Who are members of Illinois TESOL-BE?

Teachers, students, administrators, researchers, curriculum developers, tutors, volunteers, parents, consultants, editors and other interested individuals.

I'm interested in the TESOL or BE profession. How do I begin? 

A great way to begin is by joining or volunteering in the Illinois TESOL-BE organization. You will quickly gain experience in the field as well as make lasting connections with other TESOL and BE professionals. Please view the Illinois TESOL-BE membership webpage for more information on how to join or volunteer.
If you are interested in enrolling in a TESOL or BE program that is located in the state of Illinois, view the School resources webpage. If you would like to browse through online TESOL and BE related journals, view the Online Journals webpage. If you are interested in finding employment or volunteer work in the field of TESOL or BE, view the Job Opportunities webpage.

What professional publication does Illinois TESOL-BE have?

ITBE Newsletter. It contains articles and essay which address all areas of the teaching of English as a second language or dialect and bilingual education. The newsletter also includes announcements, interest sections, reports, and book reveries. It is published quarterly. For more information, view the ITBE Newsletter webpage.

What events does Illinois TESOL-BE hold?

• Annual Convention, held in the first third of the year;
• Spring Workshop, held in the spring of the year;
• Fall Workshop, held in the fall of the year.

What are the benefits to being an Illinois TESOL-BE member?

• Subscription to ITBE Newsletter; 
• Reduced convention/conference fees;
• Free or reduced admission to workshops;
• Eligibility for scholarships;
• Membership in special interest group;
• Access to job opportunities email list;
• Access to material exhibits;
• Access to Member Log-In Area.

What is a SIG?

SIG stands for Special Interest Group. Illinois TESOL-BE has four SIGs: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Adult Education, and Higher Education.

What do SIGs do?

In the most basic sense, SIGs serve as a conduit for information from the field to the Illinois TESOL-BE board, the standing committees, and Illinois TESOL-BE 's greater membership. SIGs provide a forum for professionals in similar educations setting to meet, exhcage information, network and keep the Illinois TESOL-BE board and membership apprised of issues that concern the SIG.

What if I am interested in more than one SIG?

You can only vote in one SIG, but you are welcome to attend the meetings and activities of as many SIGs as you please. Many ESL-BE professionals work in more than one area.

How do I earn CPDUs through ITBE events?

You can earn CPDU's by attending both of ITBE's fall and spring workshops as well as the annual convention.
For more information on how to obtain Illinois State Board of Education Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs), please view Illinois State Board of Education Certification website.

For more information on each Board position, view TESOL-BE's Constitution and Bylaws.

For more information on each Board position, view TESOL-BE's Constitution and Bylaws.

For more information on each Board position, view TESOL-BE's Constitution and Bylaws.

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Joseph Hester

Adult Education SIG Chair 
Contact: adultsig@itbe.org

Joseph Hester is an Adult Education ESL Instructor at the College of Lake County. He completed his MA in Linguistics / TESOL at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2005 under the supervision of Elliot Judd. In addition to teaching ESL, he has served ESL programs in a variety of roles including as a manager of ESL faculty, assessment, tutoring, and resources. He is dedicated to serving and assisting in the development of ESL students, instructors, and the TESOL profession.  He has served on the ITBE Board since 2018 as Awards Chair and Adult Ed SIG Chair. In his free time, he loves spending time with his family, exercising, and listening to audiobooks. 

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HIGHER EDUCATION 

Ishmael Neequaye

Higher Education SIG Chair 
Contact: highsig@itbe.org

Ishmael Neequaye is a native of Jamestown, a suburb in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. He has a background in English Education at the undergraduate and master’s levels from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana from 2017 - 2023. He holds a teaching license in secondary education from the Ghana National Teaching Council and has taught ESL at the secondary and tertiary levels in Ghana since 2015. His research interests are vocabulary studies, curriculum studies, second language assessment, and teacher education. Currently, he serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Consultant Mentor in the Writing Program at Illinois State University. Aside from that, he is a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Council and the Graduate Student Advisory Council. Outside of ISU, he serves on the ITBE Board as a Co-Chair of the Higher Education SIG and is also a member of the TESOL International Association. 

Michael Wannah

Higher Education SIG Chair 
Contact: highsig@itbe.org

Dr. Michael Wannah is an Associate Professor of Education in the Department of Education Studies and the coordinator of ESL and Bilingual Education at Chicago State University. Dr. Wannah also taught ESL, Bilingual Education, TESOL, Curriculum and Instructions, and Foundations of Education courses at Concordia University Chicago. Dr. Wannah is a lifelong educator and serves as the Vice President of the Liberian Studies Association. He enjoys spending time with my family and friends, reading, writing, watching sports, cooking, listening to all kinds of music, deejaying and just joling around. Dr. Wannah obtained his Undergraduate Degree from the Urban Pontifical University in Rome, He received a Master and a Ph.D. in Education from Loyola University, Chicago. He also received a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with Advanced Professional Specialization and an ESL certificate from National Louis University.

