Why Fall Workshops Are Nice to Have

Attending the joint AACE/ADETA fall workshop recently was a real pleasure for me. Beyond the obvious reasons - successful conclusion to months of planning and negotiations, phone calls and FAXes - I sensed a deeper meaning to the occasion. And that was the evidence, once again, of the old bring-the-people-together-and-things-will-happen theory.

The AACE fall workshop, unlike the all-out, high profile spring conference, has usually been a much quieter, workman-like session. No frills, not too much fuss. Lunch is usually as much as you can expect at this function. It's time for our committed and hardworking membership to come together to tuck into some issues, to tackle whatever's on the table, and move both the Association and adult education forward in the province. Along the way, it's really good to see the colleagues that you haven't seen since either the spring conference or before - the people with whom you make things happen in our field but rarely get a chance to see, especially in these times of increased fiscal accountability.

So it was with extra pleasure that we were able to spend a constructive day both networking and connecting with associates and friends, while being informed as to the state of the technological nation AND hear the Department's vision of our "virtual" future AND have a delicious lunch, all for $79 or $89.

Balancing the discussions on videoconferencing, teleconferencing and Internet was Randy Garrison's thoughtful talk on the human dimension of the technological revolution, following John Fisher's explanation of the Department's recent Vision for Change concept paper, in which the implications for the human dimension were clearly questioned by the audience.

Hearty thanks to all those who contributed to the organization of the day, especially Janet Elder, AACE Program and Services Director. With any luck, we'll do it again next year. Look for a late October date and a "northern" location.

Dianne Conrad
President, AACE