Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by President Doug Petruzzi, CEC. Meeting began at 7:15 PM.

Roll Call of Officers: Recited by Secretary Blaise A. Dente, CCC. Officers Chairman of Board, Bruce Deeble, CEC, AAC and Sergeant-at-Arms, Stephen Anania, CEC were both absent and excused from this months meeting.

Pledge of Allegiance: Recited by the general membership and guests led by Vice-President, Richard Placek, CEC.

Chapter Prayer: Recited by Blaise A. Dente, CCC.

Culinarian’s Code: Recited by: Steve Escobedo

Treasurer’s Report:Report available upon request to chapter members only.

Correspondence to Chapter: Recited by: Secretary Blaise A. Dente, CCC
~ A promotional flyer/order form from The American Culinary Federation for the purchase of the 2008 IKA “Culinary Olympics ” cookbooks.
~ The March, 2009 ACF, Susquehanna Valley Chefs Association chapter newsletter.
~ ( 2-18-09): A Thank You letter addressed to Chef Richard Placek, CEC from Ms. Kim Rollman, Marketing & Special Events Director from the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association. In the letter, Ms. Rollman expressed the appreciation for the monetary donation, the efforts that was involved in raising the funds, as well as, how impressed the, representatives were at this past Progressive Dinner.
Induction of New Members: There were no new members inducted at this months meeting.

President’s Report:
- President Doug Petruzzi, CEC welcomed the general membership and guests to the March, 2009 meeting. He thanked Chef Dave Edukaitis and Ms. Joan Fitzgerald for hosting our meeting this month. He stated how nice it was being at a different location.
- President Petruzzi announced to the general membership the news of the death of the Father of Chef John Hudak, CEC, AAC who passed away several days ago. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chef Hudak and his family.
- President Petruzzi announced the cancellation of this spring’s One Hour Contemporary Hot Food Competition. There were not enough competitors for the competition to take place. The President furthered the topic explaining the importance and what is involved in setting up a competition. There will be a rescheduled date to be held later this year.

There are not as many competitions as it used to be, there are not many competitors getting involved. The next closest competition will be held on April 18-19, 2009 in central New York.

The ACF, Capital New York Chefs Association will be the host chapter. The location will be held at the Schenectady Community College.

- President Petruzzi received a phone call from Chef Biagio Dente, CEC, AAC, HOF. Chef Dente, calling from Florida, encouraged his “strong endorsementrdquo; bid for Northeast Region Vice-President Mark Wright, CEC, AAC as ACF National President and he encouraged our chapter membership to consider voting for Chef Wright. President Petruzzi reminded the general membership this election is an individual vote, this is not a chapter vote.
- President Petruzzi thanked Ms. Ann Marie Piccini for the public relations on the recent donation of the check to the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association. The President remarked that our chapter
can not do enough when it comes to a worthwhile cause for fundraising events.
- The ACF National Convention will be held from July 11-14, 2009 at the Orlando Marriott World Center in Orlando, FL. President Petruzzi will be representing our chapter.
- The ACF Northeast Region Conference will be held in Hershey, PA will be held next Spring, respectively, March 13-15, 2010. President Petruzzi remarked that he would like to our chapter to be well represented at this conference as it very close to us.
- Any member who would like to host a meeting and/or perform an educational seminar at a future meeting is asked to see President Petruzzi.
- There will be an educational seminar from Custom Foods at a future meeting.

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MEMBERSHIP: (J. Cosgrove, CC): There was no Membership report at this months meeting, however, we will be inducting two prospective members at the April General Membership meeting.

CERTIFICATION: (M. Tibbs, CEC): There was no Certification report at this months meeting.

PUBLIC RELATIONS: (A. M. Piccini): Ms. Piccini reported that the photos from last months meeting was not in the newspapers yet, however, it will be in this week or anytime soon.

HISTORIAN: (B. Dente, CCC): President Petruzzi appointed Historian Chairperson, Blaise A. Dente, CCC to purchase a new scrapbook for our chapter.

APPRENTICESHIP: (D. Pembleton, CEC, CCE): There was no Apprenticeship report at this months meeting.

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP: (S. Edukaitis): Chef Edukaitis reported the students at Keystone College are not interested in joining our chapter at this time due to their busy school work and schedules. There is one prospective student who wishes to join.

PROGRESSIVE DINNER: (R. Placek, CEC): There was no Progressive Dinner report at this months meeting.

CULINARY COMPETITIONS: (D. Edukaitis): President Petruzzi reiterated from his President’s Report about the cancellation of the recent One Hour Contemporary Hot Food Competition.

EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR: (J. Loomis): There was no Educational Director report at this months meeting.

