When I was elected editor in August, I thought I could find time to do it. Boy, was I wrong. First, I had to get a new computer, my PC was just to old. Then, I had to buy publisher but the version I bought wouldn’t open the older ACT2 documents. So I asked a friend in Canada to send me a copy of 2003 so I could work on the newsletter. Finally success. I could open the old documents and began to work on the Fall Newsletter. I sent out letters to get important information for the newsletter and the information slowly came in. Then the unexpected happened, my father died and I missed a week of school. I have been playing catch up for the past two weeks. Needless to say, I didn’t get this out before CAST. So I will give you an update on both the Biennial Conference, CAST, and the state of science in Texas . Did you know the TEKS are up for review? Go to the TEA website and look at the draft copy of the TEKS. You can send feedback to the state school board by down loading the forms at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/ HS_ScienceForm.doc Do this as quickly as possible. Next committee meeting is in January. Be sure and look at the junior high school TEKS. The chemistry taught here will impact the success of students in high school. The TEKS need to be very clear on the content to be taught so teachers will be able to prepare students for the End of Course Tests that begin in 2012. Finally, I want to say THANK YOU for being chosen the Teacher of the Year at CAST. I was truly surprised. I have vivid memories of George Hague walking through the Ft. Worth Convention center in his superman costume or as a cheerleader. I will never forget him lighting H2 and O2 balloons in the ballroom at CAST. It sounded like canons going off. He was truly an inspiration and it is an honor to have an award named for him. Meg Young