Message from the MAND President, Michelle Anderon, RDN, LD

Happy Summer and welcome to our new MAND year! I’m the 2023-24 President and I am thrilled to continue to serve on your MAND board. I work at Elior North America as a Training Partner with Service Operations. In this role, I consult with business segments to design and develop training. My concentration is food safety (my passion!) and workplace safety, but I also help support a variety of enterprise initiatives. I also enjoy traveling, cooking, and exploring new walking routes in MN with my husband.

I’m pleased to introduce our President-Elect, Karyn Lutz.

Karyn has spent much of her career as an independent consultant with long-term care facilities in northern Minnesota. Over the last decade she transitioned to working with school districts and their School Nutrition Programs. Karyn finds great satisfaction providing support to those professionals entrusted with feeding our youth. Living in rural Minnesota and often on “her own” professionally, Karyn has depended on MAND as a way to connect with and garner support from other dietitians. She looks forward to collaborating with our talented MAND board members and becoming even more integral to MAND’s leadership of our profession statewide.

As this year gets started, I have taken some time to reflect on the past, present and future. Each timeframe plays a key role by grounding us yet challenging us to grow and innovate in the future to carry out our mission: Empowering MAND members to be Minnesota’s food and nutrition leaders.

PAST: The important work that was accomplished in 2022-23 includes the following:

• Our centralized education event planning among the Regions, which resulted in online, free sessions throughout the year.
• A very successful virtual Day At The Capitol where we advocated and helped pass the Universal School Meals bill that Govenor Walz signed this spring!
• A first-time Minnesota FNCE gathering to network in Orlando.
• Our 2nd year for the MAND Student Board, which hosted two informative trainings.
• The MAND Foundation awarded four $1000 Scholarships, plus raised over $3500.
• Hosted 2023 Annual Conference – Balance and Sustainability within the Practice of Nutrition and Dietetics with 150 attendees and 10 exhibitors.

PRESENT: I embrace the present by sharing what volunteering on the board means to me. There are two main reasons: to build connections with other RDs and DTRs in our Minnesota dietetics community; and for the opportunity to continue my own personal growth through the development of leadership skills.

FUTURE: I’m excited to work with so many outstanding RDs and DTRs on the board who are energized to support the profession and have great ideas for goals this year. I’ll highlight a few projects we’re working on:
1. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging work continues, which includes a deeper dive for board members and leaders by completing The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). This tool and process involves group and individual debriefs, with the results shaping our future plans.
2. Here’s something new . . . planning has started for our inaugural MN Nutrition Professionals Connect – a week of in-person gatherings across the state for all dietitians/DTRs. We’ll be seeking volunteer coordinators soon to assist with planning in major MN cities. This is an excellent way to get involved and network with a limited time commitment. Look for more information coming soon!
3. Public policy impacts every part of the nutrition profession! There are key policy priorities that MAND will focus on in the next state legislative session and we will continue supporting the Academy’s federal priorities such as the Farm Bill, MNT Act, and Child Nutrition Reauthorization among others. Our Public Policy Panel will continue to have opportunities throughout the coming year to learn more, be engaged, and build your confidence in advocacy.
4. Lastly, Toni Swanson, Past President will begin work on a new 3-year Strategic Plan – stay tuned for how you can share your input.

Thank you for your ongoing engagement with MAND. We have an amazing year ahead of us and I encourage each of you to be involved. Karyn and I are excited to continue serving Minnesota’s outstanding RDs, DTRs, interns and students. It will be a year of collaboration, connection, and continuing to move our profession forward. Let’s stay connected!

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