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SECONDARY EDUCATION

Lila Birchfield

Secondary Education SIG Co-Chair
Contact: secondarysig@itbe.org
Lila Birchfield earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Spanish/Secondary Education from Millikin University in 1977. She began her teaching career at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. While at St. Viator, she became the ESL tutor for the religious sisters who
worked for the Clerics of St. Viator. That experience sparked her interest in teaching ESL which led her to earn a Master of Arts in Linguistics with an endorsement in ESL from Northeastern Illinois University in 1984. In the same year, she began teaching at Glenbard North High School where she taught world languages and ESL classes, eventually being appointed the ESL Coordinator. After her retirement from Glenbard North in 2010, she continued to work with high school students. In the summers of 2011 and 2012, she traveled to Nowy Sacz, Poland to teach in the Young Talents Summer School, a project sponsored by the European Union through National Louis University and its sister university Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu. Additionally, she has taught teacher certification classes in Curriculum and Instruction at National Louis University and a reading course to international students at Roosevelt University. As an independent tutor, she provides academic support for struggling students and enrichment activities for talented students. She has been teaching English Language Acquisition classes at Harper College since 2004 and has served as the Secondary Interest Group Chair for ITBE since 2010.

Jerry Kim

Secondary Education SIG Co-Chair
Contact: secondarysig@itbe.org 

Jerry Kim is entering his 16th year as a high school English and Multilingual educator. He currently teaches high school students English at Niles Township High School District 219. Prior to coming to his current district, he taught in other school districts around the Chicagoland area suburbs, as well as in central Illinois. Jerry earned his Bachelor of Science in Instructional Technology and Telecommunications from Western Illinois University in 2001. After working in the corporate sector as a training coordinator, he taught martial arts (which he had done since high school). He then completed his English teaching certification, ESL endorsement, and eventually received his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University. In his free time, Jerry enjoys traveling with his wife and 3-year-old son, weightlifting, playing the drums, dabbling in tech, and is constantly searching for the best Korean food outside of his home country of South Korea.

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ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Susie LaBelle

Elementary Education SIG Chair
Contact: elemsig@itbe.org

2024 - 2025 Board Meeting Schedule 

Date	Location
July 27, 2024	Virtual
August 17, 2024	Virtual
September 14, 2024	Virtual
October 12, 2024	Virtual
October 19, 2024	Online Fall Workshop
November 16, 2024	Virtual
December 14, 2024	Virtual
Jan     Date TBD	Virtual
February 21-22, 2025	ITBE Convention     Location: Sheraton Lisle Naperville Hotel
March 15, 2025	Virtual
April 26, 2025	Virtual
May 17, 2025	Virtual
June 7, 2025	In Person-onboarding meeting/transition (Location TBA)

Articles of the Constitution

Article I. Name
Article II. Mission
Article III. Membership
Article IV. Regional Chapters
Article V. Special Interest Groups
Article VI. Administration
Article VII. Nominations and Elections
Article VIII. Vacancies in the Executive Board
Article IX. Removal from Office
Article X. Meetings
Article XI. Fiscal Year
Article XII. Amendments

Article I. Name

The name of the Association shall be the Illinois Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and Bilingual Education (Illinois TESOL-BE or ITBE). The Association is an affiliate of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL). 

Article II. Mission

A. Illinois TESOL-BE is a professional, non-profit organization for the strengthening, at all levels, of instruction and research in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages and in bilingual education through the promotion of scholarship, the dissemination of information, and advocacy, in cooperation with other groups and organizations having similar concerns.

B. Illinois TESOL-BE respects and celebrates the home languages and cultures of its members and of all English language learners and bilingual speakers.

Article III. Membership

A.  Membership in Illinois TESOL-BE shall be open to any individual who are involved with teaching English to speakers of other languages, bilingual education, or other related fields.

B.  In principle and in practice, Illinois TESOL-BE values and seeks diverse and inclusive participation within the field of English language teaching. Illinois TESOL-BE promotes involvement and broad access to professional opportunities for all and works to eliminate any kind of discrimination including, but not limited to, language background, race, creed, color, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, health/medical condition, religion, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, appearance, geographic location, or marital status.

C. A member shall be a member-in-good-standing upon application and payment of the dues of the organization, as established by the Executive Board.

D. Members in good standing shall be entitled to participate in the activities of Illinois TESOL-BE, including votes of the general membership, attendance at all meetings of the Association, and membership in a Special Interest Group (Refer to Bylaws, Article I, for membership benefits).

