News, events, tips and updates for members of the Editors’ Association of Canada
In this issue:
1. CONFERENCE 2014: Sessions, shopping, socializing and more
2. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Eva van Emden
3. GET INVOLVED: Volunteer opportunities to boost your resumé
4. PROMOTE YOURSELF: Tell the world about your achievements
5. OOPS AWARDS: Send us those slip-ups!
6. SHOP EAC: Update your editorial toolkit
1. CONFERENCE 2014: Sessions, shopping, socializing and more
Conference 2014 is on its way!
Are you attending EAC’s 2014 conference, Tracking Change: e-Merging Methods and Markets, happening June 6 to 8? Registration is open and, in addition to a great lineup of speakers and sessions, there are plenty of other offerings to entice you to join us in Toronto! What’s more, the early-bird deadline for members has been extended to April 25, so you still have time to register at a discounted rate.
For those looking to connect, get a buddy through the Conference Buddies program. Email the Conference Buddies coordinator by Friday, April 18, if you’d like to be a buddy.
For those with items to sell (and for those looking for items to buy!), the Exclamation Mart! will keep you busy between sessions. If you’re interested in being an exhibitor, email the vendor fair coordinators for more information.
And for those just looking for a good night out, both the opening night reception and the awards banquet will give you the chance to mix, mingle and party the evening away with your colleagues from across Canada.
See you in Toronto!
2. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Eva van Emden
Eva has been a member of the British Columbia branch since November 2009. Currently, Eva holds the position of webmaster for the branch.
Eva served on the BC branch executive as professional development co-chair, 2011–2013. During that time, she worked with two other executive members to bring the branch’s executive handbook up to date. Eva was also part of the planning team for the first PubPro unconference, a professional development event for managing editors and publication production specialists.
When asked what motivates her to take on the work, Eva explains: “The BC executive is a great group of people. They have been a pleasure to work with.” Eva adds: “EAC is very valuable to my professional success, so it’s very satisfying to be part of providing great services to EAC members. Professional development is an important EAC benefit to me, so it’s been very satisfying to help line up a program of great instructors.”
Until recently, Eva also volunteered to edit descriptions of microloans on the website of Kiva, a non-profit organization that provides microloans to individuals, entrepreneurs and small businesses worldwide. Eva retired from this position after editing a remarkable 1,000 loan descriptions.
The Volunteer of the Month is a new feature designed to highlight the dedicated people who keep EAC going. Volunteers are the heart of EAC, a member-run organization. We are grateful for the many volunteers who answer the call when help is needed. Visit the Members’ Area for more information about volunteering for EAC.
3. GET INVOLVED: Volunteer opportunities to boost your resumé
Volunteering is the backbone of EAC so we often issue invitations to you to get involved. People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons, but it’s okay for you to wonder what’s in it for you?
EAC opportunities are a terrific way for you to stand out from the crowd. Think about it. From providing leadership for the association to authoring essential books, getting bylines on the national magazine and regional newsletters, developing EAC’s landmark certification program, and organizing the annual conference, member volunteers walk away with some terrific career accomplishments to boast about on their CVs.
Here are some of the volunteer opportunities that are available now.
Chair, Francophone Affairs Committee
We’re looking for a chair for the francophone affairs committee. Do you have a lot of ideas to support the association’s francophone community? Do you like developing products and services? Want to develop your skills and make new contacts? Contact EAC’s director of francophone affairs, Marie-Christine Payette, for more information about this terrific opportunity.
Help us make webinars a reality
!The training and development committee has made piloting web-based training part of its mandate this year. In order to fulfill this goal, we need your time, talent and expertise. Volunteers will help us:
- brainstorm and research ideas for webinar topics and delivery;
- prepare and administer member surveys and organize feedback;
- create a pilot webinar using one of the identified topics and delivery platforms; and
- promote the pilot webinar and gather feedback from the test audience.
You don’t have to have a background in education or be familiar with webinar technology—although these are definitely assets! All we need are enthusiastic volunteers willing to share their ideas and a few hours of their time. Whether you want to take part in a single part of the process or join us from start to finish, please contact the training and development committee chair, Emily Dockrill Jones, with any questions or to sign up.
Online education offers exciting opportunities for the organization and its members. Don’t miss your chance to help shape the future of EAC professional development.
Interested in other opportunities? Contact your branch or twig or a national committee chair today to get involved.
Don’t forget: Nominations are also open for 2014–15 national executive council and committee chair positions.
4. PROMOTE YOURSELF: Tell the world about your achievements
EAC member news is where we share information about EACers who win awards, publish books and make their mark on the communications world in other important ways.
Do you have a recent achievement? Let EAC tell the world about it on EAC’s Member News page. If you have member news to share, drop our member news coordinator a line.
5. OOPS AWARDS: Send us those slip-ups!
There’s still time to send your submissions for the 2014 Oops Awards!
You’ve spotted humorous blunders in advertisements, not-so-scholarly journals, newspapers, bedtime reading, billboards, menus and signs around the globe. Help us recognize the best of the bad by submitting them for this year’s Oops Awards!
Visit the Oops Awards page for submission instructions and entry guidelines.
Submit your Oops Awards entry by Thursday, April 17. Online voting for your favourite blunders begins Monday, May 5.
6. SHOP EAC: Update your editorial toolkit
Could your workspace use a thorough spring cleaning? Embrace the “out with the old, in with the new” philosophy with EAC’s recently revised publications and fun editing merchandise.
Certification Study Guides
Considering becoming a certified editor? EAC’s study guides are the primary resources for anyone who wants to become a certified editor. Whether you use the guides for independent study or in a workshop setting, you will learn more about the knowledge, skills and judgment required to earn your certification credentials.
Purchase the Certification Study Guides now.
Meeting Professional Editorial Standards
Whether you’re learning the craft of editing or you’re an established professional looking to broaden your knowledge, this second edition, four-volume self-teaching and self-testing package is a must-have for any editor’s bookshelf.
Purchase Meeting Professional Editorial Standards now.
Eight-Step Editing/EAC Grammar Tips Poster
EAC and Jim Taylor have teamed up to produce a vibrant poster that features practical highlights and tips from Jim’s popular Eight-Step Editing seminar, as well as helpful grammar tips from EAC members.
If you’re an editor or a writer, this colourful quick-reference guide is essential to have on hand to help you find and fix common readability problems in your documents.
Purchase your Eight-Step Editing/EAC Grammar Tips poster now.
EAC magnets
Stick ’em up! EAC’s popular “I’m not obsessed. I’m an editor!” and “Je ne suis pas obsédé. Je suis réviseur.” graphics are now available as magnets. Boast to the world what you do by sticking this tongue-in-cheek magnet on your fridge, filing cabinet, car and the robot you’re building in your garage.
Purchase your magnets now.
Shop EAC at Conference 2014
Want to shop for your EAC goodies in person? We’ll be at the Conference 2014 vendor fair at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. Drop by the EAC booth to say hi and browse to your heart’s content.
The EAC national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.