2018-2019 ProStart Opportunities
The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) offers events, activities, monetary support as well as teacher and student support for your ProStart program. The FRLAEF believes participation in these activities can lead to a richer learning environment for you and your students. Events and opportunities are listed throughout the August NewsBites below.
Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show Registration
TEACHER REGISTRATION FOR SHOW
Use this registration if you would like to attend WITHOUT students.
CLICK HERE to receive your complimentary registration. Enter this code in the Discount box: FRLA
You do not need an FRLA Member Number.
ServSafe During the FRL Show
The FRLA is offering the ServSafe review class and exam on Thursday, September 6, 2018 during the FRL Show. The exam
review class begins at 9:00 am at the Orange County Convention Center. The exam begins at 2:00 pm following a break. Examinees will be taking the paper/pencil version of the exam. FRLAEF will cover the cost of the review class, exam, and a ServSafe Manager book for ProStart instructors.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. You must use this link to get free registration.
The deadline to register is Friday, August 24, 2018.
ProStart School Classification
At the beginning of each school year the FRLAEF asks schools to commit to their level of participation in the ProStart program. There are three levels of participation: PREMIER, FULL and CURRICULUM ONLY.
PREMIER LEVEL 
The FRLAEF will determine which schools qualify as 2018-2019 Premier schools based on the benchmarks the school met during the 2017-2018 school year. In order to be classified as a Premier school for the 2018-2019 school year, the program must have done the required work during the 2017-2018 school year.
FULL OR CURRICULUM ONLY
Schools that have not earned the Premier level for the upcoming school year may choose between the Full and Curriculum Only classification. For schools that become Full ProStart schools, they have the opportunity to work towards becoming a Premier school for the 2019-2020 school year by meeting the 2018-2019 benchmarks.
PARTICIPATION COMMITMENT 
The FRLAEF will send an email to all ProStart schools containing classification details including which level of classification a school may achieve based on their 2017-2018 participation data.
Please read through the details of the classification carefully to determine if you will be able to meet the requirements before committing. In order to be classified at any level, you must have and be using both the Level One and Level Two Foundations textbooks.
If the FRLAEF does not receive your commitment form by August 29, 2018, the FRLAEF will assume your school is a Curriculum Only program. This is an ANNUAL contract.
Extreme ProStart Kitchen Makeover
The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) is pleased to announce it will be providing one kitchen remodel grant to a Florida ProStart high school. In order to be eligible for the grant, you must be a Premier ProStart program and teaching the ProStart curriculum during the upcoming 2018-2019 school year.
The FRLAEF is investing approximately $50,000 into one Premier Florida ProStart school to provide much needed funds to renovate a kitchen facility and bring it up to standards. These funds are for use in a ProStart class only. Use of this funding to enhance programs outside of the ProStart curriculum is prohibited.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 31, 2018
GRANT AWARD NOTIFICATION: September 14, 2018
Mini Grants
The FRLAEF is offering $80,000 in Mini Grant funding to Premiere and Full Florida ProStart schools this year. T
here is no fixed amount for individual grant awards, but to assist your planning, the average award last year was $778.
There are two prerequisites for grant funding: 1) you must currently teach the ProStart curriculum, and 2) you must be a Premier or Full ProStart school.
The FRLAEF Board of Directors prefers to fund items that will make your classroom self-sustaining. If a piece of equipment is requested, it should be something that will be used frequently throughout the year.
NEW THIS YEAR: you may apply for money to assist with installing existing equipment. In that case, we will need to know what equipment you already have and how much installation will be. More details are in the application.
The application deadline is Wednesday, August 29, 2018.
CLICK HERE for the online Mini Grant application.
GRANT AWARD NOTIFICATION: September 21, 2018. If awarded, funds must be spent no later than November 16, 2018.
FRLAEF Regional Workshops–Registration Now Open!
The FRLAEF is offering six Regional Workshops this fall. ProStart teachers may bring up to five students to each event. There 
is no fee to attend a Regional Workshop. Lunch will be provided for all attendees at each event. Chef coats will be given to all participating ProStart students at each event. Travel to and from events is on your own.
If Regional Workshops reach maximum capacity prior to the deadline, all subsequent schools will be placed on the waiting list. Most events begin at 8:30 am and conclude no later than 2:00 pm.
Please do not register for more than one event. We only have space for first-time attendees at each event, so register for the event you are most interested in attending. If you are interested in another event, let us know and we will send you the link for the Waiting List.
CLICK HERE for the Regional Workshop page with details and registrations links for each event.
We are waiting for JWU to finalize dates for three additional Regional Workshops they are conducting.
Marriott Info Request + Job Opportunities in Puerto Rico
Marriott is interested in connecting to more ProStart students and schools in Florida. If you are currently working with a Marriott, please let us know! We would like the property name and contact name to share with them.
Marriott is hiring all positions for St. Regis Bahia Beach Puerto Rico. This property is opening in November 2018. If you have former students who may be interested, please pass this information on to them.
CLICK HERE for the Management Positions flyer.
CLICK HERE for the Non-Management Positions flyer.
