Louisiana Council for Exceptional Children
Super Conference
PRE-CONFERENCE MEETING
Monday, January 28, 2008

Members attending: Donna, Larry, Wanda, Barb, Bonnie B., Cindy, Marcy, Bill, Karen, Ashlie, Gerlinde, Bridgette, Jackie, and Sassy

 

• 1.0    Bill called to order at 6:00 PM
• 2.0    Minutes were read by Marcy (copy was emailed shortly after last meeting to all board members)

Barb moves to accept, Wanda seconds

• 3.0    Treasurer’s report

We are officially in the black!

            2007 Budget Report and 2008 Budget reports were distributed. 

Some proposed changes for 2008:

• there is a proposed increase of $200 for publications
• increase of $100 for website
• SC clerical labor lowered to $1000 but increased in materials/supplies

 

Larry moves to accept treasurer’s report and Wanda seconds

• 4.0    Committees

Sassy reports the CEC Policy Manual will be ready for next meeting. PLEASE email her any information regarding your responsibilities/duties for SC so they can be included in this manual as a guide for future officers.

• 4.1    Membership- Ashley reports she would like to give away 2 memberships at the conference
• 4.2    Newsletter- Paul was not present
• 4.3    Larry reports that CAN will be June 7-10 and National CEC is in Boston. He will attend both. (Larry- I know we had some discussion over this and this is the “bottom line!” Let me know if more should be put in! Thanks!)
• 4.4    Publicity/awards- Bonnie handed out the program for the Awards Program. 28 Yes I Can applications were received, 7 state winners

12 para-professional applications received and 1 winner selected

            4.5 Constitutions/by-laws- Jackie reports no change

            4.6 Finance- Donna (was combined with treasurer’s report. See attached handouts in Secretary’s binder.)

            4.7 Scholarship/mini-grant- Barb gave report of winners

            4.8 Multicultural- Bridgette reports the booth is set up and she has prizes to give away. Bridgette requested money be allocated for Inclusion projects. Bill recommends that the teachers in inclusion projects apply for a mini-grant since such funds are set aside for that purpose. Marcy will email Paul and ask him to put a blurb in next newsletter--- Need money to support inclusive practices in your classroom? Apply for a La. CEC mini-grant! Visit our website for more details and deadlines.

            4.9 Technology- Charlotte was excused from the meeting

            4.10 Student- Gerlinde reports the cover art is ready to be displayed. She suggested that for future SC programs, we list the name of the artist on the cover with the cover art.

            4.11 Nominations- Wanda gave out nomination forms/flyers

• 5.0    Super Conference 27

• 6.0    Old Business

• 7.0    New Business

• 7.1    Budget for next year- see handouts
• 7.1.1        Marcy moves to accept and Barb seconds

 

Super Conference Budget for 2008- see correction to total $39,300

Cindy moves to accept, Karen seconds

• 7.2    Suggestions from Cindy

Suggestion was made we name a scholarship after Bonnie Wise.

We need to make sure the scholarship name is on all correspondence/applications. Letters to the Picard and Wise families will be sent by the Scholarship chair .

Cindy moved, Sassy seconds

Post Conference Meeting will be held Weds. At 3:30.

Karen moved to adjourn, Cindy seconds.

(Dinner at Blue Dog Café )

 

 

Louisiana Council for Exceptional Children
Super Conference (Post Conference Meeting)
January 30, 2008

 

January 26-28 (MTW) are dates on hold for the 2009 conference if we decide to use the Cajundome Convention Center.

Comments relating to Monday’s conference events:

Karen reports that vendors went through Clark for extra tables and she had collected all money for vendors ahead of time for booth space.

Bill- suggested when we take off the request for extra tables on the exhibitor registration form. Let them go straight through Clark. 

Karen volunteered to update the form.

Comments relating to Tuesday’s conference events:

Sassy recommends 2 people should man each preregistration check-in station instead of just one. Marcy suggested we divide names more evenly after the name tags are presented and perhaps have 8 lines instead of 6. Larry comments on-site went much faster than pre-registration. Donna explained there was a computer glitch which caused some names to be lost.  It was also recommended we have a “Troubleshooting” line designated for those who have some sort of problem with pre-registration.

Presenter who cancelled 2 years in a row will not be allowed to return to SC in the future.

It was also mentioned that some presenters said they would like more time to set up before the presentation, yet participants complained about the lapse of time between sessions.  Donna suggested that perhaps we can rearrange the Mardi Gras ballroom and request projectors from Clark.

Karen mentioned extension cord problems and praised Jason for his work.

Donna- one screen is damaged and was able to be repaired well enough to be used this year but a screen will need to be purchased in future.

Karen and Cindy- said they should be able to bring more LCDs next year

Ashley-  problems with stickers for CLU’s. Session host were not showing up for sessions they committed to monitor.

Bill- suggested we eliminate lunch presentations so people can visit vendors

Karen- concession area had no salads or chicken

Karen- door prizes, vendors discussed

It was recommended we have a table for door prizes in the exhibit hall.  A laptop will be donated for a door prize next year from____________ vendor as reported by Karen. Vendor evaluations were positive. Bill states that an area can be set up for vendors where they can obtain water.

Donna suggested perhaps we make aisles narrower.

If a vendor in a prime location has not checked in by 9 AM  on first day of conference, the prime booth site can be reassigned. ** Such statement needs to be on the vendor registration form as well.

 

Awards- Bill comments they went very well. Catering problems were taken care of, including a $5000 credit against our bill for “late food incident.”

Bill volunteers to negotiate/work/meet with Cajundome Convention Center next year if we decide to remain here.

Parking- It was recommended that the lot up front be held for Board, Exhibitors/vendors, presenters, those requiring handicap accessibility. There were issues where board and presenters were routed to back parking lot even though there were spaces available in the front lot.

Finance report- Donna will email net profit

Gerlinde nominated Paul for vice-president and Cindy seconds

Next meeting- March 8 at 10 AM -  LSU Peabody Hall

 

Marcy moved to adjourn, Ashley seconds