When I think of February. . .

…I think of American Heart Month, National Cancer Prevention Month, Children’s Dental Health Month, and VAND’s Legislative Day!

VAND is heading to Richmond on February 24th. At 9 a.m. Senator Stanley (District 22) will get our Legislative Day rolling. He is the patron for the Medical Homes legislation in the Senate and the Patient Centered Medical Advisory Board (Senate Bill 20). Our Legislative Consultant Extraordinaire, Andrew Lamar, recommended that a representative from VAND be on the Board and the most current version of SB 20 includes that language! Thank you, Andrew! Senator Stanley is also sponsoring SB 19 that involves a pilot program for telemedicine.

If you have never experienced the opportunity to meet at the state capitol, sit in the gallery of the Assembly or Senate and enjoy the thrill of a “VAND shout out” by one of our legislators to his or her colleagues, then please plan on registering for VAND’s Legislative Day. You will be able to accompany seasoned RDNs while making visits to individual legislators to let them know what we do to promote the health of Virginians. Carpools will be organized by districts—contact your DLR (District Legislative Representative (Blue Ridge Sara Mastrantonia; Northern Jackie Darling; Richmond Nana Ofosu-Benefo; Southwest Susan Noble; andTidewater Amber Rivera). Throughout the day, you’ll have the chance to network with other RDNs and Andrew Lamar, VAND’s Legislative Consultant, will apprise us of pertinent legislation to keep an eye on.

If you want to make a difference, if you want to make an IMPACT on the health of Virginians, please register for Legislative Day at here.


Speaking of making an IMPACT. . .

School Nutrition Advocates Needed

Do you work with school nutrition? School Health Advisory Board members, community leaders, or just involved parent RDNs are the topic of a list we’re working to compile to assist with our child nutrition work with Virginia’s First Lady. If you’re involved with school nutrition in some way, please send your name, contact information, school district, and a bit about your involvement to one of our Assistant State Policy Representatives, Faye Krause at runner_50k@verizon.net.


Get out the Vote in Academy and DPG Elections February 1 –February 22

http://www.eatrightpro.org/resources/leadership/nominations-and-elections


Motivational Interviewing Study: http://misavvy.com/

Monarch Media, has received a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to conduct a study on the effectiveness of an online training program in improving motivational interviewing skills for dietitians. We’re currently recruiting study participants across the country.

In addition to the stipend and coded sessions mentioned in the recruiting documents, participants may also receive 3 CE credits (approval pending).


Annual Meeting April 10-12 Fair Oaks Marriott Fairfax VA

The VAND Annual Meeting Planning Committee meets at least once a month and has been doing so since July. Jackie and Karen Heagney are co-chairing the AM. Other committee members include Shari Goldsmith, Karyn Theis, Teresa Lucas, Shirley Scrafford, Janet Sass, Anu Kaur, and me. We spend a good three hours strategizing for the AM.

To maintain reasonable registration fees and the overall cost-effectiveness of Annual Meeting, we depend on vendors for sponsorships and the purchase of exhibit spaces.  Members owning small businesses receive a 50% discount for exhibit spaces.  You pay only $225 ($450 value) for the opportunity to showcase your products and/or services to 300+ professional colleagues.  You are also welcome to use a “buddy system” and share a space with another member to split the cost.  Interested members should contact Jackie Darling, VAND Interim Executive Director, at eatright.virginia@gmail.com (use hyperlink) or (703) 815-8293.  In addition, Jackie welcomes any potential vendor contacts (corporate or non-profit) to extend an invitation to participate.  Please email her with contact name, email address and preferred phone number.

Check out the sensational program that offers up to 20 CPEUs over three days by going to www.eatrightvirginia.org (use hyperlink) and clicking on the Annual Meeting section.  You will be connected to the Cvent meeting site that includes the agenda, fees, lodging information and link to online registration with a credit card or PayPal account.  I hope to see you in Fairfax in April for a premiere education and networking opportunity to advance your practice.”


Opportunities to Serve:

*Treasurer-Elect: If you really want to learn about VAND, consider running for Treasurer-Elect. My three years as NVAND Treasurer prepared me for NVAND President and then VAND President. There is no better way to understand an organization than by serving as Treasurer. In this position, for the first year, you will be mentored by our current Treasurer-Extraordinaire, Cindy MacIntyre. I have known Cindy for years (we are both from NOVA) and I can’t think of a better person to learn from when it comes to being VAND Treasurer! You can self-nominate!


Please help me extend a warm welcome to our

New Assistant Member Services Chair, Bernice Akinbileje! She will be learning the ins and outs of Member Services from current Chair, Tarren Corbin! Thank you for volunteering, Bernice.

*Questions? Contact Wendy Phillips, Nominating Committee Chair. Please email nominations to Wendy Phillips wendyphillips@iammorrison.com by February 15, 2016. 


Upcoming Events

  • February 15, 2016 Treasurer-Elect Nominations (self-nominations) due
  • February 24 Legislative Day Richmond (snow day March 2)
  • March 1-7 VAND Elections
  • March 2016 National Nutrition Month “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” www.eatrightpro.org has lots of resources for RDNs and NDTRs to use.
  • April 10-12 Annual Meeting:, Fair Oaks Marriott, Fairfax, VA

 

As always, I am interested in your insights, your questions, and requests.

nicole_brown2

Nicole V Brown, MS, RDN, LD ACSM EP-C

VAND President

Nutrition.fitness@verizon.net

703.969.6114

Springfield, VA