I truly appreciate that, and I know SNA is very grateful.
We now start our journey into the new school year. Where did the summer go? This year will be a work in progress. With the start of the Smart Snacks rule and new breakfast regulations, I know we all have our work cut out for us—but I know we are up for the challenge.
The efforts by SNA on Capitol Hill continue as we work through the appropriation process, and the progress slows at times based on the other challenges Congress faces in the world. Leaders are resolute and staying the course; I am confident that, in time, common sense will prevail, and flexibility and relief will be provide to those who are in such desperate need.
As we head into the fall, we have many activities that will keep us quite busy, including numerous state conferences and the Patron meeting on October 29. I hope all Patrons will attend! We are currently building the agenda, and if you were there last year, it will offer a very similar structure and highlights — more to come soon on a separate mailing.
As we start the fall semester, we are also starting a new year for the SNA Industry Advisory Board (IAB). As your representative on the Board, I chair the IAB. The other representatives can be found here. Please reach out to me or any of the IAB to let us know your ideas, concerns or questions. We want to represent you properly, and we need to know your thoughts.
If you are like me, you are now starting to work on your budget for 2015. With that in mind, please plan to support the 2015 School Nutrition Foundation Celebration, scheduled for March 2nd in Washington, D.C. during the Legislative Action Conference (LAC). For those of you who didn’t attend the last event, it was a special night honoring five very deserving School Nutrition Heroes. The event will be very similar to the inaugural, but we also know that the buzz surrounding it will only make the night bigger and better. Thanks to all who sponsored this year; you have made a difference in the lives of so many. Visit the School Nutrition Foundation web page for details.
In closing, thank you for what you do every day for the children of this land. What you do is so important. Keep up the great work!
Gary D. Vonck
KeyImpact Sales & Systems
SNA Industry Representative
Published in – Industry Insider: News from SchoolNutrition.org Vol. 12, No. 7 – August 14, 2014
About the Author:
Gary Vonck
VP - Education Division
Gary Vonck has been with KeyImpact since 2007, adding to an impressive 40-year foodservice career. His knowledge and passion for child nutrition are unsurpassed. Gary oversees the Education Division, which includes sales, bid, and commodity teams across the entire nation.
Gary is an active member of the SNA and was the first and only broker/agency representative on the School Nutrition Association’s Industry Advisory Board, as the appointed Industry Representative, in 2008 and again 2014. Gary has also served on numerous SNA Task Forces and co-chaired several SNA events. Gary was also on the NSFMI national advisory council. In January 2013, Gary was awarded the Silver Friend of Child Nutrition FAME Award.
Gary Vonck is based in Illinois and can be reached at gvonck@kisales.com.