The Route Less Traveled Goes Through Mohave Cooperative’s Backyard
by Engagement Specialist
Mohave is looking forward to seeing everyone at AASBO’s Spring Conference in Laughlin, Nevada, April 3-5, 2024. We are excited to see you coming through our area of Arizona for educational sessions that provide school districts and vendors with opportunities for engagement and professional growth. Please join Mohave Cooperative in one or more of the following sessions:
Purchasing – Pre-Conference Wednesday, April 3, 2024
- 104 Back to Basics: How to Build a Solicitation and the continued session 204 with Michael Carter – Mohave Cooperative, along with Elyse Orozco – Littleton Elementary School District, Christina Ulman – Dysart Unified School District, Gary Barkman – Mesa Unified School District and Richard Helm – Pendergast Elementary School District.
- 304: Back to Basics: How to Evaluate a Solicitation and the continued session 404 with Lari Staples – Mohave Cooperative, along with Lila McCleery – Phoenix Union High School District, Diana Kerfoot – Tucson Unified School District and Claudia Leon – 1GPA.
Purchasing – Main Conference Thursday, April 4, 2024
- 307 Traveling the Road of Procurement with Mike Nentwig – Mohave Cooperative, along with Lila McCleery – Phoenix Union High School District and Taylor Perkins – CHASSE Building Team.
- 407: Deer in the Headlights: Presenting When You Are Nervous with Lari Staples – Mohave Cooperative, along with Julie Carson – Laveen Elementary School District
How do I access Contract Information on the Mohave website?
by Contract Team
Mohave has designed its website to make it easier to find detailed contract information for our members and vendors. Feedback from our members is always helpful.
On our website, we have drop-down menus for the “Mohave Contracts,” and a direct link to the “ASPIN Food Contracts.” This is where all Mohave contracts can be accessed.
Mohave Contracts: The drop-down menu will provide you with options to review contracts for all products and vendors or browse contracts within a category. When either one is selected, an alpha menu of our awarded contract vendors will be displayed. If you would like to narrow your search, use the Products and Services, or the Search fields (on the right-hand side).
To access the contract vendor you are looking for, you can click on the vendor logo or name to access the Contract Vendor’s landing page. If you click on the Contract Number, you will go directly to the contract documents and pricing. To access these, you will be prompted to enter in your Mohave web credentials. Access the contract documents and pricing under the “Pricing & Docs” tab in the Contract Vendor’s landing page. The Contract Vendor’s landing page has useful information about the contract vendor and the Mohave contract. It also includes the Mohave contacts associated with the contract should you have a question.
ASPIN contracts have a different look, but also include access links on the Bread, Dairy, and Food contracts listed. Again, have your Mohave web credentials so you can log in when prompted. From the ASPIN portal, you can access contract information, pricing, nutritional data, and other useful information. The contract information and pricing are located under the “Mohave Contracts” section of the website as well.
(Members only) To also make things easier, once you log in, you can access all of Mohave’s information without the need to log in each time you switch from one contract to another. Be sure to log out when you leave the website for security reasons.
The Contract Vendor’s landing page has useful information about the contract vendor and the Mohave contract. It also includes who you can contact directly at Mohave should you have a question.
If you experience any website issues or are unable to access information, please reach out to us at contracts@mesc.orgor anyone of us under the “Contact Us Tab.” We are happy to help any time you need it.
(Click to enlarge)ASPIN Represented Arizona Child Nutrition Professionals at the School Nutrition Association’s Legislative Action Conference
(Click to enlarge)by ASPIN Team
Advocacy plays a crucial role in child nutrition. Organizations including the School Nutrition Association are instrumental in advocating for policies and programs that support the health and well-being of students.
Here are a few reasons why advocacy is so important:
- Policy influence: Advocacy efforts influence policymakers at local, state, and national levels to prioritize child nutrition. This can shape the environment in which children access school meals.
- Resource Allocation: Effective advocacy raises awareness about child food insecurity as well as the challenges child nutrition professionals endure daily. Stories from districts can lead to increased resources allocated to school meal programs.
- Community Engagement: Advocacy efforts engage parents, educators, and the community in supporting child nutrition initiatives that provide a broader base of support for improving a child’s well-being.
This year, on March 3rd through 5th Arizona was represented by 28 passionate professionals, including Charlene Johnson, ASPIN Member Services Coordinator, at the School Nutrition Association’s Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C. These professionals trained on how to advocate for programs effectively and received regulatory updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Subsequently these professionals met with U.S. Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill to discuss the 2024 position paper. https://schoolnutrition.org/resource/2024-position-paper/
Mohave ASPIN is proud to have championed these efforts in support of child nutrition professionals and children across Arizona for the past 13 years.