up coming ELECTION NOMINEEs and incumbents
Helene Rosenhouse-Romeo
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
METRO -PROVIDER POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? I would like to continue to serve as a board member for the WIC Association of NYS because I value the Association’s mission and the work that it does to improve WIC operations and elevate the program on a local and national level. I enjoy working collaboratively with WIC stakeholders to address concerns and brainstorm innovations, and with WIC Department of Health staff to foster communication between central and regional staff and the local agencies. Additionally, I enjoy working on the conference committee planning the Association’s annual conference, which provides valuable learning and networking opportunities for all WIC staff throughout the state.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? I bring over twenty years experience as a nutrition professional who has worked in a variety of settings and within diverse populations to improve individual and population health. In addition to my clinical and community experience, I bring entrepreneurial experience having owned and operated a local food market focused on sustainability. My experience with the WIC program spans over 10 years and, in my present role as director of a local agency, I continue, on occasion, to act in the capacity of qualified nutritionist and certified lactation counselor, thus enabling me to gain valuable insights from various perspectives. It is my professional knowledge and leadership skills that I bring to the board to advance the Association’s vision and further develop its mission through strategic planning.
Lisa Fermin
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
METRO - PROVIDER POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? The ability to represent other WIC Directors in my serving area satisfies me as I try my absolute best to be clear and honest about their issues and concerns. Participating on the Board provides opportunity for advocacy and support to improve WIC services. In addition to all this, I truly enjoy the opportunity to interact with other professionals across the state and the opportunity engage with others from different organization that support the same concepts as the WIC program.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? My ability to communicate in professional manner and represent issues with little personal interest is my best attribute and contribution to the Board.
Tommi-Grace Melito
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
METRO - ADVOCATE POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? I have had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for the past two years. I have worked with my regional WIC providers for the past five years and believe it is crucial for our WICs to have s support through advocacy, outreach, and coordination from our human services partners like me and my organization. WIC is such an incredibly important and life changing program, and I am passionate about raising up the program and working collaboratively to optimize outcomes for provider and participant alike.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? I have strong experience in expertise in nutritional policy advocacy and have worked closely with our Long Island WICs since 2018. I hold a Master’s Degree in Public Policy, and will be completing my MSW in August. This cross platform experience and expertise provides me with a unique sensibility to understand the varied contexts of the issues, opportunities and challenges that affect our WICs and our WIC families. Additionally, I have worked in human services in New York State for nearly ten years and understand as well the complex nature of our sector in New York and how we can continue to work to streamline processes, raise up best practices, and advocate for key policy changes at the state level. I believe that I have been a strong partner and member of the board and would be grateful for the opportunity to continue to do so for the next term.
Sara Hettel
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
CAPITAL - PROVIDER POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? I hope to be an agent of change and being a board member for the WIC Association of NYS will allow me this opportunity. Ideally, this position would permit me to make meaningful and impactful contributions on a greater level. Additionally, I’ve always felt being an advocate is integral and essential, which is why I continue to maintain my professional membership with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and partake in many of the DPG groups it has to offer and why our agency will continue to maintain membership with the WIC Association of NYS as long I remain the WIC Program Manager.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? I have been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for 12 years and have worked in a variety of roles which have given me both clinical and community experience. Individual roles I’ve held within WIC include a CPAIII/Nutrition Education Coordinator, Temporary WIC Nutritionist for the NYS Western Regional Office, and currently WIC Program Manager. I believe my past work experiences coupled with my passion for the mission of WIC will assist me in making meaningful contributions as a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS.
Andrea Byrne
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
CAPITAL - PROVIDER POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? I would like to be a Board Member of the WIC Association so that I can continue my work in advocating for the WIC Program. The mission of WIC is important to me and guides me in my daily work, delivering WIC services to the families in our State.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? In my early career, I served as an Executive Director for a non-profit child care center for 7 years. My duties included: budgeting, grant writing, programming, regulation compliance, and oversight of staff. In my current role as the WIC Director at Delaware Opportunities, I manage the entire program, including budgeting, outreach, staff hiring, and compliance. I also work with participants in both clerical and nutritional capacities, on a daily basis. I have a strong background in finances and a thorough understanding of policies pertaining to the WIC Program. I believe my work experience coupled with my years of service as a Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS, makes me a qualified candidate.
Loriann Spatola-Davis
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
CENTRAL - PROVIDER POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? When I became the WIC Coordinator at Tioga Opportunities, Inc. I learned the importance of supporting the WIC Association of NYS. As a current and past Board member I have witnessed first-hand how the Association advocates for our programs, staff, and ensures that critical issues are voiced. Without our voices being heard, many of our struggles and issues would never have been recognized and/or resolved. As WIC evolves and emerges from the Pandemic, I feel the Association will be instrumental in helping WIC movie forward and develop new policies and procedures to offer services in new and innovative ways. I would love to continue to represent the great WIC Programs of the Central Region ensuring their voices, ideas, concerns, and struggles are heard.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? I have been with WIC for over 32 years and worked in a variety of roles giving me the ability to see WIC from all sides. I have worked as a Clerk, Nutrition Assistant, Vendor Representative, and finally WIC Coordinator. I feel my work experience coupled with being a past board member will help me fulfill my role as a Provider to set strategic goals that will enhance and support the delivery of WIC services.
