[PHNUTR-L] NEW ADA Reform Yahoo Group Listserve

[Kathrynne Holden]

Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own
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Colleagues, please reply to Mark Rifkin at:

Mark Rifkin, MS, RD, LDN
Preventive Nutrition  Services
Baltimore, MD
410-764-8343
preventive_nutrition at verizon.net

NEW ADA Reform Yahoo  Group Listserve


Hi All,
Subsequent to many passionate discussions  regarding various ADA
policies, I've started a new Yahoo Group "ADA  Reform".  It's been
suggested, correctly, that simply complaining to  ADA is not an effective
solution for change.  Alternative policies  should be developed,
discussed, agreed-upon and formally submitted to ADA  leadership.  We can
also conduct our own teleconferences and develop  a website for this
purpose as well.

Possible issues include
1)  shifting policy on GMOs
2) establishing suitable standards for corporate  sponsorships
3) improving nutrition and sustainability profiles of food  & beverages
served at ADA/affiliate/DPG-sponsored events
4)  shifting education & training priorities to promote private practice
and/or community settings
5) shifting policy on issues such as  restaurant food labeling and retail
labeling issues away from protecting  corporate interests/waiting for
irrefutable evidence of benefit and toward  protecting and informing the
consumer
6) ensuring consistent stringency  of standards of evidence for MNT to
ensure that non-traditional theories  receive the same (and not more
intense) level of review
7) ensuring  that all CEU hours receive the same level of credit (1 hour
of work = 1  credit), regardless of topic

This is only a partial issue list.   I'm sure numerous other issues will
also come to be included.

Some  guidelines:
1) To start, I'm sending this to individuals as well as the NE  and VN
DPG listserves.  Future invitations will also be sent to other
listserves periodically.  Feel free to fwd to other listserves, and
refer other individuals as well.
2) Everyone need not participate in  or agree on each and every
proposal.  I understand we are not a  monolithic group.  Professional
disagreement is encouraged.  If  you disagree, speak up, but please have
alternatives too.  Feel free  to vote "no" if you think it best.  We will
attempt to establish as  much consensus as possible, and vote on the best
proposals.
4) This is  intended to be a serious effort at ADA reform, but please do
not announce  draft proposals to others beyond the list.
5) Of course, the goal is not to  burden you with further emails---I'm
sure you all get more than  enough.  So hopefully, we can be not only
effective, but also  efficient.  We will discuss one issue at a time.
Once we decide  on a specific issue to discuss, please respond as
promptly and efficiently  (fewer words are better!) as possible.
6) The first vote will be on which  issue to discuss first.  Feel free to
choose from my list, or suggest  your own.  After one week, the issue
getting the most votes becomes  the first topic.  We can use the same (or
different?) voting period  for subsequent issues.
7) We'll need to decide on how long to discuss each  issue before
voting.  We'll also need to decide on suitable timing  and format for
submission to ADA.  Once we come to an agreement on an  issue, each
person voting yes will be encouraged to sign on in writing for  the
formal submission to ADA.  Right now, we number 64  voices.   Speaking in
unison for reform is powerful, and the  time for reform is now.

Thanks in advance for your courage and your  participation.

-- Mark Rifkin, MS, RD, LDN Preventive Nutrition Services Baltimore, MD 
410-764-8343 Focusing on plant-based diets and prudent supplementation 
for lifestyle enhancement, chronic disease prevention and therapy
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
"Ask the Parkinson Dietitian"  http://www.parkinson.org/
"Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy"
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/