Post date: Jul 16, 2015 1:37:30 PM
Conference Committee Report
The 2006 conference in Mass:
Basically the conference spending ($43,164) and revenue ($42,022) was about
$1000 difference as best the finances could be determined. Overall attendance
was higher than all other national gatherings (158 total) with many more day-only
participants (33) due to the location and large number of facilitators in the region.
Quality of speakers was quite high, and copies of the 2 keynote speakers are
available and one of the “re-entry panel” as well. Scholarship funds from the
Draz brothers was also higher than for any other conference ($15,500). Overall,
that conference, which exhibited considerable effort on the part of many local
participants was an unqualified success. Plans for the 2007 conference in
Florida were firmed up and approved by the AVP-USA Trustees.
Plans for 2007
The Conference committee continues to have three co-clerks, Terry Kayser, Ray
Rios and Hank Revira, with Susan Hefte serving as the local conference clerk
and participating as co-clerk on the Committee. Others include, Steve Angel,
Dick Nethercut, Pat Parker Roach, Ruybe Braye, John Shuford, with Peg
Erlinger, Pat Hardy, Nancy Shippen and Kathryn Liss in supporting roles.
Susan and Darrell Hefte have assembled a cadre of five other local facilitators to
complete the local planning arrangements. The Tampa Bay locals meet monthly
and are well on the way to organizing details to make ’07 another outstanding
gathering. A Web-site has been established for the conference and information
will be available as the conference time approaches (registration forms, travel
information, FAQ’s, etc.).
Two major additions will be included in this year’s conference. The first is the
additional conference day on Thursday, May 24 starting after lunch. It is
anticipated that there will be four general periods of time for various activities;
Thursday afternoon and evening, Friday morning and early afternoon (until 3
p.m.). These times will be available for committee work, exploring special topics
or other educational work, renew and extend friendships in a more relaxed
atmosphere, or just relaxing. As indicated in the attached budget, room and
meal costs for the extra day are reduced to entice facilitators to attend. We
anticipate that 60 persons will take advantage of the extra day.
The second addition is based on a request from the 2006 conference, being
“family friendly.” Day Springs is conveniently set up to be a family friendly
gathering with lodging available so that several families (meaning parents and
young children) can each lodge in a private room. Families taking advantage of
this option will be asked to follow specific guidelines which are being drafted by
an Ad Hoc group from the Conference Committee (Terry Kayser, Susan Hefte,
John Shuford, Ray Rios, Etta Roebig and Tim Wilson). This group held a
conference call to discuss procedures and precautions necessary to include non-
facilitator wives/husbands and their children at the conference. This information
will be included in all conference announcements and persons taking advantage
of the opportunity will be required to acknowledge their responsibilities at the
conference. Of concern to the Committee and the Ad Hoc committee is the
potential of a former sex-offender being present. Our plan is to ask them to
comply with a document that would ensure their safety and that of any family
member (based on a document that Tim Wilson provided).
The Conference Committee is also responsible for the January Issue of
Transformer, which will be devoted to the ’07 conference. The content will be
generated by the Tampa Bay group for site information (including pictures)
transportation arrangements and potential speakers/keynoters, and the full
Committee with such items as registration rates and forms and info on the pre-
conference day activities. We will solicit ideas and input for the pre-conference
day/evening/morning from other committees (especially education).
The conference Committee has plans to hold another conference call in
December to begin developing material for the Transformer. Our plan is to send
it to the Transformer editor for his editing and final development and use his
sources for printing and distribution. The goal it to have it to members by mid-
January.