I am so excited to write to you today as many of us prepare to launch new terms in our respective locations around the world! Some of us, like myself, may be embarking on entirely new endeavors, in new places and new institutions, and intertwined with new peoples and cultures that will present new adventures and opportunities for learning and sharing. At the same time, we have incredible new partnerships forming and evolving as we prepare not only for the TESOL Annual Convention 2015 in Toronto but also for doors to open for our membership to share their knowledge and experiences of teaching and learning in regional and other conferences and symposia.

At this year’s ICIS annual meeting, one of the visions we discussed for our IS was exploring and creating new partnerships with like-minded groups and organizations both within and outside TESOL, one of which was International Association of Languages and Intercultural Communication (IALIC). I am happy to report that not only will members of your ICIS be presenting a panel at this organization’s upcoming annual conference in November in Aviero, Portugal, but that many of their members will be joining us for both our academic session and a couple of InterSections in March as well. We will welcome speakers teaching in Iraq, the United States, Japan, Lebanon, and Egypt who hail from even more countries and cultures. What a rich conference it promises to be!

Of course, many more of you will be invited to be a part of the Toronto sessions as ICIS has been granted 22 research- and practice-oriented session slots along with several poster sessions and roundtable discussions. The acceptances will likely be sent out in October, so watch your mailboxes!

It is an exciting time to be a part of our ICIS! It is an exciting time to explore ways to become more involved as Austin Pack, who discovered us in Portland, has done this month as we welcome him as our new community manager! I hope you will take time to read his introduction and his vision for our online community and how you can help.

Thank you for your membership and support of your Intercultural Communication Interest Section!

Amy Alice Chastain
Chair 2014-15