The Language Teacher
03 - 2002
On Being a JALT National Officer
Larry Cisar
Kanto Gakuen University
Some might comment, "Yep, Cisar is big enough to be a chapter all by himself." It's not quite true, but close. Now, as Director of Programs, I am mainly involved at the National level so I will focus on that. I really believe that all members have the potential for being good Directors for JALT. All of us have developed and are developing skills that give us the potential to be Directors. As educators, we have acquired skills in planning, organizing, and executing. We have gained competence in human relations. These are all needed skills -- nothing more. Being a Director is not some magical position. Tom Clancy put it nicely in a novel that expertise is developed by learning and practice; it is not from some special inborn ability. Natural ability is helpful but even without it, you can be the person you want to be.
We all have ideas about JALT's future. What is nice is that all these different ideas bless the organization with freshness. It is just a matter of putting them all together.
Time is an important factor as in anything we do. Organizing a conference, setting up an accounting system, and organizing a database all take time. Finding time to do these things means finding the job that is fun and then going and having fun doing it. The time miraculously appears. I have found over the years that all of us have the same 24 hours. Our priorities are very different, as they should be, and that is what makes the difference in how time is used.
So how do I find time as Director of Programs? In the early days of JALT, I found that 10 minutes here and there got a lot done. I knew I could not do things in a large batch. So, I scheduled my time. It is surprising how much can be done that way. Now I have time, but people I communicate with are not on the same schedule. Again, it is planning the small amounts of time that is important. It is also valuable to have a patient partner in life who lets you work that way.
"Fun" is a key word. In general, a Director needs to enjoy doing the job; otherwise, (s)he burns out faster than a match. I find fun in seeing a plan come together in all its various facets. I find fun in learning new things about an area or a new way of doing a task, fun in seeing people and my team enjoying the results of my work. Being a Director is serious work, but being serious does not preclude having fun.
"Order" is another key word. Every job within an organization such as JALT needs order. It is much more than organization as it involves looking both at the large and the small pictures, the national and the local pictures, the chapter and the SIG. You learn order by experiencing it, by being involved in some project and looking beyond its immediate confines. Another important meaning of order is "giving directions." You learn how to give orders by taking them -- you find the style that fits you. Until you follow, you cannot lead. Then, you move up the ladder of responsibility.
A hard skill to learn is the skill of saying "No." Many books state that you should not say this word, or say it indirectly. I have found that, for me, that does not work. There are times when it is necessary, and they usually do not feel like good times. However, it is essential to set limits and that often entails this two-letter word.
Rare is the person who is ready to become a national officer when first joining JALT; but the experience needed can be gained quickly. Find the area of your chapter and/or SIG that interests you and get involved. All groups within JALT are looking for volunteers. As you do the job, set goals for yourself. Decide what you want to learn and learn it. After gaining a little experience, volunteer to help the National Directors. All of us can use help. You will be surprised at how quickly you become ready to take on more responsibility.
Skills I have learned while doing JALT work have also helped me in my paying job: i.e., seeing from many angles and being ready to try different solutions. They have taught me to avoid looking only one way at an issue and they have taught me to work with people with very different ideas.
To conclude, JALT is an organization for each and every one of its members. It only works if all get involved.
Larry (The Bear) Cisar, Director of Programs, JALT,
Kanto Gakuen University, <lcisar@kanto-gakuen.ac.jp>
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