From SNE: Message from the President

From SNE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT On the occasion of my last birthday a friend gave me an antique button. At first I thought it was a political button but on further investigation I discovered that it promoted the Women's Land Army of America in 1918. It is a lovely design with a field of harvested wheat in the center of the button and a decorative border of fruits and vegetables. I became quite curious about the Women's Land Army and subsequently learned that it was similar to "Rosie the Riveter" of World War II. Since men were in Europe fighting World War I, women took over farm operations as part of the total effort of getting food to Europe. Actually, England initiated the program and on one of my visits to an antique poster store, I located a poster dated 1917 that sought enrollees for the British Women's Land Army. The poster promised a free outfit of high boots, breeches, overalls, and hat; maintenance during training; traveling expenses in connection with the work; inspected and approved housing; and work on carefully selected farms as well as other work guarantees. This "idea" became very real to me when I discovered that as a young woman, a colleague's English mother had joined the Women's Land Army during World War II. Shortly after learning about the Women's Land Army, I read an article about the successful campaign of President Corazon Aquino in the 1986 Phil-

ippine election. One major factor in her success was the support she enjoyed from the enormous number of women in organizations across the country. After Ninoy Aquino was killed in 1983, women took to the streets in protest: "We looked at one another and realized our potential, despite the fact that the first to go out in large numbers were upper-class women, marching with their maids, who had to carry fans, umbrellas, and water bottles for their mistresses. We realized we had a common issue." In 1983 there were a handful of women's organizations. In 1986 there were 400-the largest being a coalition of some 50 organizations in Manila, 38 in Mindanao Island and the beginnings of a regional federation in the Visayas. "Beauty queens, nuns, intellectuals, artists and writers, society matrons, workers, and peasants-each and all contributed to Cory's ascension to power, not only by campaigning for her, not only by steadfastly eroding Marcos's power base, but simply by rendering acceptable the participation and leadership of women in national life. " Later I read the recently released book by Audrey Cross entitled Nutrition for the Working Woman. It could easily have the subtitle "Seizing Control of the Kitchen" or "Establishing Home, Inc." or "You are in Charge." In the beginning of the book Audrey makes clear that women are in charge of

the kitchen; all decisions ultimately come back to the woman and that's power. Instead of wishing we could get rid of this perpetual, all-too-frequent task, we can turn it into a "window of opportunity" as the marketers tell us. Direct the kitchen, delegate tasks, and in turn change the food system. That's a quantum leap you may say. Yes, but as you well know the steady drops of a stream have carved valleys and so the steady purchases of consumers can change the food system. What an army women can be for food supply change! We kept the farms in production in England and in the United States (and I suspect in Canada and other countries as well) during World Wars I and II. When we are angry enough about something, we can be as determined as the women in the Philippines were to unseat an administration which inflicted policies that caused enormous suffering for them and elect a person who would direct a government that would change those policies. We are the ones who control the food supply. Let's take the advice on change, organization, and marketing and apply it in the kitchens in every community. There is no reason that we can't send the messages of fiber, low fat, low sodium, and the rest ofthe Dietary Guidelines into the food markets and restaurants and make eating for health as easy as popping candy. Janice Dodds SNE President 1986-87

CALL FOR EDITOR The Society for Nutrition Education is seeking an Editor for the Journal of Nutrition Education (JNE) for a three-year term beginning January 1989, to be preceded by a one-year transition period as Editor-Elect. The Editor must be employed in an academic setting and have the following qualifications: • Broad knowledge of nutrition education practice and research • Demonstrated competence in conducting and writing research and in editing manuscripts • Commitment to maintaining JNE as a professional publication of high quality For further information regarding qualifications, responsibilities, remuneration, and application procedure, write to: Dr. Ernestine Vanderveen 7711 Arrowood Court Bethesda, Maryland 20817 Application deadline: March 1, 1987

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JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCAnON

VOLUME 19

NUMBER

1

1987