Central Regional Town Hall Meeting

Central Regional Conference in New Orleans, LA – 2011

Town Hall Questions and Answers Provided by David Ivey-Soto

There were many who attended the Town Hall Meeting, even with the early time. Below are my responses.

Please feel free to let me know if you want clarification on any of my answers here. I will post my answer to any question I am asked to answer.

I understand that there is an elimination of the lifetime memberships. Is there an elimination of lifetime memberships and "dues for life?" [Question addressed to candidates for President.]

Currently, we still have the provision for someone, who is over 65 and has been an ACF member in good standing for at least the previous ten years, one is eligible of lifetime membership. Any change to this process would have to be a change to the bylaws.

How are we going to help the chefs in their 50s and 60 who lose their jobs? [Question addressed to candidates for President.]

We are a federation. As such, it is important that we maintain the integrity of the local chapter. With that being said, it is important that those in need reach out to their local chapter for assistance.

Statistically, chefs who have earned certification earn more money. For example, a CEC tends to make approximately $10,000 more than one who is not.

One of the great assets of the ACF is the networking aspects. I am, personally, constantly being asked for referrals or for references. I have assisted many in establishing new working relationships.

Another asset we have is the job posting service on the Website.

What can we do to bring the students more into the fold during the regional conferences? [Question addressed to candidates for Regional Vice President.]

I believe strongly that we need to revisit what and why we are doing different things. In fact, that is part of the strategic plan. We need to address: What is the value to the ACF? What is the value to the member? What is th value to the student member? What is the value to the non-member? What is the value to our sponsors? What is the value to our vendors? In essence, what is the value and purpose of all of the different things we do and in terms of the conferences in particular.

I feel it is important that we bring the students more into the fold during the conferences. I also feel we need to be reaching out to non-members. Think about it. What better example of what the ACF is and what the ACF does than at the regional conferences? Yet, we keep it a secret and a mystery to the non-member. I look forward to the day when the non-members of the conferences outnumber the members of the ACF. That is, until we get to the point when we have a strong, broad, inclusive, and vibrant membership. This will not happen unless we open the door to non-members at our conferences.

Additionally, we need to better understand the needs of the industry – and all of its players – to have conferences that attract new members for the ACF.

Using technologies to "capture" our events and activities here at the conference would be great! Perhaps it could be sold as a way to defray the costs of developing and delivering the content. [Question addressed to candidates all candidates.]

I like the idea. We need to be cognizant of several issues. One primarily one is that mediocre content looks very bad if not edited properly. It is important that we balance the desire to deliver content with the image of the ACF. We do not need to be open to criticism. We do not need to deliver something that will hurt our image instead of enhance it.

This is a great example of a wonderful idea that needs to have people – through committee and/or task force – to vet the process and the delivery. It is not the job of the Board of Directors to deal with the tactical issues. It is the job of the Board of Directors to take great ideas such as this one and develop the proper channels and process for making it happen – for making it successful.

Looking at the so-called "Colorado model," how does this affect area specific chapters? What is the impact that will have? [Question addressed to candidates for President.]

The "Colorado model" does not call for the abolition of area specific chapters. In fact, it really enhances them. There are presently three tiers that are being discussed. Area specific chapters would fit nicely into one of the tiers. For example, the Washington, DC Metropolitan area encompasses three jurisdictions (five if one counts the military and federal government) and straddles two regions. Memphis is another example of such as metropolitan area.

One of the major impacts of the aforementioned model is the transition to business processes. Using an executive director and other support staff to coordinate the efforts of the chapter helps the organization grow and develop. And, an area specific chapter would benefit from that. And, it would be able to – in some cases – benefit from the resources of a larger more expansive chapter. The different tiers of chapters allow each of them to help each other. It is a win-win situation.

We hear of "bringing value" to the membership on a regular basis. We are at a stagnant level of membership. What about offering an insurance plan for the membership? [Question addressed to all candidates.]

We did have an issuance plan in the past. There was not a great deal of participation. I used it. However, the insurance carrier pulled out of the program due to lack of participation.

All businesses look at that are the best ways to practice. As we continue to expand our business-like approach to operations, we too, will be modifying our programs to benefit all.

This is another area where we need to have a committee address these types of benefits. In fact, we have a committee for that purpose – Membership Enhancements Committee. The chair is Chef Elizabeth Baase; the board liaison is Chef Bill Tillinghast.

What can we do to join forces with other groups to provide resources? [Question addressed to all candidates.]

We are working on developing, strengthening, or re-establishing relationships with other groups.

Ultimately, if we are not addressing the needs of our members and potential members, they will go somewhere else. It is just like any other business. If a restaurant does not grow and develop while expanding and addressing the needs of the neighborhood, the patrons will go elsewhere.

At the same time, when restaurants work tougher, they all do better.

It is very important that we continue to address the needs of the industry. Also, if other organization deliver certain services better and more efficiently than we can, we should benefit from that. Likewise, we can provide services to other groups they can not deliver.

Do you believe in adhering to the bylaws? What is your position as it pertains to chapters that are less than fifty miles from each other? [Question addressed to all candidates.]

I am very passionate about bylaws. I have been working on ensuring that changes to the bylaws are done for universal impact as opposed to specific impact. I like to think of this correlation: the bylaws are to the policies and procedures as the US Constitution is to the laws.

The mileage provision is no longer in the bylaws. I was on the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee at the time when the bylaws were changed. It was my position that we need to not put such restrictions. It needs to be reviewed by the Regional Vice President. For example, Washington, DC is very different from Baltimore, MD which is very different from Annapolis, MD. Yet, they are all less that fifty miles from each other. Each city has a chapter. Each chapter works with the others at times.

As we help each chapter to behave more business-like these apparent conflicts will subside and strengths in partnership will develop.

What is the process of promoting the logo? What is being done to help it gain recognition? [Question addressed to all candidates.]

The unification of the logo has gone a long way to better recognition of the logo. Yet, the unification happened less than eight years ago. It will take more time. Yet, it is the responsibility of the membership and the local chapters to continue to promote the logo. I encourage the chapters to use it in publications, advertisements, banners, and more. I encourage members to do the same.

Is there a better way for us to take advantage of our sponsors beyond the trade show? [Question addressed to all candidates.]

Absolutely! This goes to the need to review what we do and why we do it. I believe wholeheartedly we need to look into creative ways to address the needs of the membership and the sponsors. Perhaps infomercial seminars that are highlighted as such; perhaps a room could be provided to a sponsor or set of sponsors for them to have a hospitality or rest area for members during the conference; perhaps there are several other types of ways to address those needs.

Again, this is a tactical issue that needs to have proper vetting and analysis. I am very open to any suggestions. I am sure so is the Convention Committee. It is chaired by Chef Chris Neary; the board liaison is Chef Michael Ty.