E. All votes of the general membership shall be by a simple majority of those voting, unless otherwise stipulated in the Constitution or Bylaws.

Article IV. Regional Chapters

A. Regional Chapters of Illinois TESOL-BE may be established at the discretion of the Executive Board upon the request of such a group from a specific geographic region.

1. The Regional Chapters shall present a Statement of Purpose and a set of Bylaws to the Executive Board for approval. 
2. The Regional Chapters shall present to the Executive Board a list of at least ten members in good standing who will e members of a particular Regional Chapter.
3. The Regional Chapters may provide professional workshops and request a budget from the Executive Board for the expenses of the Regional Chapters.

B. A representative from each Regional Chapter shall be elected annually to serve as a voting member of the Executive Board.

Article V. Special Interest Groups

A. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of Illinois TESOL-BE may be established at the discretion of the Executive Board upon the request of such a group.

1. The Special Interest Groups shall present a Statement of Purpose to the Executive Board for approval.

2. The Special Interest Groups shall present to the Executive Board a list of at least thirty members in good standing who will be members of a particular Special Interest Group. If thirty members minimum cannot be met, the creation of the Special Interest Group will be at the discretion of the Executive Board with a two-thirds vote necessary for creation.

3. The Special Interest Groups may request a budget from the Executive Board for the expenses of the Special Interest Groups.

B. The Chairs of the Special Interest Groups shall be elected annually and shall be voting members of the Executive Board.

Article VI. Administration

A. Executive Board

1. The Executive Board shall be the governing body of Illinois TESOL-BE. It shall be responsible for the operations,
    finances, and policies of the Association, both current and long-range.
2. The Officers of Illinois TESOL-BE shall be the President, the Vice President and the Convention Committee Chair.
3. The Executive Board of Illinois TESOL-BE shall consist of the Officers, the Past President, the Past Convention
    Committee Chair, the Associate Convention Committee Chair, the Executive Secretary, the Treasurer, the Editor of the
    Newsletter, the Director of Exhibits and Advertising, members-at-large elected by the membership, members-at-large
    appointed by the President, Special Interest Group Chairs, and Regional Chapter representatives.
4. The Executive Board shall be constituted annually, from July 1 through June 30.

5. All members of the Executive Board shall be voting members of the Executive Board.
6. A quorum shall be a simple majority of the Executive Board.
7. All votes of the Executive Board shall be by a simple majority of those present unless otherwise stated in the
   Constitution and Bylaws.
8. All members of the Executive Board must be members in good standing of Illinois TESOL-BE. The officers of the
   Executive Board shall also be members in good-standing of TESOL.
9. The Executive Board shall establish annually a regular schedule for business meetings, which shall be open to the
    general membership and in communication with the membership such as in the Association newsletter and ITBE
    website.
10. The Executive Board shall approve, by a two-thirds vote, an annual budget for the Association.
11. The business meetings of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts' Rules of Order.

B. Standing Committees

1. Standing committees may be formed by the respective Executive Board Chair and may include, but not be limited to,
    the Planning Committee, the Annual Convention Committee, the Newsletter Committee, the Nominations Committee,
    the Advocacy Committee, the Professional Development Committee, the Publicity Committee, the Awards
    Committee, the Budget Committee, the Part-Time Issues Committee, and the Technology Committee.

2. Standing Committee Chairs shall be appointed by the President from the members of the Association with the
    approval of the Executive Board, for a term to coincide with that of the President.

3. Committee members shall be appointed by the various Chairs in accordance with the Bylaws for the term of the Chair
    and with the approval of the Executive Board. Committee members shall reflect, as much as possible, the
    geographical and professional distribution of the membership.

4. Standing Committee Chairs shall appoint subcommittee chairs as needed and coordinate the activities of the subcommittees. Standing Committee Chairs or their Board liaisons shall present reports at business meetings of  the Executive Board.

5. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and may appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board, other ex-officio members to all committees except the Nominations Committee.

C. Ad Hoc Committees

1. The President may appoint ad hoc committees with the approval of, or at the request of, the Executive Board.
2. Chairs of ad hoc committees shall be appointed from the membership of the Association by the President with the
    approval of the Executive Board.
3. Ad hoc committees shall be appointed for specific reasons and for specified periods of time, generally terminating no
    later than the end of the President's term of office unless otherwise authorized by the Executive Board.
4. Chairs or Board liaisons of ad hoc committees shall present reports at business meetings of the Executive Board.

Article VII. Nominations and Elections

A. A general election shall be held annually. The Nominations Chair, the Past-President, shall request names of
    nominees to the various offices from the general membership. A final slate of candidates shall be approved by the
    Executive Board and submitted to the membership for a vote.

