FLAG BOARD
Brief History

The following is a compact overview providing general information on the history and development of FLAG (a more detailed version is here). Additions, corrections etc. are welcome.

The origins of FLAG date back to the year 1970 when on October 24 the CMFLA (Classical and Modern Foreign Language Association) and the GMLS (Georgia Modern Language Studies) decided to merge. The proposed name for the new entity was Georgia Foreign Language Association, or GFLA, however, this--obviously--was rearranged slightly to become FLAG, the Foreign Language Association of Georgia, a better acronym in many ways.

FLAG's inaugural meeting was held on April 2, 1971 to vote on the constitution (which had to be approved by its then parent association, the GAE/Georgia Association of Educators) and to elect its first officers (President: Herman Bostick; 1st Vice President: Lillie B. Hamilton; 2nd Vice President: Manuel T. Rivas; Recording Secretary: Nellie Lamar; Corresponding Secretary: Billie Davis Gaines; Treasurer: William L. Gatlin). "Teachers of the Year" awards were presented as well (then, each large language group had its own).

Initially, meetings took place in conjunction with other conferences (e.g. SCOLT), but before long FLAG organized its own. Since its beginnings, FLAG has met annually, by now several times in the bigger cities in the state (Athens, Augusta, most often in Atlanta) but other locations as well (e.g., Jekyll Island, Macon, Savannah). Over the years, numerous programs have been added and many projects were completed. In 1996--early in terms of the internet--FLAG established its web presence. Led by active foreign language educators, FLAG has evolved into a strong organization.

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