Vol. 10(1) Spring 03

From the Editor

Greeting to all members of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) and to all readers of the Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education!

And so it begins. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education. The Journal has been through some minor and major changes during the past 10 years. Dr. O. Donald Meaders1 (1994) wrote an eloquent essay in the inaugural issue, wherein he described a vision of using the Journal as “...another avenue of communication, to expedite efforts to achieve improved production and distribution of food and fiber, and improve quality of life for people in general” (p. 3). I don’t know if Dr. Meaders envisioned the Journal taking a stroll down electric avenue and ending up on the Information Highway, but it’s fair to say the target audience he predicted has every opportunity of accessing the Journal from all corners of the world. In fact, a recent search on GoogleTM revealed Journal links from Pennsylvania to Iran, Rome to Arizona, and many points in between. The online version of the Journal is a major change the AIAEE can take pride in and can use to promulgate the benefits of membership in this world-class organization.

I found it interesting to note that the original subscription rates were $25/year for this booklet format, $15/year for a diskette, and $10/year for an email version of the Journal. In 1994, even libraries worldwide, could subscribe to the Journal for a mere $25/year. Yet, the current subscription rate for this booklet is still just $25/year. Some of you may think this is great news, but I ask you, how much could $25 buy in 1994 versus 2003? I don’t remember what the postal rates were in 1994, but I know they have increased in the past year. As AIAEE looks forward to the next 10 years, we must consider the solvency of the Journal, especially as it pertains to keeping pace with the rising costs of paper, printing, publication, and postage.

One year ago, I mentioned the 10th Anniversary of the Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education and asked all Journal readers and AIAEE members to help celebrate this historic occasion. Do you recall what was requested of you? For the record, I repeat it here and ask you all to help improve the scholarship of the Journal by:

1. Taking the time to write, write, and write some more.

2. Submitting your Feature Articles, Tools of the Profession, and Commentary Articles online.

3. Encouraging new members to join AIAEE and subscribe to the Journal.

a. Share the subscription form in the back of this issue or direct your colleagues to the online form at http://www.aged.tamu.edu/aiaee/jiaee/journalsub.asp

b. Show someone the Web site at http://www.aged.tamu.edu/aiaee/jiaee/index.htm

4. Celebrating the Journal’s scholarship by increasing it; not just from a select few in our

profession, but from all interested scholars worldwide.

5. Doing what you can to promote greater understanding of agricultural and extension education

worldwide.

Sincerely,

Gary J. Wingenbach, Editor

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education