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The Florida ProStart program began as a pilot program in the 1994-95 school year with six schools. Today, it is over 200 schools strong. This directly correlates to the explosive growth of the foodservice industry, which was the original intention of the ProStart program founders, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). As the foodservice industry was growing, the NRAEF forecasted an alarming shortage of restaurant managers. ProStart was created to interest high school students in this diverse industry to head off these shortages.
At the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF), we, along with our sponsors, are doing our part to keep the foodservice industry vibrant as we touch the lives of over 10,000 students and their teachers with industry training, scholarships and grant funding.
  
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| Upcoming ProStart Opportunities |
The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) is proud to offer events, activities and monetary support for your ProStart classroom. FRLAEF believes participation in these activities can provide your classroom with a richer learning environment for your ProStart students.
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| Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show |
The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show takes place September 5-7, 2008 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. ProStart teachers may attend the Show all three days at no charge. ProStart students may attend the Show on Saturday, September 6, 2008 free of charge.
All registration is being handled online this year. Name badges will be available on-site.
After you have registered, the website will generate a barcode. Print this and bring it with you to the show to get your name badges.
Follow this link to register. Enter priority code VIP. |
| Florida's Salute to Excellence Awards Luncheon |
Florida’s Salute to Excellence Awards Luncheon will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the Orange County Convention Center. Each ProStart instructor can honor one ProStart student with a ProStart Hospitality Excellence Award. The ProStart instructor and nominated student each receive a complimentary ticket to the luncheon.
Click here for Hospitality Excellence Award Nomination
Click here for Pineapple Award Nomination
Read about our Keynote speaker, Coach Joe Crosby, here. |
| Scholarships |
One $5,000 Mary J. Brogan Hospitality Scholarship and 15 $2,000 Hospitality Scholarships will be awarded during Florida’s Salute to Excellence Awards Luncheon, September 6, 2008.
APPLICATION |
| Mini Grant Funding |
The FRLAEF provides grant funding to Florida ProStart schools each year. The FRLAEF is offering $20,000 for the 2008-2009 school year. There is no fixed amount for individual grants, but to assist you, the average award in 2007 was $535.
There are two prerequisites for grant funding: 1) you must currently teach the ProStart curriculum and 2) you must be a Fully Implemented ProStart school (see below for details).
The FRLAEF Board of Directors prefers to fund items that will make your classroom self-sustaining. If a piece of equipment is requested, it should be something that will be used frequently throughout the year.
APPLICATION
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| Fall ProStart Survey |
Return the Fall ProStart Survey by September 12, 2008 and receive free SafeStaff Foodhandler Guides.
SURVEY
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| Full Implementation |
The FRLAEF understands that each ProStart program operates differently and each school is involved at different levels. As the ProStart program grows, FRLAEF staff will continue to assist each school with their needs. However, the FRLAEF needs to know your level of commitment to the ProStart program. Therefore, FRLAEF is once again asking ProStart schools to commit to one of two levels of participation in the ProStart program. The two levels of participation are Fully Implemented or Curriculum Only.
If the FRLAEF does not receive a ProStart Letter of Agreement from you by September 14, 2007, we will assume you are a Curriculum Only program. Benefits of becoming a Fully Implemented ProStart program include a chance to participate in the 8th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions, Mini Grants, money for your program and much more.
Click on link below to download a copy.
FULL IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACT
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| 9th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions |
The 9th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions will take place Spring 2009 in Orlando.
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| ProStart Certification |
The FRLAEF will award $250 to each school that becomes a ProStart Certified Program. The ProStart Certification looks at five different areas including Curriculum, Instructor, Student, Facility, and Advisory Committee. If you are interested in this certification, please let us know. Click link below to download a copy.
CERTIFICATION PACKET
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| 13th Annual ProStart Teacher Training Institute |
| The 13th Annual ProStart Teacher Training Institute will be held June 2009. This event provides the opportunity for ProStart instructors to work with post-secondary chefs while learning the latest in the foodservice industry. All ProStart instructors can attend this week-long training free of charge. |
