In Service

Each year before we head back into the kitchen every employee in Columbia County School Nutrition attends inservice.  Inservice is an 8 hour training event that introduces new concepts and reinforces best practices and food safety procedures.  For me it is so much more.  Inservice provides the chance to see my employees and my fellow nutrition professionals after a 9 week summer hiatus.  Everyone greets each other with hugs, laughter, and tales from the summer break.  The day consists of training sessions, a local association meeting, lunch, and an awards ceremony.  Inservice PUMPS me up!  While the weeks leading up to the start of school are stressful, inservice reminds me that I know my job, I know my customers, and I love what I do everyday.

What truly amazed me this year is finding out I'm not alone.  Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of managers and employees who are always ready for that next chapter.  What surprised me this year is a conversation with a fellow manager.  This manager always seems a little ho-hum to me.  I'm not saying that she isn't a good manager, just that this past year had me thinking that she was probably ready for retirement.  But on Thursday, I saw a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her lips.  She told me that she and her husband had discussed her retiring, but after every inservice she feels a little pep in her step and a longing to get busy feeding the children of Columbia County.  She spoke with promise and excitement and I realized how wrong I'd been about her dedication.  Maybe she isn't exactly like me in her mission, but she definitely has a love of school nutrition.  Sometimes, I love being proven wrong.

Time to head back to school

As the summer winds down to a close I'm already thinking about all short people that will soon fill my days.  I'm usually ready to head back to work by this time of the break and this year is no different.  What's there to do when it's so hot outside anyway?
I look forward to all the smiling faces, the sweet hugs, and the silly jokes shared with the kids.  I love that my job offers kids the time to socialize - talking and laughter make each day sweet.  I love that I have the opportunity to teach children how to make better decisions about the foods they eat.
This summer has been a productive one.  I taught the newest nutrition employees of Columbia County during ONE, I attended my first National Conference for the SNA, and I had the pleasure of training another new manager who I know will do an awesome job.  I hope that my love of school nutrition is contagious.  It's such a blessing when one is able to go to a job they truly enjoy each day.  I'm ready!