Gratulojn! Jen la uloj (kaj ulinoj, bon¬ance!) kiuj laboros dum la venontaj du jaroj per kaj por vi, nome de USEJ. Cxar nur ses membroj kandidatigxis por la ses lokoj en la Estraro de USEJ, ni ne bezonas okazigi elektojn cxar cxiuj el ili ažtomate fari…as Estraranoj. Por kandidatigxi, ni petis, ke cxiu membro skribu respondon al la jena demando: Imagu, ke estas la jaro 1997 kaj vi jxus finis vian laboron de USEJ dum la pasintaj du jaroj". (Jes, suficxe pensiga demando). Ni prezentas nun ne nur la mallongigitajn respondojn, sed ankaž iliajn ridetojn kaj ion pri iliaj privataj vivoj. . . la plej prefarataj glaciajxoj, feriaj lokoj, gazetoj, bildstrioj. . . . la gravaj aferoj de la vivo. Cxion ni prezentas por ke vi memoru, ke ili ankoraux estas membroj kaj junuloj kiel vi! Do, ne hezitu kelkfoje skribi al ili pri viaj ideoj kaj respondoj, cxar ili ja reprezentas VIN. Kaj, cetere, petu nun iliajn subskibojn por ke vi havu memorojn de ili post kiam ili farigxos gravuloj en TEJO, UEA, UNO. . . Daniel Cuthbert Glaciajxo: Peanut Butter Chocolate Feriaj Lokoj: Sanibel Island, off the Florida Coast Gazeto: The New York Times Magazine Bildstrio: Scrooge McDuck The past two years have been good to USEJ. It has seen a steady continuance of membership growth as a result of increased exposure to the American youth This is partially due to increased cooperation between the existing campus and high school organizations. Taking ideas from the Japanese inter-campus network, Rondo Harmonia, USEJ was able to organize a standardized base for college and high school groups to work from. This has led to an increase in attendance at the regional congresses. The branch groups keep in touch over the Internet with one another and the central office. The Internet, too, has led to increased exposure for USEJ. The establishment of an USEJ World Wide Web Home page has led to a significant increase in inquiries about the language. USEJ uses the Net to remain in contact with the other world youth groups and local branches. Another accomplishment is the exposure gained from partnerships with strong, international and service organization such as AFS, Circle K, and HABITAT. While USEJ participation in events held by these groups bolstered USEJ membership interaction, it simultaneously advertised Esperanto. Sybil Harlow Glaciajxo: Butero-krizeto Feriaj Lokoj: La Kaskadoj, Oregono - Havas grandioza vidajxo de akvofalo kaj imponaj monroj. Gazeto: US News & World Report Bildstrio: Robotman, BENNEM, Dilbert Innovative and bold, those two words are being used to describe the USEJ. Ever since it was announced that we would host the IJK, people have noticed what has been accomplished in such a few years. Has it been 6 already?!? I guess that while the 1997 IJK in the San Francisco Bay area was a highlight, everything else that we have done has been having a significant effect on our movement. Many of our activities advertised Esperanto via the internet and other media. The USEJ mailing list and the World Wide Web page (plug: http://www.webcom.com/~usej) enabled us to aggressively promote Esperanto among our target age group. The new USEJ flyers and brochures introduced us to outside groups. Both the mini-conferences at the ELNA congresses and Esperanto-USA column helped foster cooperation between ELNA and USEJ members. We also achieved a revitalization of youth spirit here the US. Our conferences: NAJT, JES, ARE, etc., have been a boon, generating a unified movement and group spirit. Whether it was skiing in Vermont, singing at the campfire by the lake, tie-dying T-shirts, or listening to music in the park, there was definitely fun to be had. The successes of our board have paved the way for a stronger youth movement. Matthew Horton Glaciajxo: Nigra Cxeriza Feriaj Lokoj: Londono (mia naski…loko Gazeto: Omni Bildstrio: Calvin & Hobbes Through the use of new promotional materials and strengthened support for local clubs, USEJ membership has doubled since 1995. The donation of books provided by our members to public libraries has made Esperanto readily available to everyone. The accessibility of Esperanto has contributed to the increase in membership and also helped to show that Esperanto is not dead, but thriving. Our Talent Pool Program is now in full operation. USEJ members were asked to register any special skills, talents, tools, or materials they possessed with USEJ. The board then used the registry to group together members whose combined resources could aid in the growth of USEJ and the promotion of Esperanto. The linking of local clubs has created a web of information and support. Every local club exchanges newsletters and ideas on a regular basis with two or three other local clubs. Clubs have worked together to develop ways to keep their curent members interested and acquire new members. We have just completed a report on all the projects carried out by USEJ in the past two years. This report will be sent to Esperanto organizations around the world. Theresa Makin Glaciajxo: "Sxtonplena Vojo" (Rocky Road) Feriaj Lokoj: