In the 21 years since the association began - as The Association for Computer Based Training (TACT), changing its name to the eLN in 2000 - its annual membership has hovered around the 150 mark. The year 2008 has seen a rapid and remarkable rise in membership levels.

Clive Shepherd, the eLN's elected chairman, commented: "When Monique completed her membership application form on the eLN website, she had no idea of the significance of the event. However, she has helped the eLN reach an important milestone in a year of impressive growth. As someone from Atlanta, in the USA, who is now working in Antibes in the South of France, Monique symbolises the increasingly international reach of the eLN."

It was in Atlanta, Georgia, that Monique developed her expertise in instructional design and multimedia. She worked as an instructional designer for Morehouse College - a historic institution that numbers Martin Luther King Jr among its former students. Monique was responsible for implementing the first eLearning system at Morehouse. She also served as an online tutor in graphic design and computer literacy.

A year ago, Monique moved to Antibes. Although she knew very little French at the time, she wanted to exploit her eLearning and multimedia skills in a new environment. She has based her company, Mindscope Multimedia, in the Sophia Antipolis Science Park near Nice - an area that is home to more than 1,000 companies and, thus, is an excellent environment in which to create a market for her services.

"Being keen to continue my professional development as an eLearning professional, I came across the eLN," Monique explained.

"The information on its website, allied to opportunities to discuss issues with the rest of the association's members via email, webinars, and even in person at its regular conferences, is proving highly helpful to Mindscope as we provide eLearning services, instructional design, and multimedia development to our clients. So, in many ways, our clients are also reaping the benefits of my membership in the eLN!"

Shepherd added: "We wish Monique every success with her new business. We are also looking forward to Learning Technologies 2009, being held in London at the end of January, when Monique hopes to join us in person to celebrate her landmark status as the eLN's 1,000th member."