ABOUT MFNS

Management in Food and Nutrition Systems - DPG 41
A History

by Linda S. Horace, RD

Year One-Five 1977-82 The organizational seed for DPG 41 was planted in 1977. Elizabeth Frakes, MS, RD, Director of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, worked diligently as organizational chair. By 1979 officers were elected, the Standing Rules were approved, the newsletter was published and Annual Meeting programming was implemented. DPG 41 was alive and growing! MFNS was alive and growing! During the next four years, the dietetic practice group experienced a phenomenal growth spurt reaching a membership of 3564 as it began gaining recognition and influence in identifying the role and scope of practice for the management dietitian and dietetic technician. Productivity became the thrust of the Program of Work.

Founding Member - Elizabeth Frakes

Year Six-Ten 1982-1987
Efforts to enhance member services were primary during these years. Productivity, coordinated by the Productivity Task Force, was central to the Program of Work. The Productivity Symposium initiated in St. Louis was repeated in Philadelphia. Scholarships were offered to members to take the information to state organizations. In 1986 the Productivity Management for Nutrition Care Systems manual was published by the Task Force through ADA publications.

American Hospital Association Exhibit L-R: D. Smith-Becker, M.J. Gelpi, M. Brennan, J. Halling

Marketing became a focus in 1987 and James Rose, MS, RD was named chair of the Marketing Committee. Jim assisted the Executive Committee in evaluating past and current projects and in developing a 5 year strategic plan. In 1988 MFNS began exhibiting at the American Hospital Association Annual Meeting and Exhibition with the purpose of marketing members to the decision makers in the American hospital arena. The exhibits in New Orleans, LA, Chicago, IL and Washington, DC were successful and administrators were anxious eager to learn how to recruit members as directors.

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MFNS member benefits and services were expanded. Identification materials were developed and distributed including marketing brochures, membership directories, membership certificates, mugs, tote bags, sports bottles and AME ribbons. In 1981 a second table top display was created for use at AME, state and local exhibitions.

In 1983 the name and look of the newsletter took a dramatic turn under the direction of Susan McGinley, MBA, RD, serving as editor. The name was changed to the Market-Link and a new logo was developed utilizing the 5 M's of management: Money, Minutes, Materials, Manpower, and Machines. Identified as the most valuable member benefit, the Market-Link was expanded from a 4 to 12 page publication. Networking at the grass roots level was increased by the election of Area coordinators who were at first advisory to the Executive Committee and subsequently became voting members.

An ADA foundation scholarship was established to assist graduate students in management. The $1000 Graduate Scholarship has since been awarded to several members.

Year Eleven-Fifteen 1987-1992

Future planning became the focus resulting in the development of the long range Program of Work compatible with ADA's Strategic Plan. In 1990 and 1992 needs assessment surveys were distributed to members. The survey was used by the Executive Committee in formulating the Program of Work. The following programs became the focus: Minority Recruitment and Retention Program, Student Summer Practicum, Summer Practicum for Educators, Alliance Program, Quality Assurance and Standards of Practice.

5 M’s of Managment Money    Minutes       Materials          Manpower             Machines

In 1989 the Elizabeth Frakes Continuing Education Award was established to assist qualified members in maintaining registration through attendance at Annual meeting. In 1991 MFNS was granted an educational stipend from Dietary Products which was used to underwrite the cost of 5 issues of the Market-Link.

Year Sixteen-Twenty 1992-1997
In 1992 the House of Delegates adopted the Position of the ADA: "Management of Health Care Food and Nutrition Services" authored by MFNS members Linda Lafferty, PhD, RD and Rebecca Dowling, PhD, RD.

Traveling Exhibit L-R: P. Russo, N. Gregory, P. Henry

At members' request, a regional networking workshop was held in Pittsburgh, PA in 1994 sponsored by Dietary Products: "Sustaining Excellence" which focused on quality issues in the health care industry. Strengthening alliances with the National Association of College and University Food Service (NACUFS), the American Society of Healthcare Food Service Administrators (ASHFSA), and the National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) was a priority. Three Annual Meeting programs were planned with NAFEM:in Chicago, IL, San Antonio, TX and Boston, MA. In 1997:MFNS members presented at the NAFEM Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

Receptions at Annual Meetings in Chicago and San Antonio were planned with the New York State Dietetic Association and in Boston with the Kansas Dietetic Association, Kansas State University and the University of Kansas Medical Center to honor members receiving national awards and to support the goal of providing a means of communicating among members and other groups.

The MFNS name changed twice during this period. The first change was made to shorten the name from "ADA Members with Management Responsibilities in Health Care Delivery Systems" to "Management in Health Care Systems." The second name change to "Management in Food and Nutrition Systems was made to broaden the dietetic practice group's scope to include other areas of management practice following the merger with the "Dietitians in College and University Food Service" dietetic practice group in June, 1995. Both dietetic practice groups had a similar mission: to promote the dietetics professional as a leader in foodservice management and nutrition education. Member benefits were expanded as a result of the merger. DICUFS had an active Audio Lending Library and a successful cookbook: Campus Favorites" Quantity Vegetarian Recipes. The Executive Committee was streamlined and the Area Coordinators were reduced to 5 Members-at-Large representing a variety of areas of management practice across the country.

DICUFS Executive Committee Joins MFNS L-R: S. Procter, J. Irvin, A. Smith (Not Pictured: C. Fagan

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Year Twenty Six-Thirty-Two 2002-2009
In 2002, with Ruby Puckett at the helm, the plan of work focused on two major areas: streamlined administration of the group and improvement of the dietetic practice group’s image. The Market-Link was redesigned and a new membership brochure was created. The MFNS website was expanded to include a “Members Only” area. Each Spring issue of the Market-Link was established as online only. Electronic voting became the norm and the ability to communicate through “blast e-mails” was established. A membership directory was made available in the “Members Only” area of the website.

