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.
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Good for you Cathy, glad you could see it through someone's eyes other than your own. I always loved inservice and missed it this year, but am glad there are others around to do the job I once loves so very much and still do miss. I like seeing the new ideas they come with. I love watching you grow into your job and you did it so well, I am so glad to have been a part of that. You impress me,you motivate me daily to be better! Keep it up!
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