As ACF Rochester starts another year with a newly elected board it is our first duty to thank those members who have served the past two years, or more, to make the association run. They attended an extra meeting each month, and were the core of our activities. Some have put their name forward and will serve again. Others, like me have taken some time away from this duty and are now again serving the association. I am most please to report that two names appear for the first time. It is only by getting others to join and take a leadership role that ACF Rochester will grow. As we do in our kitchens we must prepare the people who will eventually replace us. We will, I hope, find the ways to restore the membership to an excited and cooperative group of like minded people who gather together for friendship, education, and the betterment of the culinary profession.

      I hope that each and everyone who reads this had a happy and profitable holiday season. I further hope that 2005 is a great year for all of us, personally, professionally, and for our families.

      I once heard a motivational speaker say that everyone should open a page, on a hard drive or in a note book, and write "what I would change in the world." I did this about the time my name became the one most mentioned to be the next president of ACF Rochester. I did change the title slightly to read "Things I want to do" I would like to share this list with you. It is in no particular order of importance. It is a listing of thoughts that would have been a campaign statement if I had written one. Some are simple and will be done quickly. Others will take the work of the entire membership. Here is my list

1) Move meetings to Monday
2) Have dinner at meetings sponsored by the suppliers/brokers
3) Continue to have good programs. 10+ programs at 10 meetings
4) Make the Stockpot worth reading all 10 issues each year because the members contribute information
5) Write 10 president's messages each year of my term
6) Select one trustee every year for a three year term (the current system confuses me)
7) Allow for all members who have attended at least three meetings to vote by proxy
8) Raise a lot of cash (soon)
9) Make the 50/50 raffle profits come back to the chapter
10) Certify at least 4 members a year
11) Find a place and way to hold a practical exam close by
12) How about a contemporary competition?
13) Build golf tournament
14) Better relations with NYS RA and IFSEA convince them it is a good idea for their chef to join us
15) Get ACF Rochester in the newspaper…a lot
16) More TV and radio exposure
17) Find events where we can cook together
18) Do more road trips like the peanut butter factory or LiDestri
19) Hold ALL business at the board and then make minutes available to all members
20) Do more to continue everyone's education and career development
21) Let sponsors package their involvement i.e. meeting sponsor/stockpot ads /COTY/golf/website/
22) Develop a method to contact all members fast and cheaply (phone and e-mail)
23)  Rebuild the junior membership, have 2 or 3 members for each BOCES and MCC to mentor and work with the students. Bring the meetings to them?
24) Send a copy of clipping from D&C to possible members and invite them to next meeting
25) Look back to lost members and find a way to get them to re-join
26) Have large numbers of members who qualify to be chef of the year, it is mostly about being involved with the chapter
27) Send only the Vice president to regional only the president to national. If some other member is going to carry a proxy great; but so little is done by the board of governors the expense to send anyone is not worth the cost. 
28) Have fun doing it

I would like to take the occasion of my first message as president to thank a few members. First, outgoing president, Sam Ferreri, CEC not only for the work he did in that office but for four golf tournaments that he has chaired. Thanks Sam. Then Mike Vasile, CEC, AAC for the two Harley raffles, we as a group, and not Mike are responsible for the financial outcome. Thanks Mike. To Bruce Emerson, CEC for hosting our meetings and having a little something extra for us. Thanks Bruce. Thanks go out to Judy Keltz for running for a seat on the board; and to Stuart Slutzki, CEC, CCE and Kevin Toole, CEC for trying to represent this association as Chef of the Year. Thanks Judy, Stu and Kevin.
And thanks to all of you for the faith you have in me to elect me as president of ACF Rochester.


Chef Paul