Summary on Childhood Obesity Summit

Janet Mauer, Cherry Cramer , Julene Swenson and myself attended the Childhood Obesity Summit held at the Minnesota State Capital Aug 27.

Senator Al Franken spoke along with Minnesota Policy Makers Sen. Terri Banoff, Rep. Kim Norton and Rep. Bob Dettmer.

Senator Franken opened the session with his comments on how he believes that we should get families back to basics in the aspect of eating together and learning to cook at home with proper nutrition. He talked about some of the programs that his daughter is working on in D.C. after school. She is a teacher and a chef.

The other panelists talked about physical education and school lunch programs and the work that they have done in Minnesota to fight obesity. Rachel Callanan spoke from the American Heart association with an emphasis on the importance of improving school lunches and eliminating alternative foods in school including non healthy fund raisers.

Deb LaBounty demonstrated the importance of a healthy school lunch.

Cara McNulty spoke on the programs that have been implemented through the department of health in the past year and the progress that they have made.

For me personally this was a little disappointing looking from the Family and Consumer Sciences window as nutrition education was mentioned several times but our programs were never discussed or brought up. The focus was on Physical Education and School Lunch Programs.

The Minnesota coalition did not discuss the work that Family and Consumer Sciences educators do and did not pick up on Senator Frankins interest in education through the schools.

Senator Frankin had to leave and the floor was not opened for discussion and questions. Cherry stayed and spoke to the local politicians. I followed the senators handlers and caught them waiting outside the rest room while the senator was getting ready for the state fair. I talked to Katherine Blauvelt and told her about AAFCS and the work the FACS educators do. She gave me her card and asked me three times to e-mail her and said that the senator is very interested in keeping programs like ours alive. Katherine's contact information: Katherine_Blauvelt@franken.senate.gov

I would encourage each of you to write a note to each of the people on this panel about FACS as they have a vested interest in nutrition. Please state information about what FACS educators do and why it is important to continue the funding for our programs. If you are lobbying you can not mention MAFCS.

Lastly please remember that our national organization has an initiative called "Taking it to the Streets" and the focus this year is on obesity prevention and combat. If you do anything in your work or classroom that is related please take pictures and share this information with me. I am on the national committee and we would like to document the hard work and effort that you do in your profession.

Remember this issue is about your jobs and your passion. Please take it seriously and help us to fight for FACS.

Very sincerely, Jane Hall Hinrichsen,

AAFCS "Taking it to the Streets"

Below is copy from the Washington Post about Family and Consumer Sciences

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/01/AR2010060101861.html

Dead line for national conference registration extended

Dear AAFCS Leaders,

There are only six weeks left until the exciting AAFCS 101st Annual Conference & Expo in Cleveland! We are really looking forward to seeing many of you next month to celebrate a “New Century for FCS” and the new AAFCS brand. If you have not yet registered, you’ll be happy to know we’re extending the Advance registration deadline from May 15 to June 1. Don’t let this conference pass you by!

Please share the following information with your members, colleagues, and friends:

