Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007 | Number 1
ABA 2007 Convention Program Committee Report
By Dr. Ramona Houmanfar, Program Committee Senior Co-Chair
We will experience another successful convention this year at ABA. As always, our accomplishment is a product of the contribution and support provided by the ABA administrative staff, ABA Council, and the Program Committee. The following is an overview of some changes in the ABA program structure, and a data based outline of the ABA 2007 program.
Through the support of our previous Program Board Coordinator and the current President, Thomas Critchfield, we have added a new category for invited presenters called ‘Guest Presenters.’ These presenters are scholars from other compatible disciplines whose participation will enrich the ABA Program and contribute to the visibility of our discipline. In order to promote the invitation of these types of presenters, the ABA Council approved the allocation of $2,000 per each of the 12 program areas, for $1,000 honorarium per Guest Presenter (maximum two per area) in May 2006 (for implementation as of ABA 2007). Additionally, invited guests’ convention registration fees will be waived.
We have also implemented a new initiative called the B. F. Skinner Lecture Series, which was promoted by Dr. Critchfield at ABA last year. The purpose of this series is to honor the participation of the Guest Presenters in the ABA Program. Accordingly, these speakers will be designated in the ABA Program Book, both via the “BFS Lecturer” title attached to each presentation, and via a special page that lists all of the BFS addresses in one place.
Program Growth
The total number of submissions for 2007 increased 4.9% from 2006. Major growth of the program this year was in poster and paper submissions. It is important to note that the number of reunions, business meetings, and Expo posters still may increase as we try to arrange the associated events.
With regard to the new category of invited presentations (Guest Presenters), a total of nine non-ABA invited presenters participated in the established B. F. Skinner Lecture series. Overall, we have experienced a gradual increase in the number of presentations, which demonstrates a healthy pattern of growth over time (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Number of Presentations by Year
Area Coordinators
The hard work and effort of the Area Coordinators resulted in a record year in terms of the number of invited presentation submissions and tutorials. Moreover, nine of the 39 invited addresses and tutorials will be conducted by non-ABA members. This is a record number of invited presentations by non-ABA members during my tenure as the senior co-chair. And, it is indicative of the program coordinators’ support and participation in the aforementioned initiatives.
The updated list of co-coordinators for program areas was included in the Call for Papers for ABA 2007. The successful recruitment of the new co-coordinators for a majority of areas would not be possible without the help and support of their senior co-coordinators. So, we are grateful to these colleagues for their contribution to the vitality of the ABA Program.
As always, I would like to thank my co-chair, Bill Palya, for his invaluable collaboration, and all of the Area Coordinators and other members of the Program Committee for their outstanding efforts this year. In addition, on behalf of the ABA Program Committee, I would like to thank Maria Malott and her exemplary staff members for their support and guidance.