EAC: National e-news update, January 29, 2010

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

In this issue:

1. CONTEST NEWS: Stephen Sanborn wins free EAC membership
2. CONFERENCE 2010: Featuring a Montreal-style welcome with cinq à sept reception!
3. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
4. SO, YOU WANT TO BE AN EDITOR: Share your success story
5. MEMBER SERVICES: Affordable errors and omissions insurance now available for EAC members
6. INDUSTRY NEWS: HRSDC opens EI special benefits to the self-employed
7. SOCIAL NETWORKING: Connect with EAC online
8. SHOP EAC: Favourite products back by popular demand


1. CONTEST NEWS: Stephen Sanborn wins free EAC membership

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

Want to win a year’s free membership in EAC? There are four 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: February 8, 2010.

Visit the Members’ Area for complete contest details.


2. CONFERENCE 2010: Featuring a Montreal-style welcome with cinq à sept reception!

With its joie de vivre, old-world charm and culinary pleasures, Montreal will be a one-of-a-kind conference experience to share with friends and colleagues. To kick it off in style, the QAC branch will be hosting Friday night’s welcome reception with real Quebec flair! Join your fellow delegates at the Grande Bibliothèque for an enjoyable cinq à sept (5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Montreal’s version of happy hour) that will showcase the best of the city—delicious food, ample socializing and fun!
 
Conference 2010, Reflections: Editing Content and Culture, runs May 28 to 30, 2010. Watch for early-bird pricing when registration opens on February 22!


3. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!

In November 2009, Prairie Provinces branch member Louise Dandeneau won first prize in the Rue Deschambault writing contest in Winnipeg. The contest, which was held by La Maison Gabrielle Roy and La Liberté, challenged entrants to write a short story with a street name as the title about an event that occurred in a childhood home. Louise also contributed a short story to the Sillons – hommage à Gabrielle Roy anthology published by Éditions de Blé in Winnipeg, November 2009. (2009 was the centennial anniversary of Gabrielle Roy’s birth.)

In December 2009, QAC branch member Daphne Davey launched her new book Free to Roam: The Story of the Joyriders, 1979–2009. The book covers both the history of the Joyriders Therapeutic Riding Association of PEI, of which Daphne is a co-founder and instructor, as well as how and why the concept of horses as therapists works. Daphne’s first print run of 200 books is close to selling out, with copies going across Canada and to the United States.

Also receiving good reviews is Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road, a new book by Toronto branch member Dawn Hunter. Co-written with Priscilla Galloway, the book was published in 2009 by Annick Press. This is Dawn’s third book for young people.

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.


4. SO, YOU WANT TO BE AN EDITOR: Share your success story 

Want to share the story of your success in pursuing an editing career?

EAC’s national Marketing and Public Relations Committee is in the process of updating So, You Want to Be an Editor. This guide for students and professionals who are considering a career in editing was last updated in 2001.

Your success story will help highlight the diversity in our field and the benefit of membership in a professional association like EAC. If you’d like to contribute your story, we’d love to hear from you!

Please submit a 150- to 200-word anecdote about your journey toward a career in editing or how valuable EAC has been to your career success to Marketing and PR Committee member Amanda Grondahl no later than February 12, 2010. Please note that not all submissions will be included and submissions will be edited for length.


5. MEMBER SERVICES: Affordable errors and omissions insurance now available for EAC members 

Through an arrangement with Sagicor Lloyd’s Syndicate 1206, through Affinity Insurance Inc. and Grosvenor Brokers of Lloyd’s of London, EAC is offering comprehensive and competitively priced Professional Indemnity (also known as errors and omissions or “E&O” insurance) and Commercial General Liability (combined limit of indemnity) coverage and outstanding service for as little as $800 per year.

Protect your business

Professional risks go hand-in-hand with the editing industry. E&O insurance protects you against lawsuits arising from allegations of negligence or wrongdoing, thereby protecting your assets. For a client who has suffered damages, E&O insurance ensures there are adequate funds for compensation.

Key features of the plans

  • Maximum of $1,000,000 Professional Indemnity and Commercial General Liability (combined limit of indemnity)
  • $2,000 deductible
  • Annual premium discount for members achieving higher levels of certification

Further information

Visit the Members’ Area to apply for one of the plans, view a sample policy and for more information.


6. INDUSTRY NEWS: HRSDC opens EI special benefits to the self-employed 

In a press release issued last month, the federal government announced that Royal Assent has been given to the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act.

The cultural sector has been pressing for this legislation for many years. Self-employed Canadians will be able to voluntarily opt into the EI program effective January 31, 2010, in order to take advantage of the EI special benefits. “Special benefits provided to self-employed individuals will mirror those currently available to salaried employees under the EI program.”

Regulations are still being written, but the commitment has been made and the option for the self-employed to access a social security net as do employees will soon be in place. “Self employed Canadians who choose to take advantage of EI special benefits will be required to opt into the program at least one year prior to claiming benefits, and will be responsible for making premium payments for the tax year in which they apply to the program. […] As a transitional measure those who register on or before April 1, 2010, will be able to collect benefits as early as January 1, 2011.”

As of January 31, 2010, it will be possible to register with the EI program through the Service Canada website.


7. SOCIAL NETWORKING: Connect with EAC online 

Looking for EAC on your favourite social networking sites?

Facebook

Join the member-run EAC Facebook group.

LinkedIn

To find the EAC group, log into LinkedIn, select “Groups” and search for “Editors’ Association of Canada.”

Please note that LinkedIn and Facebook EAC groups are open forums that are not limited to the EAC membership. Anyone with a LinkedIn or Facebook profile may join.

Twitter

Get the latest EAC and industry news by following us on the microblogging site, Twitter. Find EAC @eac_acr.


8. SHOP EAC: New products

Check out EAC’s stylish new gear!

You’re hanging out at the coffee shop when you spy a writer typing away on a laptop trying to revise the next bestselling novel. Judging by the sweaty brow, the collection of empty espresso cups and the occasional whimper, you can tell it’s not going well. Here’s your chance. You approach the panicked writer and say, “Can I heighten your textual pleasure? It’s what I do; I’m an editor.”

Or, you might just let your T-shirt or coffee mug do the talking.

These items are available for sale only until February 28, 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.

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