Florida DMA History
1965 Florida DMA known as Florida HIEFSS (Hospital Education Food Service Society) with 10 members sent in from other states. Ruby Puckett R.D. was appointed by the FL Dietetic Association to organize HIEFSS in Florida. The state appointed Marge Knapp R.D. and Marion Aspinwall R.D. to work with Ruby. Each R.D. was given a course outline from ADA and assigned students. Half way through the course the 10 members and R.D.'S held its first organizational meeting in Orlando. When the course ended in 1965 they the graduating class held its first meeting in St. Petersburg at the Princess Martha Hotel. Vera Maclean was President and Ruth Jackson as Secretary/Treasurer. At this time HIEFSS had to combine their meeting with the ADA Association.
1967 Marie Walker was President. She started promoting the scholarship program.
1969 HIEFSS held its first State Meeting in Orlando. At this time an RD advisor had to attend all district and state meetings. Ruby and Marian have been a Consultant, Advisor and Teacher to many members through the years. Florida continued to grow until it became the state with the largest membership in the nation.
1970 Florida HIEFSS held its first National Convention in Ft. Lauderdale. The last Florida National Convention was in 1993 in Orlando.
1972 The Marie Walker Scholarship Foundation was started. Since then scholarships have been awarded to students. The past 14 years Lemon-X has been a proud Sponsor of the scholarship foundation. Vitality Beverages joined 2006 as a sponsor of the scholarship foundation.
1984 National changed the name HIEFSS to DMA.
1995 FDMA set up its 1st web site.
1996 The State Banner was reconstructed.
2005 FDMA celebrated its 40th Anniversary. We honored Marian Aspinwall RD and Ruby Puckett RD. Marian has since retired, but Ruby continues as the program director for the Dietary Managers Program at Gainesville University of FL correspondence and online course.
Florida has had two National Chairs (presidents) Betty Deeter CDM,CFPP and Shirley Williams CDM,CFPP. Florida has also had three Directors at Large: Lothar Sache CDM,CFPP, Janet Gonter CDM,CFPP, and Dorinda Carwell CDM,CFPP.
Traveling through time FDMA has went from 17 districts to 7 combining the stronger with the weakest or inactive.
FDMA has been the proud winner of the following awards: Platinum State Achievement; MembershIp; Government Affairs and Newsletter.
