We Want You!

Montessori Life, Summer 2004 by Dugan, Marie M

If you are reading Montessori LIFE, you are probably a member of the AMS, either as a teacher, a student teacher, a teacher educator, a head of school, or a general member. All members receive the magazine as a benefit of membership.

Recently, the AMS Board of Directors set new, streamlined guidelines for membership:

* All memberships now run from July to July. We will have a one-year transition period until everyone is moved into the new renewal date. All individual membership fees are now the same, regardless of whether the membership is for a teacher or general member. Membership applications have been revamped; I think you will appreciate their clarity and easy "navigability."

* We have also gone to a simpler system of categorizing school members. While the Accredited category remains the same, schools that have AMS- or other MACTE-credentialed teachers in all of their classrooms are now called Full members. Schools with at least one AMS- or MACTE-teacher are called Associate members. In addition, we have a new category of memberships called Initiate, for schools that are new to AMS. For more information about categories of membership, visit our website: www.amshq.org. (Go to "Member Schools" to "School Membership.")

My own strong commitment to the society is built on my belief that AMS offers national presence and support to our members. As the largest Montessori organization in the country, we carry the responsibility of promoting the best practices and standards for schools that enroll children from birth to high-school age. Your membership allows us to grow and make an even greater impact on Montessori education, nationally and internationally.

If, by chance, you are not a member of AMS, please note that there is a membership form in every issue of Montessori LIFE. You can also download an application for your school and yourself from our website.

If you have questions about your AMS membership, contact Carla Hofland at 212-358-1250 or carla@amshq.org.

Of course, as always, I welcome hearing from you as well. My phone number is 212-358-1250 and my Email address is marie@amshq.org.

Enjoy your membership!

MARIE M. DUGAN is interim executive director of AMS.