CN Showcase: Call for Posters

SNA is now accepting abstracts for the 16th Annual Child Nutrition Showcase, which will take place during SNA's Annual National Conference (ANC) in July 16-19^th in Los Angeles, California. Projects featured in the showcase should focus on key topic areas related to child nutrition programs. Deadline for submission is March 27, 2006.

This call for abstracts is open to anyone interested in submitting a project for presentation during the Child Nutrition Showcase. Best Practices abstracts will be reviewed by the SNA College Section Committee Chair before being accepted. Research abstracts will be peer-reviewed by several members of the SNA research committee and College Section.

All members are welcome to submit abstracts in either one of the two following categories:

• Research – findings or evaluation of a study, project or new program that contribute to knowledge and ideas in school nutrition
• Best Practices In School Nutrition – innovative methods, programs, policies, trainings, or projects that improve or advance school foodservice operations

Potential topic areas include:

• Local School Wellness Policies
• Food safety/new HACCP guideline implementation
• Marketing and customer service
• Purchasing and procurement
• Nutrition education
• Staff training and development
• Childhood obesity
• Facility Design
• All other topics pertinent to the advancement of school nutrition

Awards will be presented based on the two categories: 1) research and 2) best practices in school nutrition.

Abstracts can be submitted online using the following link.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224W3MPXCDQ

Guidelines For Acceptance of Child Nutrition Showcase Abstracts

• Deadline for abstract submission is March 27, 2006.
• Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words.
• Abstracts should follow the structured outline.

Research outlines should include:

• Purpose/Objectives - Describe the purpose and objectives of the research.
• Methods - Describe the sample, research design, data collections, and data analysis.
• Results - Present the major results of the study.
• Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals - Provide applications of the results for the field.

Best Practices outlines should include: Marketing, nutrition education, innovative ideas and training abstracts should include:

• Purpose/Objectives - Describe what you wanted to accomplish by doing the project.
• Target Market - Who was involved in the project and who was the end user.
• Methods - Describe what you did to implement the project and any evaluation used.
• Application - How could other child nutrition programs use the information presented.

• Indicate the complete address for ONLY the author presenting the poster.
• The Child Nutrition Showcase will be presented at ANC 2006.
• All authors who present posters must pay the appropriate member or nonmember ANC registration fee.
• Author contact information may be made public if abstract is chosen for publication on SNA's website.

Guidelines For Child Nutrition Showcase Presentations
Poster presentations provide for informal visual and verbal exchanges between the presenter and the audience.

1. You or one of your coauthors must remain with the poster presentation for the designated (usually 2-hour) period.
2. Plan to arrive 1 hour before the session begins to prepare your presentation.  Assistants will be in the area to help you with any special problems.
3. You will have a corkboard approximately 4-by-6-foot on which to mount your presentation. You are responsible for your own supplies, including thumbtacks. Do not write, paint or make marks on the corkboard.
4. All illustrations, graphs, etc. should be finished prior to your presentation. Visual aids must be legible from a distance of at least 5 feet.
5. Graphics should be simple, colorful, well labeled and legible.
6. No special equipment - such as an audiovisual projector - is permitted.The entire presentation must be attached to the poster board.
7. You should prepare a sign containing the title of your presentation, your name, affiliation and any co-authors.
8. Mount a copy of your abstract on the corkboard. This should be prepared using a large-font format. You also may wish to have extra copies of your abstract available for distribution.
9. Plan to give short, informal presentations of your work during the designated period. These should occur as clusters of attendees gather near your poster display. Remember to be flexible and gear your presentation to the need and mood of those attending.

 

For questions or additional information contact
Beth Mincemoyer Egan, MEd, RD, SFNS Penn State University 814-863-7539 Email: bethegan@psu.edu	Susan Coppess SNA College Section Chair School Nutrition Association 703-739-3900 Email: scoppess@schoolnutrition.org