Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007| Number 2
North Carolina ABA
By Dr. R. M. “Duke” Schell
Mission and Objectives of NCABA
As stated in our constitution, the purpose of NCABA is to promote the analytical science of behavior and its associated technologies within the State of North Carolina through the following means:
- Serve as a professional reference group for all in the State of North Carolina whose work involves the principles and practices of behavior analysis.
- Promote research that will advance the understanding of human behavior.
- Identify and promote the use of effective and humane treatment procedures in meeting the educational and habilitative needs of persons within the State of North Carolina.
- Organize and sponsor an annual conference that serves as a forum for presentation of technological achievements in behavior analysis.
- Publish and distribute a newsletter devoted to dissemination of technological achievements within the scope of behavior analysis and other matters of interest to the membership.
- Promote the development and expansion of education, training, and employment in the field of behavior analysis.
- Support efforts of allied organizations in providing services to individuals with disabilities.
Accomplishments over the Past Year
The primary accomplishment of NCABA each year continues to be the annual conference. Our 18th consecutive conference was held February 21-23, 2007, at the Blockade Runner Hotel in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Jamie Clary, President of NCABA, opened the conference by presenting awards to Tracie-Lynn Zakas from UNC-Charlotte, Student Award; Alicja Lipinski former East Carolina University student in her doctoral program at UCLA, Technical Utilization Award; Janet Franklin of the Center for Early Communication and Learning at the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC) received the “Do Things” Award, and the Fred S. Keller Excellence in Behavior Analysis Award was given to Duke Schell, Director of Psychology at JIRDC.
Following the presentation of awards, the remainder of the first day was filled with two invited addresses by John Forsyth, SUNY at Albany, and Steve Mahorney, Director of Medicine at JIRDC. The first day was capped by the annual Student Symposium coordinated and hosted by the current NCABA Student Representative, Katrina Johnson, from ECU. Allison Kretlow, Kim Watkins, and Katherine Trela from UNC-Charlotte and Amanda Hardy from ECU participated in this highlighted annual event.
The NCABA poster session that evening featured thirteen research and exhibit posters. Award winners included Rebecca Veenstra and colleagues from UNC-Wilmington for best student entry and Martin Ivancic and colleagues from JIRDC for best professional entry.
The second day was filled with six concurrent sessions in the morning session and three invited addresses in the afternoon by Robert Horner, University of Oregon, Jim Bodfish, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Denny Reid, Carolina Behavior Analysis and Support Center. That evening we had a wonderful social with a DJ and some live open-mic music that was enjoyed by all judging from the pictures that were taken!
The final day of the conference started with our NCABA business meeting where newly elected officers were announced including Jennifer Deacon, Vice-President; Jim Clark, Member-at-Large, JIRDC; and Pam Mims, Student Representative, UNC-Charlotte. The last session of addresses that morning included an invited symposium by Robert Horner, Charles Wood and Ya-yu Lo from UNC-Charlotte, and an invited symposium by Carol Pilgrim, Anne Stull and Rebecca Veenstra from UNC-Wilmington.
In addition to the conference, four workshops for both psychologist and behavior analyst CEs were provided by John Forsyth, Jeannie Golden, Martin Ivancic, and Duke Schell. Extra events included a silent auction, a book fair, and a reception hosted by the UNC-Wilmington Psychology Department highlighting their Master’s program in behavior analysis and psychology, which is coordinated by Ruth Hurst, NCABA President Elect.
Goals of NCABA for Next Year
Our primary goal every year is to organize, present and evaluate a professional conference. We have been very successful with this event over the history of our chapter and remain a valued gathering for behavior analysts in NC and our region. Our 19th annual conference will be held in late February, 2008. As soon as we finalize the location it will be posted at our Website along with pictures from our conference. Please visit our Website at www.nc-aba.com to keep up with the latest news from NCABA.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Executive Board of NCABA, Duke Schell NCABA Liaison to ABA.