Outgoing Officer Messages

Farewell message from the outgoing newsletter co-editor

Kim Bradford-Watts

It is hard to believe that two years have passed since the first issue of TOLd You So!

The first issue was full of SIG business, and still acts as our institutional memory of the constitution and officer duties. Since then, we have published messages from officers, as well as a wide variety of other articles such as conference reports, feature articles, interviews, classroom ideas, book reports, and reports of research in progress in English and Japanese. It has been wonderful to see TOLd You So! mature over time and become a vibrant newsletter.

I am stepping down as newsletter co-editor due to other commitments both to JALT and in my personal life. I would like to give a huge "Thank you" to everyone who has contributed to LLLd you so! over our first two years--the officers for messages to keep all members informed of what is happening in the group, the authors for contributing their time and ideas, and especially to Naoko Miki, my co-editor, who worked tirelessly on each and every issue, and Malcolm Swanson, who has done an excellent job in publishing the newsletter on the LLL SIG homepage.

Naoko and I are handing the newsletter over to the capable hands of Julia Harper-Tanaka, Emi Itoi, Takako Kawabata and Robert Baines. They will lead TOLd You So! into an even brighter era.

I'd like to finish this message with my three wishes for the future of LLL SIG:

I wish that all members become involved in the SIG in some way. If you feel like you don't have anything to offer, or that you are too shy, do not fear! I used to feel like that, too. Being involved has introduced me to so many wonderful people involved in a dynamic and growing teaching area that my skills have developed and my shyness has almost disappeared. If you have an idea for the classroom, write it up for the newsletter. If you know someone teaching older learners, tell them about the SIG. There are hundreds of little things you can do to help out.
I wish that more Japanese members write in Japanese. So far most of the articles submitted have been in English. TOLd You So! welcomes articles in Japanese, too!
I wish that I get a chance to meet all our members at conferences in the future. Even if you don't feel that you have anything that you can present about at the moment, conferences are a great place to meet and talk and share ideas. Who knows? Perhaps we'll end up doing a joint presentation one of these days!

By the way, I am not disappearing from LLL SIG completely. I am joining Curtis Kelly and Martin Pauly as Officers-at-Large, so please feel free to contact me any time with your questions, ideas, or suggestions.

Kim Bradford-Watts

Farewell message from the outgoing publicity chair and co-editor

Naoko Miki

Hi all! It's Naoko Miki. I am sad to say that I have had to resign my positions as Publicity Chair and Newsletter Co-editor. I have really enjoyed working with all the wonderful LLL SIG members. What interesting and lovely people I have met through this SIG! I regret having to leave and will surely miss you all.

It has been a genuine pleasure watching how LLL SIG was formed and has grown over the past two years. I think that all the challenging work required of a new SIG could not have been done without help and support from you all. Thanks a lot! I am certain that LLL SIG will grow and expand even more with the help and mutual support from new officers and members. It seems that things in this field of lifelong language learning in Japan are making headway, as we predicted they would a few years ago. YES! We were right.

When circumstances permit, I plan to come back and work for the SIG again. I wish LLL SIG continued success. Again, thank you very much for your kindness and help.

Naoko Miki

LLL SIG メンバーの皆様へ辞任のご挨拶

三木　直子

ＴＯＬ　ＳＩＧ結成直後よりこれまで2年間にわたり　広報担当そして、ニュースレター編集の仕事をさせて頂きましたが　このたび事情で　役員を辞任することになりました。

始めた当時はＪＡＬＴにも入会したばかりで　右も左もわからないまま、果たして役員の仕事が勤まるかと　心配でしたが、石田先生、コーディネーターの糸井さんをはじめ、皆様のご協力と励ましのおかげで　たくさんのことを学ばせていただきました。

有難うございました。

創設にご尽力された　石田先生が提唱された　“生きがいにつながる語学学習の必要性”は最近　特に注目されております。語学教師が情報やアイデアを交換できる

ＴＯＬ　ＳＩＧの意義もこれから　ますます重要になることしょう。新任の役員の方々、会員の皆さんたちのお力で　さらに多くの方に　このネットワークが広がっていくことを願っております。最後になりましたが　お忙しい中、ニュースレター編集作業に　ご協力下さった皆様に　大変感謝しております。ありがとうございました。

これからのＳＩＧの発展と皆様のますますのご活躍を心よりお祈りしております。　

三木　直子