Registered Dietitian Challenge

Greetings colleagues and friends!

The Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket Challenge (#icebucketchallenge) has emerged as a game changer, raising funds and awareness for an amazing cause.  Valid criticism aside (the need to consider water conservation during a severe drought), the ALS challenge is encouraging folks to be active in a new way and is arguably creating a way for organizations to raise awareness and engage in our social media society. Most importantly, as of August 22, 2014 the challenge has raised $53.3 million dollars for ALS research.

In the spirit of the #icebucketchallenge, I am encouraging my profession of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to participate in an #RDchallenge with the goals of:

a.) building rapport and appreciation within our profession, and 

b.) raising funds for our valued Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic Political Action Committee (ANDPAC)--- the only political action committee broadly focused on food, nutrition and health. (It ranks among the top health professional political action committees in the country!)

AFTER you have contributed to ALS, consider joining the #RDchallenge by: 

1. Writing a hand written letter to a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist that has been influential to your career. Currently the United States Postal Service is offering beautiful Farmers' Market Stamps to adorn your envelope.
2. Take a photo of your card (blacking out personal information) and post your photo on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 
3. Tag three (3) other Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to challenge them to participate and use the #RDchallenge hashtag. You may also want to tag #RDchat or post on a Dietetic Practice Group's Facebook page, Instagram site, or Electronic Mailing List to reach your colleagues. 

Once you are tagged you will have 24 hours to participate or you must donate funds to ANDPAC to help support their upcoming legislative efforts! But honestly, if you are given the honor of being tagged, I hope you will choose to contribute to ANDPAC regardless! 

To begin, I wrote my letter to the current Chair of the  Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group Dianne Lollar. This year Dianne received the 2014 National Women, Infants and Children Leadership Award. She is a savvy, smart, and dedicated RD with years of service to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dianne is also an amazing organic farmer and has been an inspiration to me. Enjoy your card Dianne!

To get things rolling I am tagging a few fellow RDs from Twitter. Good luck!

@lmaydak

@ChristysChomp

@amandasaucy

@jastrd

@LoRoRD

@sweetfoodie