Association News

Mid-America Regional Conference “Cooks Up” Great Educational Workshops—and BBQ

Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) hosted the 2017 Mid-America Regional Conference April 2 – 5 at the Great Wolf Lodge
in Kansas City, Kansas. Approximately 65
 attendees and 15 vendors
 were on hand for the
exceptional trainings,
networking, and vendor
exhibits. Headlining the
training sessions were
 Dolores Stafford, D.
Stafford & Associates,
who provided a Clery Act training, and Michael Webster of Margolis, Healy, and Associates, who delivered a Title IX training.

“This was a national conference training event at a regional price! I look forward to seeing you all in Milwaukee in June and next spring in Springfield, Missouri,” said Jim Schumann, Director of Public Safety, Minnesota State University - Moorhead.

The conference workshops covered a range of red-hot topics, including: concealed carry on campus updates; crisis intervention training; FBI Campus Liaison Program; IACLEA Accreditation, LEMAP, and Board updates; and a roundtable discussion on post-election campus free speech, election protest movements, and gender-bias issues. The conference received generous support from Report Exec, Blackboard, and TED Systems which participated as Platinum-level Sponsors. IACLEA thanks all its conference sponsors. “This was a national conference training event at a regional price!” said Jim Schumann, Director of Public Safety, Minnesota State University - Moorhead. “Thanks to Chief Schneider, his staff, and Kansas City Kansas Community College for hosting this great event and to all IACLEA members who attended and participated. I look forward to seeing you all in Milwaukee in June and next spring in Springfield, Missouri.”

Another conference highlight was the Host Banquet that was held on pit row in the garage area of the Kansas Speedway. Attendees were able to visit
Victory Lane and the infield area of the Speedway. More than 800 pounds of brisket, ribs, and pulled pork were smoked and catered for the event. Chris Powell, a retired employee of the college, and some of his colleagues, volunteered to prepare and cater the banquet. “I couldn’t let all of my guests come to Kansas City without experiencing some good BBQ,” stated KCKCC Police Chief Greg Schneider. “I think everyone was impressed and left knowing that Kansas City BBQ is the best.”

Several of the early arrivals were treated to a VIP experience as soon as they arrived at the KCI airport. They visited the site where the cookers were smoking the meat. They were able to watch in-person how the meat was prepared and cooked, as well as snag samples as they were taken directly off the smoker. Nothing like greeting your visitors to some good old Kansas City hospitality!

We hope to see you at the Mid-America conference in 2018!