September President’s Message
A Message From The President
Where has the summer gone? It seems as though I blinked and it was gone. Hopefully you enjoyed your summer. For me it was an insanely busy but very exciting few months.
It began in June, when the CT Chefs Association held its first ACF Certification Practical Exam in over a year. We had lost our previous test site in 2016 but in the spring of 2017, Lincoln Technical Institute in Shelton was amazing and graciously offered us their school as our new test site. On June 24th the first test was held and was very successful. We will be conducting another practical exam there on October 21st, 2017. I would like to thank Chef Ted Redos, Culinary Arts Program Manager, and Dr. Susan Naples, Campus President, for all their hard work and incredible generosity.
We move on to July when I attended the ACF National Convention in Orlando Florida. Florida…in the summer…do I need to say more! The conference was very informative and interesting and I met many wonderful people from throughout the US and as far away as Thailand. As President as well as an educator, I was invited to attend several idea exchange seminars. Chapter Presidents offered suggestions on what is working or not working within their own chapters, which was very enlightening. The same held true for the educator’s exchange. At both, I came to realize we as a chapter and as educators are not alone in our difficulties, challenges, or successes.
Also in July, after 13 months away from teaching, I am thrilled to announce I am again teaching. I have joined the team at Lincoln Technical Institute in Shelton. Everyone has been so kind and helpful and has made me feel very welcome. For me, teaching is truly a privilege and I am humbled and honored to be part of this incredible family of educators.
That takes us to August. We finally secured all our judges for the upcoming ACF Sanctioned Food Salon, got the application approved by the ACF and got it posted on their site. The salon packet complete with registration form will be posted to the ACF site as well as the CT Chefs site probably by the time you read this note. The salon is being held at the Sheraton Hartford South in Rocky Hill on Sunday November 5th 2017. My thanks to Chef Jim Oswald, salon co-chair and the entire staff at the Sheraton for their hard work and generosity. I hope you will seriously consider competing, or coming and showing your support for the competitors and the CT Chefs Association. We are sure to see some amazing work!
Our next CT Chefs Association meeting will be on Monday September 11, 2017 at the Sheraton Hartford South in Rocky Hill. This will be a working meeting, discussing our game plan for the rest of 2017 and early into 2018. Please come and bring your interest, ideas, and suggestions. Every member, your ideas, and your opinions truly do matter to this Association and we want to see you involved. Remember, ALL of us together ARE the Association.
Pay it forward – give back
BE AN INSPIRATION
Jennifer J. Tessier CEPC
Chapter President