B. All elected Executive Board members shall assume office on July 1 and be introduced to the general membership at
    the first fall meeting of the Association.

Article VIII. Vacancies in the Executive Board

A. A vacancy in the Office of President shall be immediately filled by the Vice President, who shall serve for the
     remainder of this term and for the duly-elected term. A presidential appointee shall then fulfill the duties of the Vice
     President during the year of the vacancy.

B. A vacancy in the Office of Vice President shall be filled by a special general election. The election shall be conducted
     within 45 days of the day of vacancy. The Executive Board shall submit the name(s) of nominee(s) for that election. If
     the election is not completed by July 1, the outgoing president shall remain in office until the election is completed.

C. A vacancy in a member at large position shall be filled by presidential appointment with the approval of the Executive
    Board. The appointee shall hold office until the following election. The Nominations Committee shall provide the names
    of suitable candidates to fill the remaining one-/two-year vacancy. These names shall be presented as part of the
    annual slate of candidates for office.

D. A vacancy in any appointed position (such as Convention Committee Chair) shall be filled by the Executive Board with
    a two-thirds vote. The length of the appointment shall be decided by the Board, not to exceed the remainder of the
    term being vacated. The membership grants the Executive Board the ability to fill a vacant board or vacated position
    with another candidate that will be appointed to the vacant or vacated position without a call for a general vote to the
    membership, but rather only with a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board. This candidate will be considered a full
    member of the ITBE Executive Board as long as the candidate is a member and in good standing. The term of a
    member voted onto the Board in this manner will not exceed the general appointed term of the vacated position.

E. A vacancy in the position of SIG Chair or Regional Chapter representative shall be filled by a special election of the
    SIG or Regional Chapter membership no later than the conclusion of the next meeting of the SIG or Regional Chapter.

Article IX. Removal from Office

A. A request for resignation of a member of the Executive Board may be made upon a two-thirds vote of the members of
    the Executive Board. The request for resignation shall be made in writing either electronically or otherwise by the
    President and submitted to the board member following a discussion by the Executive Board about the removal.
    Following this action, if the member chooses not to resign, then the member may be removed by a two-thirds vote of
    the Executive Board at a subsequent meeting. The member shall be given the opportunity to defend his/her case prior
    to this final vote. If the member cannot be contacted, or does not respond to the request for resignation before the next
    scheduled board meeting, they waive their right to defend their case and may be immediately removed with a two-
    thirds vote of the members of the Executive Board.

B. Any member of the Executive Board may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the membership as a whole. 

Article X. Meetings

A. The Association shall hold an Annual Business and Professional Meeting, called the Illinois TESOL-BE Annual
     Convention, for the purposes of professional development and advancement. The time and place of the Annual
     Convention shall be determined at least ten months in advance.

B. There shall be at least two professional development meetings (e.g. webinars, workshops, etc.) of the Association per
     year, not including the Annual Convention, for the purpose of professional development.

Article XI. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of Illinois TESOL-BE shall be July 1 through June 30.  

Article XII. Amendments

A. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board or by petition to
    the Executive Board of any ten members in good standing of the Association.

B. Any proposed amendment must be presented with full rationale to the Association membership within ninety days of
    its acceptance by the Executive Board.

C. Each Association member will be issued a ballot and allowed thirty days to vote.

D. An amendment shall be considered enacted if two-thirds of those voting approve. Counting and certification of any vote
    shall be done by the Executive Secretary and the President, and shall be announced to the Executive Board and to
    the Association membership .

Bylaws

Article I. Membership
Article II. Finances
Article III. Compliance with TESOL
Article IV. Terms and Functions of the Executive Board
Article V. Standing Committees
Article VI. Electronic Voting
Article VII. Online ITBE Board Management System
Article VIII. Amendments

Article I. Membership

A. All members in good standing shall have the right to:

        1. Hold office in the Association,

        2. Attend all professional and business meetings, workshops, lectures, seminars, conventions, and other
            gatherings of an educational nature held under the auspices of the Association,

        3. Register for Association events at reduced member rates or at no charge, as applicable,

        4. Receive the Association newsletter and other mailings to the general membership,

        5. Belong to a Special Interest Group (SIG) and vote at its meetings,

        6. Vote on all matters concerning the general membership, as stated in the Constitution and the Bylaws,

        7. Serve on and chair committees of the Association,

        8. Present suggestions and requests of a professional nature to the Executive Board,

        9. Make nominations through the Nominations Committee or by petition to the Executive Board, and

        10. Apply for Association awards.

B. Annual dues shall be established by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board. Any change in dues shall become effective the fiscal year after the year in which it is approved. The Executive Board may establish special categories of membership and the criteria for such categories, special time periods of membership, and special dues particular to each. It is the general policy of Illinois TESOL/BE that fees or charges associated with the services and programs may be waived or reduced in accordance with a participant's ability to pay. The Executive Board shall have the necessary discretion to make such waivers or reductions, when appropriate, in accordance with the approved budget and scholarship/grant awards policy. Program fee schedules shall be set in accordance with Illinois requirements for tax-exempt organizations.

