Learning, Sharing, Growing and…What’s The Other One Again?

The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers was founded in 1970 with four guiding principles (Learning, Sharing, Growing, and Caring) that really make us unique in the business world.  Anyone who has spent time on our website, at a Regional Forum, or at a CHART conference will probably agree that we stand apart from other professional organizations because of our openness, our lifelong connections, and the importance we place on taking care of one another.  The stronger we make each other, the stronger that the hospitality industry becomes – and that truly benefits us all.

I would like to focus on one of the guiding principles, caring, in this blog post and let you know about a special service opportunity for those attending our upcoming conference in San Diego.  As with every conference, we are going to have a service event incorporated into the agenda so that we can do our part to leave the host city a little bit better than when we arrived.  Whether it’s been a teddy bear drive, helping at a food bank, or working with women entering the workforce on their interviewing skills, we have always done something to promote the importance of volunteerism in the communities in which we do business.

In San Diego, we will be spending a few hours during the afternoon of Saturday, February 23, working at the New Roots Community Farm.  This 2.3 acre lot offers growing space to 85 families from all corners of the globe, many of whom were forced to flee their homes due to war and persecution, and provides them with an opportunity to grow fresh, healthy and culturally appropriate fruits and vegetables, while also supplementing their income by selling excess produce.

Volunteering at the New Roots Garden also seemed to be an especially appropriate service event because like CHART, it has created a cherished gathering place for its members.  For many of the refugee farmers, the garden is not just a site to grow food, but also a place to come together and share experiences. “The farm has been wonderful for people who can’t speak English and often don’t leave their apartments and feel isolated,” according to farmer Bilali Muya. “People can walk to the farm, get exercise, and avoid stress.”

So if you happen to arrive at the San Diego CHART conference by noon on February 23, please consider helping out at this event.  Details on the meeting time and location will be announced as we get closer to the conference, but we will most likely leave the hotel around noon and return around 4:00pm, with lunch provided by CHART.  There will be activities available for all different skill levels, from green thumb gardener down to the first time planter, and the farm can also accommodate any level of physical ability.  Volunteers should wear closed toe shoes and clothes they would find comfortable to wear while gardening, and of course a little sunscreen might be needed if the weather is warm and sunny.

I hope that many of you will consider signing up for the event and that it will become one of your most cherished memories from the conference.

Thanks for caring!