ACF Today, Vol. II, No. 4
February 20, 2004

 
 In this edition . . .

* Register now for the 2004 ACF Southeastern Regional Conference
* ACF accepts entries in the 2004 National Pasta Championship
* ACF's membership drive this year offers great recruitment incentives!
* New category of membership enlists foodservice operations as members
* Order discounted tickets to Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios during ACF's 2004 National Convention
* New chair of Bylaws and Resolutions Committee named

Discounted Registration Deadline for Southeastern Regional Conference Approaches

"A Southern Exposure: The Cuisine and Lifestyles of the South" is the theme of the 2004 ACF Southeastern Regional Conference, April 28-May 2 at The Atlanta (Ga.) Hilton. Through March 15, registration is $325 for active members ($375 after) and $200 for senior members ($225 after).

The Southeastern Regional Conference provides registration options for student members of ACF. The full conference package, at $275 through March 15 ($300 after), includes the welcome reception, two breakfasts, Chef Professionalism Awards luncheon, regional awards reception and dinner, and farewell brunch.

An abbreviated registration package for students is $200 through March 15 ($225 after), and includes the welcome reception, Chef Professionalism Awards luncheon, continental breakfast and farewell brunch.

For more information, visit www.worldofmbi.com/Atlantaregistration.htm or e-mail awakenp@bellsouth.net.

Win up to $1,500 in the 2004 ACF National Pasta Championship

Chefs are invited to submit original recipes in the ACF National Pasta Championship sponsored by Pasta LaBella, which will award a total purse of $3,000 in prize monies to four finalists at the ACF 2004 National Convention in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, July 18. Each finalist will receive a stipend of $1,000 to attend the convention. All recipe entries become the property of The American Italian Pasta Company.

Deadline for entries is April 30, 2004 (postmarked). For more information or an entry form, visit http://www.acfchefs.org or contact Tracy Smith at (800) 624-9458, x114, or tsmith@acfchefs.net.

ACF Launches Membership Drive for 2004

ACF's member-recruitment drive in 2004 is designed to enlist all members of ACF in the cause to "spread the good word" of the American Culinary Federation to the nation's 2 million professional cooks.

Launched by ACF President Edward G. Leonard, CMC, AAC, if ACF gains 2,500 new, active-category members by the 2004 ACF National Convention in mid-July, each active member's 2005 dues will be reduced by $5. If ACF gains 5,000 new active members, each active member's dues will be reduced by $10.

As a member-recruitment incentive for every ACF member who enlists a new, national-dues-paying active member, ACF will award to one lucky winner an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2005 ACF National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Members receive one chance for the prize for each new active member brought in. Drawing of the winner's name will be made at the 2004 National Convention in Orlando.

Further, any ACF member who brings aboard at least three new active members will receive a framed 8-inch-by-10-inch color picture of ACF's new headquarters, that commemorates the federation's 75th anniversary this year.

Deadline for signing on new active members and submitting new members' national dues to ACF headquarters is July 9, 2004. For more information, or to receive recruitment-support materials, contact Beverly Stuart at (800) 624-9458, ext. 108, or bstuart@acfchefs.net.

New Category of ACF Membership Encourages Properties to Join

ACF launches the "property" category of membership, which encourages and facilitates companies and establishments with large culinary staffs to enroll all their qualifying employees in ACF. Eligible companies for property membership must have employees who meet qualification requirements of other ACF membership categories.

Property members can be likened to national ACF chapters that, historically, have served the needs of specialized foodservice professionals; for example, a national ACF chapter for pastry cooks. In the case of property members, the special characteristic of culinarians enrolled in ACF under a single property's name is a common employer.

Benefits of property membership closely match those of all ACF membership categories; term life insurance is among the few benefits not available to employees of property members.

Under property membership, when an employee departs the company and is replaced, the new employee is automatically enrolled in ACF and receives benefits of membership.

Says ACF President Edward G. Leonard, CMC, AAC, property membership allows major foodservice-industry players to get involved and form beneficial partnerships with ACF, and paves the way for ACF to further the message of the federation while promoting the image of the professional culinarian more successfully to a greater number of sectors within the marketplace.

For more information on property membership, or if you would like to recommend a company for ACF to recruit, contact Beverly Stuart, director of membership, at (800) 624-9458, ext. 108, bstuart@acfchefs.net, or Michael Baskette, CEC, CCE, AAC, director of operations, at (888) 817-5340, mbaskette@acfchefs.net.

Discounted Tickets to Orlando Theme Parks Available to National Convention Attendees

Two Web links offer attendees of ACF's 2004 National Convention in Orlando, Fla., July 16-20, special discounts on entrance to the Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Adventure Park and Universal Studios Florida.

Visit http://www.stayatmarriott.com/ACF to reserve lodging at the Orlando World Center Marriott (special rate of $149/night), and link to a special site to order discounted tickets. Or log on to http://acf.ticketstours.com. (ACF members are encouraged to book lodging at the Marriott to receive the best deals.)

Complimentary shuttle transportation is available from the Marriott to Universal Studios and SeaWorld; transportation for a nominal fee is available to and from Walt Disney World. Several discount packages include special incentives, such as multiple entrance opportunities with one fee and no waiting in line for repeat rides on certain attractions. Review all packages to choose the one that ideally suits you and/or your family.

Discounts are only available through June 30, 2004. Those who purchase tickets through http://www.stayatmarriott.com/ACF will have their tickets mailed to them on July 2.

ACF Appoints New Chair to Bylaws and Resolutions Committee

Keith Gardiner, CEC, CCE, AAC, of the ACF Triad Chapter North Carolina, is the new chair of ACF's Bylaws and Resolutions Committee. He replaces Michele Gaw, CEC, AAC, who completed her term as chair at the end of 2003. To inquire of the committee, contact:

Keith Gardiner, CEC, CCE, AAC
Guilford Technical Community College
601 High Point Road
P.O. Box 309
Jamestown, NC 27282
(336) 454-1126 or (336) 334-4822
(336) 819-2032 (fax)
gardinerk@gtcc.cc.nc.us

©2007 American Culinary Federation

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