JALT - Second Executive Board Meeting 2003
The Japan Association for Language Teaching (NPO) held its second
executive board meeting at Sophia University over the weekend June 28-29.
Forty-two JALT officers attended the meeting to discuss a wide range of
management issues facing the organization. In attendance were the national
directors and officers, representatives of JALT chapters and special
interest groups, the auditor, the publications board chair, and business
manager. Here are some of the highlights:
Highlights:
- ¥65.3 million in revenue for FY2002. Peter Wanner, Treasurer,
reports ¥65.3 million in revenues, ¥58.5 million in expenses and a gain of
¥6.9 million for the year for the fiscal year ending in March 31. The fund
balance (capital) grew to ¥29.4 million. This compares with ¥74.6 million in
revenues, and ¥68.3 million in expenses for FY2001.
- The executive board approves the FY2003 budget: ¥65.4 million in
revenues, ¥64.0 million in expenses and a gain of ¥1.4 million approved for
FY2003.
- Online credit card payments. Directors announce plans to implement a
system that would allow online credit card payments. System installation is
expected to be completed by the end of the year. Board members hope that
online payments will make it more convenient for members to renew.
- New Partnership with ELLTAS. Board approves international
partnership with English Language & Literature Teachers Association in
Singapore
- New membership category. Large-scale institutional membership
category is added. Institutional firms, such as language schools, can apply
for this category. Currently the membership categories are regular, student,
joint, group, and overseas.
- New Chapter Grant Sliding Scale. The board approves a new formula
for funding its chapters. The organization lacked a clear formula for
determining how chapter grants are made each year. The organization now has
a model which it can use and which everyone agrees on. The sliding scale was
developed and written by an 8-member ad hoc committee.
During the 2-day board meeting, Jim Swan, President, sometimes instructed
the board to break up into groups and asked them to come to a consensus on
issues when general progress seemed slow. Since many agenda items revolved
around matters concerning chapters, chapter representatives often met
separately to make progress on a number of related motions.
The executive board meeting ended on Sunday around 3 PM and was followed by
a brief ordinary general meeting, in compliance with NPO law. President Jim
Swan said that he was pleased by the outcome of the weekend meeting.
JALT is a nonprofit organization (NPO) dedicated to the improvement of
language learning and teaching in Japan. Formed in 1976, it has an
international membership of some 3,000. There are currently 39 JALT chapters
and 1 affiliate chapter. JALT is an affiliate of International TESOL
(Teachers of English Speakers of Other Languages) and a branch of IATEFL
(International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language).
For more information on JALT, visit www.jalt.org. For information on
JALT2003 (JALT's annual conference), visit
http://jalt.org/jalt2003.
Click on the photos below to see them at a larger size.
Chapter representatives in group discussion |
JALT executive board members voting on motion |
JALT executive board members meet at Sophia University |
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