1. Name and Address
The official address of the Association is as follows: Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta /Association des traducteurs et interprètes de l'Alberta |
P.O. Box 546, Main Post Office Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2K8 |
Telephone: 780-434-8384 (Edmonton), or for use outside the Edmonton area: 1-888-434-ATIA |
2. Categories of Membership
- "Certified Member",
- "Member",
- “Member of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (by Affiliation)”, and its abbreviated form: ”Member of CTTIC (by Affiliation)”,
Certified Translator | C. Tran |
Certified Community Interpreter | C. Com. Int |
Certified Medical Interpreter | C. Med. Int |
Certified Conference Interpreter | C. Conf. Int |
Certified Court Interpreter | C. Crt. Int |
Certified Terminologist | C. Term |
2.3.2 A Founding Member in good standing is deemed to be a Certified Member.
2.4.2 In the case of Conference (simultaneous or consecutive) Interpreters, any person who has passed the appropriate interpretation examination set by the CTTIC, or is recognized as a simultaneous or consecutive interpreter by the Federal Government Translation Bureau, or by the L’association internationale des interprètes de conference (AIIC), or another body acceptable to the Association, or is a Certified Member (Conference Interpreter) in good standing of another association recognized by the CTTIC, is eligible for admission to the Association as a Certified Member. The applicant must also prove that he has worked at least 200 days as a conference interpreter, or in the case of conference interpretation between languages other than French and English, at least 50 days.
2.4.3 In the case of court interpreters, community interpreters, and medical interpreters, any person who has passed the examination set by the CTTIC or met the requirements as set out by the Association, or is a Certified Member in good standing of another association recognized by the CTTIC, is eligible for admission to the Association as a Certified Member.
2.4.4 Only Certified Members in good standing shall be eligible to hold office in the Association. Only one member of Council may reside outside of the province of Alberta.
2.4.5 To maintain their status as members in good standing with the Association, all Certified members must undertake professional development activities. Professional Development (PD) points are to be claimed upon completion of the professional development activities. Professional Development activities and Professional Development points shall be established and reviewed from time to time by the Council or by a Committee appointed by the Council to act on its behalf. Certified members are responsible for documenting their completed activities every two years, using the appropriate form and sending it to the Association's office by the date indicated on the form.
- Associate Translator
- Associate Court Interpreter
- Associate Medical Interpreter
- Associate Community Interpreter
2.5.3 In order to be eligible for admission as an Associate Member as a court interpreter, community interpreter, or medical interpreter the applicant shall meet the eligibility requirements set by the Association.
2.5.4 An Associate Member is to be considered a future professional who requires further experience and training. An Associate Member has no voting privileges and may not stand for office in the Association.
2.5.5 In order to become a Certified Member of the Association, an Associate Member must satisfy the CTTIC examination requirements. If an Associate Member was admitted before October 3, 1998, he had to satisfy these requirements within five years of being admitted to the Association. If an Associate Member was admitted after October 3, 1998, he must satisfy these requirements within six years of being admitted. Failing this, he will be struck from the roll unless the Council decides otherwise.
2.6.2 A vote of 75% of the members present or represented by proxy at a properly constituted meeting of the Association shall be required for approval of the appointment of an individual as an Honorary Member.
3. Terms of Admission
3.1 Meets the requirements applicable to the category of membership for which he has applied (see Article 2), and
3.2 Agrees to abide by these By-laws, the Code of Ethics (in its current version) and Membership Contract as set out in Schedule A hereto and all other rules and regulations of the Association, and
3.3 Has paid the requisite membership dues pursuant to Article 4 hereof, and
3.4 Has submitted an application in writing.
4. Membership Dues
4.2 All membership dues shall be paid in full to the Treasurer prior to the Annual General Meeting.
4.3 If payment of the annual membership dues has not been received in full by the Treasurer by the date due, membership in the Association, and all rights, privileges and powers pertaining hereto shall be suspended. Reinstatement shall be conditional on payment of all arrears, such as penalties as may be assessed by the Council, and bank charges if applicable.
5. Membership Cards
5.2 The form and content of membership cards shall be determined by the Council.
5.3 Only a current membership card bearing the seal of the Association is valid evidence of membership in the Association.
5.4 Any person who withdraws from the Association or ceases to be a member for any other cause shall return his membership card.
6. Stamps
6.2 Any translator who chooses to use a stamp to certify translations under the member's designation as a Certified Member of ATIA shall use the stamp provided by the Association.
7. Withdrawal and Expulsion
7.1.2 Any former member who wishes to re-apply for membership within three years of withdrawal may do so by a notice in writing to the Secretary of the Association. Notwithstanding Article 3 hereof, any former member who wishes to re-apply for membership after three years shall be required to take the appropriate examination. In either case, a re-admission fee determined by the Council shall be added to the membership dues for the first year.
7.1.3 An Associate Member who has withdrawn or whose name has been struck from the roll who wishes to be reinstated must again pass the admission examination set by the Association.
7.2.2 Notice of intent to expel a member or Associate Member and ballots stating the reasons for the intended expulsion shall be sent to all members eligible to vote, thirty days prior to the general meeting at which the motion to expel the member will be presented. For this purpose no proxies will be allowed, but completed ballots may be mailed to the Secretary.
8. The Council
8.2 Meetings of the Council shall be held as required, but at least four times a year, and shall be called by the President. Any two Council members may request that the President call a special meeting. The request shall be in writing and shall state the business to be brought before the meeting. The special meeting shall be called by the President upon receipt of the request.
