I would like to welcome you all to a new and exciting year.  It is my pleasure to serve as your chair in the Food and Nutrition Section (FNS) this year.  Our section has gained a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most active sections within the APHA organization.  Our board and policy action committee have worked in full collaboration with other sections and interest groups to push public health issues forward.  Congratulations!!

I am very happy to report that the FNS membership continues to grow and that we are also enjoying an increasing number of individuals who are willing and able to take on leadership responsibilities.  It is noteworthy to point out that although APHA members can choose to join several sections, most of our section members elect to be only members of FNS.  I would like to encourage you to think about your choices – you might want to join other sections as well…and recruit some of their members for FNS while you are over there!

Our conference program continues to go strong, and abstracts for the next Annual Meeting poured in. Thanks to Allyssa Ghiradelli and Rachel Fisher for their diligent work.  We remain a strong section and proceed to have co-sponsored or jointly organized sessions with other APHA Sections. The Physical Activity SPIG got off the ground, and we expect them to remain a strong collaborator to our section in the future.  For many of us, a second membership in the PA SPIG is a good idea.

We have a new committee to pursue fundraising efforts for our section, and under the leadership of Collin Payne, a new FNS member, we continue to explore APHA donation policies and a comprehensive list of companies that meet the standards for allowable donations.

Our Membership Committee (WenYen Juan, Nadine Braunstein) developed materials to solicit new members, especially students.  Furthermore, communications will be sent quarterly to welcome new members into the FNS community.

Our Communications Committee manages our various communication mechanisms including the Web site, e Communities, a listserv (or blast e-mail system), and of course, the quarterly newsletter.  Congratulations to all of our section members who have contributed and who are helping to move FNS forward.

The newsletter content will continue to focus on Public Health Nutrition topics that are important and timely, and to highlight specific activities in the area.  Sarah Forrestal will continue editing the FNS newsletter. You might want to get in touch with her about using it to share information on programs, research, or advocacy issues.

I hope we meet your membership needs and continue to provide you with an interesting and professional networking environment.

Thank you all for your energy and commitment,