Conference Talk E-news

Director's Letter

Picture of Joy Millard

Greetings!

It’s been a busy Spring here at the MU Conference Office. We’ve seen growth in the number of participants attending conferences over the past couple of months. And we thank you for your participation and use of our services.

It is refreshing to see individuals engaged not only in the sessions, but networking at breaks, during the meals and other informal moments. It is amazing what you can learn from conversations with peers. Getting a perspective from someone outside of the situation can be invaluable. Just the other day a colleague mentioned a suggestion that just blew me away (some days it doesn’t take much) but she presented a perspective I hadn’t even thought of. And it made all the sense in the world, and would be a great benefit to our office. It was the engagement of conversation that allowed me to have a revelation and we didn’t even have a problem. It’s one of my fundamental beliefs that people need contact, face to face, one on one, to glean knowledge from others.

Here’s to hoping you have conversations today, tomorrow and beyond that enlighten, challenge and assist you in your experiences.

Staff Spotlight

Erica Lovercamp, Office Support IV, and Lana Carter, Data Entry Operator II for the MU Conference Office, are this edition’s featured staff members.

Erica Lovercamp
Position/Title: Office Support Staff IV
Number of Years with MUCO: 2.5 years
Number of years in the meeting planning industry: 2.5 years
What do you enjoy most about your job? The people in our office, feeling a sense of accomplishment from a successfully completed conference, traveling, and assisting at the different conferences are all things that make it fun to come to work.
What life is like outside the office (hobbies/family): Traveling, reading, and enjoying my family and friends are all favorites.
Education/Training: Bachelor of Science in Tourism from Central Missouri State University, 2000

Picture of Lana Carter

Lana Carter
Position/Title: Data Entry Operator II
Number of Years with MUCO: 7 years
Number of years in the meeting planning industry: 7 years
What do you enjoy most about your job? I enjoy working with the people in our office and serving customers at conferences.
What life is like outside the office (hobbies/family): I've been married 34 years and have a daughter and a son. I enjoy camping, fishing and reading.
Education/Training: Gem City Business College, Quincy, IL.

Conference Highlights

Missouri Valley Turfgrass joined forces with MAGICouncil to break “Common Ground” last November 29-30, 2005 in Overland Park, Kansas. This conference and trade show brought together turf specialists, golf course managers, landscapers, equipment companies and pesticide applicators for 2 days of educational opportunities. Classes covered such topics as Building Blocks of Soil Management to Golf Course Drainage and Design Concepts. Each participant could choose classes from the different areas – Business, Golf, Sports Turf, and Lawn/ Ornamentals. There was also a chance for Kansas and Missouri pesticide applicators to earn their recertification. A highlight was keynote speaker, Norm Stewart, former head basketball coach at MU. Check our website, http://muconf.missouri.edu/MVTA for more information on upcoming events.

Missouri Migrant Education/English Language Learning Conference met October 6-8, 2005 to address “the challenges that begin within political, economic, and educational systems as immigrants enter this country.” http://www.mo-mell.org/Conference.htm They met at Doubletree Hotel in Chesterfield, Missouri Over the course of the 3 day conference, conferees attended breakout sessions on topics such as STELLAR: Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners for Academic Results; The Rights of Immigrant Children and ELLs in Public Schools; as well as English Language Learners and the MAP . The MELL organization works with MOCELA and MO DESE to organize this yearly conference which attracts Migrant educators, state and local government representatives, English as Second Language educators among others. Approximately 250 attended Please check the website for more information. On-line Registration will be available in June for the 2006 conference, October 4- 6, 2006 at the Doubletree Hotel in Chesterfield, Missouri.

The Primary Conference is back! This past November 17-19, 2006 found Preschool through Third grade teachers conferring at Tan Tar A. This exchange of ideas always brings a good turnout of eager learners. A small selection of the topics covered includes everything from Action Packed Classrooms; Strengthening Read-Aloud Strategies; and Project Construct follow-up: Building Community in the Constructivist Classroom. Highlights included keynote speakers Christopher Lee, a nationally renowned advocate, speaker, author and leader in the field of learning disabilities and adaptive technology; J.C. Greenburg, author who focused on elements of absolutely irresistible fiction and non-fiction and how to give the reader an experience; and also Susan Newman, former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Elementary Education under President George W. Bush and is currently a professor in Educational Studies at University of Michigan. Save the Date for this fall, November 16-18, 2006. Speaker selection is being finalized this summer and the brochure will be out Fall 2006. Check back at our website, http://muconf.missouri.edu.

The University of Missouri – Columbia was the proud host of the 2006 Missouri Association of Blacks in Higher Education Annual Conference held March 9-11, 2006 at Stoney Creek Inn and on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Linda Garth, Director of Academic Retention Services, served as program chair of the event. Nearly 150 faculty, staff and students from around the state attended this conference whose theme was Empowering Leadership and Strengthening Diversity. Nationally known speaker Carl Mack provided the keynote address and many other well known speakers presented their research and facilitated break-out sessions. Students were also given the opportunity to present their research on a variety of topics. Next year’s conference will be held at Maryville University in St. Louis.

Request Your Complimentary Information Kit and Video

Per your request, we will forward an MU Conference Office information kit and five-minute video, which highlights our event management services, client testimonials and events, in addition to showcasing the University of Missouri-Columbia campus, local community and the Show-Me State.

1-866-MUCONOF (682-6663) or muconference@missouri.edu

Upcoming Events- Register Today!

Click here to check out the upcoming calendar for events to be hosted in the next six months!

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