In just a few days we celebrate who's best among us by our own choice. We have elected a member to represent the finest, most loyal, active and contributing member in our ranks. We demonstrate to the entire community the person we call Chef of the Year as our choice to tell our story by the actions past, present and future of this honored ACF professional.

    It is indeed a great night for Sam Ferreri, CEC. But it is also a humbling experience knowing that the eyes of both communities will be focused on him: the greater Rochester- Monroe County Community and us, the Professional cooks community. He must fill the shoes of the past Chefs of the Year and walk in his own shoes, steadily and determined to represent all we stand for with simple pride and a creative passion in this new, life time roll of Chef
of the Year 2002.

    I know Sam. I know he was selected with truth & honesty among our voting members. I know he will do what ever it takes to walk out of the shadows of the great men and woman who preceded him and lead us forward as he accepts the medallion on September 22nd, and says his thank-you's thus beginning his year to shine for us.

    As in the past, support your Chef of the Year, spot light him at every turn and where ever we gather....respect him for who he is and what he has accomplished and look forward to what he will bring to the table of the ACF
Professional Chefs/Cooks Association of Rochester in the future. We will all be better for him receiving our confidence through election. Congratulations in advance, Sam.

    Next month we have important business to attend to with the nomination of a full slate of Chapter officers. Then, in November, we select those men and women we believe will serve this Chapter and move us forward for our sake,
not to satisfy a personal agenda, or for some flimsy ego trip. Your wisdom will determine where we will go and where we will end up...on top rung of the professional ladder or top of the junk heap. Take care who you nominate
for office. Every officer has a vote! If one or more conspire to move negatively on some matter or another that may not be in the best interest of the whole membership here in Rochester, I foresee a collapse such as we experienced about 8 years ago. You remember, that's when a couple members on the board attempted to "buck" all that was good trying to pass matters for their own agenda and voted against, either splitting the vote or prevailing in foolish  projects. Let us not go there ever again! The repair takes too long and the bill is too high for any such repair....for recruitment and/or retention of members.

    Same applies to selection and election of the 2003 Chef of the Year. Look to people who, like those in the past, who have long, proven track records for excellence, stability and a willingness to be part of rather than exclusive
taking from the Chapter membership. Weigh carefully the attributes of the people nominated....those qualities which lie below the "skin" and are not all make-up and false fronts. Even packages coming through the mail bare the
remark: Handle With Care...so to must we handle our chapter's choice for Chef of the Year with care.

    In January, I will step away from center stage and hand the gavel to the next president, who in turn will agree to serve, with the elected board, many of your needs during the following two years. I will be there for them,
who ever it is, to advise and council in matters pertinent to ACF and our Chapter. It is, as I promised my last hurrah....for I no longer need to officiate in any elective capacity knowing there are younger, brighter &
more aggressive men and women among us who will do far better a job than I for our Chapter. Look at the chapter, do you recognize how stale it has become because the same old warriors have seemingly been there, "forever"
doing what they always did? Time for a complete change of ideas and faces, in my opinion, mine included, so we might be re-born into the 21st century with ease and creativity.

    It is time for change! The important days of 2002 are in your hands, brothers & sisters. Please don't fumble the ball when we're so close to the goal posts. See you on September 22nd. We need to win this "game" and go
progressively forward!