With summer picnic fun just around the corner, BRTC dietetic students were given the opportunity to entertain members from the Northeast Arkansas’ Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals during an April 11meeting held on the BRTC Pocahontas campus. The funny and informative skit about food safety was written by the students, and garnered plenty of laughter and audience participation.
“Preparation for the skit was a great learning experience for the students,” said Kathy Murdock, dietetics instructor.
Organizer for the annual meeting, Tina Harris, past Arkansas ANFP president and BRTC dietetics instructor, said the event provided certified dietary mangers from Central and Northeast Arkansas an opportunity to earn required continuing education hours. Members also were given the opportunity to contribute non-perishable items to be donated to the local food bank.
A special guest speaker for the occasion was Sherri Williams, president of the Arkansas ANFP chapter. Williams spoke to the group about the importance of ethics and professionalism. “Ethics and professionalism are closely related,” she said. “We should set high ethical standards and support those values with training and communication.”
Other speakers for the event and their topics were: Linda Bridges, sanitarian for Randolph County Health Department, with updates and essential information about mosquito control, rabies, and bedbugs; Tina Harris discussed the key role diets play in renal disease; and Sandra Parker, BRTC cafeteria manager, discussed the evolving technological changes managers are facing.