March 11, 2000, San Diego, California. Attending: (ATJ Board) Ericson, Hatasa, Hijirida, Kataoka, Makino, Marcus, Noda, Rabinovitch, Yasuhara, Sherif, Tohsaku, Watabe; (Journal Editors) Childs, Heinrich, Pratt, Vance, Wetzel; (Japan Foundation) Tsujimoto; (NCJLT) Kawamoto; (Alliance) Schmidt; (ATJ Officers) Miller, Rodd, Snyder

• President's Report
• Secretary's Report
• Treasurer's Report
• Newletter Editor's Report
• Journal Editor's Report
• Old Business
• New Business

President's Report

1) The report on the National Working Group on Standards-Based Instruction has been published. The NWG, funded by the U.S.-Japan Foundation, selected and funded 11 regional projects whose work is also now complete. 2) The LangNet web-based Japanese language instruction resource system for instructors and learners is in the first year of funding. 3) The Bridging Project, under the direction of Susan Schmidt, continues to disseminate information on study abroad programs in Japan and is now administering scholarships for study abroad funded by U.S. firms, the Freeman Foundation, the Starr Foundation, and others. 4) The Alliance of Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ), which currently consists of ATJ and the National Council of Japanese Language Teachers (NCJLT), is ending its first year of support from the Japan Foundation and from the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission. 5) The Professional Development Committee (Tohsaku, Chair) is beginning work on a national conference on teacher credentialing with support sought from the Japan Foundation and NEAC. The Foundation has already conducted a national survey on credentialing programs published in the current Breeze. 6) ATJ, in conjunction with the National Foreign Language Center, is currently seeking funding from the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission for development of assessment tools for study abroad programs for advanced learners. 7) AATJ is also submitting a proposal to Fulbright for a summer institute in Japan for advanced language training for non-native teachers (K-16) which would include a professional development component and a proposal to USJF for summer language and pedagogy training in the U.S. 8) ATJ continues to participate in national groups concerned with language learning issues, including: the National Council of Organizations of Less Commonly Taught Languages and the Joint National Committee on Languages/National Council of Languages and International Studies. 9) The President has been participating in the "New Visions Project," a national discussion on the future of the foreign language field. 10) The President is also serving on the board of the Aurora Foundation, which will fund summer language study in Japan for students planning to become teachers of Japanese.

Secretary's Report

ATJ Membership Breakdown

Note: The decrease in membership for 1999 is a result of a pruning of the list. Many members who had not renewed their membership for more than two years were taken off.

Mr. Isao Tsujimoto, Director of the Japan Foundation's Santa Monica office, offered greetings from the JF to the Board and gave a report on the recent role of the Foundation in promoting growth and consolidation within the field.

Treasurer's Report (Snyder for Takahara)

Newsletter Editor's Report

The Newsletter continues to solicit submissions of regional news from the Board or any other members. 2) The fall '99 issue of the newsletter included a new "New Hires" column giving information on personnel changes at institutions nationwide.

Journal Editors' Report

1) The President expressed thanks from the Association to Patricia Wetzel, who is stepping down as coordinating editor of the Journal after many years of service and many significant accomplishments, including most recently the revamping of the physical appearance of the Journal. Thanks, too, to Amy Heinrich, who is also stepping down as the literature reviews editor. 2) Timothy Vance will replace Pat Wetzel as new coordinating editor. The new language and linguistics editor will be Kim Jones, and the new literature reviews editor will be Sarah Pradt. 3) The Journal editors thank the outgoing Advisory Board for their service to the Journal; a new board will be announced soon. 4) Issue 34:1 will be published in the near future.

Old Business

1) At the Fall meeting of the Board, per recommendation of the Association's counsel, the Board voted to incorporate the Association in the State of Colorado. Motion offered to merge the Colorado Association with the existing New York Association. Motion approved unanimously.

New Business

1) Thanks to the outgoing Seminar Committee (Ericson, Kataoka, Makino, Rabinovitch, Tsuda) for organizing the San Diego seminar; the incoming committee will consist of Hatasa, Marcus, Noda, Sherif and Watabe. 2) Thanks to the outgoing Nominating Committee (Hijirida, Matsumoto, Sekine, Snyder Ohta, and Yasuhara) for their work on the 2000 Board election; the incoming committee will consist of Ericson, Kataoka, Makino, Rabinovitch, and Tsuda. 3) Funds have been received from members for the ATJ endowment; the Association is seeking possible matching funds for these contributions. 4) Discussion of dates for the fall Board meeting. 5) The incoming Seminar Committee was asked to study the question of instituting a charge for Seminar participation and attendance to begin with 2001 Seminar. 6) Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to promote interaction among ATJ members with common interests and specializations will be formed. The President will appoint provisional group leaders to initiate organization. Announcements of group formation and activities will appear in the Newsletter. Possible groups include (but are not limited to): heritage learning (Kataoka); classical Japanese pedagogy; classroom materials; professional development; study abroad.