By the time you read this, the TEAI Board of Directors will have had our final meeting before we convene in Peoria for the Illinois Technology Education Conference (ITEC). Preparations for ITEC 2009 are being finalized. Presentation proposals are being reviewed and the schedule will be decided upon soon. However, there is still time in which to submit an application for a session. The presentation form can be accessed at ilcte.org
(calendar>November>ITEC>view event description).  

This is the final year of our contract with the Holiday Inn City Centre in Peoria. The 2010 conference will be held at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. Plan to join us at this beautiful new venue. The Marriott is located in uptown Normal and is adjacent to the ISU campus. 

As indicated previously, the TEAI board has decided to resurrect the concept of regional directors and roundtables. This initiative has progressed rapidly. There were four roundtables throughout the state during the past school year and some plans for 2009-2010 are already in the works. Watch for further information at teaillinois.org. 

I will be passing on the presidential gavel at the conference in November and settling into Past President mode. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our colleagues for their participation as conference attendees, presenters, and as contributors to the Illinois Journal of Technology Education. In addition, my gratitude goes out to our vendors for their continued support. In particular, I want to acknowledge the members of the TEAI board. These individuals donate their time and efforts to provide professional development opportunities for the Technology Education/Industrial Technology/Pre-Engineering teachers of Illinois. These activities ultimately result in quality experiences for our students. I thank the board for their ideas, cooperation, efforts, camaraderie, and senses of humor during my tenure as President of the Technology Education Association of Illinois.