8.3 Council members shall receive ten days’ notice of Council meetings if the notice is delivered in the mail, and three days’ notice if delivered by telephone, electronic mail or any other acceptable means of communication. Meetings may be held without notice provided that all of the members of Council are present or that the business transacted at such meeting shall be ratified at the next regularly called meeting of the Council, otherwise such meetings shall be null and void.
8.4 Each Council member shall be entitled to one vote at meetings. In the event of a tie vote, the chairman of the meeting may cast a second deciding vote.
8.5 Council meetings may be conducted in person or by way of teleconference or similar method that allows members immediate participation in the meeting.
8.6 A resolution in writing signed by all the members of the council is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Council.
8.7 The Council of the Association shall consist of the Past President, a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be filled by one person, if so decided at an Annual General Meeting. The outgoing President shall sit on the Council as Past President for a period of only one year.
8.8 Any three Council members shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Council.
8.9 A member of the Council who is unable to attend three sequential meetings may, at the option of the Council, be considered disqualified, and if so disqualified, may no longer act as a member of the Council. If the office of a Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer, but not the President, becomes vacant during the year, either as a result of death, resignation, disqualification or otherwise, it may be filled by the unanimous vote of the remaining members of the Council at a meeting. Notwithstanding clause 8.10 below, a member filling such vacancy shall remain in office only until the next Annual General Meeting of the Association.
8.10 The President and Vice-Presidents shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association for a period of two years and the other Council members for one year.
8.11.2 He shall normally preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Council. In his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents, as assigned by the President, shall preside at the meeting. In the absence of the President and the Vice-Presidents, the voting members in good standing present at the meeting may elect a chairman.
8.11.3 The President or, in his absence, his delegated representative shall represent the Association at meetings of the CTTIC.
8.11.4 Of the two Vice-Presidents, one shall represent southern Alberta and one northern Alberta, whenever possible.
8.12.2 The Secretary shall have charge of all the correspondence of the Association and shall follow the directions given to him by the President and the Council. He shall be responsible for filing the Annual Return and other documents of the Association pursuant to the Societies Act of Alberta.
8.12.3 The Secretary shall also keep a record of all the members of the Association and their addresses and send notices of meetings as required.
8.13.2 He shall present a full, detailed account of receipts and disbursements to the Council whenever requested and shall prepare for submission to the Annual General Meeting a statement duly audited, as set forth elsewhere, of the financial position of the Association and submit a copy of same to the Secretary for the records of the Association.
9. Examinations
9.1 The Council shall appoint an Examinations Coordinator in accordance with the guidelines established by the Council or other examining body. The Examination Coordinator shall: |
9.1.1 Coordinate and keep records of all examinations set or administered by the Association and report the results of these examinations; |
9.1.2 Inform all candidates of the date, time and place of writing of these examinations, and the fees to be levied in each case; |
9.1.3 Appoint qualified individuals from within the Association, or from outside the Association if necessary, to select and mark the examinations set by the Association, or to supervise examinations set or administered by the Association. |
9.2 The Examinations Coordinator shall provide the Council with full and detailed reports of his actions. |
9.3 The Examinations Coordinator may represent the Association at the fall meeting of the CTTIC Board of Examiners or appoint an alternate to attend on his behalf, subject to the Council's approval. |
10. Audit of Accounts
- a duly qualified accountant, preparing a review engagement, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; or by
- two Certified Members of the Association (“Members Audit”),
- appointed for that purpose at the previous Annual General Meeting.
Should the qualified accountant or one or both of the two appointed member auditors become unavailable or unwilling to complete the audit within the time frame as specified at the Annual General Meeting, the Council may appoint another qualified accountant or member(s) to perform the audit.
The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on September 1st and end on August 31st of each year.
11. Meeting and Voting Rights
11.1.2 Annual General Meetings of the Association may be called at any time by the President, or by the Secretary acting on the instructions of the President. Written notice of each meeting shall be forwarded by mail, electronic mail or any other acceptable means of communication to the last known address of each member at least twenty days prior to the meeting.
11.1.3 A special meeting shall be called by the President, or by the Secretary acting on the instructions of the President, for the purpose of discussing any special matter that may arise, or upon receipt by him of a written request from at least one-third of the voting members in good standing stating the reasons for calling the meeting. Written notice of a special meeting shall include the reasons for the meeting, shall state the text of any special resolution, if any, to be submitted to the meeting and shall be forwarded by mail, electronic mail or any other acceptable means of communication to the last known address of each member at least ten days prior to the meeting.
11.1.4 Twelve voting members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at any annual or special meeting. Written proxies, as provided for in Art 11.3.1, shall count toward the quorum.
11.1.5 If a quorum is not achieved at a meeting, the Council may determine the date for another meeting, and shall inform all members of the new date. No other business may be transacted at that meeting. At the time of the second meeting, the members present or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum.
11.1.6 A resolution in writing signed by all the members entitled to vote on that resolution at a general meeting of the members is as valid as if it had been passed at a general meeting of the Association.
The Chairman of the meeting and any member entitled to vote thereat may require or demand a ballot upon any question, whether or not a show of hands has been taken thereon, but such requirement or demand may be withdrawn at any time prior to taking the ballot. The ballot shall be taken in such manner as the Chairman of the meeting shall direct. On a ballot, each member who is present of represented by proxy shall be entitled to one vote. The result of the ballot so taken shall be the decision of the voting upon the said question.
12. Remuneration for Services
13. Exercise of Borrowing Powers
14. By-Laws
14.2 If a French version of the By-Laws is prepared and a dispute arises with respect to the interpretation of the By-Laws, the English version shall take precedence over the French version.
The Code of Ethics attached hereto as Schedule A and Schedule B shall be considered a component of these By-laws.