HORIZONS 2000 / CHEF & CHILD: (S. Anania, CEC): There was no Horizons 2000 / Chef & Child report at this months meeting.

VIDEO LIBRARY: There was no Video Library report at this months meeting.

SCHOLARSHIPS: (S. Anania, CEC): There was no Scholarship report at this months meeting.

SENIOR CHEFS: (B. Dente, CEC, AAC, HOF): There was no Senior Chefs report at this months meeting.

ETHICS & BY-LAWS: (D. Frederickson, Esq.): There was no Ethics and By-laws report at this months meeting.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHEFS: (C. Allegrucci, CEC, AAC): Chef Allegrucci contacted American Academy of Chefs (National) Chairman, Chef Tom Macrina, CEC, CCA, AAC. Chef Macrina stated that it is “very quiet” (not much news to report) as of now and sends his best to our chapter.

NEWSLETTER: (S. Edukaitis): Chef Edukaitis received several notices of the chapter e-newsletter being returned due to improper e-mail addresses. Chef Edukaitis is in the process of revising our chapter website.

AWARDS DINNER: There was no Awards Dinner report at this months meeting.

CHEF OF THE YEAR: (B. Dente, CCC /R. Placek, CEC ): There was no Chef of the Year report at this months meeting.

COMMUNICATIONS: (B. Dente, CCC): Secretary/Chef Dente will be forwarding the future monthly meeting minutes to the Newsletter Editor for publication in the upcoming newsletters.

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Golf Tournament Notes:

- There was a brief “Golf Tournament” meeting held the week before the March General Membership meeting.

-The 2nd Annual ACF, PC of NEPA Golf Tournament will be tentatively scheduled for the first Monday in August (August 3, 2009) at the Water Gap Country Club.

- The cost of the event is: $100.00 per person.

- A deposit of $300.00 is required to reserve the facilities by April 1, 2009.

- Support from our vendors is needed for donations, raffles and door prizes. Any Gift Certificates from other golf courses and any restaurants are welcome. Proceeds of the Golf Tournament will go towards the chapter Scholarships.

- Participants will be feted a continental breakfast in the morning, followed by stations or box lunch at midday, and lastly a buffet-style dinner reception, which will include the distribution of awards and prizes.

- More information, as it is gathered, will be publicized in the chapter newsletter.

“Ribs for Kids” Fundraiser Event Notes:

- The “Ribs for Kids” Fundraiser event is being chaired by Chef Richard Placek, CEC.

- The event will be a fundraiser for the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association.

- The Farmland Company has donated some merchandise for the event.

- An approximate number of guests are close to 1,000.

- There has been no scheduled date as of tonights meeting. The location is at PNC Field in Moosic. Chairperson Placek is looking at the availability for a Sunday afternoon or Monday evening, with the option of the Sunday afternoon as the first choice.

- Dente’s Tent & Rental Co. has been contacted for the tents, tables, and chairs.

- Chairperson Placek will present more information as it is gathered for next months meeting.

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Pennsylvania State Representative: There was no report from the Pennsylvania State Representative at this months meeting.

Review and Accept Minutes: The minutes from the February, 2009 meeting was reviewed, motioned, and accepted by the General Membership. Motion to accept: (1) A. Piccini, (2) C. Allegrucci, CEC, AAC.

Unfinished Business: There was no “Unfinished Business” to report at this months meeting.

New Business: There was no “New Business” to report at this months meeting.

Good of the Order: ~ Chef Dente, CCC reported that the Father of Chef Ann Marie Mundrick, CEC, AAC had passed away last December. Chef Mundrick, a friend of our chapter, is a member of the ACF, Philadelphia chapter. Chef Dente received the news while he was attending the ACF Northeast Region Conference in Boston last month.

~ President Petruzzi announced the Meadowbrook Inn has accepted to be the location of our chapter Escoffier Dinner. The date of the Escoffier Dinner has not been selected.

Announcements: ~ President Petruzzi announced the next General Membership meeting will be held on April 20, 2009 at Pocono Produce in Stroudsburg. The President is our meeting host.

~ The May General Membership meeting date will be different. Due to a scheduling conflict and his attendance at the National Restaurant Association Trade Show in Chicago, President Petruzzi is switching the date to one week before on May 11, 2009.

Educational Seminar(s): This months educational seminar was Souffle Preparation presented by: Chef Jean Louis Todeschini from the Buckwood Bistro in Columbia, NJ. Chef Todeschini was assisted by our meeting host, Chef Dave Edukaitis.

Adjournment: The March, 2009 meeting was motioned and accepted from the General Membership. Motion to adjourn: (1) R. Placek, CEC, (2) S. Richter, CWPC. Meeting adjourned at 8:25PM.

