My first TESOL was the 1983 convention in Toronto, Canada. I have vivid memories of traveling in a van with other Ball State University graduate students, sleeping five to a room in a cheap hotel, attending packed standing-room-only sessions, and feeling overwhelmed by all I experienced at the convention. A few months later, I was in China with my first full-time teaching job.

My second TESOL was in 1995 in Long Beach, California. At the time, I was a graduate student again at The University of Kansas where I worked in the Applied English Center with its brand-new Learning English Online (LEO) computer lab under Carolyn Heacock (the CALLIS 1997 chair) and Mark Algren (our 2010 TESOL president). With encouragement from Mark and Carolyn, I submitted a Hardware Fair proposal for an activity using LEO software and was accepted. I went to the open business meeting with them. I volunteered in the Electronic Village where we spent long hours, mainly loading software. In the evening, CALLIS volunteers went out to eat as a group. I recall being in awe of so many of these people because I recognized their names from e-lists, presentations, and articles. I knew of their contributions to CALL. I was welcomed by the group and felt at “home” in CALL.

From 1995, my CALL involvement grew. In 1997, I was asked if I wanted to serve on the Steering Committee. I did. My first year, I was not elected. My second year on the ballot (1998), I was. I have served as an at-large Steering Committee member, as one of the Internet Fair organizers, as the Electronic Village Special Events Coordinator, and as a newsletter coeditor. I have also had the honor and pleasure of being chair in 2003 and again in 2011.

As I reflect upon an amazing 15 years with the CALLIS, I know it all started with a few small steps: a Fair proposal and a willingness to volunteer.

Now, at this stage of my career, I can’t count the number of times when my CALLIS colleagues have been resources when I needed letters of reference, copresenters, feedback on projects, sounding boards, troubleshooting, and advice. I have also been able to help many of them in the same way. The professional contacts and friendships made over the years have been invaluable. That is, of course, in addition, to all that I have learned, and continue to learn, from these colleagues and CALL friends when I attend the annual TESOL convention and other CALL conferences around the world.

My message to all of our members, but especially newbies, is . . . Choose just one activity to get started. Submit a proposal. Volunteer. Come to the CALLIS open meeting or a planning meeting. Post on the e-list. Take part in elections. The CALLIS has all kinds of positions open for those who can be physically present at the conventions and for those who cannot. We have positions for those just learning about CALL and for those who are quite experienced. We have positions that require yearly time commitments and those that require just a few hours. In 2010-2011, the CALLIS had approximately 30 volunteers who read proposals, 66 volunteers who helped with organizing Electronic Village events and behind-the-scenes activities, and 12 volunteers who served as leaders. Even with all those volunteers, we still have openings for more. Whatever your level of interest, the CALL interest section has a place for you.

If your experiences are anything like mine, then you will look back in a few years and see that you have gained far more than you gave.

For our many volunteers this year, I want to conclude with a hearty and heartfelt “Thank you!” for all you do.

See you in New Orleans!

Suzan Stamper, stampers@iupui.edu