S-USA completed its fourth year of existence and its fourth annual conference in November. Each conference has had its unique characteristics from the new beginning in Virginia, to a somber look at the world and the joy of being together in Minnesota six weeks after 9/11/01, followed by a look to the west and considerable interaction with our Canadian friends in the mist of Oregon, and finally focusing on the Mexican and other heritages that can be found in Texas.  Next year, we will move to the center of the country in Bloomington, Indiana. These are milestones that mark the growth and development of an organization that began with discussions in Japan and the will to be inclusive, transparent, and visionary. It is a great pleasure to see members greet each other as old friends at conferences, even as they so warmly embrace (sometimes literally) first timers that one said, "This is the most cordial, welcoming conference environment I have ever experienced."

We started S-USA with a volunteer group of former SI members who wanted this organization to become established and to prosper. While members of the board changed as people volunteered or were elected to take on new jobs,  the founding officers, Peggy Pusch, President, Sandy Fowler, Secretary. and Gilles Asselin, Treasurer, served in those roles for all four years. This past summer we had our first full election on line and our new  officers are Heather Robinson, President, Jeremy Solomons, President-elect, Monica Mumford, Secretary, and Hap Sermol, Treasurer. There is a totally new board whose members are listed on our website. The office remains at the Intercultural Communication Institute (ICI) with Peggy Pusch as Executive Director and Susanne Taylor as the Administrative Assistant. The mechanics of setting up, managing, and growing a new organization is dreadfully boring and surely you are all aware of what it requires. To borrow a bit from the Peace Corps, it has been the hardest job we ever loved.

S-USA began with contributions to cover basic expenses, support from ICI and a huge commitment of time from those early volunteer founders. It has gown to approximately 450 members, a self-supporting and solvent organization with a budget of over $125,000. It's e-newsletter, SUSANews, goes to our sister organizations around the world, the associate members of the Global Network, and, of course, to our members. The SUSA Slate, an e-quasi journal/almost magazine, has been started with four issues already published. There is a website at www.sietarusa.org. We know there is a lot more to come and a long way to travel on our road to a more effective professional organization for interculturalists. So, at this point of change we can look back with a sense of accomplishment and relief and look forward with hope and excitement. We are also grateful for the advice, support and encouragement from sister organizations such as S- Europa and S-Japan.