Questions to ask yourself about joining an IATEFL committee

What committees are there?

There are many committees within IATEFL. Most members will already be aware of the SIG Committees, which do sterling work looking after the interests of the SIG. There are also the Executive Committees, namely Conference, Finance, Marketing, Membership and Publications. They consist usually of a chair person and two other members.

Conference Committee

The Conference Committee works with the Conference Organiser at Head Office to ensure that our annual conference and exhibition are a professional and financial success. All aspects of conference, including choosing a venue, gaining feedback from delegates and exhibitors, setting up an interesting programme with the Conference Programmer and involving a local committee, are discussed and decided at face to face meetings two or three times a year and via email, paper and phone. The Committee is chaired by the President and there are two other members.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee advises the Coordinating Committee on IATEFL's finances (we don't keep the books - they are far too complicated for that (!) and are kept by staff in the IATEFL Office). The links between finance and all elements of IATEFL's work also means that the Finance Committee's role is far from purely financial. We may comment on, for example, annual priorities and overall strategy, all of which informs IATEFL's budgeting and planning.

Publications Committee

The Publications Committee supervises the editing, production and the financial management of all IATEFL publication. Its principal responsibility is to ensure that IATEFL’s members receive their copy of Voices every two months, Conference Selections once a year, and the SIG newsletters, as well as keep the website updated, and relevant. The committee consists of the Vice President and one or two other members. We meet face-to-face twice a year, and due to the demands of publishing schedules, exchange emails on a regular and frequent basis between meetings.

Why are the Committees important?

If IATEFL is to continue to grow, it must be responsive to the changing needs of our profession. This means that the Committees must be constantly alert to new developments and needs. Neither the Association, the Co-ordinating Committee nor the Executive Committees run on automatic pilot, so we need active Committee members who will contribute a little of their experience, time and energy not only to Committee meetings but to working for IATEFL between these meetings. There is a lot of satisfaction to be gained from such work. The questions which follow should help you to see how you can help and if you would like to join a Committee:

Can I offer what is needed?

1. Would I like to spend time attending 2-3 face to face or conference call meetings per year?
2. Do I have reliable, easy access to email and have good phone and post links?
3. Can I take responsibility to work between meetings contacting others both within and outside the association or preparing practical suggestions for discussion and action?
4. Can I actively contribute to work in which the formulation of policy and the carrying out of tasks may be required?
5. Can I look for opportunities to promote IATEFL in my normal working life, and to recruit IATEFL members? This may take the form of visiting institutions or people.
6. Can I make positive, creative suggestions for the continuing development of IATEFL?
7. Can I take on specific jobs for such events as conferences and symposiums?
8. Do I have contacts, either on a local or regional basis, which can be brought into the IATEFL network?
9. Do I have any special skills, which would be of value, e.g, experience in publishing, running conferences, fund-raising, organising local groups, etc?
10. Would it give me satisfaction to participate in the development of IATEFL and through it to contribute to the ELT profession?
    

Between the regular twice or thrice yearly meetings there is communication between Committee members to exchange information and develop new practical ideas relating to the development of the benefits of IATEFL membership, and to helping members to take advantage of their membership. This is exciting and creative work, mostly on projects of a few months’ duration, with communication by e-mail.

Here are a few practical details:

1. Committee members must be members of IATEFL.
2. Members of the Committees serve for two years - Trustees for three years.
3. The Association will reimburse Committee members for actual expenditure for the two meetings per year as follows:

• In the U.K. – second class rail fare or cheaper alternative
• From abroad: Apex airfare/train fare to a maximum of £300 to the nearest airport/train station PLUS U.K. travel
• One night’s accommodation for each of the two meetings
• Registration for the annual conference
• The current meal allowance for each of the two meetings
  

Having seen what is involved, if you would really like to be on a Committee and in this way make your contribution to the further development of IATEFL and the ELT profession, please contact head office for more details.