C. All fees for the Annual Convention shall be established upon recommendation of the Convention Chair with a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board at least one hundred twenty days prior to the Convention.

D. Non-members may be charged a fee to attend professional meetings. This fee may be waived for members of the organizations jointly sponsoring programs.

Article II. Finances

A. The Treasurer, as the chief financial officer of the Association, shall be authorized to conduct the financial affairs of the Association. In the instances when the Treasurer is unable to act as the chief financial officer of the Association, the President shall be so authorized. If for some reason both the Treasurer and the President are unable to act, the Vice President shall be so authorized.

B. Any expenditure which exceeds the amount in the budget approved by the Executive Board need not be paid by the Association.

C. All bills authorized by the Executive Board shall be paid within thirty days of their receipt. The Association shall not be liable for bills received after one year of their authorization.

D. No member of the Association shall be authorized to:

        1. Borrow money in the name of the Association, or

        2. Lend the Association's monies.

E. No member of the Association shall receive payment for services (time and/or labor) rendered to the Association,except by prior approval of two-thirds of the Executive Board.

F. The President, The Vice President, and the Treasurer shall have access to the online accounting software Quickbooks.

Article III. Compliance with TESOL

A. The Past President, as liaison officer with TESOL, shall complete the Annual Report required by TESOL. It shall be made available to any member upon request and may be printed in the Newsletter.

B. The President shall be the delegate of the Association to the Affiliate Assembly of TESOL. If the President is unable to be the delegate, the Vice President shall be an alternate delegate. If both the President and the Vice President are unable to be the delegate to the Affiliate Assembly, an alternate delegate to the Affiliate Assembly shall be chosen by the Executive Board from among those past Presidents of the Association who will be attending the Annual Convention of TESOL. If none of the above is available, the Executive Board shall choose the alternate delegate from among the other members of the Executive Board who will be attending the convention.

Article IV. Terms and Functions of the Executive Board 

A. President

1. The President shall serve for one year, from July 1 through June 30.

2. The President shall

3. (a) preside over all meetings of the Association,

4. (b) appoint all chairs of standing committees, not otherwise designated elsewhere in the Constitution or Bylaws,

5. (c) with the Executive Secretary, act as the chief official representative of the Association,

6. (d) submit an annual calendar to the Executive Board for approval at its first meeting of the year,

7. (e) serve as an ex-officio member of all standing and ad hoc committees,

8. (f) with the Vice President and the Executive Secretary, count and certify all mail and electronic ballots of the  Association, and

9. (g) make appointments, with the approval of the Executive Board, to fill vacancies on the Board as specified in Article VIII of the Constitution (p. 4).

10. The President may:

11. (a) appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board, not more than three members at large to the Executive Board whose terms shall expire with that of the President, and

12. (b) appoint a Parliamentarian, whose term shall expire with that of the President, to assist in the running of business meetings.

B. Past President

1. The Past President shall serve for one year, from July 1 through June 30.

2. The Past President shall

3. (a) serve as official liaison to TESOL, other TESOL affiliates, and other organizations with similar concerns

4. (b) write the annual report

5. (c) advise and assist the President, and

6. (d) be available to serve on Standing or Ad Hoc Committees

C . Vice President

1. The Vice President shall be elected for a term of one year, from July 1 through June 30, and be the President-Elect of the Association.

2. The Vice President shall

3. (a) preside at all official occasions when the President is absent, upon the request of the President or the Executive Secretary,

4. (b) be responsible for the recording, certification, and announcement of all votes cast by the Executive Board and the general membership,

5. (c) be responsible for coordinating the selection of the future Convention site as specified in Article X of the Constitution, and

6. (d) with the President and the Executive Secretary, count and certify all mail and electronic ballots of the Association.

C. Convention Committee Chair (which is by de facto the Vice President unless otherwise filled as its own chair)

1. The Convention Committee Chair will be appointed by the President

2. As chair of the Annual Convention, the Convention Committee Chair shall

3. (a) plan, prepare, promote, implement, and evaluate the Annual Convention;

4. (b) appoint, not later than September 1 and with the approval of the Executive Board, all subcommittees needed to implement the Annual Convention;

5. (c) report the progress of the Annual convention at each Executive Board meeting; and

6. (d) compile all subcommittee reports into a final report no later than sixty days after the Annual Convention.

