Let your voice be heard Time and again ATIO has shown us that it is not capable of achieving the required change to become an inclusive organization for all professional translators in Ontario. ATIO is still acting like a private corporation that has the goal of maximizing its shareholders (Certified Members) value and benefits rather than serving the interest of the public and the whole professional translation community. As such, we believe it is time for us to reach out to the media to make our voice heard. Some candidate members have already contacted the media but because their complaints were done individually, the media did not take the issue seriously. Therefore, in order to achieve the required results, we need to contact the media collectively. How can this be done? We are planning to contact the media individually but in a concerted manner by all of us contacting the media on the same day. This way the media will take notice that our issues are affecting more than just one professional translator. In fact, it is affecting the public and causing harm to the whole translation community in Ontario and beyond through the ripple effect on other provincial associations. The Plan: a. Contact six major newspapers/media corporations and explain in your own words our issue with ATIO. 1- The Star: city@thestar.ca , 416-869-4300 2- The Globe and Mail: Newsroom@globeandmail.com, 416-585-5000 3- Ottawa Citizen: jchianello@ottawacitizen.com , 1-613-596-3664, jbagnall@ottawacitizen.com 4- Metro: investigations@metronews.ca , michael.woods@metronews.ca , 416-486-4900 5- Toronto Sun: torsun.citydesk@sunmedia.ca , 416 947- 2211 6- CBC News: gopublic@cbc.ca , (416) 205-3311, http://www.cbc.ca/local_includes/toronto_contacts/toronto-news.html b- The media entities should be contacted by email, phone (or both preferably) on October 14, 2015 c. Make sure you invite the media to the ATIO Open House meeting on Friday October 16. This meeting will be an opportunity for the media to meet with you and all other professional translators to hear your grievances and interview ATIO executive directors and board members as well. Please make sure you include the following details in your invite to the media: Meeting: ATIO Open House Meeting Date: 16 October 2015 Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm Venue: Alumni Hall of Victoria College, University of Toronto Address: 91 Charles Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1K5 It is very important that all of us contact the media individually as per the details above and be there at the meeting to meet the media, network with each other, and pose all our questions to ATIO executive directors in presence of the media. Let’s not forget that ATIO has been acting like a monopoly preventing professional translators and fresh graduates from becoming full members of ATIO; it has been using the association to benefit few privileged certified members thus harming the public in terms of price gouging and causing permanent damage to the whole translation community in Ontario. So far, we have asked ATIO to have the certification exam administered by a third party academic institution, recertify all its certified members due to their questionable levels, and provide a pathway for fresh graduates to become fully-fledged members. All our requests have been met with stubborn refusal by ATIO leadership. Please note that even if you will not be able to attend the ATIO event, make sure you contact the media. Important: Please spread the message and send this letter to as many translators as you can. Remember to contact the media on October 14. Your concerted efforts are highly appreciated. Let’s make our voice heard! Yours Sincerely