Letter from the Chair: Building Community through Service
TESOL 2003-Hearing Every Voice-in Baltimore brought us the opportunity to meet and work together for the good of the Higher Education Interest Section (HEIS). Through attendance at the convention and at the HEIS business and planning meetings, we are able to build relationships with colleagues and strengthen our commitment to TESOL and the interest section. However, even if we cannot attend the annual convention, opportunities exist to become involved with the inner workings of HEIS. Of course, with heavy teaching schedules, vast institutional service commitments, and busy personal lives, we often wonder how it is that we might find the time to become involved or even question how involvement might benefit us. From my perspective, participation in professional organizations benefits both the volunteer and the association in many ways.
First, let's consider how TESOL can benefit from our time and effort. When many people become involved in an organization, a greater variety of topics for presentations emerge, making the conference more pertinent to a broader range of people. Because of association with other questioning professionals, we become more critical and analytical thinkers, able to address institutional and organizational problems with a dizzying variety of possible solutions. Suffice it to say that a savvy membership builds a savvy organization for an organization is only as good as its membership. To move TESOL and thus HEIS forward, we need to lend our expertise in order to build organizational strength.
Ways in which members can gain from involvement is perhaps an even more pressing issue. The remarkable richness of benefits includes increased contacts with other TESOL professionals, contact that might lead to a heightened awareness of the profession and the activities of our colleagues. This awareness could lead to collaboration on an article, a book, or the development of theoretical or pedagogical advances. Further, close contact with other TESL professionals can create diversity of thought, help us to develop a more critical perspective, build cultural knowledge through interaction with colleagues from around the globe, and heighten our professional attitude and demeanor. Ultimately, and on a more personal note, collaboration and association can lead to lasting friendships.
And finally, let's reflect on the many ways in which we can all make a difference in HEIS. One of the most valuable ways involves running for a leadership position. Anyone who might be interested in throwing his/her hat in the ring is urged to contact Frank Noji (francis@hawaii.edu) for more information. Adding your voice to the leadership of HEIS will move the organization forward.
There is no question that a strong interest section is made strong through the work of its members, and one extremely valuable activity is that of submitting proposals for regular presentations and discussion groups at the annual convention. In order to inform the membership and stimulate thinking, we announce, through our listserv, the interest section's topics for InterSections and for the strand.
The strand topic for TESOL 2004 is composition, a focus chosen for its perennial interest and importance in higher education. Because of our announcement of the strand topic, HEIS received a considerable number of proposals addressing composition in general and subtopics such as editing, writing assignments, writing strategies, the use of the internet for teaching writing, and grammar and vocabulary. From these proposals, we will be able to fashion a compelling strand, one sure to attract a large audience eager for information regarding the many facets of composition and the pedagogical insights of the presenters.
Other ways that we can become involved include making sure that we are subscribed to the HEIS e-list. Subscription is easy; simply send a blank message to join-heisl@lists.tesol.org and you will receive notification of all HEIS happenings and deadlines. Volunteering to read proposals each year and attending discussion groups and business and planning meetings are other ways of raising awareness and level of involvement. Further, authoring articles for inclusion in the HEIS newsletter comprises a return to professionalism and a great avenue for presenting ideas to colleagues.
From all of the examples given above, it is easy to see that there is some way for everyone to become involved. In order for the organization and our interest section to remain vibrant and productive, they need the input and the creativity of each member. No task is too small. Looking forward to hearing your voice and having you as a vital and active participant of the HEIS community.
About the author(s): Deborah Crusan, HEIS Chair, 2003-4, deborah.crusan@wright.edu