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Presidential Address 2009: English Is Not Enough

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2020

Extract

This Moment has Been Looming for Three Years Now, Ever since I heard the election results, and the complicated feelings that arose then are still in place. Amazement, first of all, because it's still hard to believe that a translator from SUNY Cortland could stand at this podium. Awe and humility, for sure, because I know something about my illustrious predecessors and how far I am from filling their shoes. A bit of sheer terror, too: I suspect that comes with the territory. But most of all, gratitude, immense gratitude, for the opportunity to collaborate with the extraordinary colleagues that make this huge, multifaceted association work so well. By colleagues I mean in particular the past two presidents and the two current vice presidents, with whom I've worked closely and from whom I've learned so much; the Executive Council members, all stars in their own right who know how to work productively as a team and have fun in the process; and especially our inspiring and gifted leader Rosemary G. Feal and her formidable staff. I can't name them all, but I want to thank them all, to acknowledge and applaud their integrity and intelligence, their creativity and commitment, their people skills and their many other skills that keep this big ship on course. The association is going through hard financial times, as you know, but we're in excellent hands, and I'm confident that we'll emerge from the ordeal leaner, perhaps, but stronger than ever.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 2010

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