Hello, everyone, and welcome to fall term 2009. This summer has been a busy one for the IDEC Board and other member volunteers who have been enacting multiple programs for our organization. You will hear about many upcoming initiatives shortly with opportunities for you to participate and help move the cause of interior design education, research and service forward.

There are a number of new activities afoot, and I am excited to preview several of these in particular:

1. Several calls for participation in task forces are currently open. Many of you will remember the Innovative Teaching Strategies binders that were available in the past. This is a good time to re-energize the idea of a body of teaching ideas, this time in an online format with the potential excitement of color, audio and video.  If you have ideas on how this could be a terrific addition to the value of IDEC and interior design education, we need your voice on this task force.

2. Look for details in mid-September on a brand new video competition co-sponsored by IDEC, CIDA and NCIDQ. This is a great opportunity for you and/or your students to tell the world about the value of interior design education, plus win prize money at the same time! If you feel that the facts about quality interior design education are not being told to the world, you will want to participate in this event.

3. As your president, it’s my responsibility to help keep you informed of IDEC initiatives and opportunities. As of next week, I will begin publishing a web-based audiocast series called “An IDEC Minute” that will keep you appraised of issues and upcoming activities throughout the year. Look for word of these through listserv messages sent to your mailbox. These audiocasts are designed to be conversation starters for the IDEC blog available at www.idec.org/blog where there is also a text transcript of these essays.

4. In response to your request, IDEC is partnering with ASID to bring you webinars on getting informed and involved in legislation. These webinars are customized to the needs of interior design instructors and their students. Look for upcoming invitations to these mid-fall webinars in your email.

Lastly, don't forget that the deadlines for proposals for the IDEC Annual Conference for March 2010 are fast approaching. See Conferences and Events at the IDEC website for full details.

As always, I and the IDEC Board are here to serve you. Please don’t hesitate to let us know what’s on your mind and how we can move our mutual passion for interior design education forward.

Jill Pable, IDEC President

::  Journal of Interior Design Welcomes Editors
::  NCIDQ Clarifies Exam Eligibility
::  Lulan Artisans Textile Competition

::  NCBDS Introduces New Website

::  PAVE Launches New Student Aid Program

::  PAVE Now Accepting Applications for Helping Hand Fund

This competition gives you a chance to become part of the Lulan story and design for the 2010 Lulan collection. Over the years, many textile designers inspired by Lulan Artisans' commitment to craft and design have inquired as to how to get involved. This competition celebrates craftsmanship, promotes talent and provides opportunities for textile artists or any other type of artists interested in being part of our community.

For complete details, visit http://11-17.lulan.com.

The National Conference on the Beginning Design Student (NCBDS) is pleased to introduce its new website at www.beginningdesign.org. The website includes a description of the conference, a partial database of past proceedings (more to come), recent and upcoming locations with links to individual conference websites and directions on how to host a conference.

The Planning and Visual Education partnership (PAVE) is pleased to announce it has launched a new Student Aid Program. This program will provide financial assistance to students entering into careers in the retail design, planning and visual merchandising industries.

Guidelines and requirements, as well as the application, can be found at www.paveinfo.org. The deadline for receipt of student's applications is October 1, 2009.

The Planning and Visual Education partnership (PAVE) is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the Helping Hand Fund. The PAVE Helping Hand Fund provides grant funds to accredited two- and four-year educational institutions to enhance the quality of programs and services for students entering into careers in the retail design and planning and visual merchandising industries.

All applications, including the required attachments, must be received on or before Oct. 30, 2009. To be eligible for a grant the school must have at least three students participating in PAVE's 2009 Student Design Competition.

For complete Helping Hand Fund information and a grant application, please visit www.paveinfo.org.