From the Executive Director
Walter Bacak, CAE
walter@atanet.org
Planning is in full swing for ATA’s 63rd Annual Conference in Los Angeles, October 12-15. We last met in LA in 2001, just two months after the 9/11 attacks. That conference gave attendees a chance to come together for each other. This year, LA’s conference offers another chance for healing as we bring together translators, interpreters, and company owners from around the world—many of whom might be attending their first in-person event in three years.
We’re planning for a fully in-person conference featuring all the classic networking opportunities—from the Job Fair (one-on-one meetings with agency reps and potential employers) to Brainstorm Networking (attendees rotate through small groups to tackle various business scenarios) to the Book Fair (authors and translators share and promote their books).
Of course, the educational sessions are the core of the conference. ATA President-Elect and Conference Organizer Veronika Demichelis has put together three days of learning across 168 sessions. Plus, 16 in-depth courses are planned for Advanced Skills and Training (AST) Day, which takes place October 12, the day before the main conference. AST courses are three-hours long and designed to provide intensive, interactive instruction from highly acclaimed speakers. These courses have limited capacity to ensure greater attention from the speakers.
The breadth and depth of the general conference sessions not only feature the experience and knowledge of your colleagues, but we also bring in experts with the assistance of ATA’s divisions and committees. President-Elect Demichelis worked with division administrators and committee chairs to arrange for 21 subject matter experts to present. These distinguished speakers are typically from outside the Association. (The sessions given by these speakers are denoted with a DS on the agenda.)
Part of the excitement surrounding an ATA Annual Conference is visiting the host city. ATA in Southern California in October sells itself. The same goes for all the sights and sounds LA has to offer. The hotel is centrally located in downtown, just steps away from the LA Metro and a short walk from great restaurants, shopping centers, art museums, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and other popular places to visit. And, yes, you can see the Hollywood sign from the hotel!
ATA’s Annual Conference promises something for everyone. Whether it’s your first, fifth, or your 25th conference, register today for an unforgettable experience.
Slate Set for This Year’s Election
The slate is set for this year’s election of four directors. Three positions are for three-year terms and one is for a one-year term. (The one-year term is to complete the remaining year of Veronika Demichelis’ term when she was elected president-elect.) Here’s the slate:
Yasmin O. AlKashef
Andy Benzo
Mihai Bledea
Robin Bonthrone
Céline Browning
Amine El Fajri
Christina Green
Ben Karl
Hana Kawashima Ransom
Caroline Kyung Ha Kim
Edna Santizo
Note: Miao (Maggie) Hong has withdrawn.
The election will be online. Voting members will be sent their proxy voting information in mid-September. Candidate statements will be featured in the September/October issue of The ATA Chronicle and on ATA’s website.
To participate, you need to be a Voting member. You can become a Voting member by passing a certification exam, completing the Active Membership Review process, or successfully submitting proof of being a credentialed interpreter.
Useful Links
ATA63 Advanced Skills and Training Day
ATA63 Conference Hotel Reservations
ATA Elections Page (Slate of Candidates)
ATA Active Membership Review Process
ATA Credentialed Interpreter Designation
ATA Wins FIT’s Best Website Prize!ATA won the Best Website Prize, presented by the International Federation of Translators (FIT)! In making the announcement at the FIT World Congress in Varadero, Cuba, on June 1, the international jury noted: “The straightforward, informative, well-structured website appeals to clients and colleagues alike and contains ample information, using professional visuals. The concise language, the clear call to action button, and the full text search enhances the overall user experience for all visitors, whether on a desktop or mobile device. From a client perspective, the jury believes www.atanet.org with its ‘client assistance’ section best promotes the professional image of the translator, terminologist, and interpreter in terms of quality, presentation, and relevance.” Congratulations to ATA’s Website Committee and ATA’s Website Manager and Graphic Designer Teresa Kelly! |