Medal of Freedom
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VOLUME 48, ISSUE 6 Medal of Freedom Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama Page 6 MAGAZINE (850) 222 -3222 | myafchome.org 1 of 34 2016 AFC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ontents C VOLUME 48, ISSUE 6 8 Features FUN FACTS ABOUT ROBERT FLORES 7 Getting to know AFC's new president. ANNUAL MEETING AND CONFERENCE AWARD WINNERS AND RECAP 8 The final list of all winners and honorees. THE 2016-17 ELECTED OFFICERS 27 Congratulations to the newest members of the Executive Committee. MACY'S SHOP FOR A CAUSE BENEFITS AFC FOUNDATION, INC. 28 Thank you to the individuals and colleges who helped with this successful fundraiser. Outgoing President Juanita Scott at the Conference. Plug in now at www.myafchome.org In Every Issue Look for the plug symbol on our homepage to get 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 29 CHAPTERS connected. 4 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO’S MESSAGE 33 CERTIFIED COLLEGE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM 6 KUDOS 34 CALENDAR CURRENT is published by the Association of Florida Colleges. Advertising, news releases, and other communications should be sent to the AFC, 113 East College Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, or by email at [email protected]. The views and opinions expressed in CURRENT are not necessarily those of the Association of Florida Colleges, its members, directors, or officers. MAGAZINE (850) 222 -3222 | myafchome.org 2 of 34 President’s Message BY JUANITA SCOTT An Ending is Simply a New Beginning! elson Mandela said that “Education together throughout the year, our regions and chapters now have a greater is the most powerful weapon vision for future collaborations and greater sense of what it means to offer which you can use to change accessible, practical, and quality content to our members. Our newly developed N Professional Speakers Bureau will offer opportunities to leverage training the world.” This quote has guided me throughout the year, and as I pen my dollars, encourage even greater collaborations, and exploit the knowledge final article as 2016 Association of and skills right here among the great 28. The newly added Campus Safety Florida Colleges President, I reflect on Symposium will continue to offer significant strategies and tools to keep the beginning of this journey. The AFC our campuses safe. The Institutional Effectiveness Planning and Professional and its member institutions have been Development (IEPPD) Commission’s signature storytelling program, “Ignite 7”, such an integral part of meaningful is just one example of great initiatives created for quick learning moments. Our education in the state of Florida and I’d resolve to address issues that affect our students, community, and colleagues be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity across the state has been strengthened by our concentrated effort to promote to acknowledge the great work of our legislative advocacy throughout our membership. colleagues across the state including However, despite all this progress, we are far from finished. our Presidents and our Chancellor. AFC has been a critical vehicle for meeting As we move forward and look to a new year of progress and great the professional needs of our members. In addition, the AFC staff under the accomplishments, I leave you with this additional quote by Nelson Mandela: leadership of Michael Brawer has done a yeomen’s job of keeping all of the “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” As we continue to face legislative parts moving in the right direction. We are the best because we have the best challenges, changes within our institutions, and external factors that support staff in higher education! sometimes appear difficult to overcome, I rest assured with confidence that As an association whose mission is to promote a world class college we are stronger together, and we will continue to work towards a world class system, we continued to answer the call through professional development, college system. Today, I proudly pass the torch to Dr. Robert Flores. Under his networking, innovation, leadership training, community service and legislative leadership, may we continue to fuel the flame of educational excellence! advocacy. As I took on the role of President, I started this year with an ultimate goal in mind: to leave the Association with reimagined programs Juanita M. Scott AFC President, 2016 and conferences, re-ignited tools and resources, re-energized members and colleagues, and a solid path for continued growth and improvements. Working MAGAZINE (850) 222 -3222 | myafchome.org 3 of 34 Executive Director/CEO’s Message BY MICHAEL BRAWER Conference Evaluations Make Me Laugh, Cry, and Cringe! irst, let me preface this by saying I write they are generally about something other than the conference