As you know, our world has changed significantly since the last Affiliate News was published. We continue to face the covid-19 virus that has led to a public health and financial crisis in the U.S. and many other countries. Most schools, colleges, universities, and language programs closed and moved to remote learning in March or April. Many still do not have full face-to-face participation in this new academic year. Some of us pivoted to online teaching fairly easily, but it was a steep road for others to climb. Some of our learners lacked devices or experienced limitations regarding Internet access, bandwidth, and learning platforms. We have had to deal with isolation, stress, and concerns about health, housing, jobs, and food. In May, after visceral evidence of police brutality against black people and others of color in the U.S., we listened to our colleagues and learned more about systemic racism. Many of us marched in support of Black Lives Matter with renewed calls for racial and social justice.

The near future back in April was grim. But through incredible amounts of time and effort, combined with creativity and advocacy for our learners' needs, our TESOL and affiliate members persevered. TESOL International supported our socio-emotional health and professional needs with the myTESOL COVID-19 Community and COVID-19 resources, and with the TESOL Lounge Live events open to anyone interested in English language teaching. We issued a statement against racial injustice and inequality, written to express solidarity with our Black colleagues and students, and others in communities of color. It reaffirmed TESOL's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to being an anti-racist association. We also curated a special online issue of articles from the TESOL Quarterly and TESOL Journal entitled "Race, Identity and English Language Teaching" and held online reading groups. We know we still have work to do and the Diverse Voices Task Force has been gathering data and preparing recommendations to share in the new year.

It is true that our culture of interaction and community was taken hostage by the virus, but our affiliates stepped into the isolation void. They reinvigorated their networks and held webinars for members on topics like Teaching Remotely 101 and Supporting Students' Emotional Health. They organized and posted resource collections online. They shared information on new technology apps and suggestions for online conference platforms. We held a successful online Advocacy & Policy Summit in June and for the first time, the TESOL Summit included sessions focused on global advocacy and policy issues. The virtual nature of the event made that information sharing possible.

In July, we held the first-ever TESOL Virtual Convention, and it was a hit! We had over 3,900 registrants from 95 countries, 4 keynotes, almost 100 sessions, a virtual expo hall with over 35 exhibitors, and many networking sessions. The disappointment we all felt when the Denver Convention was canceled dissipated. We overcame the challenge of putting together a major virtual conference in less than 4 months. We had a professional learning event to rival all others. Okon Effiong, founder of Africa TESOL and member of TESOL's Board of Directors, said of the annual face-to-face TESOL Convention that it "has always been the largest gathering of language teachers on the planet." Now he can say the same about our virtual one.

After TESOL's virtual convention, the wonderful Affiliate Network Event took place. During those 3 online days, affiliate members learned about best governance practices, ways to promote membership and engage graduate student members, strategies for building partnerships, and how a group of the Caribbean and Central/South/North American affiliates came together to support our Puerto Rico affiliate in a time of need. We also learned about disruption and how that is changing our educational world and our learners. More technology is available, yes, but it is clear that we need to learn how to use it wisely to provide appropriate lessons and scaffold and differentiate instruction.

We all should be proud. We have accomplished feats we never imagined a year ago and only had the glimmer of in March. If it was the COVID-19 can't do spring, it has been the COVID-19 can-do summer and fall.

Best wishes for a safe and productive future,

Deborah J. Short
President, TESOL International Association (2020-21)