Chapter News - June 2026

🌏 Representing Okinawa JALT at the National EBM - and What We Have Been Building

A new administration. Two weeks in. And already, Okinawa JALT has been moving fast. Here is what has been happening - and what it means for you as a member.

David Kluge at the JALT Executive Board Meeting

Our Membership Chair, David Kluge - founding president of the Performance in Education SIG and one of the most experienced voices in our chapter - represented Okinawa JALT at the JALT Executive Board Meeting (EBM) in Fukuoka this month. President Norman Fewell asked David to take on this important role, recognizing that an extended trip to Fukuoka would be demanding and that David was ideally suited to faithfully represent the chapter's interests and energy at the national level.

David also attended the Chapter Presidents Basecamp on June 10, where he introduced the new Okinawa JALT administration and distributed two original presenter databases - created by our chapter and shared with all JALT chapter presidents across Japan. More on those below.

David's message to the Executive Board: 'I will do my best to faithfully represent Okinawa JALT.'
And that he did.

A Fast Start - What We Have Done in Two Weeks

The new administration entered office on May 31, 2026 and hit the ground running. The following summary covers the main areas of progress. Each of these will be explored in detail in future posts - consider this your overview of what is happening and what is coming.

6
Proposals Approved
40+
Constitution Changes
534
Scholars in 2 Databases
2
Conferences Planned
🌐 Website Redesign - In Progress
A complete overhaul of OkiJALT.org is ready for deployment. The new site features expanded teaching and research resources, modern design, and a dedicated section for the Okinawa JALT Journal and newsletter archives. Launch target: before the October conference.
📰 Newsletter, Podcast & Blog - Launched
Three new communications channels are now underway - including this newsletter. The podcast features AI-generated summaries of past presentations, with real interviews to follow. The blog keeps members updated between meetings.
📋 Constitutional Reform - Internally Approved
Over 40 substantive changes to the Okinawa JALT Constitution and Bylaws were approved by the executive team in May. Key changes include stronger member rights, fairer elections, term limits for all officers, a code of conduct, and new advisory councils. Formal ratification takes place at the 2027 general meeting.
✅ Six Executive Proposals - Approved
A comprehensive package of six proposals was introduced and approved by the executive team. These cover: a new awards program, expanded membership tiers, strategic partnerships, two new officer positions, an advisory framework, and the new Okinawa JALT Journal.
🎨 Marketing & Branding - Active
Original conference posters, postcards, and social media campaigns are live across multiple platforms. The OkiJALT mascot has been expanded across new promotional materials. Branded merchandise - T-shirts, stationery, and more - is in development.
🎤 Two Conferences Planned
The Global Summit 2026 (October 9-11, Naha) and the International Conference on Trends in Language Teaching (December 26-28) are both confirmed and in active preparation.
📚 Two Presenter Databases Created
A General Database of 246 prominent English-medium scholars in Japan and a JALT Associated Directory of 288 scholars were compiled by our chapter and shared with all Chapter Presidents at Basecamp on June 10. This is Okinawa JALT contributing back to the wider national network.

The Full Chapter Status Report

A complete Chapter Status Report was submitted to the JALT Executive Board Meeting this June. It documents all of the above in full detail and was prepared by President Norman Fewell. You can read the full report by clicking the link below - it is the most comprehensive picture of where Okinawa JALT stands and where it is heading.

The full report covers: website redesign, constitutional reform, all six executive proposals, communications and branding initiatives, both upcoming conferences, the two presenter databases, and the chapter's next steps. It is written for the wider JALT community but belongs first to you - our members.

This is just the beginning. Every area mentioned above will get its own dedicated post in the weeks ahead. Stay with us - there is a lot more to share.

🌺 Okinawa JALT · okijalt@gmail.com · Facebook · YouTube

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