Attending: Jane Robison, Jennifer Morrison, Stuart Landers, Jennifer Johnston, Barb Adelman, Barb Schwarte, Cheryl Eason, Sheila Monk, Mary Barratt, Margaret Silverman, Bill Trudeau, William Eubank, Tom Riedmiller, Cathy Howland, Susan Schindler, Rosa Brefield

Call to Order at 9:30 a.m.

Approval of Agenda

Motion Carried

Approval of Minutes

• Motion to approve-- Bill
• Second--Mary

Motion carried

President’s Report—Barb Adelman

• Nothing to report

Past President—Jane Robison

• Nothing to report

Vice President—Jan Rodriguez

• Jan will go to Tampa as the MIDTESOL liaison; will work Affiliate Booth
• William—bring something with web address on it
• Barb—suggests bringing the MIDTESOL newsletters
• Cheryl—we had some promotional items made up in Warrensburg—have web address on bottom and old logo--can print some new ones for Jan to take
• Barb—will drive to Tampa and will bring the items with her
• Jane—will send cleaned up MIDTESOL logo to all board members

 

Treasurer—Cheryl Eason

• Made corrections to her report
• Conferences balances should be $7364.67 for 2004 $4476.79 for 2005
• Conferences have done well last two years
  
  

Approval of Treasurer’s report

• Motion to approve--Margaret
• Second--Jan

Motion Carried

 

Awards –Stuart Landers

• Asks about notebook—Cathy has a notebook, needs to organize—will send soon
• Has 5 memberships for TESOL—asks how to award them
• Barb S—thought that originally the memberships were for board members to be members of TESOL
• Stu—they are for new members only
• Barb—will check to see if they can apply to relapsed membership
• William—has never been a member and would appreciate a membership

Publishers Liaison –Margaret Silver

• Has been in touch with some publishers
• Looking at putting ads in newsletter
• William—his wife is a rep of Townsend Press and Pro Lingua
  
  

Webmaster—William Eubank

• Website is getting more activity
• Created a modified mission statement
• Would like everyone to tell him exactly what to put in each section of the website; Send photos, logos, etc. with directions and he will make the changes
• Asked if midtesolmembers@yahoo.com is still active—no one is sure
• William asks that everyone review their section and let him know what to change
• Barb—we need to include this type of information in the notebooks
• Jane—will send changes to Constitution and By-laws to put on web
• William—how much historic material should he leave on site?
• Jane—regarding Margaret’s position—Ayse can help Margaret with her work

 

Newsletter –Jen Morrison

• Sent report previously (see below)
• Made suggestions for a rotation of who should submit an article to the newsletter at which time
• Barb—next newsletter should be devoted to new by-laws and Constitution—new document should be printed
• Jane—Jennifer Morrison has been using the ELI address as a return address—suggests using Bill’s address so that when someone’s address is wrong, he’ll get it and will be able to manage things
• Bill—says it is a good idea
• Cathy—we usually take 200-300 newsletters to Iowa Conference
• Jennifer will send this week
• Cheryl—Mary could just get copies made instead to take to the IA Conference
• Barb—suggests taking 50 newsletters to TESOL Tampa
• Jan—will make copies to take


Rules and Resolutions –Rosa Brefield

• Nothing to report
  
  

Sociopolitical concerns –Barb Schwarte

• Has some contributions for the website almost ready
• Asks about Critical Issues survey for TESOL—does Barb have?
• Margaret has the survey
• Barb—would like to publish in newsletter and on website for our constituents to respond to
• Could also get feedback on it at the Iowa conference
• TESOL has a good advocacy page discussing current issues and bills—will put something together for the next newsletter
• Mary—suggests listing the names of a couple of the bills
• William—asks for the link—can put it on the web


Historian –Susan Schindler

• Hasn’t got information from Leslie yet
• William—one of the uses of the web can be to post historic documents/photos, etc.—we have plenty of room on the website