Tanya Reese
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
CENTRAL - CONSUMER POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? I believe having knowledge of the WIC program from both as a consumer and as a past vendor management program coordinator makes me a perfect fit for a board member.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? Being both a consumer and past WIC VMA employee allows me to have double the connections within the board. Working within public health allows me to stay current within the advocacy world.
Penny Bashford
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
Upstate - VMA POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? I believe it’s important to have a vendor perspective on the BOD.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? I have been a VMA Director for over 10 yrs, wherein our team supports over 35 counties throughout NYS
Sherry Wilson
Incumbent Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
STATEWIDE ADVOCATE POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? As a former program provider I believe in the WIC Program and its relationship to ongoing health care. As an advocate, I would be able to make political contacts providers might be unable to attempt without jeopardy to their programs.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? Previous member of the Board of Directors. Former Secretary & Treasurer of the Board of Directors. Former WIC Program provider for 4 County Program in Upstate New York. Have chaired & served on Finance Committee, served on Board Development, & Conference committees of Board of Directors.
Sarah DeFrank
Candidate for Board Member of the WIC Association of NYS
WESTERN ADVOCATE POSITION
1. Why do you want to be a Board Member for the WIC Association of NYS? As a former recipient of WIC, I would love the opportunity to give my time and expertise to improve the program and increase program participation. Current participation rates in New York State are under half of all eligible households. I believe we can increase the participation rate by addressing common barriers and understanding better what is keeping people from participating. I understand how programmatic biases can have a negative impact on a mother trying their best to navigate a difficult system.
2. Please describe your qualifications to become a member of the WIC Association of NYS Board of Directors? As I mentioned, I am a former WIC recipient. I have firsthand experience with food and nutrition insecurity. I have a professional background in food as a chef, a food banker, and co-op board member. I have a BA in Sociology from UC Davis with a focus on welfare system and a Master’s in Public Policy from Mills College where I focused on anti-poverty and anti-hunger policies. I was an academic fellow at the Western Center on Law and Poverty, the Advocacy Manager at the California Association of Food Banks, Director of Programs at the Berkeley Food Network and am currently the Programs and Partnerships Services Manager at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. In my current role at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier I am working on refocusing our programmatic strategy to support community-led solutions. We are phasing out one-size-fits-all food bank-led delivery models to building programs that get food to more people in the Southern Tier who need it by building our network's capacity and partnering with existing direct-service providers working with underserved/under-resourced populations. This will include fostering and supporting innovation, while working to address and eliminate old narratives and myths about hunger, food, and nutrition insecurity in our communities. I have deep understanding of barriers to program participation, social safety net programs, and a strong desire to improve programs that are meant to help the most vulnerable and historical marginalized community members. I hope you will consider me for this board seat and look forward to hearing from you.
become a member
PROVIDER BOARD MEMBER
- Purpose: To represent WIC local agencies and work to set strategic direction that will enhance and support the delivery of WIC services.
Provider Qualifications and Responsibilities:
- Must be a member of the WIC Association of New York State, directly involved in the provision of WIC Program services.
- Provider representatives must be nominated by a member of the WIC Association of New York State, complete the interview process, and be elected by the WIC Association of New York State Board of Directors.
- Must be able to serve a two-year term and attend a majority of the six scheduled board meetings per calendar year.
- Must actively participate in two (2) standing committees of the Board.
- Must be able to routinely communicate Board issues/activities to the Regional Associations; and conversely, bring regional issues/activities to the Board for discussion.
- Must have the ability to travel to bi-monthly meetings, primarily held in Albany, and the WIC Association Conference.
- Must be able to cover all travel expenses associated with attendance at Board related meetings.
- Must communicate notice of resignation, in writing, to the WIC Association of New York State board chair.
- Benefits:
- Holds one vote in meetings attended.
- Meets directly with NYS DOH officials to discuss WIC policy and procedures and to address local agency concerns.
- Has opportunities to exchange ideas and information with colleagues from all areas of NYS.
ADVOCATE BOARD MEMBER
Purpose: To represent the WIC community at large and work to set strategic direction that will enhance and support the delivery of WIC services.
Advocate Qualifications and Responsibilities:
- Advocate representatives must be nominated by a member of the WIC Association of New York State, complete the interview process, and be elected by the WIC Association of New York State Board of Directors.
- Must have an interest in advocating for programs that support food and nutrition services for low-income women, infants and children.
- Must not be a paid employee of any WIC Program (local, state, or federal).
- Must be able to serve a two-year term and attend a majority of the six scheduled board meetings per calendar year.
- Must be able to routinely communicate Board issues/activities to the Regional Associations; and conversely, bring regional issues/activities to the Board for discussion.
- Must actively participate in two (2) standing committees of the Board.
- Must have the ability to travel to bi-monthly meetings, primarily held in Albany, and the WIC Association Conference.
