MIDTESOL Matters Summer 2001

Greetings MIDTESOL Members: 

It has been a couple months since TESOL 2001 in St. Louis, yet my feet are still sore from traversing the convention center and my waistline has not yet recovered from the luscious Sunday brunch and the Mardi Gras dinners at the Adam’s Mark. However, I will remember the experience well for the wonderful workshops and the great new friends I made.

Before I get into the meat of my letter, I want to let you know that I got a nice note from Chuck Amorosino of TESOL central office. He wanted to let you know that TESOL is aware of the issues discussed in my last “Letter from the President” regarding the quality of the summer 2000 TESOL Academy in Chicago. He assured me that TESOL is working hard to make significant, positive changes. From several communications with Chuck, I am so confident that this year’s Chicago TESOL Academy will be a great experience that I encourage members to attend it and to apply for the MIDTESOL Academy Scholarship. I will be there and hope to see lots of MIDTESOL members there as well.

As you might already know, at every TESOL conference the host affiliate selects a deserving person to receive TESOL’s annual advocacy award. This year, MIDTESOL honored Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. It was the first time TESOL awarded a politician for this role as an advocate for immigrants and refugees.

When Governor Tom Vilsack took office more than two years ago, Iowa’s economy was riding the wave of good economic times. Many parts of the state had reached full employment and jobs were plentiful. However, he realized, as did the governor’s immigration task force, that Iowa needed more people. Why? Simply put, more young people were leaving the state than were moving in and being born. Despite the exodus, business and industry have been booming. Nevertheless, businesses have realized that they can’t continue this trend unless they can find people to maintain current operations and justify further expansion.

Therefore, a proposal was made which sets a goal of attracting more than 300,000 immigrants and refugees to the state by the year 2010. Although Tom Vilsack is making efforts to attract former Iowans back to the state, he and the commission realized that immigration was the solution. They concluded that inviting “New Iowans” would diversify Iowa and save the economy from a serious labor shortage.

There has been strong opposition due to the stereotypes many Iowans have of foreigners. But with his unwavering struggle for change and acceptance, Governor Vilsack has rolled out the welcome mat for immigrants and refugees. In the face of strong criticism, the governor has stood firm and consistently calls for tolerance and understanding--which are also reflected in all of his policies and initiatives. For example, he has rejected all notions of English Only laws; he has promised to use his veto when and if English Only legislation crosses his desk. Tom Vilsack has taken an important stand despite the negative political ramifications.

Additionally, Governor Vilsack has proposed special Immigration Enterprise Zones, areas for which he seeks exemption from federal immigration quotas. Fort Dodge and Marshalltown are serving as models for these enterprise zones and are also performing as laboratories of how Iowa’s cities and towns can adjust and, yes, blossom with an influx of immigrants. For example, formerly boarded up downtown areas are now being reborn with businesses set up by immigrant entrepreneurs. A trip through the new shops in the ghost town that was once downtown Waterloo is just a preview to what the governor’s policies could unleash.

Courageous leaders like Governor Vilsack deserve recognition to reassure them that they are doing the right thing. Therefore, if you are living in Iowa, please send Tom Vilsack a letter or call to let him know how you feel about the issues that affect your students.

According to a sarcastic quip in the back pages of the journal State Legislator, cheese fondue may be what most Midwesterners think of as a melting pot. It’s funny but it’s true. It will take a lot of advocacy to make Iowa and the Midwest a true melting pot, mosaic or salad bowl for the new millennium. Tom Vilsack is working toward that goal, so we as members of this international association present Tom Vilsack with the TESOL 2001 advocacy award.

That’s all for now. Write to me and let me know what YOU think. 

Tom Riedmiller

President, MIDTESOL

president@MIDTESOL.org

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