PPW Kicks Off with a Moving Tribute to Our Service Members
Thanks to the American Legion Post 177, this year’s PPW started off on a powerful note. With the help of ANDPAC Chair and Army veteran, Brenda Richardson, MA, RDN, LD, CD, FAND, who sang the national anthem, military RDNs and DTRs were honored for their service.
Currently, hundreds of RDNs and DTRs serve and protect the health of our active duty service members, their families and our veterans. After the American Legion posted the colors, Brenda led the audience in singing the national anthem, which was followed by a tribute featuring photos from past and present military RDNs and DTRs.
RDNs and DTRs not only assist on base and in veteran hospitals, but they also serve in deployed locations protecting the health of our service members and their families. The Academy thanks military RDNs and DTRs for their service to our country.
Communication Skills Are Not Just for Social Media and TV
To be successful in your job and during high level meetings, you must make sure your message is received! The Academy understands the importance of effective messaging, which is why it brought communication experts to PPW.
Keynote speaker, Joy Bauer, MS, RD, from the Today Show, highlighted the importance of (1) a powerful opening, (2) planning and tailoring your message, (3) Practice! Practice! Practice! and (4) making it personal. Joy was an interactive and engaging speaker who also encouraged members to be silly!
An expert communication panel made up of Academy spokespeople Jackie Berning, PhD, RD, Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, LDN and Judy Caplan, MS, RD followed, highlighting the tried and true techniques to conducting effective conversations: Flagging, Bridging and Hooking. The expert panel also offered the advice to keep it simple, practice and make eye contact. Academy members listened intently to these tips that will help them during their meetings with influential decision makers on Capitol Hill.
The Power of Partnerships
Industry is teaming up with organizations to feed hungry children and better treat patients in hospitals. This sponsored session highlighted two companies – National Dairy Council and Abbott Nutrition – that focus on helping vulnerable populations get the nutrients they need either in school to be active learners or in hospitals to aid in a speedy recovery.
Securing a Place at the Table to End Hunger
The daily struggles of food insecurity was brought to life during the film, A Place at the Table, screened during the ANDPAC film festival held in conjunction with the Hunger and Environmental Dietetic Practice Group. Focused on the plight of hunger in our country, the film revealed the faces of American families battling to feed their loved ones.
A distinguished panel made up of anti-hunger advocates engaged the audience in a post-film discussion on federal nutrition programs aimed at decreasing hunger, as well as “down-stream” causes of hunger.