SNE Forum Help SNE to Grow

.\' "UI' nallOIl enler, ih 2(JOlh ycar, the SOl.:iety for Nutri­li()1l EJw:alinn i, appn);lchillg ih eighth birthday. Compared lllllther pr(lfc"iollal organizati')lls !>ueh as the American Pub­lic Health :\'~I)ei<Jli()n f,)lIndl!d in 1872, the American Dietetic :\ssoei,lti"ll t..1l1JHkd ill 1<)17, and the American Institute of Nutrilic)JJ "hieh wa,; f')lInded in 1928 and hecame a national \(lciely in 1C) .n. SNE i, still - ··in years-ill its childhood, ap­prPaching aJI,lescenec.

The YOJlth of SNE i~not sllmething for which we need ap,'[,)gize. On the I.:ontrary, it I.:an be considered one of our stn:llgths . In <'flier for a young person II"' develop to the fullest, ,pecial attenlion mllsl he given 10 several variables . The same is true. illlle'cd, for J \·')lIng. and hopefully gnw.-ing, profe~­.si(lilal ",,·jel\.

Gmwth Influco('cs

.[ hc IInpl)rtal1CC of. an appropriate diet to support growth and dc\,c['lpmeni i., well accepted, but other factors should he [..('PL III mind.

Geneti..: plllc'ntial IS a major determinant, and SNE is for­tunate t,) ha\(' "good gelles!" lts founders, previous and cur­rt'nt mcmhcr~ "fits Bllard of Directors, and the Journal Edi­h.)rial Bllard ;lIld Advis(lry Council arc leaders in the field of nutr itioll cdUCali,)n. They lend to our growing Society a depth ()f expcrti~e' alld a hreadth of perspective.

ETJ\ironlllcnta[ fal:tor~ abn influence growth. The present "envirPllIlll' llt" IS I:()ndul:ive to the growth of a society con­I:erncd about nutrition cducatioll. A large percentage of the puhlic IS actl\el\' ~eekillg the information our members are trained to teach. Food labels arc making information regard­ing nutrient Comp(l~ition more acce~sihle. They should stimu­latt' c,'nsumcr IIltercst in nutrition and reinforce the concept that f(l"JS ~L1prly the nutrients WI: necd. Legislators arc be­,·,)min)! nlllre aware of the imp()rtanl:e of education as a com­pPllcnl I)f prugram~ to resolve nutrition problems. More cur­ricuLi in )Iut ritinn arc ol:ing developed, evaluated, expanded :Ind implemented from K-graduate levels. These and other faclllr, have lillproved the ellvironmental conditions whi..:h might st imulate the growth of SNE.

A graph llf mllnhcr ofrilembcrs versus time shows that we have pa~sed thruugh l'ur first early growth spurt, and OUf

rate 0f growth has sl(1\',ed sll1l1ewhat. If SNE is currently npprt)aching adolescence, its needs for "energy and nutrients" \\ill incre:h(: dllring the next few years. III order to meet these nced" we mllst enlarg..: our raJlk~. The energy of both old melllbersand Hew if; needed for growth and maintenance of 'iN E. Rut energy alone will Iwt support development. Other es,entlals for the opliinal performance of SNE are the ideas, thc pcrspel:uvc, the partiCipation (and'~yuite frankly-·-the duc,) llf JII expanding membership.

;vlatunngis D10fC than a physiological phenOlnenon-it IIwolvcs sq..:ial alld .p,ychological development as well. These processc<ha,.'e already hegun in SNE.

A, We' havc expanded 111 number. we have started to be Involved III Clllli.'fete pfllgrams [('r achieving (Jllr goals. The plIhlienti,ln-; of SNE. NNI-':CH, the new film and aclive com· mittees are examples of responses to nutrition education

rUE A ( 'THOR is Rcsciln it AS.wr.iate, ODice of Education alld Pub/if Affairs, Th" :Vu/r ittO n /-'olln<iatioll fllC. , 888 17th St., N.W .. Waslllnguli . DC 2()I)06. She is current/v Chairperson of the Mem­"crs/;ip C"mmitfce. Sode/\' .iLlr Nutrition Education.

6 ' / Journal-of NUTRITION EDUCATION

Kristen McNutt

nl!cds, and these projects provide potential for improving the effel.:tiveness of our Society.

The adolescence of SNE should also be a time when we broaden our circle of friends. We must establish stronger ties with others who share similar goals. And, as we mature, we must learn to appreciate the goals and values of others­health educators, coaehl!s, food editors, health deliverers and many groups not yet broadly represented among our member­ship. As we enlist their support, we must learn to mesh nutri­tion programs with other objectives related to health and edu­cation.

Benefits

'The purpose of this commentary i8 more than philosophy -it is contrived hopefully to make each reader aware of his or her own role in the growth of SNE. The "nuts and bolts" of running our Society can be accomplished by a relatively small numher of people. But optimal growth and true effec­tiveness of the Society hinge on the involvement of its entire membership. SNE needs the interest and participation of each of you.

Such involvement benefits both the Society and the mem­ber. SNE offers the privilege of being part of a broad organi­zation that can accomplish more than an individual cau. Its publications and annual programs are valuable experiences in continuing education. They provide not only basic infor­mation in nutrition and education but also awareness of the many other influences related to nutrition.

Another advantage of membership is the contacts with others who have similar interests and goals. The members of SNE view nutrition problems from varied perspectives. SNE provides a forum within which we can exchange ideas and receive the benefit of constructive criticisms, suggestions and evaluations by others.

Your Part

]n this Bicentennial year, your Membership Committee will be launching several I!fforts to bring more pl!ople into SNE. Committee programs will be most effective, however, if they are supported by a onc-to-one enlistment of members.

A membership application form is induded. in this issue of INE. It may he duplicated, or additional forms can be ob­tained from the Society or the Membership Committee. You may also receive upon request a "membership kit" including details of previous annual meetings, publications and services of SNE. Such materials can be helpful when discussing the benefits of joining SNE with potential members.

Should you decide to help SNE expand its membership * , your own evaluation of the Society will provide the most con­vincing reasons for others to join. This type of analysis­from oue's own perspective-will make the crucial difference in the quality of the growth of SNE. Names and numbers alone-no matter how many-will not produce the type cf Society for Nutrition Education to which we aspire. "Optimal" growth and development can be achieved, however, when our members,old and new, take advantage of the many opportu­nities offered through membership and when we all contribute constructively to the maintenance, as well as the growth, of the Society.

*J\iIeml,ers who endorse five new membnships during the year will be eligible fur the Bicentennial Birthda, Honor Roll-to he puhli"hed in JNE.

Vol. 8, No. I, January-March, t976