It’s holiday time again and we’re off and running. January will be a welcome month. Not that we rest….we slow down a bit, begin planning for the spring dining out season, Pass Over, Palm Sunday, Easter, weddings, menus, menus………..

But that’s we’re all about, isn’t it? We’re about creativity, working toward being as perfect in food production as is possible, planning for and producing functions we know will be surpassed next time. Damn, we’re good!

By now we have all received President/Chef Edward Leonard’s quarterly information memo. Some really heavy stuff happening with the headquarters in Florida….it’s a good thing, I guess. “We” have been working out of quarters that might be described as a bit cramped…….and we did accomplish astronomical feats! The professional staff people in Florida are an awesome team. Even in the turbulent times, they remain “calm” and consistently provide outstanding customer (that’s us the ACF members) service, slick, neat and clean and always complete. If we ask specifically for a bit of information, the Member Services Team, in short notice delivers the goods. Anyone would think they got their training in a kitchen on a busy Saturday night. Chef Leonard and the National Board will move slowly and deliberately toward the right choice for a “new place” from which they can continue to serve the members. I believe they will keep in mind the future and the potential growth that WILL occur in the ACF with our help. The Board, who has solicited our input (imagine that!) in the matter of facility will listen to all good or bad ideas and put our ideas into the mix as they decide what to do. After the “deal” is set and instruments signed and finalized, we’ll have two years (as I read it) to do something and move.

I don’t know about you, but I like his candor and direct approach to issues. Sure, sometimes they sting (those who perpetrate negative stuff) but this president is hell bent on creating a positive, goal oriented organization.
I was happy to hear that some national committee people are in place. We, however, still (as of this letter) have no chairpeople in place for the national committees. Chef must know what he’s doing, but………………………………..We’ll see his objectives upon appointments to the chair positions.

I see a fiscally responsible administration…..a little conservative, maybe, but that works for me. I hate to see grant money, member contributions, and all other contribution (from friends of ACF, namely generous vendors) being spent on stuff that we can actually live with out. Especially the great sums spent on travel. I believe that travel must be curtailed and meeting locations and times be coordinated so that many people, having to deal with many areas of our operation, can meet during one trip (different sites and schedules to accommodate the availability of the major players)……that would keep thousands of our dollars in the bank for more worthy projects and programs.

Please share the letter with your members at your next meeting. Watch for their reactions…..They border on funny! I also would encourage you to try and prod the members who never attend a regional or national meeting to “save up” and try to attend the West Virginia Conference in April. It may sound a little silly to “save up” like a little one does with a piggy bank….but money has a way of accumulating and at the ready for it’s intended target. Besides it’s fun seeing a planned goal come closer and closer with the funding necessary to make it happen. I know they will get a lot out of the experience and establish professional friendships that might last their whole life. It will also bring into focus what they hear from us month after month about what really’s happening in the ACF.

We need to prepare for some heavy-duty fundraisers outside those your chapter normally produces during the year. You all know about the WINDOWS OF HOPE FUND that has been established to financially help foodservice people displaced, widowed, orphaned and just plain put out of a job on account of the events of 9-11. New York was a target and we must be “first” to respond to the needs of those who really need us. Thus, as ACF New York State Coordinator, I am asking that you engage your creative minds and come up with some sort of event that will raise MANY profit dollars for our brothers and sisters who need our help. I really don’t care if it’s cooking or golf….it can be a back yard circus or a “weenie” roast (select someone from your community and them “roasted” by a local radio or TV celebrity. People “get off” on this kind of stuff….but you are all able to think outside the culinary box and can come up with something that will attract an audience from your communities. THINK BIG MONEY! Then go out and make some for WINDOWS OF HOPE!
PLEASE WILL YOU SEND ME A COPY OF YOU CHAPTER’S MONTHY NEWSLETTER? I will help keep me informed of what’s Doing in your neighborhood.

Don Antinore
ACF New York State Rep.
8692 Lake Street Road
LeRoy, New York 14482