Warm autumn greetings as we enjoy one of the nicest times in the year, albeit tremendously busy! AASWG work accomplished during 2008 so far has been considerable, thanks to the seeming indefatigable commitment and effort of many people. It has been a year of renewal and confidence in the ever-growing strength of our Association to achieve its purposes.

Since you are reading this on the Community News Blog, you have made the leap to AASWG’s new emphasis on web communication. We have a good foot-hold in the cyberworld, thanks first to Tim Kelly, our past webmaster, and to his replacement, Andrew Cicchetti. The Board approved a decision over a year ago to engage a web consultant to design a new website for us. The original was serviceable but advances in web capabilities made it necessary for a serious overhaul. The consultant and Andrew have been working together for the past months. Please familiarize yourself with our new, improved site and use it to participate with colleagues and with the Association. It is a rich resource for information about groupwork practice and education and who’s doing it. Jump in and be part of the international network of AASWG.  

The highlight for many of us this year was the annual symposium, held, for the first time outside North America, in Köln, Germany. For the German Chapter, the dream of hosting the symposium finally was realized, and they did the job wonderfully well, building in opportunities for academic sharing, personal networking, and for expanding awareness of the beautiful, historic city. The German Chapter very capably undertook all symposium tasks with diligence and care, dealing all the while with the challenge of two languages. This symposium was a particular example of teamwork among the trans-Atlantic partners that participated in the overall planning. Thanks and kudos to all members of the German planning group (at the risk of slighting others, I must name Ingrun Masanek for individual recognition), and to Sue Henry, all of whom worked tirelessly for many months.

At the Board meeting in Köln, a number of significant items were presented, one of them being a revision of the AASWG Bylaws. A Bylaws Revision Task Force, chaired by Ellen Sue Mesbur,  had reworked our last edition to make changes mostly to reflect the current and preferred ways of operating. It was with joy and satisfaction in a job well done that the revised bylaws were approved by the Board and at the General Membership Meeting. Sonia Spelters had them translated into German as well. They may be viewed on the AASWG website in both languages.

As a result of the elections process this spring, four new Members-at-Large were welcomed to the Board at the General Membership Meeting: Olga Molina, Silke Schippers, Barbara Jackson, and Jennifer Clements; and Andrew Cicchetti as Vice President. The Executive Committee at present consists of Andrew, Michael Wagner (secretary), Dominique Moyse Steinberg (treasurer), Linda McArdle (Chair of Chapter Development), Ellen Sue Mesbur (Chair of the Commission on Group Work in Social Work Education), Greg Tully (Chair of Membership), Carol Kuechler (Interim Chair of the Symposium Committee, recently replacing Sue Henry), and me. John Ramey continues as an Honorary Adjunct Member of the committee. We said good-bye and a heart-felt thank you, from the Board but not from AASWG, to Tim Kelly, the outgoing Vice President, and to Members-at-Large who had finished their terms: Cheryl Lee, Alex Gitterman, and Ann Bergart. Ann will continue for two more years, however, as the representative to the Board for the Illinois Symposium.

Institutional and Individual Membership numbers are steady this year so far. This is a notable accomplishment since in other years, we gain a good number of new members who join because they are presenting at the symposium, but this did not happen this year. The increase in student memberships again has been excellent, however, a trend that bodes well for our future.

The Chapters are holding their own, often struggling to keep a momentum of volunteer staffing and relevant programming. On a promising note, there is organizing activity in several locations.

The group planning the 2009 symposium in Illinois next June is moving along at a quick pace. See the Call for Proposals on the AASWG website. This will offer a unique opportunity for taking in the Institutes at Lake Geneva, a relaxing and lovely camp about three hours from Chicago. Bus transportation will be provided to facilitate the travel between the two symposium venues. A reception at Hull House, the settlement house established and made famous by Jane Addams, will be a very special symposium feature! Please see the website for lots of information on what’s in store for us. The Co-chairs, Ann Bergart abergart@aurora.edu  and Joyce Webster joycewebster@gmail.com, are highly accessible and eager to answer any questions you may have.

Be in touch please, with comments, questions, and offers to be more active in AASWG! Groupwork needs you because people need groupwork.

Best regards,
Nancy
nancys@mun.ca