1977:  Fifty ADA members sign a petition requesting  approval by ADA of a specialty interest group in gerontological nutrition. 

1978-1979:  Volunteers work to formalize the group by writing by-laws and obtaining a slate of officers.  Dues were $4.

1978:  First organized meeting is held at  Las Vegas AME. 

1980: Joncier Greene becomes chair. GN presents its first major AME session, ANutrition Education for the Elderly Project@ Regular newsletter service began GN adopts a resolution regarding the 1981 White House Conference on Aging and develops a nutritionist position description 

1981:  GN Works with  ITT Continental Baking Company and ADA to sponsor a ANutrition & Aging Convocation”.

1982:  GN sponsors its first workshop AExpanding Horizons for Nutrition and the Elderly@ in San Antonio; Nominating Coordinators from the 4 ADA Areas were added to the GN ballot. ADA and GN jointly publish ANutrition Services for Older Americans; Foodservice Systems & Technologies,@ coauthored by Audrey McCool and Barbara Posner

1983:  GN responds to the  Amendment to the Older Americans Act Regulations; GN develops an issue paper for ADA on the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act; GN forms its first alliance with the National Health Screening Council for Volunteer Organizations. 

1984:   GN, with the Governmental Affairs Office, distributed an issue paper on Nutrition and Aging. GN publishes with ADA a Position Statement on Older Americans Act Reauthorization.

1985:  GN assists ADA with the first Position Paper: Nutrition, Aging, and The Continuum of Health Care,@   GN adds three more Regional Coordinators, making it one from each of seven areas.

1986:  GN publishes AStandards of Practice for Gerontological Nutritionists@ in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

1987:  GN hosts its first AME reception in Atlanta.

1988:  The Joncier Greene Memorial Lecture ANutrition and Cancer Risk@ is presented by Louise Light, National Cancer Institute, at AME in San Francisco. GN produces its first membership brochure.

1989:  There is standing room only at GN=s major AME session on Nutrition, Exercise, and Aging,  in Kansas City. GN announces its Joncier Greene Continuing Education Award program making funds available to help cover expenses for educational events. GN develops its first traveling portable exhibit. GN authors Linda Shoaf and Helen Jensen publish AInclusion of Geriatric Nutrition in ADA Approved Undergraduate Programs, in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Sept.

1990:  Kay Bishirjian, GN Regional Coordinator, testifies for Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. GN members Audrey McCool, Mary Tonore, and Nancy Wellman (chair) serve on ADA=s Nutrition Screening Initiative Steering Committee with 35 key health organizations. GN implements its speakers stipend award to promote GN speakers at related meetings

1991: GN members Kay Bishirjian and Connie Codispoti meet with the Senate Special Committee on Aging as part of ADA=s delegation to recommend changes in the Older Americans Act. Audrey McCool, GN past-chair, receives ADA=s Award of Excellence in Community Nutrition. Eleanor Schlenker receives GN=s first Distinguished Service Award, presented at AME in Dallas.  Other recipients have included Joe Carlin, 1990; JoAnn Prophet, 1992;  Linda Shoaf, 1994. And Marily Abernethy, 2000. GN publishes AGuide to Effective Menu Planning for the Elderly Nutrition Program.@

1992:  GN establishes formal alliances (for ADA) with the National Nutrition and Aging Services Programs and the National Association of Meal Programs( now Meals on Wheels America).  Since then GN has made and maintains six alliances.

1993:   GN develops its Lending Library. GN publishes research project ANeed, Availability, and Outcomes of Nutrition Services for the Aged@

1994:   GN publishes “Standards of practice for Gerontological Nutritionists” in Journal of American Dietetic Association.

1996:   GN establishes precedent among DPGs by converting to elected Practice Coordinators to replace Area Coordinators.

1997:  GN sponsors workshops ARemoving the Masks of Alcohol and Chemical Dependency among Older Adults.@ which was subsequently presented 10 times. GN members Kay Bishirjian and Sylvia Escott-Stump receive ADA Medallion Awards at AME in Boston. GN sponsors its first Nutrition Education Aid contest won by a  Massachusetts graduate student.

1998: GN posts its own web site on the Internet: http://trc.ucdavis.edu/gerinutr/ GN participates in the development of ADA=s AThe Nutrition and Health for Older Americans@ Campaign and accompanying Toolkit with the Food Guide Pyramid for Persons 50 Plus.

1999:  GN publishes its AStandards of Professional Practice for Gerontological Nutritionists@ in the Journ Amer Dietetic Assoc, July. GN announces its own electronic mailing list, AGnlist@ at ADA AME in Atlanta. GN publishes with ADA continuing education module ANutrition and Parkinson=s Disease@ GN co-sponsors a post-ADA workshop ANutrition in Aging: Building Successful Partnerships.@

2000: GN implements its Nutrition Education Materials Development Grant for members.

Alliances: AoA, AARP, NCOA, NAMP (MOWA), NANASP, National Resource & Policy Center for Nutr and Aging at FIU

Past Chairs:

1980 Joncier Greene

1981-82 Linda Hoops

1982-83 Dorothy Diggins

1983-84 Barbara Posner

1984-85 Audrey McCool

1985-86 JoAnn Pegues

1986-87 Mary Pat Howley

1987-88 Eleanor Schlenker

1988-89 Joe Carlin

1989-90 Mary Tonore

1990-91 Linda Shoaf

1991-92 Linda Netterville

1992-93 Kay Bishirjian

1993-94 Eunshil Shim

1994-95 Barbara Blocker

1995-97 Eileen Kutnick

1997-98 JoAnn Prophet

1998-99 Marilyn Abernethy

1999-00 Martha Peppones

2000-01 Barbara Woodhouse

FOUNDERS

Dorothy Diggins Caroline Van Mason

Janette Martin

Boringuen Lugton

Christine Frysztacki

Joncier Green

Ramona Higging

Ruth Mumma

Rita Tanski