* Registration: Early-Bird registration has passed, but there is still time to register at the Advance registration rate (extended until June 1, 2010!). Professional/Emeritus members pay $465, nonmembers pay $559, and students pay $140. From June 2 through June 11, the online system will be open for registration at the on-site rate. Registrations at the on-site rate will also be accepted by phone or fax until June 11, but no mail-ins postmarked after June 1 will be processed prior to the conference.
* Meal Function Tickets: The deadline to buy meal function tickets is being extended to June 11 for purchases made online, by fax, or by phone and to June 1 for purchases made by mail (must be postmarked by June 1).
* Hotels: Reserve your hotel room quickly if you have not already done so. The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel is full, but the Marriott Cleveland Downtown still has rooms available. To make a reservation, please visit www.aafcs.org/meetings/10/hotels.html. If you are interested in sharing a hotel room or carpooling with another attendee, we have set up a special site called “Conference Connection” in the Community Portal http://webportal.aafcs.org:8080/default.aspx. On the discussion board, you can list what you are looking for (i.e., roommate, ride, networking, etc.) and hopefully find another attendee who can help you.
* Pacesetter Dinner - Saturday evening: At this semi-formal ticketed event (must purchase ticket in advance), there will be live music, an elegant dinner, and recognition of Distinguished Service Awardees, Leaders, New Achievers, and 50-year members. This is a great time to cap off the conference with colleagues and newly made friends.
* Excursions: The Ohio Local Arrangements Committee has put together a super selection of educational excursions on Wednesday, June 23. Reservations are requested by May 15. For those of you who have afternoon meetings on Wednesday, “Lolley the Trolley” is available in the morning. Visit www.aafcs.org/res/10_AC/tour_reg_2010.doc for more information.
* Bring your walking shoes. If you are staying at the Marriott, you will have a block or two to walk for events at the Renaissance each day. We advise you to wear comfortable shoes.

With this publicity notice, we are providing you with an updated one-page flyer and fact sheet and half-page speaker article. All promotional items can be found on one page in the Annual Conference section of the website at www.aafcs.org/meetings/10/ACtools.html. These items can be used in your newsletter, on your website, or in other communications.

We also ask you to review the list of conference registrants and personally invite your colleagues to come. Be sure to let them know about the extended registration and meal function ticket deadlines.

I invite you to check out the Annual Conference Blog to share information and answer questions about the conference at http://aafcsconference.wordpress.com or to contact me at sturinikent@aol.com if you have any questions regarding the conference.

We thank you for your help in making this a successful event!

See you soon,

Sharon Turini-Kent
Annual Conference Planning Committee Chair

AAFCS Conference in June

Attend the 2010 AAFCS conference in Cleveland, OH, this June.

More information on the conference is located on the AAFCS web site. The deadline for the early bird registration is fast approaching so get yours in now. There are some great excursions available to attend before the conference.

Be a part of it, it's a wonderful learning experience along with a great way to make connections across the country.

Support our Teacher of the Year, Marsha Chizek too!

Bills in Congress for FACS credit in high school

It has been said that we can make a difference with what we teach. Let's make a difference with letters to our senators and representatives supporting the bills for a FACS credit in high school. Please site evidence for your local representatives as to why FACS education is important in school.

Many FACS teachers feel like they are fight for their lives to keep their programs in their schools but together we can make a strong voice. Take the time to write a special story about the changes you've made in your students lives.

The following is a letter to a senator asking for support.


I am writing about the Senate Bill 3059 to require a Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly known as Home Economics) graduation credit in high schools.

This bill is not requiring a specific course and I believe that this is a wise choice, as it gives school districts the option to choose one of the many important areas that Family and Consumer Sciences focuses on in education. It is through my personal experience teaching at North High School, North St. Paul, and living in Cottage Grove that passing this bill would have a positive impact on many youths. I can attest to my statement many ways.

There are three fantastic areas that stand out and will help students achieve understanding in everyday life to help them be productive citizens in society.

The first is foods and nutrition; as you know our first lady has made it her personal project to change the look of our families and help turn their eating habits back to healthy eating with proper portions and nutrition. When Family and Consumer Sciences began 101 years ago proper water conditions and healthy food preservation was the organizations main focus. Nutrition and Food has been one of the mainstays of our profession and FACS teachers are the correct group of people to help coach our youth back into personal proper food intake.

The second area that we stand alone, in the field of quality education, is teaching young people about parenting and child development. In a world where many children have been left as “latch key kids” raising them selves it is time that we further our opportunities to spread knowledge about quality child rearing for all people in society. What better way to reach the masses than through high school education.

The last area that FACS teachers are knowledgeable in is the area of Consumer Education. In a time where our credit system has gone “amuck”, our population is in desperate need of teaching young people how to budget and manage their spending. As our title states, FACS teachers specialize in consumerism and therefore would be the logical choice to teach students how to systematically manage their financial lives.

