EAC’s national executive council has announced that three previously vacant positions have been filled on an interim basis.
Please contact Micheline Brodeur, branch chair, with any questions.
What: EAC-BC monthly meeting
When: Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: Free for EAC members; $10 for non-members; $5 for students with valid ID. Registration at the door.
Join well-known Vancouver speech writer Colin Moorhouse for a one-hour workshop on writing and editing speeches. He will discuss the six key elements of writing an engaging speech and cover issues such as the nature of the event; the oratorical skills of the speaker; and matters of story, language, humour, and interest. He will also provide insight on where the editor can play a crucial role in polishing a keynote speech for final delivery to the client.
What: EAC-BC holiday party
When: Saturday, December 6, 2014, at 7:00 pm
Where: The Railway Club (back room), 579 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver
Don’t miss your chance to party with fellow word lovers!
Bring a friend—the more the merrier!
door prizes | deliciously affordable food & drink | casual dress | no cover fee*
*If the Railway Club is charging cover that night, just mention that you’re with EAC.
Please RSVP online.
Have questions or party game suggestions? Email roma@talksciencetome.com.
Image by Shutterstock
What: EAC-BC November meeting
When: Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free for EAC members; $10 for non-members; $5 for students with valid ID. Registration at the door.
Access to information: The role of editors
As editors, our job is to make sure that the material we’re editing is as accessible as possible for its intended audience. But what do we do if we’re editing for an audience we’re not familiar with? What challenges do different groups of readers face, and what can editors do to make reading material more accessible to all audiences? Join us for a panel discussion with three speakers representing a wide range of readers.
by Amy Haagsma
Review of Communication Convergence (co-organized by EAC-BC; held on October 5, 2014)
“Communication convergence: The tendency for different communication fields over time to apply a common range of methods.” – Dr. Neil James
On October 5, EAC-BC participated in a new event, Communication Convergence, focused on clear communication and the importance of using plain language. It was held in conjunction with and in celebration of International Plain Language Day, which is recognized annually on October 13. This year’s theme was “Working Together to Promote Clear Communication.” With this in mind, Communication Convergence aimed to bring together different organizations with a focus on communication.
Written by Roma Ilnyckyj; copy edited by Karen Marshall
Review of seminar Advanced Proofreading with Ruth Wilson (offered by Editors BC on September 20, 2014)
Ruth Wilson’s advanced proofreading workshop was exactly what I had expected: fun, loaded with information, and the quickest six hours you could hope for when you’re indoors and just steps from the Seawall on a sunny late-September day (see photo). As an editor who is not quite a beginner but also not sitting on years of experience, I found this workshop a perfect match for my needs. Although you can’t become an advanced proofreader in one day, this seminar taught me three things that I can actively work on in my quest to become one.
Written by Alexandra Bogdanovic; copy edited by Tanya Procyshyn
On Sunday, September 28, EAC-BC participated in Word Vancouver, a free reading and writing festival. It is also part of Cultural Days, a national celebration of the arts. The festival began on Wednesday, September 24, and was held over the course of five days. Events took place at several venues, including The Paper Hound, Banyen Books & Sound, The Cottage Bistro, Christianne’s Lyceum, Historic Joy Kogawa House, and SFU Harbour Centre. The main event was held on Sunday, September 28, at the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch.
Written by Frances Peck; copy edited by Joanne King
A highlight for EAC-BC over the summer was learning that Naomi Pauls, a long-time member of our branch, received a President’s Award for Volunteer Service at the EAC conference. The President’s Award recognizes outstanding service to the association by member volunteers.
EAC-BC member Frances Peck asked Naomi about the roles she’s taken on over the years and her most memorable volunteer moments.
First, a little background. Could you tell us how you got into editing?
Definitely through the back door. After majoring in anthropology, with a focus on museum studies, I worked in community museums in the mid-1980s. I enjoyed the research and writing aspects of this work, which also involved working with community volunteers. Moving on, I had ambitions of becoming a freelance magazine writer but ended up working on a small quarterly publication in an administrative role. Two years later, I was hired as an editorial assistant at a weekly newspaper, which is where I got real hands-on training in editing. I enjoyed editing, joined EAC, and have been an editor ever since. Now I work mostly on book-length manuscripts.
Continue reading
by Amy Haagsma
Recap of EAC-BC’s branch meeting on September 17, 2014
EAC-BC held its 2014–2015 season opener on September 17, 2014. Before getting down to business, we drank wine, ate cheese, and reconnected with our peers after a summer away.
To kick off the evening, Roma Ilnyckyj, our new Programs chair, introduced the 2014–2015 executive and announced volunteer opportunities with the branch. We are particularly in need of two volunteers to organize refreshments for our branch meetings (update: Frances Peck and Connie Behl have graciously stepped forward to take on this role). The Communications and Social Media committee is always looking for volunteers as well, which allows us to participate in events like Word Vancouver and Communication Convergence. Writers and editors are also needed for West Coast Editor. Please contact Shelagh Jamieson for the Communications and Social Media committee, and Amy Haagsma regarding West Coast Editor.
Continue reading
What: EAC-BC October meeting
When: Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free for EAC members; $10 for non-members; $5 for students with valid ID. Registration at the door.
Forks in the Road: Dictionaries and the Radically Changing English-Language Ecosystem
By at least one objective measure of use, English is set apart from all other languages today. UBC’s Stefan Dollinger will look at recent geopolitical changes influencing the language and the use of English as a lingua franca among non-native speakers, which raises questions of ownership and discrimination between “errors” and linguistic innovations. Stefan will focus on whether these novel uses have been, or should be, addressed in the Oxford English Dictionary and the Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles.
Word buffs and linguistics lovers, don’t miss this exciting discussion of dictionaries and the changing realities of English.
Continue reading
