Thank You, Volunteers!
Twenty-five years ago, a small group of freelance editors gathered in a Seattle living room hoping to build a network of colleagues and community for editors in the Pacific Northwest. They—and hundreds of other editors over the years—gave their time and energy to support this group and build it into what we now know as the Northwest Editors Guild. To this day, the Guild relies on volunteers for most of its operations, and you can be a part of that tradition.
April is National Volunteer Month, and we give huge thanks to Guild volunteers past and present who donated a little or a lot of their time, expertise, and effort. The Guild literally would not exist without you!
Meet the 2022 Board
Our all-volunteer board of directors changes a little bit every year, with most members serving a two-year term on the board that ends in February. This year we're saying farewell to 2021 board members Jesi Hanley Vega, Laura Whittemore, and Alison Cantrell, and welcoming new board member Megan Christy. MariLou Harveland, Kris Ashley, Sarah Peterson, Laura Shaw, Alicia Ramos, Erica Akiko Howard, and Ivonne Ward continue their service.
Instead of our usual formal biographies, the board this year decided to answer some fun questions as their introductions.
Member Survey Results
It's been an interesting two years since our last Member Survey, hasn't it?
We’re so pleased that almost 200 of you (approximately 50% of the Northwest Editors Guild’s membership) took the time to participate in the 2021 Member Survey, especially amidst the ongoing upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2021 Member Survey asked about many different measures of our professional lives. We've pulled out a few things that we thought were the most interesting takeaways to share.
State of the Guild 2021
If you’re relatively new to the Guild, you are probably unaware that back in the day, prior to the pandemic, the Guild would host an annual potluck in Seattle. In addition to providing an occasion for members to eat yummy food and get to know each other better, the potluck was also the site of the Guild’s Board President’s “State of the Guild” address. This address served as a report-back to the members, but it was also an opportunity to educate members about the current scope, vision, and goals of the Guild as well as the work done by our Board of Directors (here are the 2019 and 2020 addresses). Once the pandemic hit, however, and the Guild’s potlucking days receded into the past, what was once a live “address” migrated to the internet and became a blog post.
So here it is, the State of the Guild, circa 2021, as told by your current President, Jesi Vega.
How to Get the Most Out of the Guild’s Member Directory
As a member of the Guild, of course you want to make sure that your profile on the member directory presents you in the best possible light to potential clients who might find you via our search page, but there’s a lot more to that than just selecting your areas of specialty (and keeping them updated as your career progresses). For example, did you know that clients can leave recommendations on your profile? Read on a few top tips on how to get the most out of the member directory.
Give Back by Volunteering for the EdsGuild
Do you want to help create beneficial opportunities for fellow editors? All it takes is your time and knowledge and signing up for one of the Northwest Editors Guild’s upcoming volunteer options.
The Guild is now in the process of recruiting volunteers for board service (beginning in January 2022) as well as conference planning for the next Red Pencil Conference in Seattle (scheduled for late 2022).
Volunteering Keeps the Guild Growing
As a small nonprofit professional organization, the Northwest Editors Guild relies heavily on volunteers to keep our operations going. April is Global Volunteer Month and the third week of April is National Volunteer Week, so there’s no better time to learn about the ways you can help make a difference in the editing community by volunteering with the Guild.
Welcome, 2021 Board Members!
Every year the Northwest Editors Guild’s board loses some past members and gains a few new ones, and every year here on the Guild’s blog we take a moment to introduce you to the dedicated volunteers on our board who work so hard to keep things running smoothly. This year we say farewell to outgoing board members Erin Cusick, Michael Schuler, and Matt Bennett, and hello to new members Sarah M. Peterson, Erica Akiko Howard, Alessandor Earnest, and Ivonne B. Ward!
Find out more about the new (and ongoing) board members below, and be sure to say hello if you meet them at an event.
State of the Guild 2020
In a “normal” year—that is, in a year without a pandemic—the Northwest Editors Guild would host a gathering of members at the annual potluck in the fall. This gathering gives members in the Puget Sound region a chance to meet informally to share good food and good company. We regret that this event, along with so many others, had to be canceled this year.
Guild Statement on Protests
Black lives matter. The board of the Northwest Editors Guild mourns the violent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others—including, here in the Northwest, Manuel Ellis. We are appalled at the violence committed by those entrusted with law enforcement. Yet as representatives of an overwhelmingly White professional association, we must also recognize the racial inequality in our own organization and in our profession.