From the President
Corinne McKay
president@atanet.org
Twitter: @corinnemckay
If you鈥檙e receiving this issue of The ATA Chronicle, it means that you鈥檝e renewed your ATA membership for 2018. Thank you! ATA would not be 鈥渢he voice of interpreters and translators鈥 without every one of our 10,500+ members. Since my term as ATA president began, I鈥檝e been trying to spread the word about the many benefits of being an ATA member, including some 鈥渉idden鈥 benefits that you may not yet be taking advantage of. Here鈥檚 my 2018 checklist for making the most of your ATA membership:
Directory Profile
If you don鈥檛 have a listing in our online directory, create one today. If you do have a listing, review it at least once a year. Add new accomplishments and specializations, and make sure that your contact information is up to date. Remember that our new directory format allows you to upload your r茅sum茅 and a photo if you wish.
Certification
ATA certification enhances your professional status and鈥攁ccording to our most recent compensation survey鈥攈elps you earn more money. With the price of ATA鈥檚 certification exam set to go up significantly in 2019鈥攊n order to bring the Certification Program鈥檚 revenue closer to our expenses鈥2018 is a great year to set a goal of becoming ATA-certified.
Credentialed Interpreter Designation
What if you鈥檙e an interpreter and not interested in translator certification? For you, we have the CI (Credentialed Interpreter) designation, a recent addition to our directory profile options. If you are credentialed as a legal, medical, or conference interpreter by an ATA-approved credentialing entity, apply for CI status today!
The ATA Chronicle
You鈥檙e taking advantage of a key member benefit right now by reading The ATA Chronicle, our flagship publication and winner of the International Federation of Translators鈥 2017 award for Best Periodical. Remember that you can now choose whether to receive The ATA Chronicle in electronic form, print form, or both.
Divisions
Membership in any of ATA鈥檚 20 divisions is included in your membership. Our divisions鈥攆ocused on languages, specializations, and areas of practice鈥攕erve as a place for members to land within our large association. Membership in a division allows you to connect with like-minded colleagues on email lists, social media groups, and in person. To view a list of ATA鈥檚 divisions and learn how to join them, see the link listed above.
Webinars
ATA is your source for professional development specific to the translation and interpreting professions. One of my favorite ATA resources is our extensive library of pre-recorded webinars, available on-demand on ATA鈥檚 website at a discounted price for our members. From translation memory software to endocrinology to the 21st-century interpreting market, we have a webinar鈥攑rofessional development that comes to you鈥攆or nearly any topic you would want to learn about.
Member Discounts
We also offer a variety of discounts on professional services for our members, including:
- The ATA member-provider program, featuring discounts on products and services offered by ATA members, for ATA members
- Membership in the Organization of American States Staff Federal Credit Union
- Discounted UPS express delivery services
- Collections and accounts receivable services
- Discounted credit card processing services
- Professional liability insurance through Alliant, a Lloyd鈥檚 of London underwriter
You make a significant investment in your ATA membership鈥攎ake sure that you鈥檙e taking advantage of all that we have to offer. If you feel that ATA membership is an asset to you as a language professional, tell a colleague who isn鈥檛 yet an ATA member. And if you have suggestions about how we can better meet your needs in the future, tell me! I鈥檓 always eager for your feedback at president@atanet.org.