AGM Address (2003)
by Phyllis Chew
President, ELLTA(S)
We have had a very busy year. Perhaps the most important achievements for ELLTA(S) in the last year were the agreements of friendship and cooperation signed with established regional language teachers' associations, such as Korea TESOL, Thai TESOL, and ETA Taiwan. Here, we must thank Dr Tom Farrell for his pioneering work with these associations. Without his invaluable contacts, we would not have achieved as much as we have in the regional arena.
For the first time, ELLTA(S) was also represented in overseas meetings, namely, at Thai TESOL in Jan 03, at the Pan-Asian Consortium Meeting in Baltimore in Mar 03, and at the Asia-TEFL Founders Meeting in Seoul, also in Mar 03. ELLTA(S) has also begun an important friendship with the Malaysian English Language Teachers' Association (MELTA) in December 2002.
Certainly, ELLTA(S) has become much better known both locally and overseas. This is reflected in the many "hits" to the ELLTA(S) website. The website was effectively revamped in Feb this year. It is now a veritable storehouse of information with many connections to language-related events both in and out of Singapore. Updated regularly, the website details the history as well as past and future events of ELLTA(S), among other things. As recent as 29 September 2003, ELLTA(S) was mentioned in the Straits Times, the leading English daily in Singapore.
Our membership remains healthy, having more than doubled since the last year, thanks to the resourcefulness of our membership chair.
Something new which ELLTA(s) has begun this year are the school-based workshops for our corporate members, the schools. These promise to be worthwhile events of mutual benefit to both the members of the schools and ELLTA(S).
We will of course continue to hold regular public talks for our members. I am also pleased to say that the publication of the ELLTA(S) Bulletin is now a regular event, and one which has received increasingly good feedback.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all of you, and in particular, the Executive Committee and our Advisor, Dr Rita Skuja-Steele for your invaluable support. I am sure that ELLTA(S) will continue to grow even more vibrantly in the year to come.
Dr Phyllis Chew
President, ELLTA(S)
1 October 2003