F. Executive Secretary

1. The Executive Secretary shall be appointed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board for a term of two years. The appointment may be renewed for additional two-year periods or extended for one-year periods.

2. The Executive Secretary shall act as the recorder of all business meetings of the Association,

3. The Executive Secretary shall:

4. (a) with the President, act as the official representative of the Association,

5. (b) with the Treasurer, coordinate all financial records pertinent to membership, such as membership dues and convention registration,

6. (c) be responsible for maintaining accurate, up-to-date lists for the Association, including membership records of SIGs and committee work preferences,

7. (d) secure and maintain the official mailing address for the Association,

8. (e) be responsible, along with the Membership Committee, for the registration/membership procedures, materials and personnel at all professional meetings of the Association, including the Annual Convention,

9. (f) be responsible for all official mailings* of the Association, and

10. (g) with the President and the Vice President, count and certify all mail and electronic ballots of the Association.

11. (h) be responsible for the maintenance of the documents of the Association, including but not limited to an accurate, up-to-date list of rules and regulations, files of minutes of all meetings, amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association, position papers, public testimony, reports, and policies,

G. Treasurer

1. The Treasurer shall be appointed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board for a term of two years. The appointment may be renewed for additional two-year periods or extended for one-year periods.

2. The Treasurer shall:

3. (a) act as chief financial officer of the Association,

4. (b) provide accurate monthly accounting and a fiscal year-end report reviewed by an outside accountant of Association funds and their disbursement,

5. (c) submit a final accounting of the Annual Convention income and expenses to the Convention Committee Chair no later than forty-five days after the Annual Convention,

6. (d) with the Executive Secretary, coordinate all financial records pertinent to membership, such as membership dues and convention registration,

7. (e) chair the Budget Committee,

8. (f) submit an annual budget for the Association to the Executive Board for approval no later than September 1 of each year.

H. Editor of the Newsletter

1. The Editor of the Newsletter shall be appointed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board for a period of two years.The appointment may be renewed for additional two-year periods or extended for one-year periods.

2. The Editor of the Newsletter shall

3. (a) be responsible for the publication and dissemination of news and information concerning the Association, the teaching of English to speakers of other languages, bilingual education, and other related fields through the newsletter as stipulated in the Constitution and Bylaws,

4. (b) serve as Chair of the Newsletter Committee and appoint members to the Newsletter Committee,

5. (c) set dates of publication for the newsletter, in coordination with the Director of Exhibits and Advertising and with the approval of the Executive Board, and

6. (d) act as the publication liaison to TESOL and other TESOL affiliates.

I. Director of Exhibits and Advertising

1. The Director of Exhibits and Advertising shall be appointed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board for a period of three years. The appointment may be renewed for additional three-year periods or extended for one-year periods.

2. The Director of Exhibits and Advertising shall

3. (a) be responsible for the Association's contact with all commercial exhibitors and advertisers,

4. (b) with the approval of the Executive Board, set fees annually for commercial exhibiting and advertising, and

5. (c) assist in the site selection for the Annual Convention.

J. Technology Chair

1. The Technology Chair which shall be appointed by the Executive Board for a term of 2 years.

2. This Chair shall be responsible for editing the ITBE website in collaboration with the Webmaster, updating the membership database along with the Database Manager, and employing any Board-approved web applications to send notifications to the membership on an as-needed basis.

3. This Chair, with applicable committee chairs and the participating venue audio-visual staff, shall be responsible for assisting appropriate AV needs for all ITBE events.

K. Members-At-Large

1. Members-at-large fall into two categories: nine elected by the membership and up to a maximum of three appointed by the President. Elected Members-at-large shall be elected for three-year terms. Three members shall be elected each year. Members appointed by the President shall serve one year to correspond with the term of the President.

2. All Members-at-large shall:

3. (a) serve as liaisons to and chairs of standing and/or ad hoc committees,

4. (b) support the officers and other members of the Executive Board, and

5. (c) actively participate in the business and activities of the Association.

L. Special Interest Group Chairs

1. Special Interest Group Chairs shall be elected by their respective memberships no later than May 15 and serve as members of the Executive Board for a term of one year, from July 1 through June 30.

2. Special Interest Group Chairs shall

3. (a) act as liaison of their Special Interest Group to the Executive Board.

4. (b) encourage participation of the Special Interest Group members in the activities of the Association,

5. (c) submit a budget request by August 1 and an annual report of the Special Interest Group activities by June 30 of the following year.

6. (d) represent the interests of their SIGs and make contributions to the Professional Development Events Committee, the Annual Convention Committee, and the Newsletter Committee, and

7. (e) be available for assignment to standing and/or ad hoc committees.

