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

MAFCS Conference in February this year

Remember that the Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is in February this year near the mall of America.

The conference is the Friday and Saturday of Presidents week-end and is filled with activities for you to learn and colaborate. Check out the MAFCS web site for more information.