The
John A. Hartford Foundation served as the Grand Sponsor of the 25th BPD Silver Jubilee Conference, which was attended
by over 900 participants. The Sandestin resort was the perfect location for this special celebration.
Although the weather was a bit chilly, we were warmed by BPD’s usual hospitality.
As we entered the Opening Plenary,
the BPD Celebratory CD was playing. This CD presented major milestones in BPD’s history, gave us
information on each of BPD’s Presidents, and included many photos contributed by BPDers of their conference memories.
We were welcomed to the Conference by BPD President, Freddie Avant, who in turn introduced all of the past BPD Presidents
A special poster had been prepared for each BPD President, detailing their most important accomplishments
as BPD President, their most important career accomplishments, and their favorite quotes. As the posters
were unveiled, each President presented Presidential Medals of Honor to those who had made major contributions to BPD during
their presidencies. We were then entertained by BPD’s own Shameless Blues Band.
Caricatures by Deano were made available to interested BPDers.
On Thursday, immediately following the Presidential Breakfast, BPD President Freddie Avant presented
his Presidential Address. In his address, he reminded us of the Conference Theme: Honoring
our Past, Celebrating our Present, and Affirming our Future. He noted BPD’s mission to promote excellence
in baccalaureate social work education. Using a theme of railroad tracks, he encouraged us to cross the
tracks, and to be aware of the many current issues facing us. He reminded us of our call to serve.
Finally, he encouraged BPDers to be active in the profession, not only on the local level, but nationally as well.
Later on Thursday, Rich Furman
presented the Ron Federico Memorial Lecture, examining “The Poet/Practitioner: A Metaphor for Undergraduate
Social Work Education”. In this presentation, participants were urged to focus on the humanistic
values of our profession. At another special session, Desiree Rose T. Martin was presented with the annual
Jim Wahlberg Scholarship award. In the early evening, Ginny Raymond and other participants in BPD’s
first “Conference at the Convent” shared their experiences and reminisced about BPD’s earliest beginnings.
Friday began with the Jim
Wahlberg Walk/Run. There were special plenaries on Unification and on the Role of Baccalaureate Social
Work. Stacey R. Kolomer received the 2008 Mit Joyner Gerontology Leadership Award. The
day ended with a special salon on the History of BPD.
On Saturday, regional meetings were held. Conference attendees
were urged to use time in the afternoon to engage in healthy pursuits. The highlight of the day was the
25th Silver Jubilee dinner, Awards, and Gala, hosted by Mit Joyner, Celebratory Chair. The Gala
was the setting for a second showing of the 25th Anniversary CD. Many BPD members received Presidential
Medals honoring their contributions over the past 25 years of BPD’s history. The BPD Lifetime Achievement
Award was presented to Dr. Conrad Graves, Professor Emeritus of Kean University, and a participant in BPD’s first conference,
the Conference at the Convent. Finally, we danced the night away with an excellent band.
On Sunday, a continental breakfast
was followed by the closing plenary on the aftermath of Katrina.
All of us who attended this very special conference left Destin on Sunday
with many new and special memories of a wonderful anniversary celebration!
