We have gone over the 100-membership mark and are pleased that our CAFE membership is attracting new people each day!

With so many organizations and so little funding, why would we encourage you to become a CAFE member?

• Sharing of solutions leads to a stronger community. We know this to be true. Our monthly “Journal for Culinary Arts Education Best Practices” has thoughtful research and results which are relevant to everyone in our “silo” of education.
• Being recognized as a CAFE member affords a significant discount for upcoming ACF events so that you won’t have to choose what to go to or which one is more important for you and your students.
• Supporting the CAFE organization continues to provide you with a “free” monthly magazine, “The Gold Medal Classroom” which has industry articles as well as columns by experts in culinary arts education. It also gives you free access to the CAFE website www.cafemeetingplace.com which offers CAFEvision (short instructional videos), opportunities for professional development (cash) awards, information about contests, and a great many industry resources.

Renewal notices for 2019 will be going out soon. If you know of anyone you can forward this to, or speak to about becoming a member, please do and direct them to our home page for an easy sign-up.

Did I mention cost? $50 per year. (This also gives you a $25 discount on any/all CAFE events!)

Click here for more information.

Funding Your Professional Development

You know about our annual Awards (see below) sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission, Sysco, and Brightwater.

But keep your eyes out for additional ways to incorporate industry resources into your classroom activities.

We just came back from an editors’ conference and had the chance to speak to many groups about classroom activities which can lead to contests.

These same groups are interested in developing lesson plans and curriculum for your use. We hope that we will continue to bridge the foodservice industry with the foodservice classrooms!

Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food: Sponsor of TWO Awards

• Green Award: Recognizes culinary programs that promote and incorporate sustainability efforts as part of their curriculum and operations. Click here for information about the Green Award
• Food Entrepreneurship Award: Identifies culinary programs that either 1) teach or encourage entrepreneurship in their programming or 2) implement revenue-generation and cost-savings into their operations. Click here for information about the Entrepreneurship Award

Idaho Potato Commission Innovation Awards

CAFE is proud to be partnering with the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) once again as they sponsor the Innovation Awards for 2019.

This Award recognizes educators and/or programs at both the secondary and postsecondary levels who have shown to be innovative in their approaches to effective culinary arts education.

Examples of innovations can be in the areas of:

• New programs or
• New delivery methods or
• New partnerships or
• New relations with the local community

Click here for more information about the Innovations Award.

Sysco Educator of the Year Award

Thanks to Sysco for again sponsoring the Educator of the Year Award for 2019! This award is open to secondary and postsecondary educators as well as culinary educators working within the non-profit training sector. There will be two awards given.

The Committee will be looking for:

• a description of methodologies that exemplify innovative teaching techniques. Give examples.
• evidence of the educator’s professional commitment to the educational community and foodservice industry which might include school committee work, professional networking, and community involvement.
• a resume with the application.
• descriptions of ongoing professional development in both instructional and technical skills in the last few years.
• overall evidence that the educator has proven leadership in his/her profession; examples may include peer reviews, student evaluations, letters of recommendation, certificates and honors received, etc.

For more information about the Educator of the Year Awards, click here.

DATES TO REMEMBER

March 15-17, 2019

Deans and Directors Retreat, Charleston, SC

June 20-22, 2019
15th Annual CAFE Leadership Conference, Charlotte, NC