Apply for or nominate someone you know for the 2011 WRA Leadership Awards.

The WRA Industry Leadership Awards recognize Washington restaurant industry leaders for their contributions to communities, to the success of a restaurant(s) and for leadership in the industry. We’re proud to represent restaurateurs and allied businesses across Washington state.

You can submit yourself or nominate a colleague for:

• Full Service Operator of the Year
• Quick Service Operator of the Year
• Allied Member of the Year (businesses allied with restaurants)

Finalists will be announced in late July. On August 16, 2011 winners will be revealed at Toasting the Finest: A Celebration of Success on August 16, 2011. Attendees will enjoy the finest of Washington wine, microbrews and culinary fare at lovely Washington National Golf Club in Auburn.

Review your company information in the email you received. Correct your listing information on the form at the bottom of this page. Update your information by April 30, 2011, to ensure your company listing is published accurately.

Select THREE categories for your company to be listed under. If you choose more than three we cannot guaranty that your company will be listed accurately.

If you select more than THREE categories we cannot guarantee that your listing will be published accurately.

“It was amazing to see our restaurant industry leaders recognized,” said Robert Bonina, Washington Athletic Club vice president of food and beverage. “The Seattle Restaurant Alliance members and purveyors came together to support our city’s officers by providing holiday meals.”

In December 2010 the Seattle Restaurant Alliance, in conjunction with the Seattle Police Foundation, prepared holiday meals to each of Seattle’s five precincts.

“Our police offices risk their lives every day so we don’t have to,” said Bonina. “Supporting them is just the right thing to do.”

Tutta Bella, Red Door, The Washington Athletic Club and The Garage were presented with awards of appreciation at the March event.  Police Chief Diaz, Deputy Chief Metz, East Precinct Captain Dermody each expressed their gratitude for the restaurant’s and purveyor’s efforts.

Food Services of American, Meadow Sweet and Charlie’s Produce were recognized for their contributions to the holiday meals. Included in the festivities of appreciation were the West Seattle High School ProStart culinary students who facilitated the meals for their precinct.

January 11 is the deadline to apply for the award!

Each year, the National Restaurant Association and American Express awards $5,000 each to four restaurants—one small business, one mid-size business, one large business/national chain and one Humanitarian of the year—through its Restaurant Neighbor Award, an awards program that recognizes outstanding community service efforts among our nation’s  restaurants. American Express is the award’s founding partner.

Participating state restaurant associations, like the Washington Restaurant Association, choose winners from their state to compete for the national award. Once chosen by the state association, all state winners receive a plaque to display in their restaurant and are profiled on the National Restaurant Association website dedicated to community service case studies.

In addition to the grand prize of $5,000 to help their favorite charity or community project, national winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC where they will receive the award gala awards dinner at the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference in March 2011.

To apply for the award or to nominate a restaurateur who is actively involved in his or her community go to www.restaurant.org/community. For more information, please contact Alyssa Prince at aprince@restaurant.org or 202-973-3679. The deadline to apply for the award is January 11, 2011.

Ivar’s unique family-like culture dates back to its “founder” Ivar Haglund, a fun-spirited fellow who believed strongly in investing in employees. Among the perks of working at Ivar’s: a comprehensive training and benefits package to every employee which includes 20 hours of one-on-one training for employees and six weeks for managers, development journals to help employees grow and advance and programs to assist with life outside of Ivar’s including tuition reimbursement and financial planning seminars.

The award was focused on Ivar’s quick-serve restaurants (typically the most challenging to retain) which boast the following statistics:

• More than 10 percent of Ivar’s employees have 10+ years of tenure
• Seven locations (more than 25%) recently went more than a year without having to hire a new employee

According to a recent employee survey:

• 98% agreed Ivar’s Seafood Bars were “a great place to work”
• 93% thought that Ivar’s had invested a significant amount of time, money, and effort into their training and development
• 92% said Ivar’s did a “Good” or “Excellent” job of providing a hospitable and comfortable workplace for employees

Seattle restaurant magnate Tom Douglas hosted this historic photo shoot on Tuesday at his Palace Kitchen restaurant, where a whole slew of the industry’s most visible leaders turned out to create advertising for the effort.

The television spot is scheduled to premiere this Sunday within a commercial break during the first half of the Seahawks game on KIRO, channel 7. Print advertising is also planned.

In the commercial, you’ll hear messages from Douglas, Ethan Stowell and Brian Canlis, among others, touting the benefits of I-1100.

It was pretty amazing to see so many busy restaurateurs in one room on a Tuesday morning, supporting a shared cause. Between their willingness, and the collaboration of the Yes to 1100 campaign and the WRA, this effort was possible. We can’t wait to see the finished product! When it’s ready to roll, we’ll be sure to post it here.

