International and National feedback from ADSA.

Internationally
13th International congress of Dietetics
FROM: Liesbet Koornhof and Lisanne Du Plessis, ADSA President and Vice President

The 13th International Congress of Dietetics, with the theme: Global Health, Changing Perspectives, Challenging our Role took place from 23-27 July 2000 in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Approximately 1100 delegates representing 52 countries, registered for this extremely well organised congress.

The welcome ceremony took place in the Royal Museum of Scotland where delegates were greeted with traditional bagpipe music. The Opening ceremony in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre was a display of Scottish hospitality and musical talent. During this session Irene Mackay, Congress director and Chair of the International Planning Committee, Councilor Kingsley Thomas (City of Edinburgh Council) and Dame Barbara Clayton (President, The British Dietetic Association) gave us a hearty welcome to the congress and Edinburgh City and said we would be excused if we sometimes wandered off to enjoy the beautiful scenery Edinburgh and surroundings have to offer!! Seventeen South African dietitians attended the congress and 9 of them did oral or poster presentations. The topics and presentations were of a very high standard. Tea times were a real treat with English tea and real Scottish short bread!! The exhibitions were excellent with many interesting products. Interestingly quite a large number of the products are not available in South Africa. The American and Canadian Dietetic Associations used the Closing Ceremony to extend a warm welcome to all to attend the next ICD in Chicago, 27-31 May 2004.

Feedback about the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations (ICDA) meetings held in Edinburgh on 22 and 25 July 2000

1. Mission Statement proposed in Manilla, 1996 Adopted 25 July 2000: ICDA supports dietetic associations and their members, beyond national and regional boundaries, by achieving ... an integrated communications system ... an enhanced image for the profession ... increased awareness of standards of education, training and practice in dietetics
2. The xvth International Congress of Dietetics will take place in Yokohama, Japan in 2008.
3. The Board of Directors 2000-2004 will comprise: American Dietetic Association, British Dietetic Association, Danish Dietetic Association, Dietitians Association of Australia, Dietitians of Canada, Japan Dietetic Association and Swedish Association of Dietitians
4. The priority actions of the ICDA Board of Directors during the term 2000-2004 will focus on the mission and its key strategies. An important issue that will be included under enhanced image is the development and promotion of an image based on a shared Code of Ethics and principles of practice.

Nationally
'From lab to land' Nutrition Congress 2000
On behalf of ADSA thank you very much to thank Carol Browne, and her Organising Committee for a very successful and well organised 'FROM LAB TO LAND' Nutrition Congress 2000. Congratulations to the following dietitians:

• Mrs Lisanne du Plessis, the winner of the ADSA/SASA Community Nutrition Award
• Dr Renee Blaauw, the winner of the ADSA/Floro Award for a dietitian who over the past five years has made an outstanding contribution in the field of dietetics and to the dietetic profession
• Dr Kombi Mbnenyane who received a certificate of recognition from ADSA/Floro Award panel for the outstanding contribution she has made over the past five years in the field of dietetics and to the dietetic profession.
• Prof. Karen Charlton, who won the ADSA prize for the best oral presentation by a dietitian
• Mrs Irma Venter and Mrs Debbie Marais, who won the ADSA prize for the best poster by a dietitian.

Feedback from the Congress:
Full registration - 540 (40% did not attend workshops), Day registrations - 43, Workshops only - 40 Registrations received in last two weeks (full and day) = 96, Registrations on first day of congress (full and day) = 54.

