The American Translators Association’s Board of Directors met January 20–21, 2018, in Miami, Florida. The meeting followed the Board’s Annual Strategy Day.
The Annual Strategy Day provides an opportunity for the Board to discuss in-depth aspects of the Association and the translation and interpreting professions. Strategy Day is coordinated and led by ATA’s president-elect, who, by office, is the chair of the Governance and Communications Committee. This year, President-Elect Ted Wozniak guided the Board discussions through various issues pertaining to membership, including targeting new members and retaining current members. In addition, Treasurer John Milan provided an overview of ATA’s finances. Strategy Day discussions do not necessarily result in concrete plans for action, but they do help the Board come to a consensus on issues that serve as the foundation for working through complex options.
ATA Board of Directors
From left: Directors Elena Langdon, Cristina Helmerichs, Faiza Sultan, Geoff Koby, Melinda Gonzalez-Hibner, Evelyn Yang Garland, Tony Guerra, and Frieda Ruppaner-Lind. Seated, from left: Treasurer John Milan, President-Elect Ted Wozniak, President Corinne McKay, and Secretary Karen Tkaczyk. (Not pictured: Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo)
Here are some highlights from the Board meeting.
Certification Exam Fee Increase: The Board approved to increase the fee for the certification exam to $525, effective January 1, 2019. The last increase was in 2008. The increase will bring the price of the exam closer to covering our costs. There are no changes to the price of practice tests or reviews.
Opening the Certification Exam to Non-Members: The Board revisited the Board motion from 2015 outlining prerequisites that must be met before ATA can open the certification exam to non-members. The Board consensus was that we should continue to work toward “decoupling” (i.e., no longer requiring ATA membership to sit for the certification exam). At its next meeting, the Board has agreed to review plans and tentative timelines, as well as further analyze how decoupling may effect current certified members.
Nominating and Leadership Development Committee Appointment Approved: The Board approved the appointment of the members of the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee. They are Past President David Rumsey, Lucy Gunderson (Divisions Committee chair), David Stephenson (Certification Committee chair), Connie Prener (a long-time grader), and Milena Calderari-Waldron (a certified interpreter and advocate for interpreters). The committee reviews and selects the slate of candidates for the elections each fall.
Additional Appointments: The Board also approved:
- The appointments of Roxana Dinu, Kathryn German, Natalie Higgins, and Ana-Cecilia Rosado to the Ethics Committee.
- The appointments of Diana Arbiser and Elizabeth Essary to the Membership Committee.
- The American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation Board of Directors: Marian S. Greenfield (president), Jennifer DeCamp, Geoff Koby, Corinne McKay, and Caitilin Walsh.
The Board meeting summary is posted online. The minutes will be posted once they are approved at the next Board meeting. Past meeting summaries and minutes are also posted online at www.atanet.org/membership/minutes.php. The next Board meeting is set for April 14–15, 2018, in Alexandria, Virginia. As always, the meeting is open to all members, and members are encouraged to attend.