Get more info on the effort to privatize liquor sales in Washington at Yes to 1100.

Additionally, they support the community in a variety of ways. In 2009 the SRA hosted holiday dinners for each of the Seattle Police precincts. Additionally, the VERA project and other charitable groups, have been a recipient of their benefit concert Seattle SoundBite.

Visit the Seattle Restaurant Alliance page and check out their upcoming events.

You may have recently heard of probable legislative changes related to providing documentation to state offices for Unemployment purposes. TALX, the WRA’s only unemployment cost control partner, has been in constant contact with the various states in order to understand these changes and how they may potentially impact members.

Consider how much a membership could help your bottom line. And, if you join the WRA by October 20, 2010, you’ll start out by saving $50 on our membership. Call me today at 253.514.2621 to join.

Cost-saving programs
We leverage your numbers and work with exclusive partners to bring you cost-saving programs. We currently offer 12 programs that are designed specifically for restaurants.

Protecting your business interests
We focus on politics so you can focus on running your business. Our government affairs team works to protect restaurants from harmful legislation at the local level with city and county governments; at the state level in Olympia; and nationally in Washington D.C.  Visit WRAhome.com to learn more.

Training and education
Our Education Foundation is dedicated to providing training and education tailored to restaurants. We currently provide ServSafe Advanced Food Safety, food worker card permits and alcohol server training. Members receive discounted rates and have safer businesses.

News, information and resources
Keeping you informed on issues that impact your business is a top priority for the WRA. Our news and information services save you time and keep you informed. Additionally, we offer members access to professional consultants with expertise in 18 categories ranging from legal assistance to lease negotiation.

Don’t wait to start improving your bottom line.

With more than 41,000 member companies representing 380,000 locations across the country, the NRA has a wealth of resources to compliment your WRA member benefits and services. As a dual member you are entitled to the bi-monthly newsletter Washington Report; free admission to the NRA show; training and certifications; information services and library access as well as discounts on NRA publications.

Policy and politics

The NRA has a staff entirely dedicated to representing the restaurant industry on the federal level in the nation’s capital — Washington, D.C. They focus on issues such as immigration reform, union card check, paid sick, health care, obesity, minimum wage and other issues that largely affect the way you do business.

We encourage WRA members to become active at the federal level as well as at the state level, and the NRA has an easy way to stay abreast of key issues — the Grassroots Opportunity Network or GO-Network. The network is comprised of more than 15,000 politically-active restaurateurs and serves as a bridge between federal issues and members of the industry. To join the GO-Network, visit www.restaurant.org/government/grassroots.

Training resources

As a dual member you also have access to comprehensive training and career-development programs. The Professional Management Development (ProMgmt.®) Program is a college-level curriculum and certificate program for students pursuing a career in the restaurant and hospitality industry. The Supervisory Skill Builders Program takes a modular approach to teaching basic skills for instructors and foodservice supervisors.

Study groups

The National Restaurant Association Executive Study Groups provide a forum for corporate leaders to discuss the issues that affect the industry. Participants meet twice a year to share information and discover new strategies to make their operations more effective.

Each Executive Study Group focuses on a different management area in the restaurant industry. Current groups include:

• Internal Auditors
• Management Information Systems
• Human Resources
• Marketing Executives
• Financial Officers and Tax Executives
• Multi-Unit Architects, Engineers & Construction Officers
• Risk & Safety Managers
• Quality Assurance
• Loss Prevention
• Nutrition

Research and library services

The NRA Research Department and Library has a wealth of knowledge and materials for WRA members to tap into such as industry, operations, economic analysis/forecasting, human resources and consumer information. With a staff comprised of four individuals and combined experience at the NRA of more than 30 years, they are attuned to the latest developments in research to better serve the restaurant industry. No question is too difficult! Call the NRA Research and Library Services at 800.424.5156.

Publications

The NRA produces many publications to help restaurants owners operate their businesses efficiently, cost effectively and legally. The Legal Problem Solver for Restaurant Operators is a publication the WRA staff often refers to and is a must-have guide for navigating today’s legal and regulatory maze. Another great publication is Recipe for Readiness: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crisis Communications that is designed to walk you through developing a crisis communications plan and provides tips on how to work with the media. To view the complete catalog of NRA publications, visit www.restaurant.org/store. WRA restaurant members receive 50 percent off the retail price.

Remember, the WRA staff is also here to help you with your questions regarding regulatory, legal, insurance, employment or governmental issues and we are just a phone call away. Call the Membership Department at 800.225.7166.