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DEC President, 2011-2012
president@dec-sped.org
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Posted by admin on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 1:38 PM
When I came home from the DEC conference my husband asked me, “Now that this conference is over your work is done, right?” To which I responded (lovingly, of course), “Are you kidding me?!?!? We have so much to do!” And like any supportive spouse, he gave me “the look” and slowly backed away…
Fortunately for DEC and ultimately for children with special needs and their families, our work does not begin nor end with the DEC Conference.
I am hoping that for all of us who were at the conference, we all came home with a long “to-do” list. Whether it be to follow up on a network contact made at the conference, to try out a new technique or strategy learned at a session, to finally write that article to submit for publication to JEI, YEC or Topics, to check on a grant idea overheard at a meeting, to remember to join one of the SIGs or Work Groups, etc. etc.
The DEC Board’s list of to-dos after the conference include tasks that were put in the back-burner as planning for the conference took precedence over other tasks mixed with new tasks based on the numerous meetings and networking that occurred at the conference.
Many of the Work Groups met at the conference and the Board will be following through on the plans and activities of these Work Groups. In the next few blogs I will provide updates on each of the Work Groups.
A couple of SIGs were also formed (or are in the process of forming) at the conference – on Professional Development and Research. The Board will continue to monitor these groups to nurture and provide support. I will share more information on these SIGs as I learn more about their plans.
In the months ahead, the Board will also continue to work on the restructuring of the DEC Board per Goal 5 of the Strategic Plan. With Phase 1 completed, we will now focus our efforts on Phase 2 which is on clarifying and defining the roles and responsibilities of the DEC Board and the DEC Executive Office and supporting the journal editors and government relations consultant.
Of course, the Board will continue to support and plan DEC’s upcoming professional development activities including the National Training Institute in April and the 2011 DEC Conference in November
It took me a few days to finally come down from my “conference high” – Coming home to the realities of our day to day life at home and at work finally made its way back to the front burner! I know that one thing that helps me be able to do the work I do for DEC is because of the support from my family and my very understanding hubby!
Until next time…
Amy
DEC President, 2010-2011
president@dec-sped.org
Posted by Santos on Friday, October 29, 2010 3:11 PM
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Note from Amy: Lori is the third of three guest bloggers I invited
to share their insights and experiences at this year's conference....
Hello DEC Family!
My name is Lori Erbrederis Meyer and I am a second year doctoral student from the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign.
This is my 2nd DEC conference & certainly not my last!
The first day at DEC I was browsing through the conference program and Amy’s closing signature of her welcome letter caught my eye. She wrote, “Welcome home and we are so glad to see you at this conference!”
Welcome home. Those two words stayed with me throughout the entire conference. I did feel at home during every experienced moment at DEC and this is a recollection of how DEC felt like home for me.
I saw home...
When I took advantage of the tour of Juniper Gardens. The wonderful team of individuals who work at the Juniper Gardens Children Project welcomed us into their home of research and community engagement. I felt like they brought out the family photo album when they shared pictures of Juniper Garden pioneers and took us on a tour of previous Juniper Garden sites.
…When I caught up with friends and long-distance colleagues. I had the good fortune to spend many meals with good company sharing stories and looking forward to continued collaborative endeavors.
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Dinner with RI & IL special friends team at Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue
 Laurie Jeans & I outside Children's Campus at Kansas City (current home of Juniper Gardens)
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Pecha Kucha session
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I heard home
…When I heard the chit-chat that I now lovingly refer to as Pecha Kucha.
For me, the Pecha Kucha session was an opportunity to be introduced to
a variety of studies looking at inclusion.
The best part of the format
was that it gave me time to hear a little about each study and
formulate some questions on findings I wanted to learn more about. This
is where I heard some of the most thought-provoking “chit-chat.”
…When
I heard thoughtful discussion during the Research Special Interest Group (SIG). It was during
this meeting that I heard the idea of a SIG being a “home within a
home.” I look forward to contributing my abilities and learning within
this early childhood special education niche.
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I tasted home...
When I finally tried
KC BBQ! Well, I’ve never tasted BBQ in Illinois like the kinds I tasted
here (e.g., burnt ends!). If you’re still in town – try some.
…When
I attended the Award Luncheon. For me, the best meals are better when
we can lift our glasses to celebrate a job well done.
This was very
much the case when we celebrated the contributions to early childhood
special education by leaders Juliann Woods, Glen Dunlap, Jennifer
Annable, and Tara McLaughlin.
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 Oklahoma Joe's BBQ |
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Illinois folks at the Awards Luncheon!
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For me, DEC members are a family and this conference is our
yearly reunion back home. I never want to miss another conference and
my mind’s already buzzing with how I might contribute to the sights and
sounds of the conference next year.
I am leaving the DEC conference
feeling inspired and supported that my work and the work of other DEC
members – families, teachers, students, and researchers – will continue
to make an impact in the quest of improved outcomes for children and
families.
Cheers & enjoy the last day in Kansas City with your DEC
family!
(PS: A special thank you goes to Gill Chieu for taking some great photos at DEC and allowing me to share them here with you.)
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Posted by Santos on Sunday, October 17, 2010 2:14 PM