Greetings Everyone!

It has been a busy year for the Affiliate Leadership Council. We have accomplished so much and are still working hard to provide a wonderful program for our affiliates at the TESOL Convention in Portland in March! This year some of the activities have been as follows:

• partially funded speakers at 16 affiliate conferences
• provided 90 complimentary memberships to affiliates
• continued offering one complimentary convention registration to each affiliate
• welcomed three new affiliates: Tunisia TESOL (April 2013), British Columbia Association of Teachers of English as an Additional Language (BC TEAL; November 2013), Burkina English Teachers’ Association (BETA; October 2013)

We also have Affiliates celebrating their 25th anniversary with us: Uruguay TESOL (URUTESOL), Paraguay TESOL, Federdacion Nacional de Profesores de Ingles de Universidades y Politecnicas del Ecuador (FENAPIUPE), SPELT: Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers

The ALC has also worked with TESOL International Association to offer the TESOL Membership Recruitment and Affiliate Benefit Program. TESOL is introducing a new benefit for members of TESOL affiliates around the world: a TESOL Discounted Membership. The new benefit is a discounted TESOL membership for current members of a TESOL Affiliate who have never been a member of TESOL International Association or have not been a member in the past 3 years. Eligible affiliate members will receive a 25% discount off the full price of a TESOL Professional Membership or a TESOL Global Professional Membership (for affiliates in eligible countries). The discount is good when joining for 1 or 2 years. Not only does this exciting offer benefit the individual receiving it, but the affiliate gains more informed members and TESOL fulfills strategic goals.

Do you know what TESOL International’s strategic goals are? TheTESOL International Strategic Plan was approved by the TESOL Board of Directors March 2011. Briefly: Goal 1: English language learners receive quality education through TESOL International Association's leadership in the field. Goal 2: TESOL International Association members participate in the association to build expertise and are recognized for their involvement and professionalism. Goal 3: Individuals and organizations look to TESOL International Association to inform policy and practice.

As we go to press the ALC is also awaiting news of the winner of the TESOL Virginia French Allen Award for Scholarship and Service. I want to encourage all members of the ALC and their own membership to check out the list of scholarships TESOL International offers individuals. There is a plethora of grants and scholarships available. While it may be too late for the Portland convention, it isn’t for the next one, so be sure to check out the list on the TESOL website and apply! On that note, I want to encourage everyone to come to the TESOL Convention in Portland this March 26–29. We have eight Best of Affiliate Sessions:

1. Illinois TESOL/BE: “ESL Conversation Activities: A Few of Our Favorite Things!”
2. Georgia TESOL: “Games for the Common Core”
3. Maryland TESOL: “Taking Digital Stories to the Next Level: Making Documentaries”
4. Minnesota TESOL: “Progress Monitoring Made Simple With CBM3D (Curriculum-Based Measures Three Domains)”
5. ANUPI: “With a Little Help From an Online Site: Reading Exams”
6. Argentina TESOL: “Democratising Didactic Transposition in Secondary Education”
7. English Teachers Association of Israel: “HOTS, LOTS, and MOTS—Thinking Skills and English Language Learning”
8. INGED: “Motivation of the Next Generation Students and Their Teachers”

We also have a full-day ALC Leadership Workshop on Wednesday, a great Colloquium (“Collaboration in a Global World”) Thursday morning, an exciting Editors’ Workshop Thursday afternoon, and our ALC Assembly on Friday morning, March 28. So as you can see there is a lot to do, learn, and see at the upcoming convention. I look forward to seeing you there!

Best wishes,

Janet Pierce, PhD
ALC Chair