In this article, the author discusses the intentions of the October 2005 Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) conference. She explains that the conference will be a shared event between the AECT members and the participants of the 37th annual meeting of the International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA), a stalwart affiliate of AECT. She stresses the importance of both groups recognizing their similar goals and shared concerns about research, theory and practice pertaining to visual aspects of the communication process. While these shared goals are very clear, she admits that it is far too easy for the two organizations to fall into their own cliques. The author feels it is important for the two groups to work together for the following reasons: (1) People will become more creative and critical thinkers by identifying, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating what they see; (2) People will become visual makers themselves, demonstrating the ability to create mental images and to communicate visually with others; (3) People will be more perceptive individuals by recognizing and appreciating aesthetics of visual imagery and by understanding, accepting and valuing personal, cultural and historical differences in image creation.; (4) People will become more responsible citizens by being aware of the roles visuals play in reflecting and influencing a society.; (5) People will become more discriminating consumers, understanding the motives, methods and emotional appeal of advertising visuals in a modern society; and (6) People will become lifelong learners, with a positive attitude about learning how to learn about visual images.