The Language Teacher
September 2002
You Can Make a Difference
Tadashi Ishida
Acting President of JALT
When you feel you have a valuable part to play in an organization as a volunteer officer, even if that part is small, you feel rewarded and will strive to contribute and participate more. I am a perfect case in point--I became a chapter officer and now look where it has led! Committing yourself to service is one of the best ways of ensuring that you will participate fully and follow through. Personal achievement is very rewarding.
At present, a number of JALT officers wear many hats, which is not healthy. If we share responsibilities, the work is easier and more enjoyable for all--for the very reason that it is a "shared" achievement. We can also increase the number of people directly benefiting from NPO JALT.
Chapter and SIG (Special Interest Group) officers also can get tangible benefits. Up to four officers per Chapter/SIG shall be reimbursed 3,000 yen as a one day conference waiver if:
- They have successfully served their one-year full term;
- They register for the whole conference; a full two-day conference or a full three-day conference by the pre-registration deadline;
- They attend the conference Ordinary General Meeting;
- They attend their function meetings during the conference, or another function meeting during the conference for an officer who could not come to the conference.
You can make a difference to make JALT worthy of being an NPO by participating in the following areas as a volunteer officer.
We always need:
Chapter/SIG officers--
President, Treasurer, Program Chair, Membership Chair, Publicity Chair, Facilities Chair, Newsletter Editor, or Website Editor. Please get in touch with the relevant contact person for each chapter or SIG listed in this publication.
Conference officers--
Officers who plan, arrange, and organize our Annual International Conference. Please get in touch with Alan Mackenzie, Acting Director of Program, at asm@typhoon.co.jp
Publications officers-- Officers who help publish The Language Teacher and JALT Journal. Please get in touch with Brad Visgatis, Publications Board Chair, at pubchair@jalt.org
If you have no time to participate in one of the above administrative areas of JALT, you can still make a difference by participating in the National Election using a ballot inserted in TLT.
JALT is of the members, by the members and for the members.
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For more information on JALT, visit the JALT National Website