Each day, we are faced with opportunities to make a difference and to lead. Robert Egger is someone who stepped up to the challenge when an opportunity presented itself. Fifteen years ago, he was a volunteer helping to feed the homeless, yet he felt that not enough was being done to solve the core problem of homelessness. So, in 1989, he started DC Central Kitchen, a nonprofit based in Washington, DC, that not only feeds the homeless but also provides them with job training in the foodservice industry.

We are delighted that Robert Egger will be the guest speaker at the annual Felker Leadership Conference on April 15. DC Central Kitchen has become one of the most respected and emulated nonprofit agencies in the world, producing and distributing more than 4,000 meals a day. Its highly successful 12-week job training program equips homeless men and women with culinary and life skills to gain employment in the restaurant business. To date, the Kitchen has distributed 16 million meals and helped 450 individuals find jobs.

DC Central Kitchen was founded on the premise that waste is wrong, whether it is food, money, or the potential for people to live productive lives. I hope you will join us at the Felker Leadership Conference for this very special presentation.

Hail Purdue!
Dennis Savaiano
Dean

Robert Egger, president and founder of DC Central Kitchen will be the keynote speaker at the 2005 Felker Leadership Conference on April 15. Doug Bennett, BS '83, vice president of sales for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, will speak at lunch. Invitations were mailed in late February. Reservations must be received by March 31. Visit Felker Conference Web site.

The 2005 Home and Family Conference, sponsored by CFS Extension and the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association, will be held June 8-10 on the West Lafayette campus. Keynote speakers for the event are Jill Cordes, host of the Food Network's show The Best Of , and Gary Weaver, executive director of the International Management Institute at the American University. A variety of workshops and seminars will be open to participants throughout the three-day conference. Download a conference brochure from the CFS Extension Web site.

Fred Dame, master sommelier and president to the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide, will speak at the Seventh Annual Purdue Black Tie Dinner to be held April 9 on the West Lafayette campus. Dame has been decorated with the Wine Spectator Grand Award and is an honorary trustee of the American Academy of Chefs. The prestigious dinner is a completely student-run event that raises funds for professional learning opportunities for hospitality and tourism management students. For information or tickets, visit the event's Web site.

The annual Spring Fashion Show, hosted by the Purdue Fashion Association, showcases fashions created by apparel design and technology students. This year's show will be held April 16 at 6 p.m. at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. Tickets are $15, $12, and $8 reserved seating. To purchase tickets, contact Jeannie Navarre at (765) 494-8356 or e-mail jnavarre@purdue.edu.

The Purdue Boilermakers will take on Northwestern in the Homecoming game on October 15. CFS is planning an exciting weekend of Homecoming activities and hopes you will make plans to attend. You will be able to purchase tickets ($43 each) in the CFS block beginning June 15. The block will close August 31 or when it is filled. To order tickets, call (800) 49-SPORT or purchase tickets online.

Sharon DeVaney, professor, Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing, spoke in February at the 2005 Agricultural Outlook Forum, held in Washington, DC. DeVaney was one of four speakers in the panel discussion "Succession Planning for an Aging Farm Population."

April 15: CFS Awards Celebration Dinner

April 16: Gala Weekend

April 16-17: SpringFest

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