In 2010, we cannot claim that our small band ofvolunteers were at the church every Saturday- Christmas Day fell on Saturday this year and we took that one off .... but otherwise!

There was no attempt to advertise our drop-in ESL conversation again this year - a listing with the Calgary ESL Cooperative Ministries was the only clue to the existence of our program but still they found us. Fifty six adults and children came to chat. In turn, we learned about the countries of Latvia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan.

Our accommodations were --- interesting and variable. We squeezed into Classroom 5 with the noise of shingles being stripped overhead or vacuums whirring outside the door. We enjoyed noting the progress of Nursery deconstruction and reconstruction in those relatively "roomy digs". Finally, we settled into the luxury of the new Vestry and overflowed into the multi-purpose space. Sincere thank yous to the Carry On and Clean-up crews who ensured that we could always invite everyone 'back next week' knowing there would be a space for us.

One change is being noted in our clientele. We are seeing fewer immigrants or prospective immigrants and more people who are in Canada temporarily taking every opportunity to improve their English. Among our faithful participants this year were a Physics professor doing research at the U of C while on sabbatical from Tehran University with her husband and her daughter, a neurologist spending a year at the Foothills' Stroke Clinic with his young family from Mexico, and a dozen Asian students attending a downtown language school who take Calgary transit from as far as Marlborough and Somerset for their Saturday morning conversations with us.

Thank you to Esther and Jerry Crowdis, Marilyn Brown, and Ernie and Betty Trosch for carrying on this program throughout the year. Volunteers are always welcome. The only qualification is some free time on any Saturday morning and the ability to carry on an impromptu conversation in English.