January is here again!  We’ve closed the door on 2013, and are welcoming a new year.  It’s time for resolutions, new beginnings, and a new calendar — wide open for the opportunities of the coming year. However, before you go filling it up, take some time to remember what you did last year.  For many of us these past few weeks were jam-packed with cooking, shopping, traveling and reveling. Holiday visits with friends and family are ideal for reflecting on the past year; and we hope you had the chance to share experiences, highlights, memories, photos and recipes – of course!  

This year was full of excitement at the Whole Grains Council, as we celebrated the second annual Whole Grain Sampling Day in April.  Lots of new partners joined us from all across the country, helping create opportunities for people everywhere to get their hands on whole grains.  For Whole Grains Month in September, we gave away cases of food to a deserving charity (Snack in a Backpack) that were graciously donated by members of the Whole Grains Council.  This year also marked endings and beginnings of careers here at the WGC, as we saw a former employee go on to fulfill new dreams while welcoming our newest employee who has come here to fulfill her own.  

Oldways also had a wonderful year, full of new experiences.  Two amazing culinarias took us to both Puglia, Italy and Madrid, Spain, where the rich, local flavors were shared with all in attendance. While at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Houston, we released an updated Vegetarian Diet Pyramid, and November saw the launch of our new forum.  Everyone here at Oldways has been busy this year creating opportunities to connect with you.  

As a group we’ve participated in educational and entertaining conferences like the International Celiac Disease Symposium in Chicago, and the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.  The American Public Health Association conference here in Boston introduced us to lots of new faces and gave us the opportunity to learn about different needs for our services – something we cherish and look forward to fulfilling in future years.  

When your own year winds down and you’ve had time to reflect, come share with us on our new forums. We’ve got multiple, active categories for you to post in and read from.  So, bring your questions and comments to help us kickstart conversations that just might end up on someone else’s reflection list next year!

Happy New Year, from the whole Oldways team.  

(Danita)