Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
Convention Success in 2009! A Recap of ABAI in Phoenix
By Dr. Maria E. Malott
The Association for Behavior Analysis International experienced another success with the 35th Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. This year we had nearly 4,200 registrants. Attendees came from all over the world and represented 33 countries and 49 United States, plus the District of Columbia.
1. % of survey responses: Very good-Excellent.
Of 3,923 electronic surveys sent to attendees, 792 were returned: a 20% response rate. Figure 1 shows the percentage of respondents who evaluated various aspects of the convention as “excellent–very good.”
The new format for our annual convention was a delightful success. The Phoenix Convention Center was the event’s highest ranked aspect and 93% of surveys rated the space as “excellent–very good.” The building proved to be an adequate and comfortable facility for the needs of the annual convention.
The B. F. Skinner lecture series were also scored “excellent–very good” on 93% of returned surveys. Additionally, invited events and tutorials were well received (92% “excellent–very good”) as were posters and opening events (each 89%), to name just a few. Although almost all aspects were evaluated favorably, Phoenix, as a convention city, did not score as well as previous locations. Approximately half of the attendees scored the city “excellent–very good,” though the majority found the city at least acceptable. We are pleased the careful planning and hard work that went into the annual convention continues to be appreciated by our convention registrants.
Thanks to the feedback from our registrants, we are able to continue the development and improvement of all areas of the ABAI Annual Convention. We will improve the 2010 convention based on the input received.
The success of the ABAI convention would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and dedication of so many individuals. The Program Committee did extraordinary work scheduling events and encouraging submissions for the many invited events and tutorials. Many thanks to Program Board Coordinator Dr. Raymond G. Miltenberger, Program Committee Senior Co-Chair Dr. Ramona Houmanfar, and Co-Chair Dr. William J. Palya (see Dr. Houmanfar’s Program Board update on page 45).
Also, thanks to the area coordinators William H. Ahearn and Jeffery H. Tiger (autism); Jesse Dallery and Karen G. Anderson (behavioral pharmacology); Ann D. Branstetter and Jonathan Kanter (clinical, family, and behavioral medicine); Maria Ruiz and Michael Weinberg (community interventions; social and ethical issues); Mark R. Dixon and Joel E. Ringdahl (developmental disabilities); James S. MacDonall and Robert W. Allan (experimental analysis of behavior); Ronnie Detrich and Cathy Watkins (education); Martha Pelaez and Gary Novak (human development); Alicia M. Alvero and Heather M. McGee (organizational behavior management); Denise E. Ross and Jessica Singer-Dudek (teaching behavior analysis); Sam Leigland and Ted Schoneberger (theoretical, philosophical, and conceptual issues); and Matthew Normand and Caio Miguel (verbal behavior). We are grateful for the hard work of Dr. Timothy Hackenberg, Science Board Coordinator. We also appreciate the work of Dr. Richard W. Malott for his work in CE coordination for the BACB.
This year’s convention featured events that were co-sponsored by the ABAI Science and Practice Boards. Following the model of the 2008 Chicago Convention’s successful “State of the Science Lectures,” these keynote sessions were well received by attendees. The symposia presented in this series were entertaining and informative. “Behavioral Momentum” featured Dr. John A. Nevin (University of New Hampshire), Dr. F. Charles Mace (University of Southern Maine), and Dr. Jennifer J. McComas (University of Minnesota). “Stimulus Control in Autism” featured Dr. William J. McIlvane (University of Massachusetts Medical School), Dr. Mark L. Sundberg (Sundberg and Associates), and Dr. Robert L. Koegel (University of California, Santa Barbara). Feedback for these events was positive.
Special thanks to the Practice Board, then Chair Dr. Linda J. Hayes, Dr. Michael Dorsey (then chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee), Dr. Michael Weinberg (Chair of the Licensing Committee), and all other members of the board for their efforts. The Practice Board made important contributions to the convention events such as the Governmental Affairs Committee business meeting; the “State of Practice in Behavior Analysis” symposim; the “Legal Reform and Autism: How to Shape Public Policy” special event, which was co-sponsored by the Practice Board and the Autism SIG and featured guest speaker Lorri Unumb from Autism Speaks; the Practice Board Meeting; and the “Licensing of Behavior Analysis: Protecting the Profession and the Public” panel discussion.
Additional thanks to Dr. Raymond Fowler for his role as ABAI consultant on the topic of licensing behavior analysts. Dr. Fowler has served as President, as Executive Vice President, and, for 13 years, as Chief Executive Officer for the American Psychological Association (APA). Under his leadership, the APA organized its practice and science directorships and made significant strides toward licensing. We are grateful that Dr. Fowler assisted the ABAI Council, Practice Board, and leaders of the affiliated chapters and special interest groups with the understanding of what licensing means, its advantages and challenges, as well as the necessary steps to make behavior analysis a licensed discipline independent from psychology.
My sincere appreciation also goes to the ABAI staff members. Once again, our team was one of the highest-rated aspects of the convention in survey results. This year, 91% of the responses from our members indicated the staff provided excellent to very good services.
ABAI staff providing convention support included Aaron Barsy, Elisabeth Berthiaume, Martin c. Burch, Melissa Carlson, Michael Cooper, Emily Drilich, Brandon Forth, Jim Harmon, Jennifer Hauglie, Jean Herbrandson, Jack Lingbeek, Tina Newman, Joseph Romeo, Majda Seuss, Laurie Smith, Eddie Soh, and Amanda Wright from the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
In addition, we are thankful to our 20 seasonal staff. Most of these staff members were students from various universities who gained practical experience from their work at our convention. Our student staff members were:
Kirstin Ashman, Jessica Grow, Claire Kimiri, Ryan Scharps, Joe Sonheim, Rachel Talen, Justin VanDenHeuvel, Christina Vander Weide, and Ellyn Zylstra from Calvin College; Patrick Baum, Nicole Casey, and Sara Cnossen from Grand Valley State University; and Amber Dickerson, Lauren Fritze, Kaitlin Gaymer, Heather Lentz, and Sarah McFee from Western Michigan University.
Planning is already underway for the 2010 Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. We are pleased with the layout of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and think that registrants will enjoy the location. The Convention Center is practically connected to the headquarter hotel, the Grand Hyatt. Adjacent to both, the Grand Hyatt and the Convention Center, is San Antonio’s historic River Walk. Located one story below the street and following the San Antonio River in the central part of the city, the River Walk is one of the most popular places in Texas and offers abundant venues for eating, entertainment, and shopping. San Antonio has much to offer convention attendees.
Representatives from Texas ABA (TxABA)—including Dr. Gordon Bourland, President of the chapter, and Billy Edwards—flew to San Antonio in June during our planning session for the 2010 convention to discuss the best ways in which TxABA and ABAI can work together for the success of next year’s convention. The planning session was also attended by TxABA representatives from the San Antonio area. TxABA is an exemplary affiliated chapter of ABAI. It was founded in 1986 and currently has approximately 450 members. We are encouraged and pleased with the enthusiasm and welcoming of ABAI in Texas.
Event details are included in the 2010 Annual Convention Call for Papers, which can be found at www.abainternational.org/NewCallForPapers/CFP_pages/index.asp. We encourage you to submit your work by October 14. In addition, ABAI is holding the fourth annual Autism Conference in Chicago, Illinois, during January 22–24, 2010. Registration for both events will open in September. We look forward to you joining us for our upcoming events.