MFNS began to co-sponsor the Philadelphia - South Jersey ASHFSA annual conference in 2005 and additionally, in 2006 and 2007, assumed the responsibility for the pre-conference workshop. MFNS was also responsible for the pre-conference workshop for the national ASHFSA Annual Meeting, 2007, in Sarasota, FL.

In a joint partnership with ASHFSA, the American Society for Healthcare Food Service Administration, and HFM, Healthcare Foodservice Management, MFNS assisted in planning a series of webinars for 2007-2008. Members were able to participate in webinars that featured experts in such topics as technology, environmental issues and culinary arts. 

The most ambitious project to date has been development of the Standards of Professional Performance (SOPP). Chaired by Ruby Puckett, the committee consists of 9 MFNS volunteer members. The project began in May of 2006 and was recently published in JADA. 

Currently the Executive Committee is considering another name change to move the dietetic practice group’s focus from management to leadership.

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Dietitians in College and University Food Service Dietetic Practice Group Past Chairs
1978-1980	Ruth Chesmore	1988-1989	Peggy Smith
1980-1981	Scott Frear	1989-1990	Carl Christoph
1981-1982	Fayrene Hamouz	1990-1991	Janet Maxwell Roseland
1982-1983	Mary Molt	1991-1992	Barbara Brooks
1983-1984	Jill Feldman	1992-1993	Fayrene Hamouz
1984-1985	Janet Maxwell	1993-1994	Susan Davis Allen
1985-1986	Jim Haynes	1994-1995	Carolyn Fagan
1986-1987	Rachel Mays		Chair-Elect: Sandra Proctor
1987-1988	Anne Dumper		Treasurer: M. Arline Smith Executive Committee Member: Jill Irvin

Management in Food and Nutrition Systems - Past Chairs 1977-1979 Elizabeth Frakes 1996-1997 Nancy Gregory 1979-1981 Ruby Puckett 1997-1998 Jane Dunn 1981-1982 Dawn Treadwell 1998-1999 Bridget Griffin 1982-1983 James Halling 1999-2000 Jill Irvin 1983-1984 Marie Brennan 2000-2001 Inez Speranza 1984-1985 Margaret Abbott 2001-2002 Sr. Carol Carne 1985-1986 Mary Ruth Bedford 2002-2003 Ruby Puckett 1986-1987 Charnette Norton 2003-2004 Kathleen McClusky 1987-1988 Susan McGinley 2004-2005 Monica Ceille 1988-1989 Donna Smith Becker 2005-2006 Pamela Ferguson 1989-1990 Carol Sichterman 2006-2007 William Barkley 1990-1991 Linda Horace 2007-2008 Joyce Scott-Smith 1991-1992 Lissa Bauwin 2008-2009 Nancy Bowen 1992-1993 Rose Ann Sippy 2009-2010 Gary Kawula 1993-1994 Joyce Scott-Smith 2010-2011 Susan McGinley 1994-1996 Pamela Henry

MFNS Awards for Leadership Excellence Medallion Award Mary Ruth Bedford, PhD, RD Amelia Catakis, MBA, RD James Rose, MS, RD Ruby Puckett, MA, RD Kathleen McClusky MS, RD Jack Bellick, MA, RD James Halling, MS, RD Inez Speranza, RD Charnette Norton Deborah Canter, PhD, RD Judy Ford Stokes, RD, LD, FACI Maria Museler, MS, RD Michelle Fairchild, MA, RD, LDN, FADA Marilyn Laskowski-Sachnoff, MA, RD   Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award Aimee Moore, PhD, RD Marian Spears, PhD, RD Jack Bellick, MA, RD Ruby Puckett, MA, RD, FCSI, CFE Polly Fitz, MA, RD, CDN ADAF Award for Excellence in Practice: Management Elizabeth Frakes, MS, RD James Halling, MS, RD Charnette Norton, MS, RD Mary Molt, PhD, RD Judy Ford Stokes, RD, FCSI Ruby Puckett, MA, RD, FCSI, CFE Linda Hofmeister, MM, RD, LD, FADA, CHE Cynthia Broadhurst, MS, RD, LDN Lena Frances Cooper Lecture Mary Kimbrough, RD, LD Polly Fitz, MA, RD, CDN ADAF Award for Excellence in Practice: Dietetic Education Deborah Canter, PhD, RD General Mills Gold Award Kathy Reinke, RD Judy Ford Stokes Award for Innovation in Administrative Dietetics or Food service Facility Design Peggy Smith, MS, RD Linda Hofmeister, MM, RD, FADA Jane Dunn, MS, RD Kris Schroeder, RD Jill Irvin, MA, RD, LD Mary Angela Miller, MS, RD, LD, FADA Sarabeth Kayton, MS, RD, SFNS

Goals of Management in Food & Nutrition Systems/ DPG #41

• Unite in a national organization the ADA members who have management responsibilities in food and nutrition systems
• Provide a means of communication among members in this dietetic practice group and with other established groups
• Promote the professional and personal development of members
• Promote visibility of and career opportunities for this field of dietetic practice
• Promote applied research in the practice of dietetics

Membership Benefits

• Quarterly newsletter
• Networking opportunities
• FNCE educational programming/special events
• Monitoring of legislative activity
• Educational opportunities
• Promotion of the management RD and DTR
• Educational Scholarships

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