World Council for Gifted and Talented Children

NEWS & EVENTS

May 16, 2013

WCGTC Executive Committee Election results

Thank you to the WCGTC members who took the time to vote in the Executive Committee Election. The voting for four new EC members closed on May 15. The newly elected EC members are Julia Roberts, USA, Denise de Souza Fleith, Brazil, Leonie Kronborg, Australia, and Humphrey Peter Ouko Oborah, Kenya. The elected members will each serve a four year term and will officially take office in August at the conclusion of the 2013 World Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. They will join Ken McCluskey, Canada, and Ümit Davaslıgil, Turkey, who still have two years remaining on each of their current terms. The WCGTC Elections Committee thanks all of the eight candidates in the Executive Committee Election and appreciates their willingness to serve the organization.

May 7, 2013

World Conference Scholarships Awarded

The WCGTC Scholarship & Awards Committee has awarded five World Conference registration scholarships for the 2013 World Conference in Louisville, KY USA. The recipients are: Karen Bendelman, Uruguay; Matthew Edinger, USA and United Kingdom; Soha Elzalabany, Egypt; Bishop Noe Nzeyimana, Burundi; and Laura Swan, New Zealand. The scholarships will cover each recipient’s registration fees for the World Conference, including the preconference workshop day, valued at $675 each. The S&A Committee also included a Gala Dinner ticket with each award valued at $75 for a total scholarship value of $750 each. In addition, the S&A Committee awarded a travel scholarship to a high school student of teacher Terry Friedrichs, USA, who will be presenting with him at the conference. The S&A Committee also agreed to provide some registration and travel monies to the two Edna McMillan Scholarship recipients, Jen Torbeck-Merril, USA, and Mary St. George, New Zealand. The goal of the scholarships is to make World Conference participation possible for those who would otherwise be unable to attend due to financial constraints. The S&A Committee thanks all those who applied for the 2013 World Conference Scholarship competition.

April 20, 2013

Former WCGTC President Dorothy Sisk donates World Conference Scholarships

Dr. Dorothy Ann Sisk, founding member and long time supporter and contributor to the WCGTC, has generously donated two special World Conference scholarships to “passion, profession, and parents who inspire” in the name of her friend and longtime WCGTC colleague Edna McMillan. The $1000 scholarships were given to Jen Torbeck-Merril, the author of the popular online blog “laughingatchaos.com”, where she writes about her life as a 2E mom, and Mary St. George, who works as lead educator for GO- Gifted Online, an interactive online One Day School program in New Zealand. The scholarships will help defray their travel costs to the 20th World Conference in Louisville in August. Both Torbeck-Merril and St. George will present at the World Conference. Dr. Edna McMillan passed away in December 2012 and was an esteemed colleague, supporter, and member of the WCGTC. She served for over 30 years in various capacities as member, conference organizer, chair, delegate, EC member, and Vice President. The WCGTC is very grateful to Dr. Dorothy Ann Sisk for this opportunity to mark Edna’s memory in such a wonderful and fitting way.

April 19, 2013

Call for WCGTC Awards Nominations

Every two years at the WCGTC World Conference, the Scholarship & Awards Committee confers a small number of prestigious awards to individuals who stand out as exceptional contributors in our field. The four awards are: World Council Distinguished Service Award, International Creativity Award, International Award for Research, and the A. Harry Pasow International Award for Leadership in Education. Criteria for each of these awards and the nomination form can be found on the WCGTC website at: http://www.world-gifted.org/WorldConf Awards are made at the discretion of the S&A Committee and presented by the WCGTC Executive Committee. The Committees may also decide to confer a small number of other special awards for individuals of note and are happy to receive suggestions from the broader WCGTC membership. Please forward all nominations and suggestions to WCGTC headquarters by the deadline of May 5, 2013. Nominations for awards may only be submitted by current, paid-up World Council members. If you have any questions please email: headquarters@world-gifted.org Thank you.

