Welcome to this edition of TESOL Affiliate News. My name is Ana María Rocca and, as Member A of the ALC, I serve as the TESOL Affiliate News editor.

I have always had the opportunity to meet wonderful people from TESOL affiliates around the world at every ALC meeting at TESOL annual conventions. In these meetings, affiliate leaders are encouraged to express themselves and share their ideas with other colleagues. As Member A, I committed myself to working on reaffirming collaborative work among TESOL affiliates, focusing on service and ability to meet objectives. TESOL Affiliate News provides a great opportunity to share and learn about affiliates’ practices from different cultural perspectives.

In this edition, you will find two articles written by two specialists, Dr. Andy Curtis, Anaheim University, California, USA, and TESOL President-Elect, whose article is titled “A Brief History of the TESOL Affiliates,” and Dr. Okon Effiong, Qatar University, whose article is called “A Friend in Your Pocket: Using Voice Recorders as Learning Tools in the L2 Classroom.”

You will also find leadership updates, affiliate updates from TESOL affiliates around the world (TESOL France, BRAZ TESOL, MEXTESOL, CA&CB TESOL REGIONAL GROUP, and ARTESOL), and information on the ALC’s events at the TESOL 2014 international convention (Best of Affiliates sessions, Affiliate Colloquium,Affiliate Workshop, and Affiliate Editors’ Workshop). These reports will be of help for affiliate leaders in the organization of professional activities.

TESOL ALC would like to share two videos with the Affiliate Leaders Community:

1. In Memory of Kevin Cleary. An article about Kevin Cleary, written by Janet Pierce, Debbie West, and Maria Trapero, can be found in the ALC newsletter, February 2014 Issue.
2. TESOL 2014 Memories. Thanks for sharing your best memories from TESOL 2014. We hope you enjoy watching the video TESOL ALC created for you!

On behalf of the ALC team, I would like to conclude this first message as the newsletter editor by expressing our sincere gratitude to Dr. Andy Curtis, TESOL President-Elect, for his support to the TESOL Affiliate News.

I hope readers will like this new edition of the TESOL Affiliate News, and I encourage them to send the newsletter to TESOL affiliate boards and members. I would also like to encourage them to send their comments or questions about this newsletter or submit an article. Please e-mail me at anamariarocca@gmail.com.

Ana María Rocca, MA
ALC Member A
Argentina TESOL Vice President