Frequently Asked Questions
| IACP Membership |
Exhibiting at the IACP Culinary Showcase |
| Dues Renewal | IACP Awards |
| International Conference | Miscellaneous |
IACP Membership
Q: What are the requirements for membership in the IACP?
A: The only requirement for becoming an IACP member is that your primary source of income must come from a food-related business. IACP has members in all aspects of the food world including chefs, cooking school teachers, food writers, recipe developers, cookbook writers, food photographers, and more.
Q: How much does membership cost?
A: There are four membership categories in IACP:
- Professional membership is $220 plus a one-time $50 initiation fee
- Emerging Professional membership is $75
- Cooking School membership is $360 plus a one-time $50 initiation fee
- Small Business membership is $420 plus a one-time $50 initiation fee
- Corporate membership is $995 plus a one-time $100 initiation fee.
Q: What are the benefits of membership?
A: There are many benefits to becoming an IACP member, including networking with IACP’s 4over 3,000 members, a subscription to IACP's monthly e-newsletter, Frontburner, a listing in the IACP Membership Directory, member-to-member discounts, a career center and more. Read about all of the benefits of being an IACP member.
Q: Are mailing lists available to members?
A: Yes. Members can order mailing lists in electronic format or on labels. Mailing lists do not include phone numbers or e-mail addresses. Allow 5-10 days for processing. Labels can be overnighted at the member's expense. Download an order form.
IACP Dues Renewal
Q: Why are two notices sent beginning in May when my membership does not expire until June 30?
A: The IACP, like many other associations, has found throughout the years that more people retain their membership when multiple notices are sent. A higher retention equates to more members, a stronger organization and the ability to continue providing the benefits that members have come to rely on. As with many busy professionals, some members misplace their first notice or simply forget to send their payment until a second notice arrives. Notices may also be lost in the mail or returned to headquarters due to a change of address. The additional notices serve as reminders to ensure that your membership remains active so that you don't miss out on any mailings, events or benefits.
Q: I just joined IACP a few months ago. Why am I receiving an invoice already?
A: The IACP annual dues year runs from July 1 through June 30. Members are billed annually rather than on the anniversary date of their joining, which means that all members have a common expiration date of June 30 after their first full year of membership. Your initial payment entitles you to one full year of membership. The amount on your invoice is a prorated amount that represents the dues for the months following your expiration date through June 30.
Payment of this invoice will get you properly positioned for the annual dues year. However, if you prefer, you may wait and pay this amount one month prior to your expiration date.
Q: Can I use my dividends to pay part of my dues?
A: Absolutely! If you have received dividends for recruiting new members, they can be applied to your dues renewal. Please be sure to include them with your payment. If you are submitting dividends with your dues payment, please send the remittance by regular mail rather than online.
Q: Will I be notified when my renewal is received?
A: Yes. If you renew online, you receive immediate confirmation electronically. If you have an email address on file with headquarters and submit your payment by mail or fax, you will get an email confirming the receipt of your payment within 2-3 business days. All renewing members, including those without email addresses on file, will receive a renewal letter including a new member ID card approximately 7-10 business days after headquarters receives the payment.
Q: Can I change my membership category?
A: Yes. You can change your membership category at any time during the year. Simply contact Member Services for details at info@iacp.com or 1-800-928-4227/404-252-3663. Click here to review the benefits associated with each membership category.
Q: How do I change my personal profile or contact information?
A: We encourage you to carefully review the information on your invoice or in the online directory. If your address, phone number, e-mail address or other contact information changes, or if you would like to change your professional profile, you can make changes online or contact member services at info@iacp.com.
IACP International Conference
Q: Where and when is the next conference?
A: Portaland, Oregon. April 21-24, 2010.
Q: Do I have to be a member to attend the conference?
A: Yes, the IACP Conference is a members-only event. However, members may bring non-members as guests for optional or a la carte events (no workshops or seminars).
Q: How can I register to attend the IACP International Conference?
A: Registration materials will be available online a few months prior to the event. Please call IACP Headquarters at (800) 928-4227 or watch www.iacp.com to register.
Q. How much does it cost to attend?
A: Early Bird registration fees are available to members who register early. Please call IACP Headquarters at (800) 928-4227 for rates and Early Bird dates.
Q: How do I confirm my registration?
A: IACP Headquarters will send conference attendees an e-mailed confirmation once the registration has been processed.
Q: Can I register in advance for the conference and be invoiced for the fee?
A: No. Payment must accompany your registration. No spaces in workshops or optional events will be reserved until payment is received in full.