- Must retain all receipts associated with travel and submit a travel reimbursement claim form within 30 days of the last day of the event.
- Must communicate notice of resignation, in writing, to the WIC Association of New York State board chair.
Benefits:
1. Holds one vote in meetings attended.
2. Meets directly with NYS DOH officials to discuss WIC policy and procedures and to address community concerns.
3. Travel expenses for attendance at Board related meetings/conferences are reimbursed by the WIC Association. (Refer to the Travel Reimbursement Policy for details.)
4. Has opportunities to exchange ideas and information with colleagues from all areas of NYS.
VENDOR MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBER
Purpose: To represent the WIC vendor community and work to set strategic direction that will enhance and support the delivery of WIC services.
Vendor Management Qualifications and Responsibilities:
- Must be a member of the NYS WIC Association and currently and directly involved in the provision of WIC Vendor Management Program services.
- VMA representatives must be nominated by a member of the WIC Association of New York State, complete the interview process, and be elected by the WIC Association of New York State Board of Directors.
- Must be able to serve a two-year term and attend a majority of the six scheduled board meetings per calendar year.
- Must be able to routinely communicate Board issues/activities to the Regional Associations; and conversely, bring regional issues/activities to the Board for discussion.
- Must actively participate in two (2) standing committees of the Board.
- Must have the ability to travel to bi-monthly meetings, primarily held in Albany, and the WIC Association Conference.
- Must be able to cover all travel expenses associated with attendance at Board related meetings.
- Must communicate notice of resignation, in writing, to the WIC Association of New York State board chair.
Benefits:
1. Holds one vote in meetings attended.
2. Meets directly with NYS DOH officials to discuss WIC policy and procedures and to address vendor management concerns.
3. Has opportunities to exchange ideas and information with colleagues from all areas of NYS.
Consumer Board Member
Purpose: To represent WIC consumers and work to set strategic direction that will enhance and support the delivery of WIC services.
Consumer Qualifications and Responsibilities:
- Consumer representatives must be nominated by a member of the WIC Association of New York State, complete the interview process, and be elected by the WIC Association of New York State Board of Directors.
- Must be an active WIC participant (or parent/caretaker of a child on WIC) at the time of initial participation on the Board of Directors.
- Must be able to serve a two-year term and attend a majority of the six scheduled board meetings per calendar year. (Note: May fulfill two-year term regardless of change in WIC participation status.)
- Must be able to routinely communicate Board issues/activities to Regional Association members; and conversely, bring regional issues/activities to the Board for discussion.
- Must actively participate in two (2) standing committees of the Board, one of which must be the Consumer committee.
- Must have the ability to travel to bi-monthly meetings, primarily held in Albany, and the WIC Association Conference. (Note: Breastfeeding infants under the age of two, and bottle fed infants under the age of one may accompany the parent/caretaker to the meetings.)
- Must retain all receipts associated with travel and submit a travel reimbursement claim form within 30 days of the last day of the event.
- Must communicate notice of resignation, in writing, to the WIC Association of New York State board chair.
Benefits:
1. Holds one vote in meetings attended.
2. Meets directly with NYS DOH officials to discuss WIC policy and procedures and to address consumer concerns.
3. Travel expenses for attendance at Board related meetings/conferences are reimbursed by the WIC Association. (Refer to the Travel Reimbursement Policy for details.)
4. Has opportunities to exchange ideas and information with colleagues from all areas of NYS.
Director Emeritus Board Member
Purpose: To represent the WIC community at large and work to set strategic direction that will enhance and support the delivery of WIC services.
Director Emeritus Qualifications and Responsibilities:
The Board majority vote may also appoint ex officio, non-voting Directors to serve on the Board, if deemed to be in the best interests of the Corporation. Any such ex officio, non-voting Directors shall be entitled to all rights and entitlements of other Directors, and obligated to honor all corresponding fiduciary duties, excepting they shall not be entitled to:
- attend, or receive notice of, any Meeting of the Board, or its various committees, if the purpose of said Meeting(s) relates to concerns with respect to the given ex officio, non-voting Director;
- be counted for purposes of determining quorum for any Meeting of the Board, or its various committees;
- vote on any matter being considered by the Board, or its various committees; and/or,
- hold elective Office with the Corporation.
- The Board of Directors may elect up to three (3) Directors Emeriti every two years. A Director Emeritus is an honorary position that may be bestowed on an individual who has retired and has served the Board for many years. Directors Emeriti shall have no vote on Board motions.
- Must actively participate in two (2) standing committees of the Board.
- Should be able to travel to bi-monthly meetings, primarily held in Albany, and the WIC Association Conference.
- Must retain all receipts associated with travel and submit a travel reimbursement claim form within 30 days of the last day of the event.
- Must communicate notice of resignation, in writing, to the WIC Association of New York State board chair.
Benefits:
1. Meets directly with NYS DOH officials to discuss WIC policy and procedures and to address community concerns.
2. Travel expenses for attendance at Board related meetings/conferences are reimbursed by the WIC Association. (Refer to the Travel Reimbursement Policy for details.)
3. Has opportunities to exchange ideas and information with colleagues from all areas of NYS