Letter from our President

 

Welcome to the new year for the Maine Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics! I’m excited to serve as the president of the Maine affiliate over the next year. I’ve been a registered dietitian for over three decades, working in agriculture, food, nutrition, and health. I’m the founder of Food For Health, LLC, where I help food companies become leaders in health and wellness. This is my second time serving on the MAND Board and I enjoy learning from my colleagues.  It’s such a pleasure to see such dedicated RDs and NDTRs volunteer their expertise and enthusiasm to make a difference for our profession. I want to thank Sue Sullivan for finishing up her term as immediate Past President and Sarah Gilbert for her dedication and strategic leadership as MAND President this past year.

 

Under the leadership of Sarah Gilbert, the MAND Board approved a new 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision, and Operating Principles. Basically, we are a professional association that is made up OF RD and NDTR members and we stand FOR and EMPOWER our members throughout their careers to PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED nutrition services to their clients. Our goals are to help members navigate success in a changing world and inspire creative change; empower our members to advocate for their clients and patients; and identify challenges and opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Maine.  Lastly, we will engage in public policy and advocate for needed change. 

 

As a Board we have decided to focus on making an impact in three key areas: Food and Nutrition Security, Medical Nutrition Therapy and advancing a Dietetic Licensure Compact law. We are going to lean on our small but impressive membership to bring about this change. To do so we want to grow our community and membership, expand our communications reach through social media (Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn), while keeping our costs under control and partnering with other academy affiliates and organizations. We want to help our members where it matters most.  Throughout the year, you may be called upon to help us in our advocacy efforts, our success will rely heavily on your grassroots support. We hope we can count on you to assist us in making a difference.

 

MAND’s Board is made up of many talented professionals.  We welcome new members and members in new roles - Lydia Roy as our Student Representative; Jane Sylvestre as President-Elect; Linda Russell, Treasurer; Lily Brickman, Nominating and Awards Chair; Amy McClellan, Membership Committee Member; Pat Watson as the new Food Insecurity Chair; Emma Watras as Sponsorship Chair; and Sarah Gilbert as Past-President.  We also welcome all returning board members Paul Blakeslee, Kristine Kittridge, Shari Bowden, Jenny Maynard, Julie Milan, Rebecca MacLean, Mary Emerson, Eileen Molloy, Amelia Sullivan, Kayla Parsons and Holly Carle. A big thank you to last year’s non-returning board members Ria Saunders, Heather Healy and Caroline Bennett for the value they added.  

 

The MAND Board held its transition meeting on June 7, 2024. In addition to the strategic priorities, here are a few headlines for the coming year:

 

1. FNCE- For those attending FNCE in Minneapolis October 4-8, 2024, we plan to organize an informal social event for MAND members, and FNCE attendees with a Maine connection.  Watch for more information in an e-blast.

2. The public policy panel is advancing the rule-making process for Maine’s Dietetic Licensure Compact Law.  We are pooling resources with the Academy to move this important legislation forward.

3. The Communications Committee is advancing our social media strategies to grow our community and presence. Please follow MAND on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!

4. The Conference Committee is building off this year’s very successful conference in Bar Harbor to bring a similar event in southern Maine May 2025.

5. The new Food Insecurity Committee is working with members to identify it’s 2024-2025 priorities and serving as a resource to members.

6. The Nominating Committee is working on educating members on the Board roles to best fill our open positions with the right people.

7. All initiatives will align with the Academy’s IDEA Initiative on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access.

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Our efforts rely on each of you.  Feel free to reach out if you are interested in being involved in a small or large way with MAND this year mainepresident@gmail.com 

 

All the best,

 

Laurie Copithorne, MS, MBA, RD (CDN), FDC

Pronouns (she/her)

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