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We, along with the worldwide CALL community, are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Vance Stevens, the first officially appointed TESOL CALL-IS Chair in 1984. As hundreds of friends from different parts of the world swarmed in on Facebook with tributes and condolences have put it, Vance was “an online pioneer who was a giant among his peers”, “a mentor, role model, and our friend,” “[our] guide, and an inspiration,” “the go-to guy in the Electronic Village…at TESOL CALL-IS,” “an outstanding Webhead who marked the professional lives of thousands of teachers from all over the world,” and so much more to so many of us! Vance was the kindest, most active and charismatic leader of different CALL communities. He was the person we have always relied on in challenging times, i.e. putting together “Best of EVO not canceled but moved online” when the TESOL convention 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic.    Vance has worked in CALL for more than 40 years. He has served as Electronic Village Online coordinator since 2003, after starting Webheads in Action in 2002. At many TESOL conventions, he played a major role in the webcasts from the Electronic Village. In fact, Vance was the one that came up with the idea and single-handedly started webcasting EV sessions that he participated in to the Webheads, who were our most enthusiastic and consistent audience for several years. Serving on the Webcasting Team of the CALL-IS, Vance always tinkered with new ways to connect with various and broader audiences, fixing problems with broadcasting on-the-go at TESOL Conventions. Aside from TESOL, Vance was the vice-president of APACALL from 2014-2018 and the editor of the "On the Internet" column in TESL-EJ for 19 years. I know many of us published our work in the column under his encouragement.   At this time of sorrow, I thought a great way to celebrate his life and contributions to the CALL-IS would be to read “How the TESOL CALL Interest Section Began,” an article he wrote as a co-founding member of the CALL-IS, and share your memories of him with us on this Padlet wall. We join together as a community and mourn this loss. He will be greatly missed. Vance Stevens was an inspiration to so many of us, and his legacy will never be forgotten.

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HE smiling heard our conversation with my student from Kazakhstan

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VANCE was the best FRIEND of Uzbekistan TESOLers

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VANCE was the best FRIEND of Uzbekistan TESOLers

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Thanks for being an awesome mentor, a welcoming colleague to those who joined the CALL IS. Thank for wonderful meetings to share about webheads! Thanks for showing interest in what was happening in our country in terms of CALL! You will be forever remembered! ❤️

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What a loss to the world of CALL and EFL! Vance was such a kind and helpful professional. Thoughts and prayers to his family! Jane Hoelker

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What a loss to the world of CALL and EFL! Vance was such a kind and helpful professional. Thoughts and prayers to his family! Jane Hoelker

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Jane Hoelker

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"You never know where a teacher's influence ends".

Thanks, Vance. For your generosity. For your passion. For empowering those who then empowered me... and led me to empower others.

Gladys Baya
BA, Argentina 🇦🇷

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We learnt, we laughed, we searched, we tried, we shared... YOU taught us, Vance

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We learnt, we laughed, we searched, we tried, we shared... YOU taught us, Vance

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As I read the poignant postings and as we grieve the loss of such a major force for good, I ask myself what it was about Vance that drew us to him and kept us there, legions of us through the years. Perhaps it comes down to this: Most of us struggle daily to be the best versions of ourselves; Vance made this monumental task look so easy, as he effortlessly took the high road every time. He became not only the best version of himself but an inspiration to all of us to be better people ourselves. Yes, I owe all my tech work to him, my Webheads friends, my global perspective, and more, but most of all, I think that knowing Vance has made me a better person. I weep with both sadness to say goodbye and joy to have been a part of his life’s journey.

Laine Marshall

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A few years ago, when we were still webcasting ( precovid)( old hat now,), we were having problems picking up the sound in a large room which was too large and the panelists were too far from the tech table. We fiddled, fussed and then Vance entered the room. Assessing the situation, he stacked three chairs on top of each other- right side up and upside down- put the mic on the top of the three teetering chairs and the problem was solved. How I don’t remember, but that was Vance the tinkerer. He always performed that kind of tech feat of magic- while telling you about skiing or diving.

