MEA executive

Our executive members meet about once a month to discuss the business of the association. If you're interested in volunteering on the executive, please let us know. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and you'll learn a great deal about how to run a non-profit organization.

To make it easy to contact executive members, we have one e-mail address for everyone: meaworkshops@gmail.com. Your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person, who will answer as soon as possible.

2009–2010 Executive members

Read bios of executive members →

2009–2010 Events committee members

Read duties of Events committee members →

Roles and responsibilities

The following list is not exhaustive, and the items are not listed in any particular order. Each year, members of the executive may trade some duties depending on circumstances and abilities. The term of executive membership is two years, but you do not have to perform the same role in both years.

• Create executive meeting agendas; chair meetings
• Act as official rep / signatory
• Advertise AGM at least 21 days in advance
• Chair AGM and store AGM files
• Recognize volunteers
• Oversee handover meeting for next exec
• Store logo files (not logophiles)
• Keep record of assets, passwords (software, display board, e-mail list, etc.)
• Keep abreast of privacy laws as they relate to the MEA
• Store latest bylaws (include rev. date)

• Support the president (e.g., run meetings when president absent)
• Oversee volunteers (mentor coordinator, outreach program, etc.)
• Prepare to be next year's president

• Keep track of budget
• Handle banking
• Tracking other budgets (sub-committees, projects, etc.)
• Handle investments
• Refund expenses associated with other roles
• Maintain association registration each year

• Maintain the membership database
• Oversee the listserv operation
• Record event registration data
• Oversee the Gmail account
• Produce data reports as requested

• Chair the Events Committee
• Oversee the schedule of events and plan committee meetings

• Store archives
• Record/store exec minutes
• Store committee reports with minutes if related
• Lead nominating committee

• Maintain membership kit and send to new members
• Send a personal welcome to new members
• Identify member needs and ensure they are met
• Send updates to membership directory to administrator

• Support executive members as required
• Prepare to take on a new role in the second year

Executive member bios

Carrie began her editing career overseas. As one of the few available English speakers who happened to have a theological degree, she was asked to edit an English-language theological journal while living with her family in Fiji. After returning to Canada, she continued writing and editing. Carrie has collaborated on a variety of materials, including faith-based curriculum, study guides, and workplace training materials. Her plain language work includes revising two union constitutions and bylaws. She appreciates the MEA for the professional development opportunities and networking it offers. She has served on the executive committee for five years.

Alex enjoys playing with words as much as she enjoys jamming on ukulele and kazoo, and that's saying a lot! She's lucky that most of her work has involved words. Over the last 25 years, she's written for newspapers, magazines, Web sites, literary journals, government, non-profit organizations, and—for two months—a TV quiz show. She even once held the job title "Lexicographer." As she's gotten older and crankier, she's discovered her critical capacities and has added editing to her repertoire. In the past five years, she has mostly focused on editing and writing for clients involved in health, immigration, employment, and education. Alex was delighted when she discovered the Manitoba Editors' Association. The relationships she has made through the MEA have led to new friendships and rewarding work.

Through over a dozen years as managing editor of an academic proceedings, and 25 years producing bilingual Native language materials in the University of Manitoba's Linguistics Department, Arden Ogg has worn a lot of different hats. A relative newcomer to the MEA, Arden—who grew up reading dictionaries for fun—represents the Prairie Provinces branch on the national executive of the Editors' Association of Canada.

Ellen Henry has been involved with legal editing and writing for over 20 years. After graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School and articling in Manitoba and British Columbia, she worked for Carswell Legal Publishers. There she was an editor as well as an author of a book on Motor Vehicle Legislation. Ellen has worked for the last 15 years as a legal editor and educator for the Law Society of Manitoba. In her spare time she enjoys reading, music, and cycling.

Bev is a freelance proofreader and copy editor and occasional writer. She's freelanced full-time since 1997 for a wide variety of clients in business, the arts, and academia. She also presents workshops on writing, including business communications, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. She served on the MEA board several years ago and is happy to be back on the executive and leading the bright and creative minds of the Events Committee. In her non-editing spare time, she attends many Toastmasters meetings and can deliver a seven-minute speech on just about anything.

Cheri is a technical writer and editor who works for an electronics engineering company. She has been a member of the MEA since its inception and was a member of the board from 2000-2005. Cheri teaches workshops in document design, online editing, and HTML, is a member of the Technical Communication Advisory Committee at RRC, and is a recovering volunteeraholic. Sort of.

Under the business name of Clear Thinking ink, Amanda Le Rougetel has been a freelance writer and editor for the past five years. With more than 25 years of corporate communication and community work under her belt, she now serves clients in both the business and non-profit sector, and also teaches writing courses at Red River College. She has a BA in translation, a Bachelor of Journalism, and an MA in applied communication. While searching for a professional association to join, she came across the MEA and is glad to have found a group of people who care as much about editing and writing words as she does.

Events committee roles and responsibilities

The following list is not exhaustive, and the items are not listed in any particular order. Each year, members of the Events committee may trade some duties depending on circumstances and abilities. The term of executive membership is two years, but you are most welcome to stay longer!

• Chair the Events Committee
• Oversee the schedule of events and plan committee meetings
• Report to the executive at executive committee meetings

• Attend Events committee meetings (about once a month)
• Participate in the planning of topics for the year
• Participate in the setup of events
• Arrange an event or two (once you have experience and are comfortable)