State & Regionals

[DMCKECH]

As some may remember I threatened to come back and post some info regarding
my charge as a member of the College & University (C&U) Committee. Well
here it is! In the last C&U newsletter (see below) I stated my concerns
regarding the lack of C&U forums at the state and regional (s&r)
conferences around the country. While IUm sure that some have forums on a
regular basis I know that some do not.

What I would like to find out, is this something we need to pursue
vigorously or just let it happen if there is interest? I would like to
solicit comments and suggestions from all of you out there in e-mail land
on the topic of s&r C&U forums. Those of you who are not C&U tech's are
welcome to join in. We value your participation. Below is a list of
questions for you to consider:

1. Is it unrealistic to expect a forum at all state conferences?
2. Are there people in your state that are willing to push the issue at
the conference board meeting?
3. Are there people in your state willing to run the forum, select topics
for discussion, select instructors, teach a class, etc?
4. Where are the s&rUs?
            List of known s&rUs -   NEECSO, NY, PA, NC, FL, Central W,
                              TX, Central E,AZ, CA, Pacific NW, OH
            Are there others not on this list?
5. Are one day seminars for C&U tech's a possibility?
6. Should a list of instructors and their topics related to institutional
maintenance be developed? (This could be an aid for people setting up a
forum).
7. What topics for discussion do you have in mind?

There are more questions I'm sure but this should be enough to get the ball
rolling. I will gather all information received and submit a report at
Albuquerque.

I realize how difficult it sometimes is to attend a s&r.  Unlike the annual
conference, most s&r's take place when the semester is in full swing. Here
at Ithaca College there can be as many as twelve recitals/concerts during
the weekend. Some of these require my attendance. It is going to be
difficult for me to attend the next PA conference due to all the events
taking place that weekend. This will be a shame to miss because it is only
two hours away. I'm sure this happens to all of us now and then. But, if
the s&r closest to you is having a C&U forum with a good topic would you do
your best to be there? It is my hope that we can get s&r planners to
realize this is a good idea, and give some time to us in an effort to
increase attendance.

Don McKechnie
Ithaca College
dmckech@ithaca.edu

P.S. The mention of the database class below should not be taken as a plug
     for me at this time. I taught this class in Syracuse last fall but hey!
     I'd like to do it again.


Reprint from the winter 94/95 C&U newsletter:

Regional Convention Concerns
by Don McKechnie

      Over the past few years I have noticed a decrease in formal
meetings at the three regional conventions in the northeast region. I do
not have any current information about regional conventions throughout the
US and Canada, but it would not surprise me if interest has waned
everywhere. I am proposing that the College and University Committee look
into ways that this trend can be reversed.
      At the New York State Conference Board meeting last November I made
a motion to insure that the Conference will attempt to set a formal time
into the schedule and find a suitable topic for the meeting. Below is a
reprint of the motion that passed:

NYSCON of PTG
Board Meeting - 11/4/93

Motion by Don McKechnie:

The host chapter of the annual NYSCON seminar will provide one or two class
periods for a meeting, lecture or forum geared toward college and
university technicians.

NYSCON will form a College and University Committee. The primary
responsibility of this committee is to assist the host chapter in setting
up a seminar event if help is requested.

The NYSCON board will appoint technicians to the committee. Technicians
appointed must be members of chapters that comprise NYSCON.

The host chapter will be responsible for finding a coordinator/presenter
for the College and University time period/s. If someone cannot be found in
the host chapter to set up the event, the chapter will contact the NYSCON
College and University Committee for assistance.

If no person can be found to run the event, the chapter is not obligated to
set time into the seminar schedule.

      I hope to find a way to have similar motions presented at the PA
and New England/Eastern Canada Board meetings. If the College and
University Committee could formally adopt a strategy, I believe we will
have a better chance of success at regional board meetings. For those of
you who are involved in planning a regional seminar, and know that there
will be a meeting, please see to it that the regional convention is
advertised in this newsletter. If no one from the college and university
community is involved in planning your next regional seminar please
consider participating. Becoming a conference board member would be ideal.
A presentation related to our area in the profession can only help to
increase enrollment at a seminar.
      There may be some resistance to the above at some board meetings.
We need to be certain that our meetings are not perceived as a closed
society within PTG. In my experience, most technicians deal with
institutions and can therefore benefit from the problems and issues we
confront. As Ken Sloane* stated to me recently, Rour meetings are open to
everyone.S
       We must continue to develop new classes or forums to attract
people. I have been working on a database for my operation here at Ithaca
College which may be a good topic for a presentation or forum. The database
program I am using is called FileMaker Pro and is available in Macintosh or
PC windows. FileMaker Pro is a versatile program as it allows you to create
and customize your own files. It can also be used to create your own
customer file.  After talking with a few colleagues at the recent NY State
Conference, I believe there would be some interest in a presentation on
this topic. Other technicians have different programs so a combination of
presentations is possible.
      Regional conventions are great places to tap into the wealth of
knowledge that exists in PTG. These regional meetings can ensure a
continued vitality for College and University Technicians meetings. Please
feel free to contact me or Ken with your ideas on this subject.

*Ken was the chair at the time I submitted this atricl