Newsletter
Volume 30| 2007 | Number 2
Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan
By Dr. James T. Todd
The 21st annual convention of the Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan (BAAM) Convention was held on March 23-24, 2007 at the New Student Center on the Campus of Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in Ypsilanti Michigan.
Approximately 225 people representing more than a dozen universities and colleges from half a dozen states and the province of Ontario attended the BAAM convention. Many local and regional agencies sent staff and administrators. This year’s convention was BAAM’s first in Eastern Michigan’s new Student Center, opened in November 2006. The new Student Center provides a greater variety of room configurations and food service options for BAAM presenters and attendees. The BAAM book fair, held at the Center’s new Follett’s Bookstore, was successful and featured over 30 behavior analytic book titles on prominent display. BAAM scheduled all regular sessions in meeting rooms overlooking Eastern’s Lake House area. All reports from speakers and attendees were positive about the new facility. As always, the BAAM staff, including convention managers Heather Anson and Jennifer Bullock, did a great job organizing and running the convention. BAAM extends special thanks to the staff of the Eastern Michigan Events Planning Office, Catering, and the new Student Center for their contributions to making BAAM run smoothly in the new facility.
The 2007 Keynote had an international theme. Joseph E. Morrow of Applied Behavior Consultants (Sacramento, California) presented the convention Keynote address entitled “Spreading the Word Through Peaks and Valleys.” Morrow entertainingly described efforts to establish applied behavior analysis treatment centers in China, the Middle East, and elsewhere. Bad weather diverted Morrow’s plane, and BAAM deeply appreciates his Herculean all-nighter across various airports as he made his way to Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Honors were handed out too. A plaque for “Exemplary Service to Behavior Analysis” was given by BAAM to the faculty, staff, and students of the Western Michigan University (WMU) Department of Psychology for saving its behaviorally oriented graduate programs from budget cuts. Department Chair R. Wayne Fuqua accepted the plaque on behalf of the Department. With Doug Johnson and Sophie Rubin, Fuqua gave an excellent presentation of the attempts by the WMU administration to eliminate the programs and the successful work done by many to preserve them.
Other convention highlights included Vicki Madaus-Knapp of Summit Educational Systems (Getzville, NY) who conducted a highly informative workshop on “Ethical Issues in Home-Based Behavioral Interventions.” Rick Gutierrez of Applied Behavior Consultants presented “Positive Programming Approach to Behavior Intervention” to a packed room. Richard Malott (WMU), ABA Past-President Jay Moore (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee), Dennis Delprato (EMU), and Eamonn Arble (EMU) gave well-received presentations on a number of conceptual and theoretical issues.
Verbal behavior and autism issues continued to receive attention by BAAM presenters. James Carr, Linda LeBlanc, students, and colleagues at WMU presented a pair of symposia on verbal behavior and autism issues. Carl Johnson and Sharon Bradley-Johnson, and Jason Vladescu (CMU) presented “A Comprehensive Model for Assessing Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Other applied topics were in evidence. Scott Gaynor (WMU) chaired a symposium on “Symposium: Clinical Behavior Therapy Approaches to the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression.” Eastern Michigan’s own Marilyn Bonem, Karen Stanley, and Michelle Corbin discussed “A Behavioral Approach to Understanding Domestic Violence: A Functional Assessment Based on Batterer-Identified Contingencies.”
A wide variety of topics were represented in over 40 posters. BAAM regular J. Silva conducted a workshop on behavioral strategies for improving personal effectiveness. BAAM is especially pleased to acknowledge the continuing contributions of Western Michigan students and faculty to the BAAM poster session and to welcome the students and faculty of the University of Toledo who brought five posters for their first-ever BAAM poster session.
BAAM will hold its 22nd annual convention on March 13-14, 2008 in the New Student Center on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. BAAM intends to continue to offer a mix of basic, applied, and theoretical presentations and workshops. Online program submission and registration will again be available, and we look forward to an expanded book fair, more refreshments, and other new convention features. For more information, visit the BAAM Website at: www.baam.emich.edu