Article V. Standing Committees

All Standing Committees shall submit a budget request by August 1 and an annual report by June 30 of the following year. Committees shall be overseen by their respective Chair on the Executive Board.

A. Budget
1. The Budget Chair shall be the Treasurer.

2. The Budget Chair shall be responsible for submitting an annual budget for the Association to the Executive Board for its approval, no later than September 1 of each year.

3. At the first meeting of the Executive Board each year, the Budget Committee shall solicit a budget request from the Executive Secretary for the operational expenses of the Association.

4. At the first meeting of the Executive Board each year, the Budget Committee shall solicit a budget request from the Convention Chair and from the chairs of all standing and ad hoc committees to fund their projects for the year.

5. The Budget Committee shall be responsible for overseeing all financial matters of the Association.

B. Annual Convention Committee

1. The Annual Convention Committee shall be chaired by the Convention Committee Chair (VP). The Chair shall appoint subcommittee chairs as needed.

2. The Annual Convention Committee shall be responsible for the planning, publicizing, implementation, and evaluation of the Annual Convention with the cooperation of all committees of the Association.

3. A subcommittee of the Annual Convention Committee consisting of the Vice President, the Convention Chair, the Past Convention Chair, and the Director of Exhibits and Advertising shall conduct a search for the future convention site.

C. Membership and Registration

1. Membership Chair shall consist of the Operations Manager. The Chair may appoint subcommittee chairs from the Executive Board.

2. This Chair shall be responsible for supporting events and activities to promote and retain membership in the
    Association.

3. This Chair shall be responsible for registration and membership procedures for all professional meetings including the Annual Convention.

D. Newsletter

1. The Chair of the Newsletter Committee shall be the Editor of the Newsletter. The Chair shall appoint subcommittee chairs as needed.

2. This Committee shall be responsible for the publication of the Association newsletter.

3. Publication dates of the newsletter shall be set by the Editor of the Newsletter with the approval of the Executive Board.

E. Nominations Committee

1. The Nominations Committee shall consist of the Past President. The Chair shall appoint subcommittee chairs as needed.

2. The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for the annual election of the Association. The Nominations
    Committee shall conduct the annual election as follows:

3. (a) The Nominations Committee shall formally request names of nominees to the various offices from the general membership. This shall be done through the newsletter or a mailing no later than the annual convention.

4. (b) Nominations for Vice President and Members-at-large of the Executive Board shall be made by the Nominations Committee and presented as a slate to the Executive Board no later than March 15.

5. (c) The ballot shall list at least one nominee for the office of Vice President, and at least six nominees for three Member-at-large positions.

6. (d) The names of additional nominees may be placed on the ballot by the petition of at least ten members of the Association in good standing if such names are presented to the Executive Board by March 15.

7. (e) The slate of nominees to the Executive Board shall, as far as possible, represent the geographic and professional distribution of the membership of the Association.

8. (f) All nominees for office shall be apprised in writing by the Nominations Committee of the responsibilities and requirements of office. The Committee shall provide each candidate with the appropriate job description. The nominees shall be required to affirm their acceptance in writing.

9. (g) The Committee shall request each candidate to inform the Chair of the Nominations Committee in writing of receipt of the appropriate job description, acceptance of the nomination, and membership-in-good-standing of the Association. Each candidate shall submit in writing to the Nominations Chair a biographical statement and any requested material pertinent to the election.

10. (h) The Committee, in cooperation with the Executive Secretary, shall be responsible for the preparation and dissemination of the ballot and all other pertinent election material.

11. (i) Ballots shall be sent to members in good standing for a secret mail vote no later than the Monday after the April board meeting.

12. (j) Ballots shall be counted and certified no later than May 15. A tie will be broken by secret ballot of the Executive Board.

13. All elected Executive Board members shall assume office on July 1 and be introduced to the general membership at the first fall meeting of the Association.

F. Advocacy

1. The Chair shall appoint committee members, as needed.

2. This Committee shall be responsible for representing and promoting the Association and its professional concerns at the local, state, and national levels, including the preparation of testimony.

3. This Committee shall keep the Association apprised of all issues and legislation relevant to the interest and needs of the membership. It shall be responsible for the dissemination of such information to the Association.

4. This Committee shall act as liaison with TESOL committees for professional concerns and advocacy.

G. Professional Development

1. The Chair shall appoint committee members, as needed.

2. This Committee shall be responsible for the planning, preparation, promotion, implementation, and evaluation of at least two professional development events annually, apart from the Annual Convention, with the cooperation of other Association committees.