Iowa Report –Mary Barratt

• Is trying to contact LaDonna to find out how to handle the MIDTESOL table at Iowa Culture and Language Conference
• Tom—willing to help staff it
• Mary and Barb will be at the table as well
• Barb S—target times when there will be heavy traffic
• What to put on table? Newsletters, notepads, new membership forms
• Tom—put candy on table
• Cheryl—put out info on awards and summer awards for TESOL academy
• Sent out e-mails to advertise Iowa conference and MIDTESOL
• Why only 24 members from IA?
• Tom—having conference in a new part of the state hopefully will attract new members
• Barb—one of the reasons we changed structure is to keep membership more balanced
• Cathy—wonders if b/c the membership rate is too cheap, do people think it’s not worth anything?
• Bill—if you don’t get to the conference, what do you get from the organization?
• Jennifer—what we are trying to do with the interest sections will keep interest up hopefully
• Barb A—if you can get state support and continuing ed credits, teachers will go to conference
• Asks for suggestions of benefits of MIDESOL to advertise in a pamphlet
• Will contact IA members to solicit things for newsletter

 

Missouri Report –Sheila Monk

• Barb A—asks William about having interactive sections on the website
• William—can set up surveys—possibly a bulletin board that will allow threaded discussions with moderators
• Barb A—likes the idea for the interest sections
• Sheila—asks about next newsletter—will it only be constitution changes?
• Sheila—Sandy Anderson has volunteered to write something for next newsletter
• Thinks we need to have something besides constitution in next newsletter
• Jan—is it possible to separate constitution and newsletter?
• Bill—constitution could go out with membership directories
• Jane—will send constitution and new by-laws to Bill
• Cheryl—a lot of directories have been given out already


Membership---Bill Trudeau

• Sent report in advance (see below)
• Has directories to go out
• Membership application form on web/hard copy does not include enough information and does not match what goes in our records
• Would like to send out a membership update with directories to get the right information—affiliations, fax #’s, etc.
• Mary—we also need e-mail addresses from members
• Would like to redo forms—will send it out for approval to board
• Tom—is it possible to do this by e-mail?
• Jan—we need to put e-mails on the database
• Has gotten renewal submissions, but couldn’t find original files
• Jan--TESOL assigns numbers—maybe we should do that too to keep better track in case someone’s membership lapses
• Jane—likes idea of membership number—would help with registrations too
• Jan—this would mean we need to send out cards or a notification
• Barb—could this number be on the mailing lists? It could go out on the newsletter and all mailings
• Bill—has been working on an acknowledgement form that he will send out by e-mail
• Cathy—we used to send a card out to keep in wallet
• Bill thinks a card or some kind of notice is helpful b/c people get confused about whether they are members or not
• Mary—suggests sending a postcard with a detachable membership card
• Barb—reminds us that at the time of conference registration, we automatically renew memberships
• Barb—let’s think about this further
• Bill will send out constitution, directory and membership update form
• Filemaker Pro 6 is what Bill uses—he has updated all of files, so MIDTESOL may need to purchase it later on
• Tom—for future we should think about using Excel or Access since they are more universal
• Bill—Filemaker Pro is more user friendly
• Barb—we can buy that
• Sheila—we shouldn’t send out membership directory until after new board members have been elected—so don’t give out at conference
• Barb—asks us to think about the whole membership issue
• Bill—it is possible to put membership directory in a format to allow people to get it by e-mail attachment
• Jane—after fall conference we could send out directories, membership acknowledgement card, first newsletter and a certificate of attendance, etc. together in one mailing
• Shiela—likes it—makes us look more official

 

