The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2021 - 16

economic disruption to
target markets-are matched
by concerns affecting ATA.
These concerns include the
steady shrinkage of our
member numbers, questions
about the profitability of
future in-person events,
and the need to realign the
Association and its support
structures to safeguard ATA's
long-term future as the
national home for translators
and interpreters.
I believe the wealth of
experience I've accumulated
not only as a professional
German>English financiallegal
translator for over
32 years, but also as an
active member of ATA's
Professional Development
and Business Practices
Education Committees-and
what I have learned as a
member of the Finance and
Audit Committee-will make
me a valuable team player on
ATA's Board of Directors.
I'm particularly proud of
the collective achievements
of the Professional
Development Committee
in 2020 and 2021, proving
how much a well-balanced,
diverse team of professionals
can accomplish when they
share the same objectives,
enthusiasm, and motivation.
We've helped make ATA a
global leader when it comes
to high-value, affordable,
online continuing education,
and I firmly believe that
encouraging ATA members
to be subject area specialists
with wide-ranging business
knowledge and " soft "
skills-and supporting them
across all stages of their
professional journey-is
probably ATA's most critical
mission in the coming years.
My commitment to ATA
and its members is also
16 The ATA Chronicle | September/October 2021
reflected by my work to
educate ATA members about
federal funding programs
available to them during the
pandemic, in particular the
Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP). As well as regular
updates on the Business
Practices listserv, I authored
several versions of a Guide to
PPP, which were published
in The ATA Chronicle Online
section of ATA's website.
I'm proud to have helped
many ATA members secure
financial assistance when
they needed it most.
Finally, my position since
January 2021 as president of
the Austin Area Translators
and Interpreters Association
has given me a ringside view
of nonprofit governance. I've
gained an excellent insight
into what it means to guide
and support a diverse team of
volunteers, and my awareness
of nonprofit challenges and
opportunities was broadened
and deepened by a virtual
training event for nonprofit
board members I attended.
I'm asking you to vote
for me so I can help shape
the future of ATA in a fastchanging
world and work
with fellow Board members
to advance the interests of all
of our members.
Director
Three-Year Term
Céline Browning
celine@fitincservices.com
I remember
vividly the pure
passion and
excitement
emanating from the
attendees at my first ATA
Annual Conference in 2012.
Soon after becoming an
ATA member, I became
involved in the conference
planning committee of the
Japanese Language Division
(JLD) in 2014. I served as
division secretary in 2016,
and I became the JLD
administrator in 2019. Much
has changed in the JLD since
that first introduction.
Despite COVID heavily
impacting my first year as
administrator, ATA61 served
as a catalyst for our current
offering of division events.
An online meetup during
ATA61 has grown into a
webinar series, roundtable
discussion, and coffee hour,
with our division hosting
more than 22 events. The JLD
has also collaborated with the
Chinese and Korean Language
Divisions to jointly host
future conference sessions,
webinars, or get-togethers.
As the outgoing JLD
administrator, it's an honor
to be nominated to run for
a position as an ATA Board
director. I've lived in Japan
from a young age as a nonnative
bicultural resident. I've
made a living as an adult as
a minority interpreting in a
minority language. Thus, I've
had first-hand experience
on the impact of diversity
and bicultural experiences,
while gaining proficiency in
my heritage culture, as well
as of the culture of Japan,
where I settled. It's my
deepest hope to bring more
awareness and appreciation
to the diversity within the
various divisions of ATA.
Goals
y Outreach to educate
clients on our professional
standards and values,
especially in the new
post-pandemic normal, by
serving on the Advocacy or
Standards Committee.
www.atanet.org
http://www.atanet.org
The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2021

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