Jalt Gunma News

The Minutes from Gunma JALT Annual General Meeting, November 11, 2007

1) Officers:

Presidents: Michele Steele, Hideto Harashima

Program Chair: Barry Keith, Morijiro Shibayama, Hisatake Jimbo, Natsue Nakayama

Publicity Chair: Reiko Nakajima, Renee' Sawazaki, Akiko Jimbo

Membership Chair: Yoko Kamo, Hoshino, Shinada

Treasurer: Yutaka Fujieda, Kazuhiko Iino, Morijiro Shibayama (new), Ntasue Nakayama (new)

Recording Secretaries: Harry Meyer, Rebeka Ishida (new)

Newsletter Chair: Morijiro Shibayama, Barry Keith (new)

Facilities Chair: Hideto Harashima, Wayne Pennington, Barry Keith

Social Chair: Yoko Ishida., Masami Kogure, Haraguchi

Web-site Chair: Hideto Harashima

Highlights:

1)      Professor Shibayama announces that the Speakeasy will go ahead and publish the 2006 edition, after finally getting permission form Dr. Grabe and Dr. Stoller to publish their work.

2)   Renee’ requests that everyone help her update the mailing list.

3)   Michele discusses transparency in JALT

5)  Hideto informs the chapter that it must close it’s account at Japan Post because of it’s privatization. A new account will be opened at Shinsei Ginko as this bank has been selected by JALT National.

6) The annual JALT Gunma Christmas Party will be held on Saturday December 8,  2007. Individuals should contact Masami Kogure for details before November 30.

Highlights from previous year:

- New constitution is approved unanimously by the body of Gunma JALT.
- Terms of office for Gunma JALT Officers extended in principle to 2 years - Officers who cannot continue for the full 2 year term may resign from their positions after giving notice to the Presidents of Gunma JALT. New elections will then be held for that position.
- Summer Seminar - a 3,000 yen non-refundable deposit will be required from those registering for the Summer Seminar.
- Students who join Gunma JALT as local members will not be charged membership fees.
- Venues - The Kiriyu campus of Gunma University will be added to the Gunma JALT venues.
- Saturday meetings will be made possible if conditions allow.

Call for contributions

For the Jalt-Gunma Summer Workshop in August, we invite presenters who can present some new ideas or research results in language teaching/learning. Or you can just share your experience in regard to language teaching. Don't be bashful. Take this opportunity as a good chance to make yourself known to the Jalt-Gunma circle. Contact our presidents or program chairs now!

Also, if you want to write an article for our newsletter "SpeakEasy", feel free to contact the editor Morijiro Shibayama.