March 19, 2013

Facilitator Training for SENG Model Parent Groups Offered at World Conference

The WCGTC is partnering with Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) to offer Facilitator Training for SENG Model Parent Groups (SMPGs) at the start of the World Conference in Louisville, August 10-11, 2013. This training is open to World Conference attendees and any other interested party. The goal is to expand the outreach of SENG Model Parent Groups to international locations. SMPGs are structured to bring together 10 to 20 interested parents of gifted and talented children to discuss topics such as motivation, discipline, stress management, and peer relationships. Parents who attend are considered rich resources of information and provide much of the content. Facilitators help to provide a non-judgmental and nurturing atmosphere. The cost to participate is $300 and includes materials such as A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children, and Gifted Parent Groups: The SENG Model, 2nd Edition. For information and registration please see: http://www.sengifted.org/programs/seng-model-parent-groups/smpg-facilitator-training-in-louisville

March 15, 2013

Nominations Sought for WCGTC Executive Committee Members

The World Council Elections Committee is seeking nominations for four Executive Committee members of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children. Nominations must be received by April 8, 2013. The Elections Committee will review the nominations and present a slate of eligible candidates for a vote by the World Council members no later than May 1, 2013. A nominee must be a current paid member of the WCGTC and have been a member for a minimum of three years. No more than one member from any one country may serve as an Executive Committee member. The President-elect is from Ireland. Two of the current EC members are from Canada and Turkey and have 2 years remaining. Therefore any nomination must be for members from countries other than Ireland, Canada, or Turkey. The new Executive Committee members will be elected by May 15, 2013 and take office at the end of the next biennial World Conference in Louisville, KY in August 2013. A nomination form can be found on the WCGTC website under "About Us/Executive Committee". If you have questions, or wish to submit a nomination, please contact Tracy Harkins, WCGTC Executive Administrator at: headquarters@world-gifted.org

March 4, 2013

WCGTC President Election Results

Thank you to the Delegates who took the time to vote for the next WCGTC President. Voting for President closed on February 28 and Leslie Graves has been elected the next World Council President. The President serves as the Chief Executive of the World Council and is elected to a non-renewable four year term. Ms. Graves will take office as President in August at the conclusion of the 2013 World Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

January 15, 2013

2013 World Conference Scholarship Deadline Extended

The WCGTC World Council Scholarship Fund will provide six (6) paid registrations for Graduate Students and Educators to attend the 2013 World Conference in Louisville, Kentucky USA. Scholarship applicants must be members of the World Council by the time of application and show evidence of need for support for the registration fees (each worth approximately $550 USD). (If joining the World Council is a financial hardship please notify the WCGTC to review your situation.) The students and educators who receive the scholarship registrations must pay their own transportation and accommodation to the World Conference in Louisville. Applicants must provide (a) information on the nature of their involvement in the field of gifted education, (b) the reasons why attending the conference is important to their work, and (c) a brief description of their need for financial assistance. All applicants must (a) complete the application form, including an email address, (b) provide their statement of need, and (b) enclose two letters of reference. Graduate Students and Educators from developing nations are especially encouraged to apply. Scholarship Applications can be obtained by contacting Tracy Harkins, WCGTC Executive Administrator, at headquarters@world-gifted.org or tracy.harkins@wku.edu. Completed applications must be received by WCGTC Headquarters by March 1, 2013.

January 4, 2013

Louisville tops "Lonely Planet" list of U.S. destinations for 2013

World Conference goers will be excited to hear that world-known travel guidebook publisher "Lonely Planet", has named Louisville, Kentucky THE top U.S. travel destination for 2013. The editors cite Louisville's fine dining, hip bourbon scene (including micro-distilleries), and emerging East Market District, also known as NuLu, as a lively, offbeat cultural scene on the Ohio River. Start making your plans to attend the 20th World Conference in Louisville, August 10-14, by visiting the conference website at www.worldgifted2013.org The first day of the conference will be the optional Workshop Day. Abstracts are now being accepted and conference registration and hotel reservations are also open. Don't miss your chance to visit America's No.1 travel destination for 2013!

January 3, 2013

World Gifted December 2012 Newsletter now available online

The latest edition of the World Gifted newsletter is now available online. Go to the WCGTC website at www.world-gifted.org and click on the Publications tab. Members and non-members can view the most current newsletter. However, only members can view previous and archived editions. If your membership has lapsed please consider renewing. It’s the best way to share and learn about gifted education worldwide. Plus, members receive a discount at our next World Conference in Louisville, Kentucky! For more information see our "Join the World Council" section on the World Council website. For only $75 USD a year you can be part of "the" international organization that serves the gifted and talented.