IAEAPE's Annual Conference
For current conferences and teleconferences, please visit the Conferences & CEs page.
Almost every year, IAEAPE has its annual conference in the fall. Usually the conference is held in the same city, though not always at the same site, as the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA), as there are several of our members who also like to attend EAPA's conference. Members of the association are the presenters and the session facilitators. Often there are one or two guest speakers from outside the association. The number of participants is large enough for many good group discussions and exchanges of ideas and know-how and, at the same time, is small enough for almost everyone to have one-on-one chats with everyone else.
Tampa, Florida: Site of the 2010 Conference
During the two-day conference, sessions offer participants continuing education hours approved by NASW as well as professional development hours approved by EACC. The annual membership meeting of IAEAPE is conducted at that time and the next year’s officers are sworn in. At the President’s Banquet, recognition awards are gratefully bestowed.
FRAN DEATS WELCOME DINNER
The Fran Deats Welcome Dinner is an annual dinner which was established to honor the spirit of Fran Deats in welcoming new members to the organization. Fran was the Director of the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program at the University of Massachusetts, and several other colleges in the Amherst area for many years before her untimely death from cancer in 2006. A very active member of IAEAPE, Fran served as officer, frequent conference presenter, conference co-chair at least twice, and dynamic committee member. She exemplified the best virtues of being a collaborative colleague and a very humble, funny and warm person.
Perhaps what Fran will especially be remembered for is her gift of welcoming newcomers to our association. She was mindful of what it is like to be new in a professional organization, and her warmth and initiative helped newcomers feel like they belonged and that they too had contributions to make. To carry on Fran’s warm and welcoming spirit, new members and first-time conference attendees are invited to join some of the more “seasoned” members of the organization for dinner each year at the annual conference.
TELECONFERENCES
Teleconferences are scheduled several times during the year. They usually last an hour or an hour and a half. There is a fee for receiving certificates of continuing education credits and/or professional development hours. In the past, a member - sometimes several members - presented over the phone through a conference call connection while the listeners followed the PowerPoint presentation on their individual computers.