Horizon Convention Center Has Busy November

By: Mike Rhodes—

Muncie, IN—The Horizon Convention Center was bustling with convention activity from all over the state during the month of November.

The Indiana Association of Behavioral Consultants (IN-ABC) held their 10th Annual Conference at the Horizon Convention Center on November 2nd and 3rd. Over 220 participants attended the conference. The IN-ABC Annual Conference focuses solely on issues that may impact, or have impacted, and individual with disabilities who display maladaptive behaviors.  IN-ABC is the primary trade association in the State of Indiana founded for professionals who provide behavioral support to individuals with developmental disabilities.

The majority of its members have master’s or doctoral degrees in psychology, social work, behavior analysis or special education.

Kelly Howard, President of IN-ABC said, ” Each year we have a 2-day conference for our members and this year we selected Muncie and the Horizon Convention Center, for the first time. Typically, we have held our conference in Indianapolis. But, with the Erskine Green Training Institute right next door inside the Courtyard Marriott Muncie, we felt it was important to come to Muncie. Muncie has been fantastic with supporting Erskine Green and our folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

60 IN-ABC members at a time took tours through the Erskine Green Training Institute. “So far we just love being here,” said Kelly. “Its just been fantastic. In terms of space, and the staff, and especially the ability for us to text staff with requests—we’ve never had that option before. We’ve had good compliments about the rooms at the Courtyard Marriott Muncie and the facility at the Horizon Convention Center has been fantastic.”

Karyn Harvey, Ph.D. from ARC of Baltimore, MD giving her keynote address at the Indiana ABC conference. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Karyn Harvey, Ph.D., from the ARC in Baltimore, MD was the keynote speaker. The first thing she said when she got to the podium was, “Wow! Isn’t this place amazing? I’m going to have take a lot of ideas from what they are doing here back to the ARC in Baltimore.”

First Ever Combined Alpha-Beta Province Delta Theta Tau Convention

Also convening in Muncie during November was a 2 day convention of Delta Theta Tau. Approximately 150 members attended the conference. It was the first ever combined convention of both Alpha-Beta Provinces of Delta Theta Tau.

Delta Theta Tau was founded in 1903 by five high school girls in Muncie, IN for the advancement of philanthropy and charity.

Delta Theta Tau luncheon. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association, Indiana Chapter

The Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association, Indiana Chapter also held their conference at the Horizon Convention Center in November. Approximately 80 people from across Indiana attended.

Incorporated in 1992, the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit nursing specialty organization that is committed to advocacy, education, and support for nurses who provide services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). DDNA believes that IDD nurses are the experts in this specialty area of nursing. Our goal is to foster the growth of nursing knowledge and expertise about optimal care of persons with IDD, thereby improving their care, services, and quality of life.

Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council held their IPAC Trial Advocacy Training Program at the Horizon Convention Center, November 7th through the 9th. The IPAC is a non-partisan, independent state judicial branch agency and was created by statute in 1973.  It is made up of Indiana’s 91 prosecuting attorneys and their chief deputies and governed by a 10 member Board of Directors chosen from among the state’s prosecuting attorneys.

In addition to conferences and conventions from organizations outside of Delaware County, The Horizon Convention Center was host to three major local events:  The Innovation Connector’s “Excellence in Innovation Awards,  the WIBU Catalyst for Women’s 2017 Athena Awards and 100 Men Who Cook. (This year featuring women chefs.) See some of their dishes below.