Respectfully Submitted, Blaise Alan Dente, CCC Secretary / Current Chef of the Year ACF, Professional Chefs NEPA, Inc.

Presidents Notes

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Anyone Interested in hosting a business meeting for our Chapter in 2009 and beyond,
please contact Chef Doug Petruzzi, CEC djpetruzzi@poconoproduce.com

As a reminder, once the meeting has been called to order, the sign in book will be removed by the secretary and members arriving late may sign in on a separate sheet. This will create an accurate record of attendance for our membership. Please make every effort to arrive at least ten minutes prior to the start of the meeting.

Our monthly meeting dress code is business attire or a clean, pressed white chef’s coat with dark pants. Please think enough of your host, your Chapter, your profession, and especially Yourself to comply.

Anyone interested in submitting anything to the online newspaper should mail it to Suzy at Cookievulture@yahoo.com by The 1st of the month to get it into that Months newsletter.

Birthdays in April

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Chef John Hudak, CEC, 4/21
Suzy Edukaitis 4/29

If I missed your Birthday please email it to
Suzy at Cookievulture@yahoo.com

Golf Tournament

---

-The 2nd Annual ACF, PC of NEPA Golf Tournament will be tentatively scheduled for the first Monday in August (August 3, 2009) at the Water Gap Country Club.

- The cost of the event is: $100.00 per person.

- A deposit of $300.00 is required to reserve the facilities by April 1, 2009.

- Support from our vendors is needed for donations, raffles and door prizes. Any Gift Certificates from other golf courses and any restaurants are welcome. Proceeds of the Golf Tournament will go towards the chapter Scholarships.

- Participants will be feted a continental breakfast in the morning, followed by stations or box lunch at midday, and lastly a buffet-style dinner reception, which will include the distribution of awards and prizes.

- More information, as it is gathered, will be publicized in the chapter newsletter.

“Ribs for Kids” Fundraiser

---

- The “Ribs for Kids” Fundraiser event is being chaired by Chef Richard Placek, CEC.

- The event will be a fundraiser for the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association.

- An approximate number of guests are close to 1,000.

- There has been no scheduled date as of right now. The location is at PNC Field in Moosic. Chairperson Placek is looking at the availability for a Sunday afternoon or Monday evening, with the option of the Sunday afternoon as the first choice.

- Chairperson Placek will present more information as it is gathered.

Culinarians Code

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I pledge my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement of our profession and to pass it on to those that are to follow.

I shall foster a spirit of consideration and fraternal cooperation within our profession.

I shall place honor and the standing of our profession before personal advantage.

I shall not use unfair means to effect my professional advancement or to injure the chances of another colleague to secure and hold employment.

I shall be fair, courteous and considerate in my dealings with fellow colleagues.

I shall conduct any necessary comments on or criticism of the work of fellow colleagues with careful regard for the good name and dignity of the culinary profession, and will scrupulously refrain from criticism to gain personal advantage.

I shall never expect anyone to subject himself to risks I would not be willing to assume myself.

I shall help to protect all members against one another from within our profession.

I shall be just and enthusiastic about the success of others, as I am about my own.

I shall be too big for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit pressure of business to hurt anyone, within or without the profession.

Practical Exam

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Date; None at this time
Place; LCCC
Contact; Chef Dave Pembleton
For more information
800-377-5222 x284
dpembleton@luzerne.edu

Help Wanted

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Know of a job that needs to be filled?
Email Suzy@ Cookievulture@Yahoo.com
We will list it here and get it filled Need help right away? It can be sent to the membership right away

Competition

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None at this time
Need more information Contact Chef Dave Edukaitis at

Chef_Dave_e@yahoo.com 570-350-2212

Online Newsletters

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Want to get our Online Newsletter? Our Newsletter is going GREEN but it’s more than just the Newsletter, when there are pictures from events they can be sent to me and sent to everyone to enjoy instantly instead of waiting to get them from who ever, change in a meeting time or date, no problem or need for a phone chain or any notice we need to get out there and best of all it’s FREE! What could be better? Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone that would like to know more about the
American Culinary Federation Professional Chefs of NEPA.

Send your name and Email address to Suzy at Cookievulture@yahoo.com

If you have dial up or your computer runs slow please let me know and I can make sure you get a cut down version without picture so you can still enjoy our newsletter.

American Culinary Federation Professional Chefs of NEPA Web site http://geocities.datacellar.net/nepachefs/ Our web site is now completed you can check on meeting times, present and past newsletters. A.C.F. Professional Chefs NEPA, Inc. P.O. Box 938, Scranton, Pa 18501 (570) 675 - 7003