EAC: National e-news update, February 24, 2010

News, events, tips and updates for members of the Editors’ Association of Canada

In this issue:

1. CONTEST NEWS: Amanda Growe wins free EAC membership
2. FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS: Gatineau town hall reminder
3. CONFERENCE 2010: Early-bird registration now open
4. MEMBER SERVICES: Mediation success
5. MEETING EDITORIAL STANDARDS: Desperately seeking errata
6. BRANCH NEWS: Toronto branch members talk taxes
7. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
8. SHOP EAC: New products


1. CONTEST NEWS: Amanda Growe wins free EAC membership

Congratulations to BC branch member Amanda Growe, the latest winner of EAC’s free membership raffle.

Want to win a year’s free membership in EAC? There are three more chances to win! Each month until May 2010, the national office will draw one winner from EAC’s Membership List. The winners will receive one year’s free membership in the association.

How do I enter the raffle?

Make sure you’re listed in EAC’s Membership List. That’s it!

Not listed? Visit the Membership List FAQ for step-by-step instructions. The sooner you get listed, the more chances you will have to win!

Remember: There is no cost for members to activate their profiles or to search the Membership List. The Membership List is only accessible to EAC members, not to the public.

Next draw date: March 8, 2010.

Visit the Members’ Area for complete contest details.


2. FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS: Gatineau town hall reminder

All EAC members are invited to attend a town hall to discuss francophone issues and services.

EAC Francophone Affairs Town Hall

Hosts:EAC national executive council and National Capital Region branch
Date:Saturday, March 6, 2010
Time:5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Place:Holiday Inn Plaza la Chaudière Gatineau–Ottawa
2 Montcalm Street
Gatineau QC J8X 4B4
Cost:Free

Join the national executive council and many of our branch executives as we reveal preliminary analysis from the recent national membership survey and discuss member benefits and services for our francophone and bilingual members.

Following the town hall, attendees are invited to mix and mingle at a pay-as-you-go dinner hosted by the NCR branch at Piz’za-za Restaurant and Wine Bar (36 Laval St., Gatineau) at 7 p.m. on March 6. To RSVP for the dinner, send your name and email address to ncr@editors.ca.

We look forward to seeing you in Gatineau!

Can’t make it in person to the town hall? Join the online discussion in the Discussion des Affaires francophones (6 mars, Gatineau) thread on Interactive Voice.


3. CONFERENCE 2010: Early-bird registration now open

The promotional logo for Editors Canada 2010 Conference.

Conference registration is now open! We’ve held conference prices at 2009 levels, and as an added incentive, we’re offering early-bird discounts to EAC members who register by April 1. Visit the conference website for details and online registration instructions.

As the editing world becomes increasingly complex, it is essential that we keep up to date. Join us at EAC’s 2010 conference, where you’ll learn from experts on government and business, techniques and technology, languages and culture, arts and science, and professional development.

Conference 2010—Reflections: Editing Content and Culture—runs from May 28 to 30, 2010, at Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec’s Grande Bibiothèque in the internationally renowned city of Montreal. If you’re looking for education sessions, networking events and more, join us in Montreal for a one-of-a-kind conference experience.


4. MEMBER SERVICES: Mediation success

Did you know that you have access to free mediation services as a benefit of membership? EAC’s mediator advises members or their clients about grievances or contract disputes involving editing work.

Several members have already benefited from the advice given by the current mediator, Toronto branch member Michael Benedict, who reports:

My most recent request for assistance came from a member who had received lots of promises to be paid for work done, but had only received one cheque—and it bounced. Still, he wanted to continue the working relationship—if he got paid!

I contacted the client and she acknowledged her debt, but pleaded lack of promised funds from a client of hers. I suggested a $100 payment as a gesture of good faith with yet another promise to pay the outstanding balance as soon as possible. She agreed.

As it turns out, she sent a certified cheque for the full amount owing and promised payment for a second assignment within days.

“You seem to have worked the charm,” said the member. “Thank you very much for rescuing this working relationship!”

When other steps have not solved the problem, the mediator may intervene to help settle the matter. You can contact Michael Benedict by sending an email to mediator@editors.ca.


5. MEETING EDITORIAL STANDARDS: Desperately seeking errata

Cover of Meeting Editorial Standards: Solutions and Discussion (Revised Edition) by Editors' Association of Canada

Have you noted any mistakes in the current edition of Meeting Editorial Standards? The Publications Committee wants to hear about them! As part of the revision process for a new edition of Meeting Editorial Standards, the committee is developing an errata report on the current edition. If you’ve noted any mistakes, please leave a comment about them in the Meeting Editorial Standards: Errata thread on Interactive Voice.


6. BRANCH NEWS: Toronto branch members talk taxes

Back by popular demand, at the March Toronto branch meeting, Dimitris Stubos will discuss income tax and other tax issues, paying particular attention to Ontario’s new HST. The program will be tailored to editors and people who work in the arts, whether as freelancers, contractors or employees.

To access the members-only podcast of this presentation, use this feed address after March 29, 2010: http://feeds.feedburner.com/EacMembers-onlyPodcast.

For security reasons, the members-only podcast is protected by a special username and password. The current values are stored on Interactive Voice.

Dimitris Stubos is the principal accountant at Base Nine Financial, which specializes in serving the artistic community.


7. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!

Congratulations to Toronto branch member Susan Hughes, who will celebrate the release of her new young adult novel, Virginia, on March 1. Published by Kids Can Press, the book is described as “a gripping story of an ordinary teenage girl drawn into an extraordinary chain of events.” Also, this summer Scholastic Canada will publish Susan’s book Canada’s Birds as part of its “Canada Close Up” children’s non-fiction series. Canada’s Birds will be Susan’s third title in the series.

Member news is a new, regular website feature designed to tell the world about our members’ outstanding and wide-ranging skills and talents. Do you have an achievement you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Send your news to the member news coordinator, Marguerite Watson.


8. SHOP EAC: New products

Spring is on the way! Let the world know you’re a proud EACer when you carry a stainless steel water bottle or travel mug with you as you venture outside this season.

These items are available for sale only until March 31, so hurry over to EAC’s CafePress shop to make your secure online purchase today.


The EAC national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.

To top