The Planning Committee

Both the organization and the conference are led by an informal group of educators known as the Midwest Symposium "Planning Committee." These individuals originally came primarily from the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, but as the people involved have changed positions and moved the number of states has grown to include several others (Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Carolina among others). Included are about 20-30 people who work in Colleges and Universities, State Departments of Education, child care agencies, local school systems, and advocacy agencies. These people have been responsible for creating and maintaining the MSLBD conference and other activities since its inception.

The planning committee is unique in that it has operated for more than 20 years primarily on the basis of consensus. Very few votes have actually been taken among the group, and for much of its existence. Issues or ideas were discussed, and if there was consensus to proceed, volunteers implemented the ideas. This consensus style of decision making has been an issue of pride among planning committee members.

Membership on the planning committee has been fluid with some people joining the group and becoming regular participants, and others dropping from the group. Anyone interested in participating in joining this group should contact us at information@mslbd.org.