program or this piece somewhat with tongue-in- presenters. They are usually about the hotel or about food (which being a foodie, Fcheek and in no way to be unappreciative I can relate to and appreciate). “Please do not have it at the Buena Vista Palace or condescending. I have always loved Hilton again. The Hilton that is 1500 feet away from this one is a much better hotel, reading attendee evaluations of events and if the conference is going to stay in this area.” Thank you and we know that. I’ve conferences. They can be funny, serious, stayed there a dozen or more times. That “other Hilton” (owned by the same insulting, yet mostly informative. Ever since I people, by the way) wanted our business, but at $50 a night more to you. And got into the business of professional education the conference catering costs there are 20% higher than the ridiculously high back when I was doing hard time in workforce prices we paid at the Buena Vista, like $85 a gallon for coffee? Yes, a gallon, which education at the Florida Department of yields about 12 cups. Then add service charges (23%) and taxes (7%). Or, “Should Education, I have always found conference offer food /drink areas; breakfast pastries, waters, coffee, small sandwiches, snacks attendees to be brutally honest with their (cost or no cost)”. That is an excellent observation and suggestion. And we tried. comments, which is very refreshing. But I also The Hotel wouldn’t do that. They wanted you to go to their restaurant or the believe the anonymity of an evaluation form, marketplace on the lower level. One evaluator analyzed value and deduced that especially an online form, yields significant cover for an individual to comment at for what h/she paid for registration we provided less food than in previous years. will and about anything. It makes for great reading!! In fact, most attendees paid less this year than in 2015. 80% took the early bird When most people make a written comment, about 90% are generally rate which was $30 cheaper than last year. And believe it or not we had more negative. This is perfectly acceptable because we need to hear all sides. The food ordered and less attendees than last year, so theoretically, there was more positive comments are usually very brief. “Great job.” “Good variety of topics”. “ The available to everyone. speaker was motivating and informative.” “Keep up the good work.” Then we will My point is this. All the comments are valued and appreciated. We get a confusing one like, “It wasn’t really what I expected. Most of the sessions were learn from them every year. But with over 100 years of collective conference when I was presenting, so I was disappointed.” Well, we offered numerous time planning experience among the AFC staff, there isn’t much we haven’t thought slots of concurrent sessions each day. Unless you presented in every concurrent of. We know all the “special touches” that would make for an ideal conference time slot, you had access to at least 55 plus sessions to choose from. And, we experience, and wish we could afford them all. also get the downside of the upside such as, “There were many sessions that were Most important though is the program, and in that regard we pride offered at the same time, which made attendees choose which one had preference.” ourselves in always knocking it out of the ballpark. Our 63 education sessions This is very true and the whole point of an event designed to try and meet the (an AFC Conference record) were rated Agree or Strongly Agree by almost 90% needs of over 400 people attending. of evaluators. I could find only one negative comment about a presenter. What The negative comments tend to be more elaborate. And interestingly we need and don’t get are suggestions for new topics and presenters. Our AFC MAGAZINE (850) 222 -3222 | myafchome.org 4 of 34 Executive Director/CEO's Message Commissions do an excellent job driving the content for their members attending. But we know it’s not possible to think of every needed and relevant topic. So please feel free at any time to send us an email You're Invited about a good topic we should include. As we move forward, our priorities for the AFC 2017 AFC Conference are and shall remain as follows: 1) SAVE a centrally located or accessible location for most Annual Meeting colleges; 2) a room rate our colleges can afford to pay, in order to send you, preferably under $150 a the and Conference night; 3) a comprehensive professional development program; and 4) special touches we can afford to make the experience memorable. Again, we welcome your input. It guides us NOVEMBER 2017 and keeps us humble. Next year we return to the beautiful Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. In 2018 S M T W T F S we will try the Wyndham Orlando on International DATE 1 2 3 4 Drive (we were there before my time in 2006), and in 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2019 we go back to Innisbrook.