Did you know that January is NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH?  It seems like there is a million things dedicated to each of the twelve months.  However, in my opinion, this month's "project" is the ultimate and most generous gift we can offer…each other and the younger aspiring cooks.

Having some one who believes in you is a powerful thing.  As a young person, one couldn't benefit more than from the guidance and honest friendship of a mentor.  I was lucky….and I haven't forgotten my chef.  He wasn't easy, but he was honest, open, sharing and loving.  Am I better for his friendship and sharing?  I'd like to think so.  Because of Claude, my chef, I committed to share and mentor as many aspiring foodservice people as would invite me into their lives.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation….for those of you who remember it parallels what was once the ACFEI, "ACF Educational Institute."  They believe as I do that mentoring is the cornerstone aimed at fostering careers in foodservice, namely in our kitchens.  We provide more opportunities to millions of young people as they enter our kitchens to earn their way through life…..for college, for their first car (remember your first car and how much it meant to you because you earned the money to buy it?), their first apartment….and even more basically, their first job, first work outside the home work experience.  The way we managed them, directed them, taught them impacted their very lives forever.  Too few of us take the minute to recognize the potential our industry offers and our example molds the lives of the young people we "mentor."
During these turbulent times, providing guidance and encouragement to young people is more crucial than ever.  Mentoring is a great way to give back, both to the industry and our country.
Certification is the PERFECT opportunity for us to mentor and and share with our fellow ACF members.  Jim Taylor asked me to "head" the Northeast region's certification initiative.  "yes!" was my answer….not because I didn't have anything better to do, but there is nothing better to do….for me.  Helping other ACF people achieve certification and demonstrate that the road to CMC…to top of the mountain, is indeed attainable with work and determination…..all it will take from us is determination and mentoring. 
No, you need not be an older chef, no you need not be retired with "plenty of time" to devote to being leaders.  You need only to demonstrate your sincerity and integrity.  You need only to be the best you can be and be an honest mentor with genuine feeling for the food and folks who handle it.
Who among you, right now can look back into the inventory of your lives and count the men and women you have honestly mentored?  Now, how many of them are ACF members?  Active ACF members? Certified ACF members?
We here in the Northeast lead the Nation with certified culinarians.  It is my goal and intention to keep you motivated and aggressive in encouraging every ACF member you have contact with….your chapter or mine, to certify (if they're not) or up grade their ranking as they move to the head of the line, top of the heap (sound familiar?) and join the exclusive men and women as a Certified Master Chef.
Chef Brad Barnes, CMC, AAC has been named, by our National President Edward Leonard, CMC, AAC, National Certification Chairman.  I'm sure Chef Barnes has some fresh and new ideas as to where he wants certification to go and what he believes needs to be added to the program to modernize and streamline it…..we'll listen and move in any direction the Chef points us.  We need to suggest and contribute our ideas directly to him for action.  We must be supportive at every step of the certification processes.  It's up to us, individually, to encourage every member to "go for it"  to look to certification as the means to an end…..proving something outside the kitchen, something who's path has taken you, and them, through the kitchens of your lives.  When certification at any level "belongs" to you, the feeling of pride is inexplicable…..ask any certified cook/chef or baker….ask yourselves about the pride you felt when you received the letter congratulating you on having achieved certification.
Pick a day this month and begin on that day to mentor someone.  Don't delay, to day is the first day of the rest of your life, and someone else's!  Sound trite?  Yes, but true.  It's up to you, New York.
I'll back to you all in February with more pages of stuff.  Meanwhile, please send along your chapter news letters….keep 'em comin'…..I like it.
Best to you all,
Chef Don In Rochester
ACF NYS Coordinator