A new format for our 20th...

In celebration of our 20th year, we will have some new features, and we are experimenting with the omission of other traditional features. New features include a plenary session on each day of the conference, CEUs, moving our recognition luncheon to Thursday and pairing it with the Federico Lecture, and combining the membership and the business meetings. The omissions include the traditional Sunday breakfast and membership meeting and the Federico reception. These cost saving features allowed us to keep our conference registration fee at the same level as 2001.

Plenary sessions...

Our opening plenary, on Wednesday, is Sponsored by the University of Tennessee College of Social Work. Mildred Morrison, Administrator of the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, will present Now is the Time to Re-engineer Aging Services, but Who Will Deliver? BPD President, Spencer Zeiger, will open Thursday with his address, A Score of Success. Wayne C. Evens, this year's Federico Memorial Lecturer, will address us after lunch. His speech, Bridges Start with a Vision and End in a Structure, will address the strengths and opportunities in the senior adult life stage. The theme for Friday is Aging. Fred H. Rubin, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Medicine of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Shadyside Hospital will review the progress of the health care system in serving the elderly and will highlight areas for future development. His address is Health Care for an Aging Population. Saturday is Diversity Day. Larry E. Davis, Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, opens by day by discussing the dramatic changes in family life over the past two decades. His address is Race, Gender, and Class: Bridging Differences.

Technology...

There will be three technology sessions which require preregistration and participant preparation before the conference. These sessions include: Web-based Course Enhancement through Electronic Toolbox Programs, Developing Criteria for Online BSW Course Development and Evaluation, and Deveolping and Surviving an Online Course. These sessions require a $20. lab fee and will be held at the University of Pittsburgh computer lab. Those who wish to participate must begin logging in three weeks prior to the conference. Please see the preliminary program, pages 31-32 for details, and to preregister, email Lynn Adkins at:

lfadkins@pitt.edu

Health and Wellness...

For the second year, we will memorialize Jim Wahlberg through the walk/run scholarship event. Proceeds from this event provide a scholarship for a student presenter who needs financial support to attend the conference. This year, we have a very appealing route through Point State Park which is at the confluence of Pittsburgh's three rivers. In addition, we have many new features including how to start your own fitness program, pets as therapy, expressing yourself through art, low impact aerobics, and yoga. Pack your athletic shoes and clothes and get ready to participate.

Accreditation Activities...

As you can see from the accreditation services announcement in this publication, there are accreditation sessions provided by CSWE staff and Commission on Accreditation members throughout the conference. There will be the opportunity to sign up for 30-minute individual program consultations on Thursday and Friday. Please be aware that there is no preregistration for these sessions. Registration will begin at the conference at the Information Booth. This is a first come first served activity. Obviously not everyone who wishes individual consultation will be able to have this. Registration opens Wednesday, October 23, at 8:00 a.m.

Special Features...

Wednesday is preconference day. This year, CSWE/SAGE Social Work will have a full day preconference which requires preregistration through CSWE. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is sponsoring the Third Annual Leadership Preconference for program directors and field directors. There is a $50. registration fee for the session for new program directors and for the session for new field directors. The fee covers the cost of materials provided at these two workshops. All other workshops are free. See your preliminary program, pages 21-26 for details. The IASWR sponsored session, Tips for Successful Grant Writing, and Integrating Group Work into the Generalist Practice Curriculum are available for all to participate. Our opening reception, The Essence of Pittsburgh x 3: Friends, Food, and Soul, will feature Pittsburgh's ethnic foods and the slow jazz of Rodney McCoy Productions. This will be coupled with the opening of the Exhibit Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. This reception is sponsored by 29 colleges and universities from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

At the President's Address, on Thursday, BPD will sponsor a continental breakfast. This year, the annual recognition luncheon will take place on Thursday instead of our traditional Friday. It will be followed by the Federico Lecture and dessert reception. The Federico Lecture is supported by the proceeds of the Silent Auction. Please remember to bring an item for the auction. That evening at 8:00, the Salon, Struggles of Teaching HBSE Content: Ways to Infuse Diversity within Groups and Within Life Stages while Incorporating Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Content to Develop a Holistic/Contextural Perspective, will be available and open for lively discussion and participation.

Begin Friday by participating in the walk/run at 7:00 a.m. Dr. Fred Rubin's address is at 9:00. AGE-SW and SAGE-SW will host a coffee immediately following. The NASW Trust Session is scheduled for 10:30. Regional meetings begin at 5:30. That evening at 7:30, we will have the second annual live auction followed by our inhouse and very talented Brooks/Cole sponsored Shameless Blues Band. There will be a cash bar and deli buffet. Bring your dancing shoes.

Saturday is diversity day. Dean Larry Davis' address is at 9:00 with a coffee provided by the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers and The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. There are Commission on Accreditation and DOSA sponsored sessions throughout the day. The Membership and Business meeting is scheduled for 4:30. The reception and banquet begin at 7:00. The House of Soul Band will get us back on the dance floor from 8:30 until.

There will be no Sunday breakfast this year.