Carol Browne, the Congress organiser from ADSA, reports that:

• Several participants noted in their evaluation forms that they felt that having to pay for workshops separately was not acceptable. Comment: This was done to accommodate the people who do not want to attend workshops (40% of total) and is thus justified. When one considered the very low registration fee for the congress the additional amount was not unreasonable. It was also an attempt to get people to commit to the workshops that they plan to attend, so as to enable to workshops to function smoothly. To some extent this was achieved, although some people did still 'swap' between workshops.
• Some people felt that there should be more workshops. (Comment: This message will be given to the organisers of the next congress)

National Nutrition week
From: Jane Badham Executive Portfolio holder: Public relations

The Association for Dietetics in South Africa's theme for this year was once again "All Foods Can fit". The message was most positive - You CAN eat every and any food. All foods CAN fit - you CAN be a meat eater or a vegetarian. You CAN eat out and most importantly you CAN eat and enjoy eating. Of course the message did carry the rider that only if you get the overall balance right (high carbohydrate, low fat), is there still room for your favourite chocolate mousse, glass of wine or take-away pizza! A press release was widely circulated to the media and various newspapers and radio programmes carried the story.

Regionally
ADSA NW Branch report
Hattie Vorster: NW Branch Chairlady

ADSA Northwest Branch was founded on 24 March 2000. Since then we have held various symposia and workshops, including topics such as Red palm oil, Diabetes & Dyslipidemia, and Plant sterols. We have a lot of wonderful ideas for CPD activities in 2001, for example a workshop on the Food Based Dietary Guidelines, a workshop on Motivation, a symposium on Soya and soya products, Insulin resistance and lots more...

Start planning
Conference Calendar

• June 26-29, 2001: IX Congress of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis Montreal, Canada Email: info@eventsintl.com
• August 27-30, 2001: 17th International Congress of Nutrition Present Knowledge and Future Perspectives Vienna, Austria Email: austropa.congress@verkehrsbuero.at
• August 18-21, 2002: 3rd Asian Congress of Dietetics Harmonisation of Asian Dietetics Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Website: http://www.nutriweb.org.my

Something to think about...
'Lifelong learning is a journey that is about competence, and competence is about the vision and open- mindedness to seek new ideas or ways of working'
Lifelong learning by design
(Duyff RL Journal of the American Dietetic Association, May 1999; 99:5, p.538-543).

A well-considered learning plan is intrinsic to the new Continuous Professional Development Plan.

Step 1: Start with Personal reflection Consider our work, or responsibilities, and volunteer work: in our profession we must keep current and skilled.

• Identify changes and trends that affect our work, e.g. telecommunications, legislation.
• List our strengths. This might include management, counseling, speaking, or writing for the public.
• Jot down areas needing improvement to ensure continued competence. Besides keeping updated in nutrition science and care, we might want to improve skills in information technology, time management, or keeping balance in our daily lives.
• Consider what we enjoy. Is it clinical care, writing, media work, culinary work, teaching? Our best work may be where our passions lie.
• Consider our values. Many of us chose the nutrition field for our concern about public health and well-being.

Step 2: Set Specific, Achievable Short- term and long-term goals

• Write them down. We have two great choices: be the best in our current practice or in a new arena.

Step 3: Assess Our Knowledge and Skills

• What knowledge and skills do we need for the future within our job or to strike out in a new direction?

Step 4: Create a Blueprint for Lifelong Learning to reach our goals

• Engage in conventional update activities: journal clubs, professional meetings.
• Tap today's technology for distance learning, on line access to libraries and remote databases for sponsored independent learning. Draw on global resources to learn from professionals everywhere.
• Develop new skills with experiential training, perhaps in technology, culinary arts, or multiskilling.
• Enhance our leadership skills as a volunteer in our professional associations.
• Find a mentor to be our coach, teacher and part of our support team.
• Take coursework, or work towards an advanced degree.
• Read, and reflect on what you read, independently or with our peers or mentor.

Step 5: Put the Plan in Action!

• For each goal, keep track of what we do in a documented record. A written record can help keep us on track and provide data for the next steps: evaluating and perhaps refocusing our plan.

Step 6: Evaluate and refocus if Needed Reflect on what we have learned and how we have applied it.

On behalf of ADSA, we wish you all a very Festive Season!
Regards Megan Pentz-Kluyts
Executive Portfolio holder: Publications

Last updated: 17-Feb-2004