MESSAGE FROM WSCA PRESIDENT, MARK LINDEN

Mark Linden, CEC AAC

JANUARY 2012

From the Range
Greetings Culinarians and Associates. I hope that as we begin a new year, we reflect on events of the past year with the aim to make our place in the world a little better than when we arrived, in this coming year of 2012.

I am honored to be able to lead this organization over the next two years and am grateful for the support you have shown to me in the short time I have been involved in this chapter. My history with the ACF goes back to 1982 when I entered my first culinary competition. At that time I was a member of the ACF Alaska Culinary Association. Through the many years since I have had the privilege to serve in many capacities within that chapter and look forward to being involved in this chapter. I fondly remember my first Regional Convention being here in Seattle. At that time I believe Walter was the president. Relationships were developed during those years that remain true to today.

I have penciled out some goals that I would like to see happen over the course of the next year and wish to share them with you at this time. Organizations run best when the positions of leadership can be handed from individual to individual as flawless as possible. Therefore I would like to begin the process of developing specific operating procedures for each committee as well as officer positions. These to be recorded so that when we transfer the various officer position and committee chairs, we have a seamless transfer of information and minimal downtime in which to adjust. Secondly as we further develop our Apprenticeship Program insure that we have sound financial principles and safeguards in place so that the program sustains itself. We have a unique opportunity to have an Apprenticeship Program and all of us should find a way to contribute to it. Third, to work with Gary Fuller (our new Chairman of the Board) to further develop the Foundation Account we have started by developing an active donation request and receiving process. Fourth, along with Dan Lewark (Vice President), develop exciting meetings that draw you the member and prospective members to our meetings knowing that you will further you knowledge of culinary arts and out to use valuable principles to further your career. And finally try to come up with the elusive answer to the question so many members and future members as and that is "What will the Chapter do for me"?

December 2011 Meeting
A special thanks goes out to Mirabella for hosting our December meeting. One would have a hard time realizing we were in a retirement community. Over $700.00 was raised through the silent auction to benefit our Education Accounts.

Let's all strive to make a commitment to our chapter to provide meaningful dialogue with each other, look for a way to volunteer a small portion of your time. Seek out fellow workers to become members, and do the best we can with what we have to do it with.

January 2012 Meeting

Join all of us at Bargreen Ellington in Tacoma on January 9th at 6:00 PM. They are planning a very informative education session on the new types of equipment that are available and will be producing the appetizers from these as well. Last year they did a great job in all areas. Click here to visit the meetings page...

Join us on WE ARE CHEFS and FACEBOOK

Gouter a la Cuisine
Mark Linden CEC ACE AAC

Washington State Chefs Association Website

During our December 2011 meeting we presented our annual Darrell Anderson scholarship for a $1,000.00 scholarship to Shalbe Welsh.