There are many other areas that FACS teachers have the opportunity to teach but these three areas stand out very obviously with-out much deep thought. As a teacher I see young people struggle from day to day and much of it stems from lack of family guidance, financial security and lack of proper daily food.

What better way do you have to help the lives of many and make a positive impact on these children than by talking amongst your colleagues and encouraging them to pass this bill.

North Students Interviewed by AP for Prom Sewing Story

It pays to be an AAFCS member. An e-mail was sent out for teachers that have students sewing prom dresses from the AAFCS headquarters. I responded and two of my students were interviewed. The story was distributed March 12, 13 and 14 and has been in 8-10 papers that I know of, it was great fun for my students.

below is a link to the Baltimore Sun. You may have to paste it to your computer header at the top of your computer.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/parenting/bal-diy-prom-0311,0,1415506.story

Consumer Skills Story

Kara Mullen Teachers Consumer Skills at North High School. As part of our curriculum we have adopted assembling a personal file for adult years that Max Peterson perfected with her Senior Strategies course at Centennial High School.



Last week at the end of the tri, students proudly took their file boxes home after school and as they did I announced to them "you're officially an adult."



Monday, March 8, 2010, Kara reported to me that one of her students had her purse "taken". She reported it to the police. Before she went to the station she went home grabbed her file box and had all of her documents needed to find her purse. The police officer said to the student, "Young lady, you tell your teacher everyone needs to have one of these file boxes. I'll get right on this because you have all of the information we need."

Taking it to the Streets

I am on the national committee called taking it to the streets. We called it that so that we could work on topics that were important and changing so that AAFCS could be part of national efforts with out starting new programs everytime something "new" came up in the news that needed FACS attention.

The H1N1 virus was our first focus.

As a team member of the committee I would like to report some of the things that you did in your work or classroom to combat the virus. It does not have to be something new. It can be the good old safety and sanitation hand washing video. If you have something to share or pictures to share with it please post it here or contact me personally.

Jane Hinrichsen

Obesity Issue

Since our first lady has taken on the Obesity Issue the national committee "Taking it to the Streets" (which has been focusing on the the H1N1 issue) is planning on adding Obesity one of their major issues and causes.

February 16th I attended a meeting with a local representative from Woodbury and addressed nutrition and obesity is support of physical and nutrition education. Cherry Cramer and Wendy Ambrose were also in attendance.

After telling stories from my classroom the representative asked me to write her about these stories so that she could share them with her committee members. The following is the letter that I sent. Jane Hinrichsen



It has come to my attention that there are bills being written to add standards to physical education to address the obesity issue that seems to be increasing in society.

I am pro physical education but I find that there should also be education on healthy eating in nutrition.

I am a Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly know as Home Ec) teacher at North High School in North St. Paul. (Grades 9-12) I live on the northern edge of Cottage Grove.

As a Family and Consumer Sciences Educator it has been well known that the image of what we do is "just cook and sew", it was often assumed that we just re-enforce what children learn at home and should know how to do these things because of the examples they see.

I can honestly say that this is no longer true.

I have countless examples of students growing up in environments where healthy food is not the norm and supplies that many take for granted are not available.

When a students misses a cooking lab they often have to make them up at home. I have had students tell me, "We don't have measuring cups and spoons and we can't afford to buy them what should I do?", "I can't make up a lab unless it's pre-made and goes in a microwave that's the only food we buy at my house." "I can't make that recipe we don't have sugar or flour at our house."

I could once assume many things in a classroom but I can no longer assume that a students knows basic things like, before you put hamburger into soup or chili it should be browned. Yes, I have had students put it in raw.

I can't assume that students know you should cook in a sauce pan or frying pan, I've found them cooking in metal bowls with the bowl on the burner.

Do I go through instruction before cooking? Yes. Do I require they read and write the recipe before cooking? Yes.

