History

The Long Island Dietetic Association, A Retrospective

Trying to convey the 58 year history of the Long Island Dietetic Association on one page is quite a challenge. Fool that I am, I love to be challenged...I recently found a shopping bag full of LIDA’s files in a closet. I looked through the information and decided that this will be a general review due to space constraint and that individual members will not be recognized, except for the first LIDA President, Ruth Welton. She sent out a letter in October of 1951, looking for prospective members. A constitution was written and the first Annual Dinner Meeting was held in June of 1952 of which 25 dietitians attended. LIDA was granted a charter in 1953.

Throughout the years, LIDA has offered monthly meetings with various topics of interest. In addition, LIDA was the host chapter for the 1994 and 2002 NYSDA Annual meetings. Both were well attended. At the 2002 meeting, we ran out of space and late registrants could not be accommodated! Over the years, LIDA has counted dietitians with various specialties in its membership: Metabolic Research, Dietetics and Nutrition Specialists at the High School and College levels, Hospital dietitians as Clinical Nutrition specialists or as Food Service Management, School Lunch Directors, Outpatient Nutrition clinics, Dietitians in Private Practice. Some have written various articles on nutrition in local newspaper and hospital employees’ publications. While others had some of their articles published in the ADA Journal as well as written for well known Nutrition Textbooks. If I did not included your specialty, please forgive me!

Many of LIDA’s members were selected or elected to various posts at the State and National levels. In 2010, Susan Braverman was recognized as a 50-year member of the LIDA and ADA. She has held many board positions over the years for both organizations. Susan is still active in the field and the LIDA. Well, I guess I will say “Au revoir” since I’m running of space.

-Alyette A. Schizas, MPA, RD, LIDA member for 41 years