Newsletter
Volume 29 | 2006 | Number 2
Florida ABA: FABA Celebrates 25th Anniversary
By Dr. H. Allen Murphy, BCBA
The Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA) turned 25 in 2005 and celebrated its silver anniversary in sunny Sarasota with 1,048 of its closest friends. The September conference recognized this landmark with several special events, including a review of “Important Developments in Behavior Analysis: 1980-2005” by Jack Michael, a nostalgic look back at FABA’s history by Gretchen Thwing in her Presidential Address “Our Journey Back to the Future,” and a return to the banquet format replete with balloons, birthday cake (being sliced in Figure 1), a multimedia presentation of past FABA highlights (including a video of the Stimulettes, “You say JABA, I say JAHBAH...”), and an auction.
Figure 1. FABA’s 1st and 25th Presidents, Nate Azrin and Gretchen Thwing, slicing the anniversary cake.
The auction had a humble beginning: a ping pong ball signed by the table tennis champion. Now in its fourth year, however, the auction has grown up and this year behavioral items from the FABA Store and donations from members including Murray Sidman, Jack Michael, Jon Bailey, and Judy Favell brought impressive bids urged on by auctioneer, Jon “Silver Tongue” Bailey. The auction benefited the FABAPAC, which supports legislative efforts that benefit the behavioral movement in Florida. For the second time, Julie and Ernie Vargas provided memorabilia for the auction from the B. F. Skinner Foundation with the proceedings being returned to the Foundation to support its important mission.
This is not to say that all we did was celebrate past glories...lots of learning happened as well with 12 pre-conference workshops, specially designed evening presentations for parents and teachers, and more than 40 break-out sessions addressing the gamut of behavior analytic areas by such notables as Brian Iwata, Jesse Dallery, Jim Partington, Pat Friman, Tim Vollmer, Amos Rolider, Jenn Austin, Jon Bailey, and Dave Wilder. Our members were treated to a special Keynote by Michael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic Magazine who explained “Why People Believe Weird Things” followed by a question-and-answer panel by fellow skeptics. Shermer appears in Figure 2 with Dr. Julie Vargas. Many of the sessions were approved for continuing education credits for certified and associate behavior analysts, speech/language pathologists, and mental health professionals.
Figure 2. Julie Vargas with Keynote Speaker Michael “The Skeptic” Shermer.
But, FABA is not merely a conference that happens once a year. We currently have four Local Chapters in Tampa, Tallahassee, Panama City, and Pensacola with two more forming. The Chapters serve their local communities by offering continuing education as well as camaraderie for behavior analysts. The newsletter, recently renamed the FABA Observer, is published three times per year to update and alert members on topics of importance. Among these are any changes in the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s requirements provided by Jerry Shook and current legislative issues identified by our lobbyist, Eric Prutsman. The FABA Store, brilliantly maintained by FABA Gal Dawn Bailey, started with t-shirts and hats but has evolved into a behavioral boutique with a wide selection of “Behavior Counts” clothing and other accessories. The Store is open year long and may be accessed on line by visiting the FABA Web site (www.FABAworld.org). L.L. Bean, watch out!
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of FABA’s founder, Jon Bailey, who officially stepped down from his Executive Director position at the 2005 conference. Jon was surprised by an unannounced recognition of his accomplishments with testimonials by fellow University of Kansas graduate student, Judy Favell, and his first graduate student, Brian Iwata, and gifts from the B. F. Skinner Foundation. Jon continues to serve as FABA’s Secretary/Treasurer and in the newly formed position of Media Consultant.
Mark your calendars for September 20-22, 2006 when FABA’s 26th Annual Conference will be held at the Daytona Beach Hilton, where all of the guest rooms overlook the Atlantic Ocean. To learn more about FABA, become a member, or shop for “Behavior Counts” items, go to www.FABAworld.org.