Q: Can I purchase tickets to optional conference events on-site?
A: Yes, but only if there are open spaces available. Purchases can be made at the registration desk.
Q: How do I register for educational workshops and optional events?
A: The information posted online will contain the appropriate forms for registering for educational workshops and optional events.
Q: If I cancel my registration will I receive a refund?
A: Written notice of cancellation received within the time guideline specified in the pre-conference brochure will receive a full refund less a $100 processing fee.
Q: When do I receive my name badge and conference program?
A: Every conference attendee will receive a welcome packet that includes a name badge and conference program upon arrival at the registration desk.
Q: How do I get an audio recording of a session at the conference?
A: IACP contracts with a professional conference recording company to record most of the conference programs. Audio from conference from 2002-2008 are available at www.onsiterecording.net.
If there was something you missed from a recent IACP Conference or a session or speaker you would like to hear again, here is your chance.
Exhibiting at the IACP Culinary Showcase
Q: How do I exhibit at the IACP Culinary Showcase?
A: It’s easy. Just contact IACP Headquarters at (800) 928-4227 to receive an Exhibitor Guideline Brochure and Application. Corporate, Small Business and Cooking School IACP members are all eligible to participate in the Culinary Showcase. Call Headquarters for the Culinary Showcase Application and Agreement form deadline.
Q: How much does it cost to exhibit?
A. There are two options:
- A 10' x10' booth is $825 US. This option is available to Corporate Members. Included in the fee are: one 10’ x 10’ booth with an 8-foot high draped back wall and 3-foot-high draped side rails, one booth sign with your company name and booth number, one 6-foot skirted table, two folding chairs, one wastebasket with liner, and a listing in the exhibit guide. Booth carpeting is not included in the rental fee but may be purchased directly from Freeman Decorating.
- An 8'x6' tabletop exhibit is $260 US. This option is available to Cooking School and Small Business Members. Included in the fee are: one 8’ x 6’ space with an 8-foot high draped back wall and 3-foot-high draped side rails, one tabletop exhibit sign with your business/school name and tabletop number, one 6-foot skirted table, two folding chairs, one wastebasket with liner, and a listing in the exhibit guide. Exhibit hall aisles will be carpeted, however individual booth carpeting is not included in the rental fee but may be purchased directly from Freeman Decorating. Furnishings beyond, or in place of, those listed above are the responsibility of the exhibitor.
Q: How do I choose my booth space at the Culinary Showcase?
A: A number of corporate booths are assigned to sponsors of conference events, as outlined in each sponsor’s contract. All remaining spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. When the Culinary Showcase Application and Agreement form are received, an exhibit space is assigned from among the most desirable spaces remaining at that time. While every precaution will be taken to prevent close proximity to a competing company, IACP cannot guarantee that such placement might not inadvertently occur. In all space assignments, final determination will be made by IACP.
IACP Awards
Q: What are the IACP Awards?
A: The IACP Awards consist of the IACP Cookbook Awards, The IACP Awards of Excellence and the Bert Greene Awards.
Q: What types of products or services can be nominated for awards?
A: For a list of eligible entries for each program, please visit our program details.
Q: What are the categories of cookbook awards?
A: There are 13 categories: American; Bread, Other Baking and Sweets; Chefs and Restaurants; Compilations; First Book: The Julia Child Award; Food Photography and Styling; Food Reference/Technical; General; Health and Special Diet; International; Literary Food Writing; Single Subject; and Wine, Beer or Spirits.
Q: When are the cookbooks judged?
A: The Call for Entries is distributed in August and the deadline for receipt of entries is in November. The finalists will be announced in March and the winners announced at the Annual Conference in April.
Q: When are the awards presented?
A: The Awards are presented at the Awards Ceremony every April, coinciding with the Annual Conference.
Q: How do I enter my product, service or book?
A: Watch the IACP home page for an entry form. The Call for Entries is distributed every Fall.
Q: How much does it cost to enter a product, service or book?
A: The fee to enter a cookbook in the IACP Cookbook Awards is $125.00 US per entry. The entry fee for the Bert Greene Awards is $35.00 US per entry and the there is no entry fee for the Awards of Excellence.
Miscellaneous
Q: How do I determine fair market value for my services?
A: Now, thanks to the efforts of IACP past president Toni Allegra, CCP, you can find out. As part of her "Learn Your Market Value" panel at the IACP conference in Minneapolis, Toni compiled the following list of median salaries for the culinary industry.
