Whole Language Umbrella Conference

The Whole Language Umbrella (WLU) is an organization made up of local whole language groups and individual members who come together under the umbrella to network and discuss issues related to whole language theory, research, and pedagogy.

Financial
Through eleven months, the Whole Language Umbrella appears to be headed for a successful financial year. From a fiscal standpoint we continue to leave behind the days of considerable deficit and build upon sizeable surplus. Through May, largely as a result of a remarkable conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, WLU was able to continue to add to both our reserve fund ($72,390 or 1½ times the operating budget of the previous year) and contingency fund ($44,458) with a total reserve and contingency fund of $131,537. These figures demonstrate both the incredible work of our executive board but also the significance of our solvency for the future. It is anticipated that we will continue to support both funds by way of having yet another successful year in 2008 as we have now opened our books to this fiscal year.

Membership
WLU experienced an overall increase in membership by 2.5%, although student membership declined slightly. Following an analysis by NCTE that examined WLU’s membership trends, the executive committee continues to find ways to address the issue of membership growth by setting an overall goal of increasing membership gradually again in 2008.

Talking Points
The WLU Executive Board bid farewell to two wonderful editors, Bess Altwerger and Prisca Martens. Both became editors of Talking Points just as the board made the decision to move the journal to electronic form, as a means to bring about financial stability within the organization. For the past two years their efforts have resulted in a journal that is both theoretically sound and classroom oriented. We are tremendously grateful for their work. The WLU Executive Board welcomed James Wygant and Edie Lamphar as the new editors of our journal. We fully expect that James and Edie will not only continue with the same high level of journal, but that they will bring to the task their own creative and brilliant touches.

Executive Board Members
The WLU board would like to take this opportunity to say a tremendous thank you to David Shultz and Ruby Clayton for their tireless efforts to the board and organization. Both finished out their terms at our summer conference. They will be dearly missed as board members. The board would like to welcome Tasha Tropp Laman, Dennis Szymkowiak and Dorothy Suskind to the board.

Literacies for All Summer Institute
We have just wrapped up another tremendously successful conference. This year our conference was held in Louisville, KY. Kylene Beers gave an opening address that was incredibly well received and then followed it up the next day with a workshop that left teachers simply wanting more. WLU would like to thank Kylene and Bob Probst for their kindness in helping us run a successful conference. In addition to Kylene’s session, Lester Laminack gave a thought provoking, humorous talk that pulled the entire conference together. All in all, it was a weekend full of marvelous sessions, great conversations, and remarkable learning opportunities. We have already begun to plan our 2008 summer conference. It will be held in Tucson, Arizona and the theme will be “Critical Reflections: Honoring and Nurturing the Whole Child.” It is our hope that you will join us in Tucson for what is sure to be an amazing weekend of learning.

Michael Muise, President