Toronto (La Glithokea Halo de Famo kaj vendejo de pastecxoj de Tim Horton troveblas tie. . . sufi€e dirite!) Gazeto: National Geographic Bildstrio: Calvin & Hobbes I am very proud to announce the certification of two new teachers of Esperanto. Both active members in their local clubs, these teens join about a dozen other teenage Esperanto instructors certified during the past two years. They look forward to teaching their peers the language of Esperanto and the concept of peace and harmony which all Esperantists hope to acheive. I am also proud to announce the formation of fifteen new clubs during the past two years. I would also like to use this opportunity to advertise "Paco," the recording made by Esperanto youth groups in six nations, including the US. Interested parties can purchase cassettes and CDs from the Libro Servo. Any idesa for the upcoming "Paco II" are also welcome. Finally, I would like to announce the recognition of USEJ as a permanent member of the United Nations Youth Advisory Council. Elections for delegates will take place in August of 1998. Thank you for your support during my term, and please continue to support USEJ in our quest for a peaceful and harmonious future. Jed Meltzer Glaciajxo: Azteka Rikolta Kafo (de Ben and Jerry) Feriaj Lokoj: Pittsburgh (Sendube. Mi estas en tre longa, multekosta ferio cxi tie kaj nur havas kelkajn universitatajn kursojn por amuzo.) Gazeto: Reader's Digest Bildstrio: Bloom County kaj Far Side, sed ili malaperis! I'm glad that our movement has grown and strengthened. We were able to survive the influx of Michael Jackson fans into USEJ following his three-minute commercial in 1995. A main concern should be to portray Esperanto as a serious, useful tool for communication, rather than an intellectual curiousity for eccentrics. The last thing we needed was a bunch of Michael Jackson freaks! (I'm just kidding; eccentrics have always been the main force behind change) But seriously, I am really pleased with the unity that has evolved in USEJ. The establishment of an USEJ e-mailing list and a world-wide-web page has greatly facilitated internal communication and the annual meetings have helped us keep our focus: to promote the use of Esperanto in solving society's problems, not just Esperanto for its own sake. Therefore, I am glad to see that some USEJ members have established contacts overseas to discuss work on human right, enviromentalism, etc. Language allows us to work together; the more people we can communicate with, and the more efficient that communication is, the better our work will be. So let's get out there and put our awesome language to use! Guy Menahem Glaciajxo: "Biskvit-kaj-kremo" (Cookies and Cream) Feriaj Lokoj: Israelo (mi nagxis en la plej puraj plagxoj ie kaj renkontigxis kun miloj de junuloj de la tuta mondo) Gazeto: National Geographic Bildstrio: Bugs Bunny As my two-year term on the Board of USEJ comes to an end, I reminisce on all that we have achieved together. As we began our terms, we devised a Four Point Plan: Schools Local clubs Membership Kongreso The first and most important aspect of our agenda was returning to a more grass roots efforts - going into the schools, and encouraging fellow young people to embrace what Esperanto has to offer. Then came local clubs. A committee was formed to help young people establish and continue organizations in their schools and localities. Through our efforts, USEJ membership dramatically increased, especially in some "untouched" parts of the U.S.. And finally, USEJ, through its growth and influence, was able to hold its own Kongreso! The youth of America, united, to propagate the International Language. And what a success it was! I am honored that my samideanoj gave me the opportunity to serve and represent them. We, together, as a team, were able to increase the knowledge and usage of Esperanto in our country, and bring USEJ to the world! Nathan Treadway Glaciajxo: "Biskvit-kaj-kremo" (Cookies and Cream) Feriaj Lokoj: Coast of Maine...I go with my friends to a cabin there, that is right off the beach and at the same time nestled in the woods. Gazeto: Natural History kaj Linux Journal (komputila gazeto) Bildstrio: Far Side "Nathan estis la sola bonsxanca estrarano kiu ne bezonis verki eseon, cxar li ne timas perdi sian lokon en la Estraro! Kiel vi jam scias, li estas la fidinda kaj multe laboranta Kasisto de USEJ. Cxar li jxus farigxis la Kasisto pasintjare, kaj ankoraux restas suficxe da financaj aferoj pritaktotaj, la Estraro konsentis, ke li restas Kasisto du pliajn jarojn. Inter liaj bazaj celoj por la venonta jaro estas simple certigi, ke USEJ havas almenaž dolarojn en sia kaso. Kompreneble, oni povas fari malmulte kun malmulte da mono. Cetere, li esploros aliajn manierojn por USEJ pli sa…e uzi sian monon kaj sxpari monon, ekz. per akiri iun senimpostan statuson por USEJ. Krom esti kasisto, li ankaž helpas en aliaj kampoj de la agado de USEJ, pri komputiloj (cxar li ja laboras profesie per komputiloj), kongresaj kaj renkontigxaj ideoj, ktp." (verkita de Joseph Truong)