Evaluation association to hold 2008 annual conference

“Buliding and Evaluation ‘Ohana” is the theme of the Hawai‘i –Pacific Evauation Association’s 2008 annual conference, to be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept.  5, at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel in Honolulu.

Tom Kelly, evaluation manager for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, will give the keynote address, “Basics of Evaluation Capacity Building: Skill, Will and Opportunity.” We need to address the many social, cultural, environmental and even political factors that both inhibit and incentivize effective evaluative thinking in individuals and organizations and the changes needed in the habits and behaviors of people to be good implementers and users of evaluation, Kelley said.

The conference will also feature a panel discussion on “Full Circle: Insights on Evaluation From Program Funders, Managers, and Evaluators” with panelists Colin Kippen of the Native Hawaiian Education Council, Chris van Bergeijk of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Stephanie Bell of the  Wai‘anae Coast Community Health Center, Jan Dill of Partners in Development, Chuck Giuli of Pacific Resources for Education and Learning and Kem Lowry of the University of Hawai‘i.

Hallie Preskill, a professor at Claremont Graduate University and past president of the American Evaluation Association, will also speak on “Evaluating With Wisdom and Passion: Using Assets-based Approaches in Complex Organizations.”

The conference also features papers and poster presentations, conversation tables led by experienced evaluators and the election of association officers. Lunch, breaks, and an ice-cream social provide time for networking and meeting other evaluators from the community. Click here for more information and to register.