From the President
Caitilin Walsh
president@atanet.org
You鈥檝e probably noticed by now that this issue of听The ATA Chronicle听sports a shiny new look.
This rejuvenated publication also illustrates perfectly the power of volunteers. As you read in the last issue, back in November in Chicago a handful of volunteers brought a proposal to听ATA鈥檚听Board to听give our flagship publication a complete physical and to identify what worked and what didn鈥檛. The Board gave their thumbs up to that proposal and subsequently to the task force鈥檚 recommendations. The听result is not only the publication you hold in your hands, but a dedicated companion website (with past content鈥攊ndexed!). Even with adding in a revamped听Newsbriefs听to improve member听communications, the new plan enables us to reallocate funds.
Another example of volunteer power is the recent Board approval of the CI (Credentialed Interpreter) designation to flag ATA interpreter members holding select interpreter credentials and certifications听in our popular online directory. Again, the Board of Directors signed off on it, but it represents many hours鈥攅ven years鈥攐f work by dedicated Interpretation Policy Advisory Committee volunteers.
One of my favorite moments at ATA鈥檚 Annual Conference happens when all those who have volunteered for the Association in the past year are asked to stand and be recognized鈥攁nd that鈥檚 only those听who made it to the conference and got up early enough for the meeting. A rough tally of volunteers would number well into the hundreds: officers and directors; committee chairs and members; division听administrators, assistant administrators, and Leadership Council members; graders and language chairs; conference presenters, not to mention proofreaders, ballot counters, folks staffing hospitality desks,听and countless 鈥渞egular鈥 members doing school and business outreach, writing听Chronicle听articles, holding webinars, and writing e-mail and making calls alerting us to new developments and how they affect听ATA members.
The takeaway is pretty obvious, to me at least, and echoes a lesson my father taught me: if you think听your听Association should be doing something, the best thing to do is to offer to show up and make it听happen. Talk to your colleagues, formulate a plan, and talk with leadership about how to garner Board agreement. It鈥檚 easy for the Board to say 鈥渁ye鈥 and offer support when a small group of thoughtful,听committed members are offering to change our corner of the world for the better.
And if we haven鈥檛 said it enough, I鈥檒l say it again: thank you.