The Oklahoma Restaurant Association is the trade association of restaurants and foodservice operations, the state's largest private industry employer. Representing more than 4,000 restaurants and members, the ORA develops the membership to do together for the industry what cannot be done individually. Our mission is to promote, protect, educate and be the representative voice of its members and the Oklahoma foodservice industry.			Reserve your spot in one of our Food Safety Sanitation Training Courses! The ORA is honored to recognize this elite group of Allied members who have achieved Key Club Partner status. Anheuser-Busch Sales of Oklahoma Ben E. Keith Foods Coca-Cola Culinary Institute at Platt College Dr. Pepper Heartland Payment Systems Hospitality Comp McGregor Insurance Group Oklahoma Beef Council Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Dept. Republic National Distributing Co. Premium Beers of Oklahoma Sysco Foodservice U.S. Foodservice™
Upcoming Events Are you interested in opening your own restaurant?  If so, there is training just for you. Oklahoma State University’s School of Hotel & Restaurant Administration, the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Tulsa City-County Health Department and Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, have joined together to develop a Restaurateur Basic Training. The National Restaurant Association will host Food Safety in the 21st Century: Best Practices Throughout the Supply Chain October 22-24, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia The hospitality industry is projected to create 1.9 million jobs over the next decade. Your students should be in line for these careers! A Hospitality Curriculum Workshop is scheduled on October 30, 2008, from 1-3:30 at Hospitality Comp in OKC. Register today!   Hirst Hospitality Awards - November 13 at OKC Golf & Country Club Get ready to celebrate; 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the annual Hirst Hospitality Awards! The goal of this annual event is to recognize and honor the hardworking employees in the foodservice industry - the restaurant employees! We have two fabulous vintners joining us this year - Michael Keenan of Keenan Winery and Joel Gott with Joel Gott Wines. So don't miss out; register today! Hot Topics Meet the New ADA:  In perhaps the most sweeping change to the face of employment law in over 10 years, the recent passage of the "ADA Amendments Act" will mean a massive change for most of the country's employers. These changes, which will go into effect January 1, 2009, will not only have a tremendous impact on the defense of employment litigation claims, they will require almost all human resource professionals, managers and business owners to adopt new policies and procedures in dealing with accommodation requests. Message from ORA and the State Department of Health:  Preventing Food-borne Illness: Recommendations for Food Service Managers A message for Retailers and Food Service Establishments on the Handling, Removal, and Disposal of Mexican-grown Jalpeno and Serrano Peppers due to Salmonella Saintpaul Hazard The National Restaurant Association has launched its new environmental initiative called Conserve - Solutions for Sustainability. One of its key messages in this initiative is that what may be good for the environment - conserving energy, water or using sustainable construction practices/products - may also save restaurant operators on their bottom line. Use of Updated I-9 Form Now Mandatory:  Employers must use this new form immediately. A federal judge has issued a Preliminary Injunction of HB 1804, which would have gone into effect on July 1, 2008.  Read the press release from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, or read the Preliminary Injunction Order.   Beginning June 1, 2008, all ORA members will be able to participate in the "Spread the Word" Membership Recruitment Campaign, and be eligible for a $500 VISA Debit Card! Leads can be submitted online, so get started today!