H. Publicity

1. The Chair shall appoint committee members as needed.

2. This Committee shall be responsible for the dissemination of information about the activities of the Association to its members, TESOL, other professional organizations, public and private agencies, the media, and other interested persons. This Committee shall work in conjunction with the Newsletter Committee, the Annual Convention Committee, and other Association committees as needed.

I. Awards Committee

1. The Awards Committee shall consist of a Chair and at least two members, one of which should be the President. The Chair shall appoint subcommittee chairs as needed.

2. The Awards Committee shall publicize the awards, encourage applications from eligible candidates, evaluate the applications, make any recommendations to the Executive Board for its approval, and publicize the granting of the awards.

J. Technology

1. The Technology Committee shall consist of a Chair and up to two other members. The Chair shall appoint committee members as needed.

2. This Committee shall be responsible for editing the ITBE website in collaboration with the Webmaster, updating the membership database along with the Database Manager, and employing any Board-approved web applications to send notifications to the membership on an as-needed basis.

3. This Committee, with applicable committee chairs and the participating venue audio-visual staff, shall be responsible for assisting appropriate AV needs for all ITBE events.

Article VI. Electronic Voting

Electronic votes on main and secondary motions will be accepted whenever there is a need to conduct business electronically prior to the next board meeting. The process for conducting an electronic vote shall be:

A. The maker of the motion must submit the motion electronically to the Executive Secretary who will distribute it to all board members;

B. If the Executive Secretary is not able to handle the motion, the President will then take charge;

C. The e-business motion must be seconded unless it has been submitted by a committee;

D. Time for debate must be allowed for a minimum of five working days unless the Executive Secretary decides the situation warrants a more immediate response;

E. A deadline for returning votes will be stated;

F. A simple majority of the board must vote and a simple majority of those voting will carry the motion unless otherwise specified in the Constitution;

G.The Executive Secretary will be responsible for tallying, recording, and reporting on the vote.
 

Article VII. Online ITBE Board Management System

Current and incoming board members shall be issued an @itbe.org email address and be enrolled in the online board software system. This email address will be used for all official board communications. After a board member has vacated their position their email account will be terminated after a period of six months. The account, emails, and documents contained within the account remain property of the Association. The President, Vice President, and Technology Chair positions shall be granted administrative privileges and are charged with keeping the database up to date.

Article VIII. Amendments

A. Amendments to the Bylaws, not in conflict with the Constitution, may be made by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Executive Board.

B. Petitions for amendments of the Bylaws, whether by members of the Executive Board or by the membership, shall be presented to the Executive Board in writing at a regular business meeting.

An amendment to the Bylaws may not be voted on until the meeting following its initial presentation to the Executive Board. All members of the Executive Board must be apprised of the amendment by mail, prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon. A vote in writing may be accepted.

*throughout this document, "mailing(s)" or "mail" denotes electronic and/or paper mailings

ITBE was founded on October 20th, 1970

Founding Members of Illinois TESOL-BE

Nell Gonzalez (Deceased)	Vicki Gunther	Rosanne  Bell	Dee Sampson
Mary Potocki (Deceased)	Marsha Robbins Santelli	Virginia M. Welninski (Deceased)	Miriam Lykke (Deceased)
Carol Jankowski	Ed O'Hayer	Adela Weinstein	Ed Cudecki (Deceased)

Past Presidents of Illinois TESOL-BE

1. Virginia Welinski
2. Edward O'Hayer
3. Marsha Robins Santelli
4. Carol Jankowski
5. Adela Weinstein
6. Mary Potocki
7. Norma Rodriquez
8. Anna Garcia Benavides
9. Vicki Gunther
10. John Haskell
11. Richard Orem
12. John Boyd
13. Luciller Grieco
14. David Barker
15. Linda Schinke-Llano
16. Mary Ann Boyd
17. Dennis Terdy
18. Elizabeth Minicz
19. Douglas Stuart
20. Bruce Hawkins
21. Susanne Leibman
22. Catherine Porter
23. Julie Howard
24. Bozena Morton
25. Virginia Gibbons
26. Jane Curtis
27. Ana King
28. Irene Brosnahan
29. Laurie Martin
30. Fabiola Ehlers-Zavala
31. Madonna Carr
32. Yasmin Ranney
33. Kasia Stadnik
34. Russell Clark                
35. Betsy Kubota
36. Maja Teref
37. Elisa Marquez
38. Heather Torrie
39. Gevik Anbarchian
40. Miguel Fernandez
41. Debbie Sternecky
42. Lisa Barrett
43. Shane Dunkle
44. Cory Long
45. Sara Mikuluski
46. Marie Friesma
47. Akiko Ota
48. Maria Angie Remigio
49. Lauren Schultz
50. Sandra Moran
51. Alyssa Silva-Rafi