The cohort has also recommended that the 3M Teaching Fellowship be renamed the 3M National Teaching Fellowship. First proposed by colleagues from abroad during our exhilarating Second International Forum, this idea has been received with enthusiasm by 3M Canada, and will be shared with colleagues on the STLHE Steering Committee at our January meeting.
I am delighted to let you know that Ron Marken has agreed to take the lead in reviving the electronic journal Positive Pedagogy. Ron, Dana Paramskas and Srini Sampali (from the two most recent cohorts!) will establish a process for soliciting, receiving, reviewing, editing and publishing manuscripts that will appear on our website. They will also consider a new name for the journal. Thanks,as well, to Claude Lamontagne, Roger Moore and Olive Yonge who have helped with this project that will continue the work done by Barry Joe, Ron Sheese, Alan Slavin and others.
The Fourth Multi-national Forum is scheduled for March, 2007 in Sydney, Australia in conjunction with ISSOTL.
"Making a Difference / Toute la difference", to which so many of you and your students contributed, has been very favourably reviewed, by The Teaching Professor and in the STLHE Newsletter (Thanks to Alan Wright for the latter). Excerpts from the book have been read/staged on at least five occasions, and complimentary messages have also been received. Marketing the book is still a challenge, and your suggestions will be welcomed.
The Executive Committee has spent much time preparing recommendations for the Guidelines Task Force, a committee comprised of Pat Rogers (former STLHE President), Lynn Taylor (Member of the STLHE Steering Committee) and myself. Our group is charged with the responsibility of proposing procedures for the interaction of the Council, the Programme and the Society. Certain issues brought a particular urgency to our work, which we have now completed. Our report, which contains eleven recommendations that we hope will be helpful, will be considered in the coming weeks by the STLHE Steering Committee.
I regret to report the resignation of the Programme Secretary, our colleague and friend Diane Pagnuelo. This regrettable decision is not unrelated to issues addressed by the Guidelines Task Force. I know you will join me in extending best wishes to Diane whom we will miss very much.
I hope you will understand our decision to delay the election of a new executive until immediately after the STLHE Steering Committee has considered, at its February meeting, the report of the Guidelines Task Force. By way of preparation for the elctions, I would like to tell you that the current Executive Committee is recommending that the new executive be comprised of a Chair, two Vice-chairs (Communication, two Vice-chairs (Projects), the Programme Coordinator and the Administrative Assistant.
A number of people have encouraged us to continue the approach of doing a few projects well. Clarissa Green and I are working on a proposal for another book (published with a more generous timeline!)which we will share with you in the new year.
Joyeuses fetes de fin d'annee!
Happy Holidays!
Alex, Clarissa, Claude, Guy, Arshad and Sylvia