MACAE Annual Conference Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa October 20-23, 2009 Pre-Conference Information Video   Conference Information Video

MACAE welcomes to its 2009 Fall Conference keynote speakers Kurt Metzger and Joel Nitzberg. Metzger, the director of Detroit Area Community Indicators System, City Connect Detroit, will talk about how community educators can play a roll in turning Michigan's economy around.. Nitzberg, president of the National Community Education Association and author of “Putting Youth at the Center of Community Building,” will discuss what is happening around the nation and in Washington, D.C.

Greg Marsello, co-founder and vice president of the Learning Resources Network (LERN) will present a double session in which participants will learn how to select winning courses and events, employ best practice promotion techniques and operate an efficient organization. During the second part of the double webinar session, he will share LERN’s latest strategies for building programs that thrive in economic times.

Held the night of pre-conference, Michigan Adult-Learner Based Non-Profit Organizations will host an Adult Education, ESL & Literacy reception. Called “A Shared Mission: Working Together to Meet Michigan Adult Learner Needs in Challenging Times,” those lucky enough to come early will have the chance to network with educators from across the state and learn what different organizations are doing to meet the needs of adult learners.

You won’t want to miss out on the special pre-conference session on “The State of Online Learning – An In-Depth Look at the Latest Research, Practices & Offerings.” Studies have found that there are many benefits to online learning. Michigan Virtual University President Jamie Fitzpatrick, Michigan LearnPort Executive Director Dave Myers and Michigan Virtual School Executive Director Robert Currie will overview the latest research and online learning trends, tools and best practices.

The highly popular outdoor workshop, Leave No Child Left Inside, will energize you and make you anxious to go back to your district and revamp your programs to incorporate more outdoor learning opportunities for your students. Join Reymundo Quintero of Parkwood YMCA’s Camp-Pa-Wa-Pi for a hands-on session that provides educators with games that enhance self-esteem, team building, leadership and communication. Anyone interested in using games more fully in a given program will love this session. You’ll want to arrive early though, as the first few will receive a copy of Richard Louv’s book, “Last Child in the Woods.”

Making the trip from Kentucky this year is Julie Scoskie, the director of Jefferson County Public Schools Adult and Continuing Education program. The award-winning educator will spotlight how K-12 Adult Basic Education systems can partner with local community colleges to develop and deliver a program that results in a win for all by sharing resources to make students the ultimate winners. This nationally-recognized program, provided by Adult Education and Educational Enrichment Services, focuses on lower-level students and preparing them for success in community college.

The opening of “Bring a Dish to Pass” begins with saying that “everyone has the right and the responsibility to improve his or her community, and if we all work together – in a well-planned way, addressing the factors that affect all our lives, we can make a difference for all families.” It is this concept that is used as a basis in the wrap-up session of a Discovery Café, led by the book’s author and executive director of the National Civility Center, Kent Roberts. Before we can create a change, we must build relationships that can create and hold dialogue. Participants will use this Discovery Café process to begin constructive dialogue on issues at hand. These conversations will build over time and serve as a catalyst for future action for individuals and their organizations.