These are basic things that we once assumed that children and would know and learn in their lifetime from home. We can no longer assume that that is true. Students need Basic food and nutrition courses because society either does not have the means to cook at home or they choose not to cook at home and use convenience to make life simpler.

I hope that when congress works on budgets and education standards that we look at basic needs along with the test scores that seem to drive what is important in education today. We need to teach to the masses and requiring more difficult courses is not going to make our students smarter mostly just more frustrated.

Very sincerely,

Jane Hall Hinrichsen

Get "Fired Up!"

After attending the MAFCS State Conference, I have been inspired to get "Fired Up" and be proactive. I have made a list of parents and students (along with their address, phone numbers, and e-mails) who are supportive of Family and Consumer Sciences. I am also making a list of companies and organizations who I believe would be supportive of our area, and I have set a goal of writing at least one letter each week to a company or organization asking for their support. I challenge each of you to do the same. It is time for all of us in the profession to promote what we do. Given the economy and budget cuts facing our schools, it is to our advantage to be ready to have our statistics and supporters waiting in the wings if we need to call on them. I love interior design and textiles so my first letters will be to those industries. I will report back in a couple of weeks to let you know of any progress I have made. My challenge to other educators reading this blog is to do the same and report back in a couple of weeks.

Meeting with Senator addressing the obesity issue

If you are able to go to this session (listed below) on the obesity issue please do so. It is important that we join Physical Education on this campaign. I am trying to join forces with physical education in my school and propose an every other day course with them. One day would be exercise and fitness with Phy Ed and the other would be with FACS covering personal growth, self motivation, and nutrition with labs promoting healthy food choices and preparation.

Senator Kathy Saltzman and Representative Marsha Swails on February 1 6, 2010 from 5:30-6:30pm at Woodbury HP Clinic -- 8450 Seasons Parkway, Woodbury, MN.

Hope to see you there. Jane Hinrichsen

Productive and Informative MAFCS Conference

The Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, February, conference held in Bloomington, MN was a huge success. We would like to thank Linda Keller and Debbie Larson for their impeccable organization and coordination that was put forth as conference program chairs.

We would like to congratulate Marsha Chizek Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Donna Butterfield Friend of MAFCS award (Sew Easy Designs), Debbie Larson Business Leader of the Year award. Anupama Pasricha for the New Achiever award. Donna Butterfield and Alice Lysaker for the Service Award.

Marsha will represent us at the national level this summer in Cleveland, OH and Anupama Pasricha will represent us at the national level in 2011 for each of their awards.

We had many powerful speakers with informative messages. Once we receive the links for their power points I will post them on this blog.

Information for the Economic Benefits of Early Childhood Investments is at Minneapolisfed.org

Please remember to use the education guide that was placed in your packet at the conferences and use the reference tools and resources that were compiled and listed for you and your school programs. We would like to thank Donna Butterfield Debbie Larson and Cherry Cramer for their hard work on this project. We would also like to thank Donna Butterfield and her company Sew Easy Designs for funding the printing of the educational handouts.

One more conference for you to try

A reminder that the Minnesota Conferences is February 12 and 13, 2010. Dates were moved from March to February so that it would not conflict with school Spring Breaks so we sure hope to see you. If you need an alternative check out the following. Information for the Minnesota Conference is in one of the below posts.

Wisconsin has announced there state conference. If you are interested you can check out their web site for information at www.wafcs.org.

The dates are March 12,13, 2010.

Careers Conference in Madison Wisconsin

I just came back from the Careers Conference in Madison, WI. It was really quite a lovely experience. Well organized with great speakers that were inspirational and motivating. I hope that all members get the opportunity to experience that conference over time in their careers.

We have a conference in Minnesota coming up soon that you may want to attend. Check out three posts down and see how to attend the MAFCS conference in Minnesota.

Announcing the 2010 Teacher of the Year

It is with great pride that the Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences announce that Marsha Chizak has been named the 2010 Minnesota Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year.

