Dear Fellow Chefs, Cooks and Friends

By John Kinsella, CMC, CCE, WGMC, AAC

On behalf of my wife, family and supporters, I am honored to accept the presidency of the greatest chefs' organization in the world.

I congratulate all the candidates for their inspirational campaigning, and I will seek their good counsel during my term. It is time to come together and set an agenda that will grow our membership and retain our junior members. We have a long history of being on the cuttingedge of our profession, and it is time to put principles above personalities and grow this organization.

I intend to build on the work begun by the previous board. Through their wisdom, hard work and dedication, we have the unique opportunity to make this organization grow to its rightful place in the United States. I am glad that our election system allows me to have their guidance and experience on my board.

We have our future in our hands. We have a wonderful staff, board and membership to make it work; what more could we ask for? I can't think of anything that will deter us from success.

ACF is a complex organization, with a unique structure of governance. This will always be a challenge, but I wouldn't have it any other way, because the very thing that is the most difficult to manage will be our strength. We cook the finest meals for our guests, and we understand the complexity of planning a menu. If we put that same dedication into strengthening ACF, we will succeed.

The major goals of my presidency are as follows:

Retain members

We must find ways to keep our active members involved. Also, we must retain our graduating certified junior members; doing so will grow our membership by 8,000 in the next three years. At the same time, these junior members can go on to higher levels of certification, and they will see a real value in being a member.

Re-recruit lost members

When times are hard, some of our active members lose their jobs and, in today's economy, their benefits. When employers cannot afford to provide health benefits or pay dues, chefs must make hard choices and cut expenses. Each time this happens, it affects us in lost membership. Losing a member has a direct effect on our profession, both fraternally and financially. I will ask the board to set up a task force to address member retention and re-recruitment.

Develop a long-term strategic plan

The previous board demonstrated the value of a long-term strategic plan. This will also be a priority of my board. Such a plan will enable us to grow in a structured manner and find the extra revenue streams we desperately need to enhance our programs.

Review programs

We must have the courage to review how our programs are working and how we can make them better. Neither I nor my board will arbitrarily cut programs, but it is our fiduciary responsibility to make sure that we are getting the best bang for the buck, and that each program is operating to its potential.

In closing, I ask you to give us the support we need to make ACF the success it deserves.

God bless all of you and the greatest culinary organization in the world, the American Culinary Federation.