It has been quite some time since my last post. Almost 18 months. I’ve had every intention of continuing this blog; but joining the Board of Directors of the American Translators Association (ATA) has ended up occupying much of my non-work professional development time and energy.
I was elected treasurer in November 2017, after having spent almost three years in an advisory capacity on the association’s Finance and Audit Committee. I now chair that committee, in addition to being part of ATA’s Executive Committee, through which I work closely with the executive director, president, vice president, and secretary.
The gig doesn’t come with any specific daily commitments, but every week, between the Board and HQ, there is almost always something to read, review, or consider. And every few months, we get together for a three- or four-day weekend at different locations across the country to hold board meetings, committee meetings, and socialize with our fellow translators and interpreters.
As treasurer, preparation for those weekends starts about 10-14 days in advance, when I have to prepare a report on the association’s finances and investments. I also have to prepare to run the FAC meeting and participate in the Executive Committee meeting, before the full board arrives. In addition, about a week before these meetings, every board member receives a “board book”, which is a collection of reports from ATA’s divisions, committees, chapters, etc., summarizing their activity since the last meeting and discussing their goals and intentions for the months to come.
It can be a little overwhelming at first. But I’ve already gotten used to it, and I look forward to these weekends now.
The upshot, though, is that I have spent almost no time analyzing the market or thinking about the economics of language services, unless it relates or pertains to ATA and our members. Which is fine. I knew what I was signing up for. But I do hope to get back to making regular posts to this blog in the not-too-distant future.