Member Services

The Kansas Society did an outstanding job of hosting the 16th Annual Professional Development Conference in Topeka, Kansas in June. This was the first Academy Conference held in the “Sunflower State” and was a highlight event for the Academy. Academy members from across the country traveled to the Great Plains and met in the Topeka, the state capitol of Kansas. The Conference included a mix of educational and social events at several locations around the city.

The Conference Opening Ceremonies were held in the recently restored, historic State Capitol and were truly memorable. Holding the Ceremony in the Assembly Chambers clearly elevated the significance and solemnity of the event. Opening ceremony speakers included Topeka Mayor James A. McClinton, Kansas DOA Deputy Secretary Carol Foreman, Topeka Convention Bureau President Richard Forester and Keynote Speaker, Kansas State Representative Barbara Ballard.

The Training Symposium was outstanding, including general session speakers, Ron Willis and Mark Hood (2 presentations) and a variety of interesting presenters and topics during the break out sessions. Leadership Institute sessions were presented and, once again, Continuing Education Units (CEU) were granted for session attendance.

The Conference provided opportunities for the participants to learn more about the history and culture of the state of Kansas and its people. A visit to the Kansas Historical Museum was highlighted by a “guest appearance” of Amelia Earhardt. Other opportunities to share in the fun of Kansas’s culture were provided at the Hoe Down and by a trip to Kansas City.

The Kansas Society continued the “gift of giving” started by the South Carolina Society at the 2003 Conference in Charleston by again donating the proceeds from the State Basket Raffle to next year’s Conference Host Society, New Hampshire. It appears a new Academy Conference tradition has been established. In addition to the State Baskets, a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design of Art Glass was specially designed and made for the Conference by Mark Evans, (WI) and donated to the Kansas Society for inclusion with the State Society Basket in the Raffle. The Art Glass served as a promotion for the 2007 Conference to be hosted in Wright’s birth state, Wisconsin.

The Academy’s effort to secure trademark protection for the name of the organization was in the final stages of approval as the year ended. It is anticipated that approval will be granted in early 2005. Once that approval is secured, the Academy will initiate a request to secure similar protection for the Academy logo.

The location for the 20th Annual Professional Development Conference in 2008 in the State of Ohio was determined. The Conference will be held in the state capitol city of Columbus. A contract with the Hyatt Regency Columbus Hotel was signed just prior to the end of the year.

The Board approved a bid to host the2009 Annual Conference submitted by the Florida Society. The specific location of the 2009 Conference is yet to be determined. This will be the third Academy Conference to be hosted by the Florida Society.