I am excited to introduce to you the August 2019, Affiliate Network Professional Council (ANPC) Newsletter. The Affiliate newsletter is one way for the that TESOL gives Affiliates reach out into its vast global network, connect, and share knowledge and expertise within our professional body. As this was my first Affiliate News, I was excited to try to grapple with the numbers in some way to see who is and who is not represented in the news. I was pleased with the flexibility that TESOL offered in this publication for the number and types of submissions the ANPC could offer.

The TESOL website list 122 global affiliates; forty-seven (39%) of these are North American Affiliates, 21 (17%) are South American/Caribbean, 10 (8%) are African, 15 (12%) are Asian/Pacific, 19 (16%) are European, and 10 (8%) are Middle Eastern. Multiple countries have several affiliates, i.e., the US has 42, while Canada has 5, and Colombia, Georgia, India, Mexico, Russia, and Turkey each have 2 affiliates. Understanding the nature of our diversity helps us to understand the voices, challenges, and needs that arise.

As I began writing this, I crunched the number of articles and the geographical representations of those articles. We had received a total of 20 submissions, 7 (35%) were from North American affiliates, 6 (30%) were from South American affiliates, 3 (15%) submissions came from Mid-Eastern affiliates, 2 (10%) submissions came Asian and European affiliates. This data illustrates the scope of collaboration – the newsletter is an authentic representation of TESOL Affiliates with most of the geographic regions being fairly represented.

Beyond the stats, what is more, interesting to me is the common theme of excitement, productive activity, and educators striving to help other educators do what they love better. These affiliate letters tell the story of affiliates Celebrating (ETAI-TESOL, NATE Russia, NJTESOL), Continuing (KOTESOL), Collaborating (NELTA and NYS TESOL), Remembering (TexTESOL III), Reflecting (TexTESOL V and INGED-Turkey), and Revisioning (Carolina TESOL, and MexTESOL). These are the tales of our times. We encourage your stories next time; add your voice, offer your experience, extend your hand - we are better with you!

Sincerely,

Alex Monceaux, Director, Lamar University Pathway Program & Editor, ANPC