Marsha is a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher in the Fridley school district at the high school level. Her Human Development (Foundations of Child Development) program is being recognized because of the outstanding work that she does with her high school students in this year and in the past by integrating the schools IB program with her curriculum.

Fridley School district is a second tier district independent of the surrounding districts (Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Spring Lake Park). This year Fridley High School has been a fully implemented International Baccalaureate (IB) World School with the full implementation of the Middle Years Program (MYP grade 5-10) and its Diploma Program (DP grades 10-11) and working on the Primary Years Program (PYP). The unique implementation of the International Baccalaureate Program into Fridley is that all principles and practices of IB into each area of their curriculum. It is not a “pull-out” program, but is school-wide. They were one of the first schools to do this in the United States. Therefore, all of their classes are taught with the IB Learner Profile (what qualities we want IB students to exhibit) in mind, taught through the Areas Of Interaction (lenses from which to look at your curriculum through), and taught with an international-mindedness that takes their suburban students into the world to solve real-life problems with good critical thinking skills.

Marsha is also on the MAFCS board of directors and has been actively involved in the association for many years. She will represent Minnesota at the National American Association of Family Consumer Sciences Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, June 2010.

The Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences will be celebrating her award at the state conference February 12, 2010 at a 5:45 p.m. reception at the airport Hilton, Bloomington, MN.

Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Conference Information

2010 MAFCS Conference: "Family and Work: Doing What Counts"February 11-13, 2010
Minneapolis Airport Marriott Hotel in Bloomington MN
Register by February 1 and save a $25.00 late fee.
Details and Registration Form are attached for your convenience.
Professional Development Units will be available for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Make your room reservation by January 25 to book our conference rate of just $79 (plus taxes) per night.

Information is also available at www.mnafcs.org and a copy will be in your postal mail too.
Plan to spend a long weekend with your FACS friends and your family at this convenient metro location.
Thursday, February 11
SERV SAFE training available. Colleen Zenk will lead the SERV SAFE training which meets the criteria for Food Manager Certification under the Minnesota Food Code.
Register ASAP for this session as you need time to prepare and receive your materials.

Pre-Conference Educational Tour
The motor coach bus will leave from the hotel at 8:30 AM with a fun day of activities planned. Tour includes: Fresh Seasons Market, a unique grocery store experience; Nordic Ware, manufacturer of kitchenware products including the Bundt pan - stop will include tour of their manufacturing facility and time to shop at their onsite store;
Ferguson Showroom, 18,000 square foot showroom is home to the largest range of plumbing fixtures, lighting and appliance in the area.
Lunch will be at the CRAVE, a fresh, vibrant American Restaurant.

Gourmet Dinner and Keynote Speaker
Thursday will conclude at the hotel with a Gourmet Dinner and Keynote Speaker, Jill J. Johnson; "Clarity: The Secret to Flawless Decision Making."

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Friday, February 12 - Registration opens at 7:30 AM
"FACS in the Big Picture" will be the theme for our opening speaker, Janet Bray, Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education.
Fabulous sessions are planned - please see the attached Conference Schedule file for details.
The day concludes by celebrating with the Minnesota Teacher of the Year - free hors d'voeuvres and cash bar

Saturday, February 13 - Day begins with Announcements and Celebrations and Keynote Speaker Kyle Uphoff, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), "Minnesota's Changing Labor Market."
More fabulous sessions are planned for the morning - see the Conference Schedule file for details.
Another highlight for the day is Lunch with a quick visit from Senator Amy Klobuchar is planned and Rob Grunewald, Associate Economist will present, "Economic Benefits for Early Childhood Investments."

If you have additional questions, please contact Rachel Pederson, MAFCS Executive Secretary, 763-241-2104, rachelpederson@charter.net,

See the attached files for lots of details - Register NOW!
Linda Keller
Debbie Larson
MAFCS Conference Co-Chairs


Rachel PedersonCustom Desktop Design & Business Solutions13251 180th Ave NWElk River MN 55330763-241-2104Fax: 763-241-8783rachelpederson@charter.net