The ATA Chronicle - January/February 2017 - 2


American Translators Association
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
Tel: +1.703.683.6100
Fax: +1.703.683.6122
E-mail: chronicle@atanet.org
Website: www.atanet.org

FROM THE PRESIDENT
DAVID RUMSEY
president@atanet.org
Twitter handle: @davidcrumsey

Editorial Board
Geoff Koby (chair)
Jeff Alfonso
Chris Durban
Corinne McKay
Michael Wahlster

Sailing into 2017

A

s most of you have noticed by
now, I've been using the analogy of
a ship to describe the Association
and its journey. Many people refer to
ATA as the "mothership" within the
translation/interpreting industry. And
with over 10,000 members in all 50
states and over 100 countries, ATA is
the largest organization for translators
and interpreters in the United States.
While many other trade associations
have come and gone over the years, ATA
is moving full steam ahead.
As we enter 2017 and the halfway
mark of my term, the clearest and
most prominent change is in the
Association's financial landscape. Much
of that change comes through the brave
decisions of the Board to take bold
action against our deficit.
For example, we restructured the
model for The ATA Chronicle and took
steps to make the conference more
financially self-sufficient. The result
is a Chronicle that is more engaging, a
conference with record attendance, and a
budget surplus with six figures.
Significant progress has also been
made by the Public Relations Committee.
Along with a larger budget, the committee
has a sustainable plan of action. ATA
is proactively placing articles in trade
journals that target the very people who
purchase translation and interpreting
services, while simultaneously fielding
requests from the general media.
Another milestone that was passed this
year was one that was noticed by relatively
few people. After many years of trying
to find an efficient system for delivering
a computerized certification exam in a
diverse array of settings, we have found a
solution that involves very little technology.
Six successful exam sittings have been
2

The ATA Chronicle | January/February 2017

Publisher/Executive Director

held over the past year that have allowed
members to work on their own laptops
with web access. We expect to increase that
number in the coming year.
Another change has been the
increasingly important role that
interpreters play in ATA. A clear signal of
merging the cultures of translators and
interpreters can be seen in the ability
of ATA's Directory of Translators and
Interpreters to now display a selected set of
interpreter credentials.
Interpreters have also highlighted
the role of advocacy in the translation/
interpreting industry. ATA has been active
to ensure that the critical role played by
professional interpreters is recognized and
respected. Be that in federal immigration
court, in language access legislation, or in
combat zones.
Fortunately, ATA's diverse membership
and its culture of assimilation and adaptation
helps the Association speak to the public
with a strong voice. And the public is more
aware of who we are than ever.
As a result, demand for translators and
interpreters is growing. The Bureau of
Labor Statistics predicts a growth of 29%
by 2024. ATA will be there to bring these
people aboard.
ATA has also been expanding its
presence online by making The ATA
Chronicle available on its own website, as
well as expanding our efforts on social
media with a YouTube channel and a new
podcast series.
None of this would be possible without
our members. Because we need all of you
on this ship. Your energy and enthusiasm
is the fuel for ATA. That fuel is what keeps
the Association moving forward-through
the seas of change and the oceans of
opportunity that lie ahead. 

Walter Bacak, CAE
walter@atanet.org

Editor
Jeff Sanfacon
jeff@atanet.org

Proofreader
Cathy Lada

Advertising
Lauren Mendell
advertising@atanet.org
Tel: +1.703.683.6100, ext. 3001
Fax: +1.703.683.6122

Design & Production
Blue House Design
www.bluehouse.us

The ATA Chronicle (ISSN 1078-6457) is published
six times per year by the American Translators
Association, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590,
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA. Periodicals postage
paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and additional
mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to The ATA Chronicle, 225 Reinekers
Lane, Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA.
The American Translators Association (ATA)
was established in 1959 as a not-for-profit
professional society to foster and support the
professional development of translators and
interpreters and to promote the translation and
interpreting professions. The subscription rate for
a member is $25 (included in the dues payment).
The U.S. subscription rate for a nonmember is $65.
Subscribers in Canada and Mexico add $25;
all other non-U.S. subscribers add $45.
Single copies are available for $7 per issue.
©2017 American Translators Association

Reprint Permission
Requests for permission to reprint articles
should be sent to the editor of The ATA Chronicle
at jeff@atanet.org.
www.atanet.org
http://www.atanet.org http://www.bluehouse.us
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The ATA Chronicle - January/February 2017
