The Association of Kansas Community College Office Professionals will hold their 45th annual conference at Barton Community College April 18-20.
The conference themed “Sail Into the Bend,” will offer inspirational speakers, educational tours and a banquet.  
The event is being hosted by the Barton Office Professionals, which includes all education support personnel working for Barton whose primary work assignments are non-instructional.  There are currently 14 members in B-OP. The group assists with various college events throughout the year and conducts fundraisers to raise money for student scholarships.  Membership within B-OP includes membership in the AKCCOP.  
The AKCCOP states that its purpose is to “To promote the standards of the office professionals within the community colleges of Kansas, and to provide a finer understanding of the relationship between our colleges and communities, so that we may better serve our institutions.”
B-OP Vice-President Donna McCormick said the group has 80 people signed up from 11 community colleges across the state and is eager for the opportunity to host.
“We are excited to have it on campus,” she said.  “It gives us a chance to showcase our campus, facilities and the great personalities we have here at Barton.”
McCormick said the topics of sessions throughout the conference vary but are focused on a general idea.
“A lot of our discussions focus around how we can do what we do better,” she said.
The conference also benefits the local community, McCormick said.
“It brings people into town for a couple of days, and they stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and make trips into some of the other retail locations,” she said.  “The attendees are also provided information on local tourism that can build interest for some of the attractions that we have to offer in the area, which they may not be able to see during the conference but might have a chance to return to see later.”
The conference location rotates to a different community college annually.  Barton hosted the first AKCCOP conference in 1969 and then again in 1976, 1987 and most recently in 2000.