Conference Report—Tom Riedmiller and Cathy Howland

• Sent report in advance (see below)
• Theme of MIDTESOL 2006 "Classroom to Career"—this speaks to all levels of education
• To be held Nov. 2-4
• Organizing a field trip to Postville, IA for pre-conference workshop on Thursday
• Getting assistance of conference services--$5/head—will do registrations, credit card, registration tables, etc.
• Friday’s schedule—board meeting, school visits, workshops, evening reception
• Saturday’s schedule—sessions, keynote speaker, lunch
• Got $500 grant from local visitor’s bureau
• Jane—will there be sessions on Friday night?
• Tom—either concurrent sessions or an extended workshop
• Barb—have dates been posted with TESOL?
• TESOL speaker’s grant—we can apply this year
• Contacted TESOL speaker’s bureau—no response
• Barb—contact TESOL president to ask to see if board members will come to conference
• June 17 has been agreed upon for summer meeting in Waterloo/Cedar Falls
• Will make save the date cards for the conference
• Role of incoming conference chair?
• Any suggestions for keynote speakers?

 

Old Business

• Final numbers for the Fall Conference—attendance—130


New Business

• Money for TESOL Liaison for TESOL –Newsletter, President, Webmaster are sponsored
• Barb S—VP should also attend as the Liaison
• Cheryl—in by-laws, we have stipulated this support?
• Barb—we passed a motion in the last board meeting

Motion: MIDTESOL will provide $350 travel money to send Vice President to TESOL this year

• Motion to approve--Jan
• Second--Rosa

• Bill—question about membership—should he have a committee or is it his sole job?
• Cathy--local chairs should be part of the membership committee—Mary and Sheila
• Barb—Bill should deal with development/mechanics of membership; Interest groups will fall under state reps job
• Cathy—when she was membership chair, there was a tri-fold promotional brochure
• Jane—last year at TESOL saw a presentation by Rob Scott who was Past President of Kansas TESOL –they built membership by internet—he would be a good person to contact –Jane will send Bill contact info.
• Barb—Jan will collect info from other affiliates at TESOL to bring new ideas for membership
• Bill—membership job description should involve the mechanics of membership, growing memberships
• Barb—asks everyone to look over their job descriptions and send them back to her—Jan and Barb will review them
• Barb--Notebooks for each Board Member—Everyone is responsible for making one
• Notebooks should include: Job descriptions, Constitution and By-laws,    Current directory, Stationery, Tax letter, Calendar with scheduled times board meetings and for Newsletter contributions, other notes specific to your job—this is for the next person to take over your job
• Barb-- suggests that we have a second teleconference to discuss interest groups
• Jane—rather than having a spring conference, we should encourage special interest groups, like TESOL interest sections
• Barb—the groups could be divided into higher ed, IEP, K-12, adult ed.
• Jane—in MO DESE organizes workshops with MELL for K-12 people—maybe we want to join these workshops—if a particular interest group doesn’t have an event, maybe we can organize something
• Barb—will set up a time for discussing interest groups, how to divide them up
• Barb—the interest sections could be in the form of listservs
• Tom—conference in November could have interest groups—people need to be appointed to chair these


Secretary—Jennifer Johnston

• Nothing to report

Motion to adjourn

• Motion to adjourn--Mary
• Second—Jane

Adjournment at 11:25

 

Reports Sent in Advance

Newsletter Editor’s Report by Jennifer Morrison

February 1, 2006

The last newsletter was sent out in January, a little off the previously established deadline of December. I would like to propose that instead of publishing in December, with all of the busy-ness of the holidays, January would be a more reasonable date to shoot for. I think it would also be a good idea to label the newsletters Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall, instead of by month just in case there is a delay in publication.

One other note about the last newsletter: I have still only received one of the 3 travel grant award articles. If anyone knows one of the winners, please contact him/her and encourage the sending of the article! Thanks!

In order to receive timely submissions, Barb A. has suggested that a calendar be made that asks for various MIDTESOL board members to submit material. Here is what has been proposed:

Winter (January—submission deadline is Jan. 5^th; pub. date 15th):

President: For Winter, submits an article of greeting and purpose to the constituency and for each edition thereafter submits a short "message from the president."

