Vol. IV No.2 TAGT: Movement & Momentum Sixth Annual Conference
"Unwrapping the Gift of Giftedness" No one could be close to T AGT for very long without feeling its Movement and Momentum! The resounding suc~ cess of the Sixth Annual Conference in Fort Worth last November only proved what our membership has felt all along - everything's coming up roses. Con~ ference registration reached another record high, with 1336 in attendance for some of the most outstanding sessions ever offered. This year's Pre~Confer~ ence Workshops provided six all-day, in-depth studies of topics ranging from Early Childhood to Gifted Underachievers. Presenters included Joanne Rand Whitmore, George Betts, Rita Bryant, Lila Macaluso and Dianne Busche, Judith Turk and Sharon Strain, and Dr. John McFarland. After a welcoming address by Fort Worth ISD Superintendent, Dr. Carl Candoli, the first general session featured a panel of gifted students-from fourth grade to college-interacting with a group of professionals who are active in gifted education. Keynote Speaker for the Second General Session on Friday, was Jack Jackson ... (tOne More Time." At the Third General Session on Saturday, Joan Beck of the Chicago Tribune delivered the Keynote address on Problems and Imperatives for Gifted Education. The two-day conference offered ninety-four small~group sessions meeting a wide range of needs and interests. A special effort was made to provide adequate offerings for parents as well as for educators. On Friday evening the Association hosted the traditional President's Reception honoring JoAnn Houston.
Executive Board Meetings TAGT's 1983 Executive Board of Directors held its final meeting Friday morning at 7:00. Items of business included a report that membership in TAGT had increased 26% from January 1 to September 1, 1983. Also reported were the preparation of a Public Relations brochure for the Association, booking of future convention Sites, and development of job descriptions for all members of the Executive Board. A Task Force chaired by Jo Ann Houston is exploring options for employing a permanent Executive Director for the organization. Other members of the Task Force include Pat Long, Paul Slocumb and Ann Farris. Perhaps the most exciting item of business was the announcement by Donna Clopton of the first T AGT Regional Conference, to be held in the Panhandle area. The conference, sponsored jointly by Regions XVI and XVII, will take place March 29-31, 1984. Further details can be found in the report ftom Region XVI (p. 15). Immediately following the final session on Saturday, the 1984 Executive Board held its first meeting. New officers presiding were President, Paul Slocumb; President-Elect, Dee Trevino; First V ice-President, Kay Weise; Second Vice-President, Evelyn Hiatt; and Secretary, Kathy Aldridge. President Paul Slocumb announced the schedule of Board meetings for 1984 as follows: February 3-4, Board Retreat at April Sound; April 7, Austin; June 11, Austin; and November 16, McAllen, preceding the annual conference. The Board appropriated $3 ,000 to the Legislative Committee for the coming year. Organization by-laws are under revision and will be presented at the February retreat.
Winter 1984
Passing the Torch.•. Now that the editorship of the Tempo is in the very capable hands of the new first vice-president, Kay Weise, let me impose upon T AGT readers and use the Tempo as a forum for personal purposes. I want to express my gratitude to the readers of the Tempo who have been tolerant of my amateur status in the field of editing; to the T AGT executive board members who responded amicably and competently to my pleas for news; and to the officers who provided me with this -opportunity to grow. For the past two years I have been constantly gratified by the number of people who rolled up their sleeves and jumped right in to help me and by those who offered an encouraging word when deadlines were pressing. Special note needs to be made to three anonymous, but substantial, contributors: to Dr. Clarence Ham, Superintendent of the Killeen Independent School District, who provided district support for publishing the Tempo; to Dr. Charles Patterson who was tolerant and considerate when I overran deadlines in the work of the Department of Instruction; to Karen Hendricks who completed her secretarial duties in double-time in order to make time to help me with the
Tempo. I used this two-year period to make so many new friends, to learn new skills, and to expand my horizons. Serving as your editor proved to be an exciting, rewarding experience for me; please consider this to be a personal thank-you note to each and everyone of you. -Ann Farris EDITOR'S NOTE: TAGT extends congratulations and deep appreciation w Ann Farris for her service during the past two years as Editor of cheTempo. Her
untiring efforts produced a publication that represented our organization in a way that made us aU very proud. Besides all chac, she's a Classy Lady! Thanks, Ann, and enjoy your rest.