EVENT RECAPS
DESTINATION: Leadership The School Nutrition Association welcomed state association leaders to the National Leadership Conference (NLC) in West Palm Beach, Florida. This annual conference is designed to provide state executive board leaders the opportunity to develop essential skills in leading a nonprofit association, network with other state leaders, and gain new insights into becoming more effective and engaging leaders. This year, ISNA was represented by our Executive Director (Sheri Shipp), President (Stacie Light), President-elect (Christine Clarahan), Vice President (Courtney FitzSimons), and Region Rep Chair/Future Leader (Amanda Worrick). Let’s take a look at what they had to say about the impact of this year’s NLC. How does NLC impact ISNA? Stacie: Oh, how I wish COVID had not taken away this opportunity the last 2 years. NLC truly prepares one for a leadership role by helping them with everything from the structure of running a board meeting to working on a plan of action while building on past programs. Christine: SNA knows that in order to have a strong national association (and voice) it needs strong leaders representing each of the state affiliates. NLC is one way that SNA ensures that each state association is provided the
Stacie Light Director of Food Services Warsaw Community Schools ISNA President
Christine Clarahan MS, SNS, RDN Food Service Director School City of Hammond ISNA President-elect
Courtney FitzSimons MA, RD, CD, SNS Food Service Director West Lafayette Comm. Schools ISNA Vice President
information it needs to thrive as a state affiliate. What did you like most about NLC?
Christine: For those of you who don’t know, Indiana is leaps and bounds ahead of just about every other SNA state affiliate out there. It is great to be reminded of that at NLC. Lindsey Hill and Sherri Ship were even able to showcase ISNA’s hard work at one of the sessions.
Courtney: Although it was fun getting to know other states throughout breakout sessions, I’d definitely have to say it was the unstructured time spent with Stacie, Amanda, Sheri, Christine, and Lindsay that I enjoyed the most. These ladies are brilliant and on more than one occasion we were poolside discussing ways to make ISNA even better. I felt on fire for ISNA! The ideas we created and the work we accomplished together was inspiring. I look forward to seeing how these changes impact our efficiency and effectiveness as a board and for our members. Amanda: One of my favorite parts of Future Leaders was completing our DiSC Profiles and digging into what makes us who we are. It was very interesting to see our individual assessments and to learn how to better connect with colleagues whose priorities and preferences differ from yours.
Amanda Worrick DTR Director of Child Nutrition Mississinewa Comm. Schools ISNA Region Rep. Chair/Future Leader
20
Powered by FlippingBook