NRAEF Data Collection (Fall Survey) Closes on December 20
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is continuing the ProStart Data Collection this year. The survey process is a little different as it is being hosted on the www.chooserestaurants.org website. However, the content of the survey will be the same. The survey went out in October from ProStartDatabase@restaurant.org. The survey closes on December 20. Please let us know if we need to resend to you the survey to you.
Once you complete the survey, the FRLAEF will send you an email to request $350 worth of free foodsafety materials. This is on a first-come, first served basis.
FRLAEF Scholarships
The FRLAEF will award approximately $180,000 in scholarships during the 2019-2020 school year! These scholarships will be awarded during the Salute to Excellence Awards in the Spring. The scholarship application will be in January NewsBites. Please share with all your graduating seniors who are going to post secondary school to study anything in the field of Hospitality.
Rosen College at UCF News
Things have been really cooking at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management this Fall! In September and October UCF hosted two ProStart Regional Workshops that brought over 100 students and teachers to campus for a fun day of foodservice industry related activities. This event was sponsored by the FRLA along with Cheney Bros International, The Florida Beef Council, and Mercer Culinary. Also in October, The Rosen College hosted a Foodservice and Restaurant Industry “Think Tank” that brought in regional educators as well as National Restaurant Association leaders and executives from some of the top tier restaurant brands to discuss the future of education and career pathways in food service. We will be breaking shortly for the semester, but any schools that would like to schedule campus visits/tours or guest lecturers for their classes in the new year please contact jonathan.judy@ucf.edu. The Rosen College wishes all Florida Prostart students and teachers happy holidays and a fantastic new year!
Culinary Academy Survey
If you currently have a CAPE Academy, please take a moment to complete this short survey.
This will provide help to instructors who are attempting to develop an Academy at their school.
Path to Power Series
The Path to Power series profiles executives in the hospitality industry and the career path they took to get there. These articles were compiled for Florida’s ProStart and HTMP students.
Osceola County Fair Cake Decorating Contest
The Osceola County Fair in Kissimmee is looking for ProStart schools to compete in their cake decorating contest in February 2020. The top three teams will receive prizes. They have not set a date for the competition, but the fair dates are February 14-23, 2020.
If you are interested in bringing a team, let us know!
Coast Guard Flag Mess
The United States Coast Guard Flag Mess is an executive dining facility located at Coast Guard Headquarters, in Washington, DC. The primary purpose of the Commandants Executive Dining Facility is to provide an environment that permits focused consideration of missions and policy while providing a welcoming environment for the representational responsibilities, customs, and courtesies associated with the duties of Flag Officers and Senior Executive Service members. Through the CG Flag Mess, Culinary Specialists who have been selected to the Special Command Aide (SCA) Program plan, prepare and execute official social functions to include luncheons, formal dinners, and receptions for Senior Military Officials, Congressmen, as well as inter agency officials and foreign dignitaries.
CSC Andrew Rupp is our Tampa area Coast Guard contact. He is available to visit your class to speak directly with the students. Please contact him directly to schedule a visit. If you don’t live in the Tampa area, he can arrange for a local CSC to visit your class.
CSC Andrew Rupp
Recruiting Office Tampa Bay
11022 4th ST N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
(o) 727-579-3849 ext 138
(c) 727-543-0601
(f) 727-579-8079
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.
To qualify for an HII, the instructor must teach the ProStart/HTMP curriculum during the 2019-2020 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 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.
Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner
The Salute to Excellence Awards will take place on Sunday, March 8, 2020 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 2020.
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.
Complimentary ProStart Scantrons
The FRLAEF will distribute over $25,000 worth of free ProStart Exam Scantrons to Premier and Full ProStart schools during the 2019-2020 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.
The 24th Annual ProStart Teacher Training Institute will take place in June 21-26, 2020. 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 2020-2021 school year. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and some meals.
REGISTRATION
Online registration will begin Spring 2020.
Thanks to our sponsors!
