Communication to date this year has been via email or phone call. I alerted each Branch Chair of the face to face Executive meeting with a request to notify me of any issues wanting to be discussed and to provide a small report about the start up for 2009.

Replies from:

AGM planned for 1/4/09 with Craig Thaine as guest speaker. He will be outlining a teaching /learning strategy to aid the acquisition of learners’ speaking skills by practising utterances quietly to them selves. The food focus is on “food from around the world.”

The year has begun with a strong turnout for our first committee meeting with an abundance of ideas for work shops. The general feeling is to offer more practical workshops. Most committee members are willing to stand for re-election, although there is a need for more ESOL teachers from the secondary sector.

Events planned for the year are:

1. 28/4 Standardised English exams: an over view.
2. 21/7 Focussing on skills; speed reading, vocabulary, spelling
3. 22/9 Look forward to CLESOL 2010 & AGM

Had first meeting and planning is underway for another EXPO as per last year. It is hoped to coincide with and be the location for TESOLANZ AGM. Newsletter is underway to be out at the end of the month.

An issue has been sent to Marty regarding a work permit issue. A letter from Ian Bruce requesting EAP as a subject in its own right.

First meeting planned as a workshop looking at useful internet sites.

Donal Crawford is incoming President. AGM is planned for first week of December. A pot luck dinner has been organised where by people bring an international dish with the option of attending a Samoan play. The next planned event will be a speaker who has returned from Hong Kong studying his Masters with a refugee focus.