From the Vice-President
Hi
Einstein’s laws of relativity may not describe it, but I am pretty sure there is a localised contraction of time when it comes to writing newsletter reports; either that, or, more mundanely, the time since the June newsletter has passed so quickly because so much is happening.
As you will know from email notifications, this month we will be holding our Annual Branch Meeting (ABM) by Zoom, at 7pm on Thursday 16 July. This is your chance to consider volunteering for a role on the committee, which can be both professionally and personally rewarding. Please support Editors Victoria by attending the ABM for some formalities, a brief celebration of the previous year’s activities and to welcome on board the committee for 2020–21. As a sweetener, we are excited to offer Editors Victoria attendees of the ABM a free ticket each to Louisa Fitzhardinge’s performance of Highlights from Comma Sutra, her award-winning grammar comedy cabaret, to be held at 8pm AEST that night (full details to come by email). This performance will be open to other members of IPEd to attend by ticket, so it will be wonderful to enjoy the show in the company of fellow Australian and New Zealand grammarians.
By the time this goes to press, we will also have enjoyed the fabulous Kate Cuthbert’s presentation on genre writing and ebooks, held on 25 June. In other headline news, Editors Victoria will have its first online workshop, with Kevin O’Brien delivering Advanced macros on 1 August. And as the Accreditation Board will be holding the accreditation exam on 5 December, we have opted to offer online training to Victorian candidates. Please stay tuned for further information on this.
As this is the last newsletter for the committee of 2019–20, I would like to take this opportunity to offer a huge thank you to everyone on the current committee for their hard work and constructive contributions to running Editors Victoria over the past year. More information about our activities will be presented for your reading pleasure before the ABM. President Susan Keogh and Secretary Sharon Lierse both made great contributions until their departures earlier this year. Thanks are also particularly due to retiring committee members. Over her three years as Professional Development Officer, Maryna Mews has generously given her time and considerable expertise to delivering professional development and mentoring services (and will have a continuing role with the mentoring program); Michelle Manly also made high-quality contributions to planning the professional development program and has done an amazing job stepping into the secretary role and organising this year’s ABM; Sally MacInnes has devoted her energy and ideas to arranging speaker meetings as a member of the Events subcommittee; Michaela Skelly has helped our social media stream to sparkle; and Giovanna D’Abaco has provided stimulating contributions to the newsletter.
Hope to see you all at the ABM!
Jane Fitzpatrick
Vice-President, Editors Victoria, edvic.vicepres@iped-editors.org
Notice of Editors Victoria Annual Branch Meeting
The Annual Branch Meeting (ABM) of Editors Victoria will be held by Zoom at 7pm on Thursday 16 July. Please make the time to attend. In the lead-up to the ABM you will be sent reports detailing what your committee has been doing over the past 12 months.
EdVic activities are guided by a committee of volunteers, the majority of which is elected from and by our membership. At the ABM, next year’s committee is decided. Volunteering for the committee is a rewarding professional opportunity and gives you the chance to contribute to our organisation’s future direction. We welcome nominations for a position on the executive committee or to serve on one of the subcommittees. Please refer to the email sent to all EdVic members on 16 June for links to nomination forms and position descriptions.
Normally, we would treat Victorian members who attend the ABM to a dinner, but this year the ABM will be online. In lieu of dinner, we are excited to invite you to an online performance by Australia’s best-loved grammar comedian, Louisa Fitzhardinge. This is an IPEd members-only show. Members of IPEd who belong to the Victorian branch and who attend the ABM will be granted free access. Victorian members who do not attend the ABM and members of other branches will be able to purchase tickets to the show. See the ‘Highlights from Comma Sutra’ article in this newsletter for more details.
Register for the ABM here.
If you have any enquiries, please contact Vice-president Jane Fitzpatrick at edvic.vicepres@iped-editors.org.
New members
We are pleased to welcome the members who have joined or upgraded since the last issue of Gatherings:
Welcome to our new associate members: Emma Jukic and Amelia Spalding.
And to our new student members: Miriam Aberdeen, Susan Brent, Katherine Fay, Sarah Stivens and Cassandra Damita Wright-Dole.
We look forward to seeing you at our workshops and events and encourage you to make the most of IPEd’s networks for news and support.
New member profile:
Cassandra Wright-Dole (Words with Cass)
Q: How long have you been an editor and how did your career begin?
A: I have been passionate about writing and editing from a young age. I completed my diploma in 2001. However, I am only in the early stages of beginning my editing career and have joined IPEd as a student while I undertake a refresher course.
Q: What type of editing makes up the majority of your work?
A: To date, the majority of my editing work has been academic, supporting fellow university students and reviewing other material for family and friends.
Q: What aspect of the profession do you find most challenging?
A: At this stage, my challenge is breaking into the field.
Q: How would you like to build your skills as an editor?
A: My current goal is to become an Accredited Editor and to develop further skills for substantive edits in works of fiction.
Q: What do you like about being a member?
A: I like the opportunities offered for professional development as well as having the ability to network with like-minded professionals.
Cassandra Damita Wright-Dole
New member profile: Sarah Stivens
Q: How long have you been an editor and how did your career begin?
A: I started editing a little over a year ago, after I left my job as a therapist. Working with words sounded like a dream, so I enrolled in the Professional Writing and Editing course at RMIT, applied for a communications role at work and here we are!
Q: What type of editing makes up the majority of your work?
A: At the moment I’m mostly doing Plain English editing and looking at accessibility/health literacy. I’m still completing my studies, so learning to edit other forms has been exciting.
Q: What aspect of the profession do you find most challenging?
A: Wrestling with jargon! Negotiating with management to let go of some of their favourite buzzwords.
Q: How would you like to build your skills as an editor?
A: I’d love to learn more about editing fiction and working with other editors. I’m also weirdly excited to keep improving my grammar skills.
Q: What do you like about being a member?
A: I recently attended my first Student Editors networking meeting — it was so lovely to meet other editing students and talk about our experiences. I felt like I had found my people!
Sarah Stivens
Events
Vic Annual Branch Meeting
Date: Thursday 16 July 2020, 7pm online via Zoom
Book here
Highlights from Comma Sutra (comedy cabaret) with Louisa Fitzhardinge
Date: Thursday 16 July 2020, 8pm AEST online via Zoom
Following the Victorian ABM — watch your emails for details
Read more
Book here
Advanced macros online workshop (Zoom)
Date: Saturday 1 August 2020, 2pm
Read more
Book here