Dear NYSABA Member,

In an effort to keep you up-to-date on NYSABA news and events, we’ve designed the following e-blast. Each month you’ll receive information on the Association as well as what each committee is doing for you, our members.

Please visit www.nysaba.org for contact information, upcoming events, including our Annual NYSABA Conference, and so much more!

NYSABA’S FIVE-YEAR PLAN
Submitted by Joseph Pancari, 2007 NYSABA President

True to our Mission and on the behalf of our membership, the NYSABA Board of Directors has been actively working on several fronts to promote behavior analysis throughout New York State. Along with planning this year’s conferences, increasing membership, managing Continuing Education Credits, and tackling legislative issues, the NYSABA Board of Directors has been taking a look at the Association through a formal Strategic Planning process. In doing so, we’re identifying what we do well and where we need to develop so that over the next five years we can maximize our efforts to “support professionals and students, educate families and consumers and advocate for the highest standards in the application of behavior analysis.”

Thanks to the Past President, Doug King, we’ve secured the assistance of the Association Development Group (ADG) to aid us in this endeavor. At our first meeting in January, we began the process and drafted five goals each with several action steps. During the planning process one or more committees has been identified to ensure the completion of each goal.

Among the stated goals is the need to enhance existing core member services in communication and advocacy, education and training, and to execute a successful membership campaign. Also stated is the need to broaden the involvement of NYSABA members and to solidify the NYSABA financial management.

In keeping with the emphasis on our membership it’s the intention of your elected NYSABA board members to present the final version of the Five Year Strategic Plan to you at the annual conference for your review.

All said, the 2007 NYSABA Board of Directors is looking forward to a productive year and vibrant future with our members at the focus of our mission. 
                
EDUCATION COMMITTEE UPDATE
Submitted by Vicki Vicki Madaus Knapp, Ph.D., BCBA, 2007 Education Chair

I’m happy to report another productive year for NYSABA’s Education Committee. In 2006 we sponsored five conferences across New York State and provided 753.5 BACB CEUs for 103 participants. So far in 2007, we’ve sponsored BACB CEUs for the ELIJA Delayed Toilet Training and Enuresis Conference, the Toronto Partnership for Autism Services Workshops, and the 5th Annual Collaborative Working Together Conference.  We’ll provide BACB CEUs for the Eden II Autism Workshop in Wellington, FL, the Mini Conference on Improving Teaching and Learning in Central New York at SUNY Cortland, and the ELIJA sponsored conference with Dr. Brian Iwata speaking about Assessment & Treatment of Severe and Challenging Behavior in Plainview, NY.  Additionally, we’ll sponsor the BACB CEUs for our NYSABA Annual Conference in Verona, NY on November 1 and 2, 2007.

We’re happy to report that we’re making progress with a new and improved system for our Call for Papers and event syllabus paperwork for CEU proposals. These forms will soon be online, which will reduce the amount and duplication of paperwork. We’ve also proposed guidelines for requests for NYSABA to sponsor CEUs, which will also soon be posted on our website