MACAE would like to thank everyone who helped make this year’s Annual Conference such a great success!

More than 200 educators, presenters and exhibitors joined us at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville, Mich., for our annual conference, full of educational sessions and the opportunity to network with colleagues across the state. We had nearly double the number of exhibitors this year and the Crystal Mountain staff noted it was the resort’s largest event so far this year.

“Despite the tough economic times, coming together as a community has sustained us to continue serving the most in need,” one attendee wrote.

The conference was a packed three and a half days of informational and hands-on sessions that offered participants ideas that they could take back to their programs. Participants were attended a variety of roundtable and panel discussions, drawing ideas from not only presenters, but their peers as well.

Sessions covered Early Care and Education, Alternative Education, Enrichment and Recreation, and Adult Education, Literacy and ESL. MACAE’s list of presenters was anything but short, and those in attendance soon realized it was going to be tough to choose which sessions to attend.

Though the conference may be aimed at helping community education providers throughout the state, students in attendance also took home some valuable information.

“The technology session (was most valuable) because it taught me a lot about getting necessary things for college,” Lamar Rogers, a 2009 graduate of East Detroit Public Schools, said.

This year’s Olympic Theme Night was a hit, as well as the Friday morning session of the Discovery Café, where participants brainstormed to answer questions posed by Kent Roberts, the executive director for the National Civility Center.

“One of the best conferences I have been to,” said one participant. “Very relevant.”

Once again, MACAE would like to thank all those who came out for this year’s conference. Special thanks goes out to all those presenters, the conference planning committee, and those who served as ambassadors throughout the conference to ensure all went smoothly.

Make sure you don’t miss out on next year’s conference by putting it on your calendar today—join us October 20–22, 2010!