Reported by Joe Marohl
Enthusiasm is the fire that ignites personal success, professional growth, and institutional change. So said Denise Ryan of FireStar, keynote speaker at the 2005 Conference of the North Carolina Community College Faculty Association in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ms. Ryan radiated enthusiasm and wit in her presentation on the conference’s opening night, warning the crowd of the dangers of defeatism and the “enthusiasm vampires” who suck out life energy and resolve. The hint of revivalism in her address launched what attendees called the Association’s best conference yet.
Rallying to the words “Proud—Productive—Professional,” NCCCFA members met from Sunday, October 9, to Tuesday, October 11, 2005. The three-day event included over seventy workshops designed to alert faculty of new strategies in teaching and to raise consciousness on matters like cultural diversity and increasing workloads in the community college system. Session titles ranged from “What Good Is Music? New Approaches to Technology and Music Appreciation” to “How to Improve Your Class by Wednesday!”
Just as the conference began, a signature list calling for substantial salary increases to 87 percent of the national average in 2006-2007 hit the one-thousand mark. In this resolution, the NCCCFA applauds the great strides NC legislators have taken over the past couple of years to improve salaries in the state’s community colleges and urges them to press on until the salary average at least matches the average salary for community college instructors nationwide.
This year’s conference has quadrupled in size from its first one-day meeting, just a few years ago. Over 350 attendees attended the workshops, browsed the displays of 31 vendors, and, in the evenings, danced to the tunes of DJ Chad Sain and laughed (and groaned) through a madcap talent show.
Cliff Mitchell, President of the NCCCFA, presided over the opening session on Sunday evening and the luncheon and annual meeting on Monday. At Monday’s luncheon, Steve Dawson, Director of Human Resources for Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, reminded the attendees about just how essential the community colleges are to the development and sustenance of North Carolina’s technological advancement and economic growth.
During the conference, members elected three new officers.
Barbara Morrison, instructor of history, political science, and humanities at Bladen Community College, was elected Vice President of Internal Affairs. Barbara is a charter member and tireless and always enthusiastic supporter of the NCCCFA.
Bruce Crocker, another charter member, was re-elected to the post of Treasurer, a position he has held in the association since 2002. Bruce teaches accounting, business, and CIS at Bladen.
David Wilmoth, yet another charter member, was elected Eastern Regional Director. David is the chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division at Coastal Carolina Community College.
The conference also honored the winners of the 2005-2006 NCCCFA Student Scholarship—Andrea Bestul of Coast Carolina Community College, Svetlana Stratton of Wake Technical Community College, and Bethany Johnson of Cleveland Community College—and the faculty members selected to attend this year’s Great Teacher Retreat—Morris McCarthy of Southeastern Community College, Tina Perkinson Irvine of Johnston Community College, and James Pleszewski of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. The scholarships and retreat are examples of the work NCCCFA does in promoting high educational standards in the state.
The annual conference’s immense success this year was due to the volunteerism of an array of NCCCFA members, but special kudos belong to Barbara Morrison, longtime conference coordinator, who, even in the face of rising gas prices and travel cutbacks on several campuses, never doubted that this year’s conference was to be a phenomenal success and did not disappoint. Ann Russell procured topnotch accommodations for conference participants at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Maureen Hill ensured that the professional development workshops were both timely and substantive. Along with Barbara, both these proud, productive, and professional women, deserve our particular thanks for the success of this year’s NCCCFA conference.