Page 14 - OhioAlaCarteSummer2011

12 www.ohiorestaurant.org Summer Issue

Redesigned in November 2010, the Ohio Restaurant Association’s website – www. ohiorestaurant.org – provides ORA members with pertinent information about timely news issues, your membership, upcoming educational opportunities, new rules and regulations that impact the foodservice industry and links to industry-related websites and government agencies.

However, before you attempt to visit the site and take advantage of all its offerings, it’s important to determine whether or not you have all the log-in information you’ll need to access member-only information. While not all of the information is password-protected, certain areas of the site are so it’s valuable to have your log-in information handy if you’re not familiar with the site.

On November 15, 2010 the ORA unveiled an improved website. The enhancements required all members to establish a new password. If you have not updated your account on the new site yet, please follow these steps:

1. Enter your log-in information (the e-mail address the ORA has on fle for you) 2. Enter the temporary password that was e-mailed to you on November 18, 2010. 3. Choose a new password that is easy to remember.

However, if you are a new ORA member and have never created an account on the website, follow these steps:

1. Enter your log-in information (the e-mail address the ORA has on fle for you) 2. Click “Did you forget your password” and a temporary password will be sent to the e-mail address the ORA has on fle for you. 3. Once you receive your temporary password, you should log on immediately and choose a new password that is easy to remember.

Once you’ve taken these steps, you can familiarize yourself with all of the information the website offers.

1 The “Membership” Section

By visiting this section of the website, ORA members and prospective members can gather information about the valuable benefts that membership in the ORA provides. Not only does it offer a convenient online portal through which new members can join, but the membership section also explains the various products and services ORA members gain access to with their investment. You also will fnd testimonials from restaurant peers who have taken advantage of the services their membership provides and want to encourage

others about their positive experiences. Another vital beneft located under the membership section is the Membership Directory, which allows you and other ORA members to search for valuable contact information.

2 The “Government Affairs” Section

ORA members will fnd answers to questions under this information-packed section of the site. Here, you’ll learn about the ORA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of members and how the ORA’s full-time government affairs lobbyist, ORA Director of Government Affairs Richard Mason, works with leaders in industry and within the various government agencies to effectively share the concerns of foodservice professionals with Ohio lawmakers. ORA members will also discover information about state and federal issues that have impacted the restaurant industry and how the ORA and the NRA have worked to overcome obstacles foodservice professionals face in running their operations.

This segment of the site also explains the importance of the Ohio Restaurant Political Action Committee (PAC) and the role it plays in helping support legislators who value the restaurant industry and work tirelessly on behalf of small business owners to implement laws that favor the industry’s growth.

Additionally, ORA members can learn more about SAFE – the Save American Free Enterprise (SAFE) program that leads the effort to provide fnancial and professional resources directly to states where and when it is needed the most to fght the issues that are most harmful to the restaurant industry.

Lastly, within this section of the website, ORA members can fnd valuable information to government websites and agencies, including the Departments of Commerce, Health, Insurance and Commerce, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, local health departments, and both the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code.

3 The “Education & Events” Section

By visiting this section of the website, ORA members will learn about services and products that assist them in implementing best-in-class procedures in their establishments. Whether it is through front-of-the-house health and safety seminars or via webinars that encourage participants to “think outside the box,” the ORA is committed to helping its members sustain and grow their revenues in ways that strengthen their business acumen. The education and events in which the ORA invests aid restaurant and foodservice professionals by providing them with insight into better business practices and stronger market-positioning techniques.

This segment of the site provides information about ServSafe ® Food Safety and ServSafe Alcohol™ programs, which combine critical information, exclusive tools, real world resources to transform knowledge into action and to implement the highest safety standards in your operation every day. ORA members will also learn about the Restaurant Education Series, which offers members free access to ways they can sustain and grow their business through a series of education-focused events.

The series, sponsored by Heartland Payment Systems, aims to not only strengthens

Six Ways the ORA’s Website Can Assist You

Utilizing these areas of the site, you can learn about the industry, expand your business knowledge, get answers to important questions, fnd important contact information and much more