Secretary (?): General info about the members’ meeting at MIDTESOL

Past Conference Chair: Report about MIDTESOL conference

State Reps

Spring (March—Submission deadline March 5^th; pub. 15th):

President: Short president’s message

Treasurer’s Report?

Vice-President: general address to constituency

State Reps

Summer (May—Sub. May 5^th; pub. 15th):

President: P’s message

Conference Chairs: updates on Fall conference

Socio-political concerns (perhaps Fall?)

Reports from TESOL convention

State Reps

Fall (September—Sub. Sept. 5^th; Pub 15^th?—enough time before conf?):

President’s farewell

Conference Chairs: Complete details about Fall MIDTESOL

Awards

State Reps

Of course, other Board members can submit material as needs and interests arise. This also does not mean that there won’t be "Teaching Tips," reviews, and other articles of interest. It does mean that we will have some regularity regarding content and submission dates. The above "duties" will be added to the MIDTESOL job descriptions.

 

Conference Chair Report by Tom Reidmiller

February 1, 2006

MIDTESOL 2006 Conference

Theme: Classroom to Career

Dates: November 2-4

Location: University of Northern Iowa – Maucker Union and Lang Hall

Committee so far: Cathy Howland, Tom Riedmiller, Leslie Wolk, Jeanne Angel

Special Assistance: UNI Conference Services

Fee: $5.00/head

Proposed Schedule

Thursday – bus trip to Postville (tentative)

For 150 years, Postville was all white, all Christian, all Norman Rockwell, an everyone-knows-everyone, live-and-die-here kind of town run by farmers of German and Norwegian stock. Then, a decade ago, an ultra-Orthodox Jew bought a boarded-up meat-packing plant on the edge of town and converted it into a kosher slaughterhouse. Word soon got out that Postville had jobs. Lots of jobs. The Jews came first - three dozen rabbis trained to kill livestock and inspect kosher meat, plus friends and relatives to help. Then came the others. Mexican, Guatemalan, Ukrainian, Nigerian, Bosnian, Czech - dozens, then hundreds, of immigrants swarmed to jobs in the kosher slaughterhouse and in the Iowa Turkey Products plant next door. To locals, it seemed an invasion. See how our field is impacted at:

http://www.americancivilrightsreview.com/dv-ethnic-poisoning-postville-iowa.html

Friday – board meeting, school visits, workshops and evening reception/entertainment*

Saturday – conference sessions, keynoter, lunch, conference sessions

The organizers are actively seeking suggestions for pre-conference workshop presenters and keynoters.

Financing

The organizers have applied for over $1300 in grants to cover the cost of the call for papers, conference call and other promotional materials. UNI departments are excellent sources for funding or in-kind donations. State arts council may help with expenses* for possible entertainers for Friday evening. Entertainers may also conduct a workshop geared to teachers.

Comparative Information:

Some of MIDTESOL’s income & disbursements: Fall 2001-Fall 2003

 

Conference balances: income minus expenses and costs of EB meeting (Awards costs are not included.)

• Fall 2002--loss of $ 866.98
• Fall 2003--loss of $ 958.28
• Fall 2004--gain of $ 6,593.01 (Award costs were $773.31.)
• Fall 2005--gain of $ 3,632.54

Membership Chair’s Report by Bill Trudeau

As of January 2006

1.  Current membership numbers     181 members

      Membership type not noted = 3

      Regular 1 yr membership = 69

      Regular 3 yr membership = 92

      Life Memberships = 17

      Student Memberships = 1

      Institutional Memberships = 0

2.Work place affiliation (%) in

Elementary = 23%

Secondary = 25%

University/Institution = 44%

Adult Education = 19%

Unstated = 19%

3.  Membership fees:

      Regular Membership:  $12/yr      $30 for three years

      Student Membership:  $7/yr