Greetings to all our affiliates around the globe and special wishes for the New Year.

I would like to congratulate Janet Pierce on her recent election to the Affiliate Leadership Council, and welcome her on behalf of all the affiliate leaders. Janet has always been an active leader and many of you already know her from previous affiliate meetings at the convention. For those who haven’t met Janet, please see the article about her in this newsletter. We look forward to the contributions Janet will make to all affiliates in her role on the Affiliate Leadership Council. Janet will officially take her place on the council at the end of the New Orleans convention. And of course, the arrival of a new council member means the retirement of another council member: Don Weasenforth will leave us after 4 years of superb service on the council. Don has been a terrific mentor for those of us on the council and has been crucial to its smooth running, establishing many routines and processes. He has also been a superb advocate for the affiliates, representing affiliate needs and interests with vigor and enthusiasm in the council’s reports and communications with the TESOL Board. We shall miss his direct involvement with the council but hope he will always be around for us to call upon as a committed TESOL professional and strong affiliate advocate.

The New Orleans Convention is fast approaching and will be a wonderful opportunity to meet with other affiliate leaders, but be sure to block your diary now with the special affiliate meetings and events, which you can read about in this newsletter. I look forward to seeing many of you there, and for those who cannot make it, remember we have a network for affiliate leaders on the Ning.

Best wishes,

Misty Adoniou
MistyAdoniou@canberra.edu