Chicago Highlights
The National Association of Test Directors (NATD) held its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 3, 1985, at the Hilton Palmer House in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting was held in conjunction wit the national meetings of the American Educational Research Association (AREA) and National Council on Measurement In Education (NCME). President Paul F. Brown, Indianapolis, Indiana, welcomed members and guests.
The movement of NATD from a Loosely-knit network to a dues-paying organization was formalized by two actions; a 1985-86 budget was presented and accepted and membership dues were voted at $20.00 per year. The articles by Peter Wolmut and Roger Baglin below describe the rationale for the changes in NATD.
New officers for the 1985-86 year were announced by Michael Strozeski, Garland Texas, chairpersons of the Nominating Committee.
They are as follows:
President – Peter Wolmut, Multnomat, Portland, Oregon
Vice President – Janie L. Hall, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Secretary – George Iverson, Lansing, Michigan
Treasurer – Roger F. Baglin, Rochester, New York
Director – Sandra O’Neil, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Director - Carole Perlman, Chicago, Illinois
The new structure of NATD calls for the immediate past president to serve on the Board of Directors for one year. Paul Brown, Indianapolis, Indiana will serve during 85-86. In addition, the vice president is also the president elect. Janie Hall, after serving as program chair and vice president, will become president during the 1986 NSTD meeting.
One study group was formed. Rpbert Ziomak, Brownsville, Texas,
will head a committee to examine the push to develop a national, standardized
test and to make recommendations to the membership regarding a position
for NATD.
REMARKS FROM PRESIDENT PETER WOMULT
Under the leadership of Past President Jules Grosswald and Paul Brown,
NATD has moved from an after-dinner discussion group to an organization
which has the potential of making a great deal of impact in the world of
testing on behalf of the students for whom we are responsible. My
goal for this year is to establish non-bureaucratic governance for the
organization and a financial base sound enough to allow us to move our
programs forward. To this end, I urge you to carefully consider becoming
a full member in NATD by participating in the program which Janie Hall
will establish and by paying the dues established for this year.
NATD GOES ON PAY BASIS DUES, BUDGET ESTABLISHED,
THE REASONS WHY
From Roger F. Baglin, Treasurer
Until recently, membership in the National Association of Test Directors was one of the last bastions of the free lunch (or dinner, or breakfast, especially for those who attended AERA/NCME). However, at the most recent annual meeting in Chicago on April 3rd, a dues structure was approved by the organization. At the same time, a 1985-86 budget was developed and approved. Annual dues were established at the level of twenty dollars per member; if more than one member is form the same district, each would be expected to pay a separate twenty dollars. The dues are considered individual, not institutional, regardless of whether they cover the membership year, which runs from April 1 through March 31. Members joining between January 1 and April 1 will have their dues credited to the new membership year. The budget established is predicted on revenue of $3,880, with the expenditures, and reserves totaling the same. Revenue is estimated, perhaps optimistically, to come from 144 members paying dues, totaling $2,880, plus $1,00 of gifts or donations. Expenditures are in several categories including travel expenses for NCME and APA affiliation purposes, publication of the “Guidelines and Principles for National Test Norming Studies” and other papers, as well as incidentals. Reserves are projected at ten percent of the total of $3,880.
Moving form theory to practice, actual receipts from dues at this point total $320 representing 16 persons, most of whom paid at the annual meeting. This appealing for all members who have not already done so to forward their $20.00 checks to the newly elected treasurer, Roger Balgin, at the address below. Nonprofit status for the organization is being investigated and presumably one will be able to deduct these dues from one’s income taxes. It is felt that twenty dollars is a small amount to ask in support of an organization whose principles are so important. While no one particularly enjoys dues, it is felt that they are a necessary step in order to maintain a viable presence.
As additional incentive to those who may be wavering, several operational rules have been established for dues-paying and non-dues-paying members. While it is not our intent to become exclusivistic, nevertheless, reality must be faced in this matter. Consequently, affiliate membership will continue to be available to any and all interested persons, even on a non-dues-paying basis. However, only full (dues-paying) members will be accorded the following privileges:
1. Eligibility to vote for officers and directors, to vote at the annual meetings, and to vote in any other ballots which may be conducted by the organization.
2. Continuation on the general meeting list of the organization, so as to receive all announcements and all issues of the newsletter. (A mailing of one newsletter annually to non-dues-paying members is intended; this will serve each year both as an invitation to become dues-paying members and as a pro forma indication of non-dues-paying affiliate membership status.)
3. Inclusion on official membership lists which will be forwarded to any and all organizations (e.g. test publishers) who wish to provide members with complimentary services or invitations, such as to dinners or breakfasts on the occasion of the annual meeting.
Once again we urge you to submit your dues as soon as possible, not
only to enjoy the above-mentioned incentives, but also to become full members
and support the critical work in which your organization is engaged.
The Membership/Dues Form is located at the end of the newsletter.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Study Groups Forming
Janie Hall, program chairperson for 1985-86, forming study groups based on the surveys which were returned to Peter Wolmut prior to the meeting in Chicago and will be contacting members shortly. Individuals who have not already indicated an interest are encouraged to do so right away. Contact Janie Hall, Oklahoma City Public Schools, 900 North Klein, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, (405-272-5502).
Status of Minimum Competency Testing
Much is happing in the various states and school systems with minimum competency testing of students If you have an article (or an idea for one that is available for national dissemination, contact Glynn Ligon, AERA Acquisition Editor, Department of Management Information, Austin Independent School District, 6100 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78752.
NCME Session Tapes Available
Roger Baglin has a set of tapes form one of NCME’s Invited Symposium sessions titled, “Standardized Tests Authors and Developers Look at Test Use: How Good? Responsible? Ethical?” Herbert Rudman chaired the session. Presenters were Michael H. Kean, CTB/McGraw-Hill; H.D. Hoover, Universtiy of Iowa; Thomas P. Hogan, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; Eric F. Gardner, Sycracuse University; Burton W. Faldet, Science Research Associate; Gerry Ann Bogatz, Educational Testing Service. If you are interested in borrowing the set, please call Roger at 716-325-4560 or write him in Rochester (address listed above).
NATD Newsletter Seeks Announcements, Articles, Information
If you have items you feel would be of interest to NSTD membership,
please send them to the newsletter editor, Grace Iverson, Lansing Public
Schools, 500 W.Lenawee, Room 220, Lansing, MI 48933. We’re especially
interested in your views on testing issues, your experiences in assuring
smooth administration of testing programs and your successes in assessing
that test results assist with education decisions.
National Association of Test Directors
Membership/Dues Form
Membership for one year $20.00
Name __________________________ Title _________________________
Institution _______________________ Telephone ____________________
Mailing Address __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Mail form and check for $20.00 payable to NATD:
Roger Baglin, Director
4825 Lyell Road
Spenceport, New York 14559
Return to NATD Publications Page