Culinary Position Open in Marion County
Forest High School in Marion County is in need of a culinary teacher. For more information CLICK HERE and then look for the Careers tab at the top right corner to apply.
Hospitality Industry Internships
The Hospitality Industry Internship (HII) provides the opportunity for Florida ProStart & HTMP instructors to work in a foodservice/lodging establishment for at least 40 hours. Once the required paperwork has been processed, the participant will receive a personal check for $600 from the FRLAEF.
To qualify for an HII, the instructor must teach the ProStart/HTMP curriculum during the 2018-2019 school year. If you are already employed at a restaurant or hotel, you MAY NOT use that site for your internship. The restaurant/hotel must also be a new work experience for you, not somewhere you have worked before or used as an HII internship location.
The applicant must secure a position at a foodservice or lodging facility where a minimum of 40 hours of hands-on experience is guaranteed. The host location may pay the recipient but is not required to do so.
The FRLAEF will award 11 HII’s this school year on a first-come, first-served basis. So apply NOW! Work experience may begin once the applicant receives an award notification from the FRLAEF.
CLICK HERE to apply.
ProStart Culinary Team Competitions
The 18th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions will take place Friday, March 1 — Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the Rosen 
Plaza Hotel in Orlando.
On Friday, March 1, half of the Culinary Teams and Management Teams will compete along with all Edible Centerpiece teams. On Saturday, March 2, the remaining Culinary and Management teams will compete along with all of the Waiter Relay Teams. The competition will be followed by an awards dinner at the Rosen Plaza Hotel.
STIPEND FOR COMPETING SCHOOLS The FRLAEF will provide stipends to offset the cost of participating in the event. The stipend amount will be announced when the number of competing teams is finalized.
RULES The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has not released the rules to the Culinary and Management Competitions. Since Florida’s Culinary and Management Competitions mirror the national rules, we can not release the Florida competition rules until NRAEF has released the national rules. The Waiters Relay and the Edible Centerpiece competitions are unique events to Florida.
HOTEL The Rosen Plaza Hotel will be the host site for the 2019 ProStart Culinary Team Competitions. The room rate at the Rosen Plaza is $129 per night.
To reserve hotel rooms, use THIS LINK or contact the Rosen Plaza at 800-627-8258 and reference the FRLAEF ProStart Competition Salute to Excellence. The deadline to make hotel reservations is Wednesday, February 13, 2019. But don’t wait this long to book your rooms! These rooms sell out quickly.
PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE for the competition application. The application deadline is Friday, October 12, 2018. Applicants will be notified their status by Friday, October 19, 2018.
NRAEF Data Collection (Fall Survey)
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) will continue its ProStart Data Collection this year. The survey is managed by Westat. Be on the lookout for an email from Westat this fall. The email will contain a password unique to your program.
Once you complete the survey, the FRLAEF will send you an email where you can request $350 worth of free foodsafety materials. These are on a first-come, first served basis, so complete your NRAEF survey as soon as possible.
Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner
The Salute to Excellence Awards will take place on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando. The awards dinner will recognize all ProStart Competition, Pineapple Award, Scholarship recipients and Hospitality Excellence Awardees. Registration will begin in January 2019.
ProStart instructors will have the opportunity to recognize one student during the awards dinner with a Hospitality Excellence Award. These students will be called on stage during the awards dinner and recognized with a certificate.
All ProStart instructors may receive a complimentary ticket to the awards dinner. Hospitality Excellence Award students receive two complimentary tickets, one for them and one for a guest.
Complimentary Foodsafety Materials
Each Premier and Full ProStart program is eligible for free ServSafe or SafeStaff materials. To ensure you get the materials you need, you must notify us of your needs. Once we receive your ProStart Classification paperwork, you can order up to $350 of ServSafe/SafeStaff materials. Click here for the price list. Email Amy Parker to place your order–you do not need to fill out the form. Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
NRAEF has finally made the 7th edition Instructor tools available! The Instructor USB is $200 if you are interested. It is listed on the price sheet.
Complimentary ProStart Scantrons
The FRLAEF will distribute over $25,000 worth of free ProStart Exam Scantrons to Premier and Full ProStart schools during the 2018-2019 school year. Once a school has turned in their ProStart Classification paperwork, email Amy Parker to let her know how many ProStart Exam Scantrons you need. Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Scholarships
The FRLAEF will award $44,000 in scholarships during the 2018-2019 school year. These scholarships will be awarded during the Salute to Excellence Awards in the Spring. The scholarship application will be available in late Fall.
The 23rd Annual ProStart Teacher Training Institute will take place in June 16-21, 2019. The week-long training provides
Florida ProStart instructors with the knowledge necessary to teach the ProStart curriculum. Each day’s learning is built around topics covered in the ProStart curriculum.
LOCATION
All classes will be held at Johnson & Wales University (JWU) North Miami campus, 1701 NE 127th Street, North Miami, Florida, 33181.
PROGRAM COST
The FRLAEF will cover the cost of all Florida ProStart instructors who will be teaching the ProStart curriculum during the 2019-2020 school year. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and some meals.
REGISTRATION
Online registration will begin Spring 2019.