Can you believe it? SNA’s 70th Annual National Conference is just three months away! Registration is open for the July 10-13 conference, which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, and early bird registration rates are currently in effect through May 6!
This year’s ANC theme is “Learn, Lead, Succeed”. You’ll learn from your peers in the more than 100 education sessions offered during the course of the conference, and hear from inspirational figures like Olympic athletes Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Shannon Miller during general sessions. Visit the Exhibit Hall to learn about new school lunch and school breakfast products, and catch a culinary demonstration tutorial or two. Click to view a full list of education sessions and SNA’s Speaker Spotlight, and don’t miss SNA’s ANC “Top 10”—their list of conference highlights.
Many of you will be traveling from out of state for ANC, and you may be thinking, “I bet it’s going to be pretty hot in Texas in July!” Those of us who live in Texas can assure you—it sure is! As a resident of Texas myself, I thought I would share a few of my own tips for keeping cool and comfortable while we conference.
Tip #1: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
When it comes to staying hydrated, the enemy is two-fold during a Texas summer—heat, and air conditioning. You will be going from hot and sunny to very cool (possibly downright cold) and air conditioned. Make sure you drink enough water—it’s really important, especially on long conference days. Bring your own water bottle and refill to save money and landfill space.
Tip #2: Bring a sweater—or two!
Going back and forth from heat to chilly air conditioning and back again can be uncomfortable. Make sure you bring a sweater or two to carry and throw on whenever the air is overly conditioned! Some spaces will be downright cold if you end up next to a vent and a cardigan comes in handy.
Tip #3: Sunscreen and sunglasses every day
Even if you don’t think you will be outside much, you will want both sunscreen and sunglasses within reach. Even a short walk will be improved with sunglasses, and covering ears, neck, and face with sunscreen just takes a couple of extra minutes. If you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors before or after the conference, consider a hat or even an umbrella for walking around.
Tip #4: Explore a little
The Riverwalk is AMAZING, but there is a lot to see in San Antonio, so explore a little! San Antonio is known for its antique stores, which make for fun exploring in your free time, and there are lots of shops, restaurants, and attractions to visit. You can’t lose with Tex-Mex, but if you see a sign for kolaches stop in and try this wonderful Czech dish that Texans love.
Tip #5: Download the conference app—plus a few others
Get social, get mobile—get the ANC app, and then get a few more! If you are managing a Facebook or Twitter page for your nutrition program, make sure you’ve downloaded the Facebook Pages manager and Twitter for efficient sharing on-the-go (plus Instagram, SnapChat, and anything else you might be using). Don’t forget to connect with SNA @schoollunch and SNF @beyondbreakfast on Twitter, too. You may also find other apps handy for things like transportation, splitting expenses with co-workers, or searching for food and entertainment. Travel is a great time to test out new apps—let us know what you’re using and we’ll see you in San Antonio!