Meet high-level decision makers; advance your visibility in the psychology marketplace, and enjoy one of the most historic towns in the United States!

The APA Convention is just a few weeks away and it is shaping up to be a memorable meeting. Below are some programming highlights:

Presidential Programming

For the 2008 Annual Convention, APA President Alan E. Kazdin, PhD, ABPP, has invited colleagues and friends from diverse specialty areas whose research and ideas are having an impact in the field of psychology. His presidential programming focuses on five themes: his three presidential initiatives (Interpersonal Violence, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma in Children and Adolescents, and Grand Challenges of Society), plus an additional two themes (Clinical Practice and Science Integration, and Hate Crimes). The presidential programs will take place on Friday, August 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. and on Saturday, August 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Some of these sessions will be eligible for Continuing Education in Psychology credit.

Plenary Sessions

Plenary sessions will highlight prominent speakers and current topics in psychology.  Organized by the Board of Convention Affairs and its Central Programming Work Group, the plenary sessions encompass a broad range of interests.  All plenary sessions will take place in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.  Plenary addresses by the 2008 Annual Convention’s diverse mix of innovative thinkers include:

• University of Baltimore law professor, and author of the forthcoming book Ghosts of Jim Crow, F. Michael Higginbotham, JD, will discuss ongoing racial disparities.

• Public safety pioneer, pediatrician and researcher Herbert Needleman, MD--whose studies eventually prompted the U.S. government to mandate the removal of lead from gasoline and paint--will speak about his research.

• John Elder Robison, a best-selling author with Asperger's syndrome, and the older brother of Running with Scissors author, Augusten Burroughs, wants psychologists to help children diagnosed with the condition to thrive by teaching them the communication skills that come easier to people not on the autism spectrum.

• Emory University psychology professor, and author of The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation (Public Affairs, 2007),  Drew Westen, PhD, will present his findings at APA's Annual Convention, including research showing that emotion centers of the brain, not higher cortical areas, activate when people hear political messages. What's more, Westen will share his thoughts on the presidential primaries.

• University of Pennsylvania's sociology department chair, Tukufu Zuberi, PhD, comes to APA's 2008 Annual Convention to critique race studies.

• Plus much more!

CE Workshops

The APA Continuing Education Committee (CEC) and the Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP) will offer more than 84 CE workshops and 200 CE sessions.  All CE Workshops (preconvention and convention workshops) will be held at The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer Street.  To contact the Office of Continuing Education in Psychology, call 1-800-374-2721, ext. 5991, or e-mail.

APA Awards

Edward Zigler, PhD, Sterling Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, at Yale University, is this year’s recipient of APA's highest honor, the APA award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology.  Some of Dr. Zigler’s credits include:

• Founder and Director Emeritus of Yale's Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy.

• One of the founders of the field of applied developmental psychology.

• Pioneered the discipline of developmental psychopathology as well as the developmental approach to mental retardation and adult psychopathology.

In addition, APA will honor its outstanding researchers, practitioners, and educators on August 15 at 4 p.m. in the Sheraton Boston Grand Ballroom. Some of the award recipients are:  Charles Brewer, PhD, Hazel R. Markus, PhD, Joshua B. Tenenbaum, PhD, Philip G. Zimbardo, Rex Lloyd Forehand, PhD, Richard Rogers, PhD, Joseph O. Prewitt Diaz, and many more!

Highlights

Some additional convention highlights include:

• Celebrated best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking), who was named by Time Magazine in 2005 as one of its 100 Most Influential People.  Come hear this exciting and provocative speaker!

• Run with Olympian Runner Bill Rodgers (winner of Boston and New York Marathons) for the 30th Annual Running Psychologists' APA 5k Ray's Race and Walk on Saturday, August 16, 2008, at 7:00am at the Artesani Park, Boston, MA.

• Join in the fun as we are energized by the musical talents and diversity of the Boston City Singers, a highly acclaimed youth and children's treble chorus. The Boston City Singers takes pride in providing unique music education and performance opportunities for young people, regardless of their musical or socioeconomic circumstances. The Boston City Singers has performed at public and civic events at City Hall, Fenway Park, and the John Hancock Hall.