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I met Vance and Dusty in 2011 while they were on a skiing trip in Lebanon. Buth joined us, and it was a lovely mini Webhead get together. Sadly, I couldn't find a single photo. I had joined the Webheads in 2009 and learned so much from Vance and everyone in the community ever since. The only other Webhead I met was Nina Liakos at 2010 TESOL.

Though it was all a long time ago, and I am currently not teaching anymore, I credit Vance and the community for giving me so many leads to improve my practice and to feel I am not alone. I've learnt so much from Vance, especially from his generosity and how methodical he was. An inspiration still, never to be forgotten.

I moved from Beirut to Abu Dhabi in 2021 and he'd been so much on my mind. Often, I would think what did he like about Abu Dhabi the most, or did he ever visit again...Knowing of his passing was heartbreaking and still is. A reminder that we should never put off reaching out to the people on our minds. Thank you Vance. My heartfelt condolences to Bobbi, Dusty, and the rest of the family.

Sincerely,
Rita Abdelnour
Lebanon / UAE

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WorldCALL 2008, Japan, scholarship recipients with Vance & Bobbi (from top left to bottom right: Nelba, Susan, Nina, Evelyn, Bobbi, Vance, Erika, Neny, Hala)

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I first became friends with Vance via the Internet when we were both coordinators of EVO, and met him in person for the first time when I was a 2008 WorldCALL conference scholarship recipient from Iran in Japan.

I learnt a lot from Vance, both as a teacher and a human being.  As you all know, he was the kind of person who always made a difference.  He was lots of fun (and would encourage us to explore F.U.N. things!).  He was extremely energetic, creative, and eager to explore new horizons.  Suffice it to say that he was the "father" (some have said cat herder) of that most wonderful group of CALL teachers: the Webheads.

But far more importantly, he was consistently kind, humble, and gracious.  He was always generous with his time.

Finally, he was one of the people who never, ever treated me any differently for being an "Iranian hijabi Muslim." Never, ever, ever.  He truly embodied respect for other cultures and other ways of being. One of my biggest regrets in the year 2022 was not being able to thank him for what he meant to me.

Thank you, Vance, so very much; and goodbye, my dear friend!  You will always be missed.  Always.  Much love from Iran to you and Bobbi.

S. Susan Marandi

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I am so thankful and truly grateful to you, dearest Vance Stevens, for what you have given me since I joined Webheads. Thank you so much for your friendship, help and support throughout my career. Your guidance and encouragement have been invaluable to me. You have always been there to advise and support me when I needed it most, and I am grateful for that. Your willingness to listen and offer advice when writing my chapter in the book with other colleagues has been a great source of strength and motivation for me. Actually, your belief in me and instrumental support when I started my career in educational technology, with the poor infrastructure and the little money I had, has helped me to develop my skills and knowledge, stay focused and motivated me to reach my goals. You have always been willing to share your experience and expertise with us, Webheads, which have been invaluable in helping me to grow and develop. Your enthusiasm and passion for what you do have been an inspiration to all of us. Thank you for being such an amazing friend and mentor. You are missed!

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I am so thankful and truly grateful to you, dearest Vance Stevens, for what you have given me since I joined Webheads. Thank you so much for your friendship, help and support throughout my career. Your guidance and encouragement have been invaluable to me. You have always been there to advise and support me when I needed it most, and I am grateful for that. Your willingness to listen and offer advice when writing my chapter in the book with other colleagues has been a great source of strength and motivation for me. Actually, your belief in me and instrumental support when I started my career in educational technology, with the poor infrastructure and the little money I had, has helped me to develop my skills and knowledge, stay focused and motivated me to reach my goals. You have always been willing to share your experience and expertise with us, Webheads, which have been invaluable in helping me to grow and develop. Your enthusiasm and passion for what you do have been an inspiration to all of us. Thank you for being such an amazing friend and mentor. You are missed!

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Hala Fawzi

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Rest in Peace, dear Vance!
Hala Fawzi