My name is Danuta Sołtyska. I live in Warsaw.

     I joined IATEFL at the very beginnings as I took part in the very first meeting with Alan Maley held in Warsaw in 1991. For a couple of years I had been just a regular "grey" member, doing my best to attend workshops, speak English outside the classroom and gain some more self-confidence.

     Since 1990 I have been "fighting" for languages at Warsaw University of Technology where for almost ten years I have been the Head of Foreign Language Centre.

     When in 1995 Ania Gwardys became the President of IATEFL PL, she persuaded me to stand in the elections for position of the Treasurer. She believed that thanks to my University experience I "knew" something about money and haw to handle finances. The reality was more difficult than theory and expectations but I survived and now it is my sixth year of duty. 

     I loved it and I hate it. It's a "never ending story" - you can never say you've done all, there's always a bill to be paid or a document to be filled in or this and that which can't be put off. On the other hand, this work has always given me a lot of real satisfaction. I believe I was successful (very much thanks to strong support of my family; husband and children) to sort out a number of difficult financial challenges and win a number of battles. I must admit I enjoy it.

     I still work at my University, both as a full senior lecturer and as the Head of the Language Centre. But to support my experience in managing an institution employing 100 teachers and serving 10 thousand students, I tried to develop my managerial qualifications by attending a course in ELT Management at the University of Leeds and by joining IATEFL Pl ELT Management SIG and trying to participate in all events in this field, e.g. PASE and ELTM SIG conference held in Krakow just recently.

     To join all the links I decided to participate actively, with other IATEFL members from my University, in the organisation of the Tenth IATEFL PL Conference in September 2001 which will take place at my University, where I have spent 28 years of my professional life. I must confess I feel scared but excited as well.