As I write my first article for ATHENews as Secretary [1] of ATHE, I find myself increasingly grateful for all of the wonderful colleagues that I have met, and with whom I have worked, through ATHE, particularly the invaluable Nancy Erickson [2], the warm and humor-filled Karen Berman [3], the delightful and responsive Shaun Sewell, and our inspiring President-Elect, Suzanne Burgoyne [4]. I would also like to extend my thanks to Melanie Blood, outgoing Secretary, for helping me with the transition to this office; the new and continuing members of the Electronic Technology Committee [5]; and the ATHE members who entrusted me with this office.

I am so pleased that as one of my first tasks as Chair of the ETC [6] I have had a small part in aiding with the launch of ATHE's new website, which has been reviewed by a number of groups, including the ETC (particular thanks to Michael O'Hara), the Governing Council, and Focus Group Representatives. Shaun Sewell has been invaluable during this process, and I am extremely pleased that he will be serving as manager of ATHE's online resources [7], in conjunction with Bolderwomen [8], a web design firm with whom we have contracted for at least the next six months. Together, they will be overseeing and enhancing ATHE's online presence, helping ATHE's governance, including the GC and FGs, to ensure that information reaches members in as efficient and timely manner as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me [9] or Shaun [10] if you have questions or suggestions about the website, listservs [11], or any other of ATHE's electronic resources [12].

Speaking of the website, please do take note of the Minutes [13] under About ATHE [14] and Documents [15], where minutes of all OC and GC actions will be posted. You can currently find minutes from January through July 2006.

Finally, I want to mention some of the work on which the Electronic Technology Committee [16] has been and will continue to be engaged this year. We are continuing our work to develop ATHE's partnerships with MERLOT [17] and In Medias Res [18]. Gary Maciag went to the 2006 MERLOT conference in Canada right on the heels of our own conference in Chicago, and Kathryn Farley will be meeting with Tobin Nelhaus about In Medias Res at the ASTR [19] conference in Chicago in November.

We have been discussing ideas for ETC-sponsored panels in Chicago; if any member would like to propose a panel related to any facet of theatre and electronic technology to the ETC, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Stay tuned to my periodic reports in this newsletter for information on other items on our agenda, including exploration of the state of electronic publishing, and the creation of guidelines for use of ATHE's electronic resources.

Visit the Electronic Technology Committee's webpage [20] for a list of 2006-2007 members.