June 2008-06-17
Dear Friends,
The ISAAC Conference in Montreal is just round the corner! The Secretariat has been working hard to support Ann Sutton, Jeff Riley and the Conference organising team. I am pleased to inform that we already have more than 850 registrations. It promises to be an exciting conference! This is a special occasion because ISAAC will have completed 25 years. I do hope many of you will be there to celebrate with us.
The three projects, READ, LEAD and BUILD AAC, are progressing well despite financial constraints. The EC has worked really hard along with members of their Project task forces and committees. The Project updates are available for you to see on the ISAAC Information Exchange and website. An overall impact of these projects can be seen in an increased global awareness about ISAAC and AAC. Participation of people who use AAC in all aspects of ISAAC’s work has been an important focus. This has culminated in the Leadership Training Program, which will be presented by Sarah Lever and her group at the Conference.
You will recall that in April 2007 the Board of Directors of ISAAC had mandated that the Executive Committee develop a proposal for changed governance structures for ISAAC. Since then, the Executive Committee has prepared several working drafts and circulated these among Board members. A small group of Board members volunteered to work closely on detailing the changes and currently we are working on the bylaw changes. The Board of Directors will meet on the 2nd and 3rd of August at the biennial Board Meeting and vote on the bylaws and restructure changes, which shall be presented to you at the Membership Meeting on the 5th of August. We look forward to ISAAC growing even further in stature as a truly global organization.
Our circle of international friends has also increased and ISAAC now has a presence in Dubai. Work in South America has been growing steadily with the support of the networks that have been established through ISAAC members.
Helen Keller said “The world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.”
There are many “unsung and honest workers” across the world, whose lives in some form have been touched by ISAAC. And they in turn have made a difference to their family, community and country. Please share your stories with us. They will further enrich ISAAC.
I wish you a happy and enjoyable summer and look forward to meeting many of you in Montreal.
Sudha Kaul
President, ISAAC