• Don’t miss the APA Exhibit Hall! APA’s 2008 exhibitors include publishers, treatment and assessment resources, therapy service providers, biofeedback equipment suppliers, education and training service providers, associations, government agencies and much more.  With an anticipated attendance of 12,000 mental health professionals, meet face to face with high-level decision makers who buy and develop the products and services you deliver.  Located in Halls A and B1 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the Exhibit Hall will be open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm August 14 –16 and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on August 17.

Traffic Generating Features

A number of features designed to increase traffic flow have been placed in the exhibit hall. They include:
Cyber Café: The Cyber Café will allow attendees to stay connected at home and at the office. Attendees will be able to read and respond to e-mail, leave local messages for other attendees, and electronically search for information during exhibit hall hours.

Posters: Attendees will have to walk through the exhibits to attend poster sessions.

Massage Break Lounge: Attendees and exhibitors will be able to take a break from the convention with upper-body seated "chair" massages provided by certified massage therapists.

Exhibits-Only Hour, Thursday, August 14, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: With no competing substantive sessions, attendees are encouraged to visit the exhibits during the Exhibits-Only Hour.

NEW! BOSTON REFRESHER: Friday, August 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Join exhibitors inside the exhibit hall for an afternoon refresher of fruit smoothies.

Coffee With the Authors, Saturday, August 16, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Coffee and pastries will be served during author signings in individual publisher booths.

NEW! TORONTO PREVIEW: Sunday, August 17, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Visit the exhibit hall for complimentary coffee and a special Toronto preview treat.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

It may be helpful to have the following information on hand when planning your attendance:
Exhibit Booth Installation: Wednesday, August 13, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Thursday, August 14, 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.

Exhibit Dates and Hours: Thursday, August 14, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 15, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. And, Sunday, August 17, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Exhibit Booth Dismantling: Sunday, August 17, 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Monday, August 18, 8:00 a.m. – 12 Noon.

Exhibit booths measure 10’ x 10'.  Each booth includes:

• Pipe, drape, and a two-line booth sign. (Island booths will not be set with pipe, drape, or a sign.) Carpet, electricity, furnishings, etc., are not included except for employer booths. Employer booths include carpeting, one 6' draped table, two chairs, and one wastebasket. A service manual with order forms will be available in May.

• Four complimentary registrations/badges per 10' x 10' booth (two for employer booths). This includes access to general sessions, seminars, poster sessions, etc. Continuing Education workshops and certain special events must be paid for separately.

• A comprehensive floor plan--including a Cyber Café, Massage Break Lounge, Online Career Center, Food Concession, Exhibits-Only Hour, Posters--to increase traffic flow in the exhibit hall.

• Publicized author signings for Coffee with the Authors.

• Publicized booth raffles before and during the APA Convention.

• Twenty-four-hour security service during show hours, installation, and dismantling.

• An attractive show entrance with aisle carpet throughout the Exhibit Hall.

• General exhibit hall cleaning.

• An Exhibitors' Lounge with complimentary beverages during exhibit hours.

• An Exhibitors' Meeting on Friday, August 15, to discuss improvements for the APA Exhibit Hall.

• Guest passes on Sunday, August 17, for exhibitor's invited guests and authors (limit of five per booth).

• Publication of your 40-word exhibit description in the Convention Program or the Convention Program Supplement.

• A list of exhibitors with a Web link from the APA Web site to yours.

• Publicized new product launches, book releases, and services.

• Access to direct-mail lists of pre-registrants and/or all attendees, and the APA membership (full or selected groups).

• Access to sponsorships, advertising, and marketing opportunities to optimize your exposure before, during, and after the Convention.

• Personal assistance with booth selection and marketing ideas for maximizing booth traffic.

• Year-round customer service from application through post-convention!

IMPORTANT REMINDER IN SAVING EXHIBITOR COSTS:

Exhibitors receive advance discounted pricing for ordering early. Exhibitors ordering products and services (with accompanying payment) from the Brede/National Exposition Services no later than the advance order deadline date of Friday, August 1, 2008, will save an exhibitor up to 30% from the regular and onsite prices.

CONTACT US

Don't miss out on this interaction with thousands of attendees who are your prime prospects--reserve your booth space today before it's too late! For more information contact us today:

Mona Alcazar
Manager, Exhibit Sales
Phone: (202) 336-5627
FAX: (202) 216-7610
E-mail

Jodi Ashcraft
Director, Advertising & Exhibit Sales
Phone: (202) 336-5565
FAX: (202) 216-7610
E-mail