News, events, tips and updates for members of the Editors’ Association of Canada
It’s the most wonderful time of the year—at least that’s what all the back-to-school ads geared toward parents tell us. Summer might be winding down, but when the air grows crisper, our inner student reminds us that September is like the beginning of a new year. What better way to usher in this new year than by committing to volunteer for your association?
EAC volunteers contribute to the association in a number of ways. Whether you’re interested in a higher-profile role (such as chairing a committee or receiving your own byline by writing for Active Voice) or you’re inspired by working with a team to meet a common goal, EAC has a role that’s perfect for you. The more engaged you are in the association, the more EAC thrives and the more you grow through valuable opportunities to network, develop your skills and enhance your resumé.
In this issue:
1. ACTIVE VOICE: Join EAC’s national newsletter team
2. MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: Calling all catchy copywriters
3. SOCIAL MEDIA: A task force for those who like being linked in and tweeting
4. MEMBERSHIP: Increase EAC’s membership and discover new member benefits
5. POLICY: Help us write EAC’s Code of Ethics
6: MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your achievements
7. CERTIFICATION: Register now
8. EXTERNAL: EAC members invited to attend NEIG conference in Washington State
1. ACTIVE VOICE: Join EAC’s national newsletter team
Have you ever wanted to see your name in print? Are you interested in volunteering your time and receiving a rich learning experience in return? Consider getting involved with EAC’s national newsletter, Active Voice!
A true 21st century publication, Active Voice is published in print and online. We’re looking for volunteers with experience in either type of publishing and at all stages of production, from writing to editing and publishing.
If you have professional skills and talent, and love a job well done, join us! Production on the next issue will start soon and we look forward to hearing from you. Email us at active_voice@editors.ca.
2. MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: Calling all catchy copywriters
EAC’s marketing and public relations committee is all abuzz! In the coming weeks we’re releasing the revised So You Want to Be an Editor (EAC’s information booklet on a career in editing) and a brand new membership brochure. We’ve also partnered with the Translation Bureau to provide content for its Language Portal website (read EAC’s latest article “Working as an editor“). All of these initiatives help to promote the association and raise the profile of the editing profession in Canada.
We’re looking for more copywriters to join our team. If you have a penchant for snappy prose, like fun projects and relish the idea of creating collateral that promotes editing, consider joining EAC’s marketing team. Email us at marketing_and_pr@editors.ca.
3. SOCIAL MEDIA: A task force for those who like being linked in and tweeting
EAC’s social media task force is looking for communicators who have experience using social media and an interest in helping the association use these quickly evolving tools to engage our audience. The task force will write a plan that is integrated with EAC’s national communications plan to recommend how to best use social media to meet EAC’s objectives. Wael Elazab, who spearheaded the social media campaign for the Vancouver conference, will lead this research and planning task force. If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact Wael at waelelazab@gmail.com.
4. MEMBERSHIP: Increase EAC’s membership and discover new member benefits
Looking for members for the EAC corporate membership task force
If you’re an in-house editor, have you wondered about the benefits of a corporate membership for you and other editors in your workplace? Do you have ideas about what you’ve seen in other organizations, or what might work for EAC?
If so, we’re looking for volunteers to help determine what a corporate membership would entail, and who would qualify. Tasks include the following:
- researching what a corporate member or partner might want from EAC;
- recommending if this would be a new membership category or a partnership arrangement; and
- discussing how it would affect in-house editor member acquisition and retention.
If you’re interested in being part of this project, contact Gael Spivak at volunteerrelations@editors.ca.
Wanted: Chair for Member Services Committee
We’re looking for a qualified person to chair the member services committee. Committee chairs lead committees in setting goals and objectives, and in developing a plan to meet those objectives.
Here is the mandate of the member services committee:
The member services committee monitors, reviews and makes recommendations about EAC’s services and benefits in light of the association’s aim to attract, serve and retain a diverse range of members (including editors who work in-house and freelance, in various media, in various sectors, in either official language and at all levels of experience). Where the former membership committee was concerned with ways to attract new members, the new member services committee is focused primarily on ensuring existing members are satisfied with the services and benefits offered by the association. Working closely with branch membership chairs, the member services committee develops and maintains a national approach to member recruitment and retention.
Volunteering has always been a benefit of membership. As such, it is part of the member services committee mandate to work with the volunteer management committee to develop and propose methods of acknowledging the contributions of members and enhancing the experience of EAC volunteers.
If you are interested in this committee (as its chair or as a member), contact Gael Spivak at volunteerrelations@editors.ca.
5. POLICY: Help us write EAC’s Code of Ethics
While EAC has a Code of Conduct (24.12 KB) to address how members should interact with one another, we do not yet have a Code of Ethics. This task force’s goal is to submit a draft Code of Ethics to the national executive council for its November meeting and revise the draft code as required for approval by the membership. As part of its research, the task force will explore elements of effective membership association codes to prepare a draft code for EAC. If you’d like to be involved in creating this capstone document, please contact Carolyn L Burke at executivedirector@editors.ca.
6. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your achievements
Have you recently won an award? Published a book? Contributed to an award-winning publication? Tell the world about it on EAC’s member news page! Send your news item to member news coordinator, Marguerite Watson.
7. CERTIFICATION: Register now
If you want to enjoy the benefits of official recognition of your excellent editing abilities and a marketing advantage, register now to take an EAC certification test—or even two.
EAC is offering certification tests in copy editing and stylistic editing on Saturday, November 19, 2011, in major centres across Canada.
What’s new?
- Editors who pass the November 2011 or later tests will have credential maintenance as part of their certification package.
- EAC’s new Stylistic Editing Study Guide is the primary resource for anyone who wants to become a Certified Stylistic Editor.
- The recently released Stylistic Editing: Meeting Professional Editorial Standards, is now available. This self-teaching and self-testing package is a must-have for any editor’s bookshelf. (If you want to study ahead, pick up Structural Editing: Meeting Professional Editorial Standards, which was recently released as well!)
See EAC’s certification website for more information on the benefits of certification and preparing for the tests.
Don’t forget: Registration closes on October 24, 2011.
8. EXTERNAL: EAC members invited to attend NEIG conference in Washington State
EAC members are invited to attend the Northwest Independent Editors Guild’s 2011 conference: Red Pencil in the Woods. NEIG members were invited to attend EAC’s Vancouver conference at discounted member rates so, as a reciprocal gesture, EAC members may register for the guild’s conference at member rates.
The conference will take place on Saturday, September 24 at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. For more information, visit the Northwest Independent Editors Guild website.
The EAC national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.