Convention Proposals Tips and Samples

We encourage all members to contribute to the annual convention. Present something that interests you and believe would be a valuable tool or resource for your peers. The deadline for on line submissions is right around the corner, May 3, 2004. We hope this helps:

Tips

As a proposal reader I have found one thing that really turns readers off is a proposal that isn't carefully proofread. Substance is most important; submitting a proposal that has high interest for lots of people, of course; but please, watch that spelling and punctuation - a careless submission says it wasn't important enough to take that extra moment or that it was done at the last minute. Suggestion: after you write it, put it away and then take it out and look at it with fresh eyes to see what you've really written, not what you thought you wrote. Mona Scheraga

Click here for an explanation of the proposal process. (MS Word document)

Samples

From TESOL 1998 (Word doc)

From TESOL 2001 (Word doc)

Book Drive Update

It was a success! Through some negotiations with TESOl, the IBPFT book drive is now an association wide TESOL coordinated event that will be held annually at the convention. TESOL will provide more details later in the post convention publications. We are continuing to work with TESOL to ensure that TESOL and caucus members around the world receive books and that caucus members can continue to make donations. We will keep you up to date.

IBPFT Projects

2004

  • IBPFT Colloquium on ESOL Materials
  • All Caucus Colloquium: Promoting Social Justice in a Global Community
  • 1st All Caucus   Social Event hosted by TESOL
  • 2nd annual Book Drive held convention wide by IBPFT and TESOL
  • TESOL Spotlight Session: Re-examining English, Nativeness, and ESL Pedagogy, by Dr. Shondel Nero and Mary Romney
  • Nika Barnes becomes Newsletter Editor, James Kennedy Co-Editor
  • Lia Kamin-Stein becomes Caucus Board Liaison 

2003   

  • IBPFT Colloquium: Black Voices in ESL and EFL,
  • 1st All Caucus Colloquium: Employment Equity
  • 1st Annual IBPFT Book Drive held at the Convention in Baltimore
  • Baltimore Black Tour Heritage Tour organized by the caucus was added to Convention schedule. Tour sold out, and a second tour was added
  • Caucus membership becomes free, now included with cost of TESOL membership
  • Caucus Statement of Purpose and Goals updated and revised by Dr. Shondel Nero
  • Dr. Shondel Nero and Khadar Bashir-Ali become Co-Chairs, Marinus Stephan            becomes Chair Elect

2002   

  • 1st Caucus Colloquium: Race, diversity and ESL, panel included Tamara Thorpe, Willisa Roland, Marvelyn Bucky and Martha Davis
  • IBPFT members Carolyn Brady and Patricia Leveque presented for the first time
  • Convention booth hosts information about African-Americans in Salt Lake City provided by member and List serve Manager Willisa Roland
  • Mary Romney and Jun Liu lead discussion group: Understanding TESOL’s        Caucuses
  • Membership Marketing Plan written and presented to TESOL to create a larger            voice and increase diversity awareness within the TESOL profession.
  • Membership Outreach programs implemented: Each One Reach One, and Sponsor a Friend resulting in membership increased from 54 in 2000 to 162 in 2003
  • The Chair spoke at the annual NAFSA Conference in May 2002 to the BMcPIE (Black Multicultural Professionals in International Education) membership for support and alliances and attended Puerto Rico TESOL in November 2002.
  • Michelle Maitland becomes Newsletter Editor

2001   

  • 1st Caucus newsletters published January 2001
  • IBPFT Web site launched
  • Energy Breaks introduced at the 2001 Convention in St.Louis, Caucus members take the lead:
      • Student Perceptions of Minority Teachers and Race in America, Tamara Thorpe
      • Taking Stock of Your TESOL Membership, Mary Romney
      • Empowering Non native Speakers in TESOL, Jun Liu
  • Tamara Thorpe becomes Chair
  • Jun Liu becomes Caucus Board Liaison

 2000

  • At the Open Meeting the Sponsor a Member program was initiated, a new IBPFT member offers to sponsor ten new members from Africa

 1999

  • Membership drive at the New York convention, membership reaches just under the 100 member requirement
  • Osmond Duffis becomes Chair, Tamara Thorpe elected Chair-elect

 1998

  • Mary Romney, Chair and Osmond Duffis, Chair-elect lead Open Meeting in Orlando, reaching out to new members
  • Revisions made to the Mission Statement, Goals and Purposes
1997   
  • Patrick Axel Henry and Mary Romney led a campaign at the Convention to gather the 200 signatures required at that time for the application for Caucus status. Caucus status was approved by the TESOL Board at its October 1997 meeting.