Activities of EFA's Rochester chapter will be posted here. For additional information, contact Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, chapter coordinator, at chap_rochester AT the-efa.org. You must be an EFA member to join an EFA chapter. Chapter events are open to all members, guests of members, and freelancers interested in joining EFA.
Next Meeting
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Previous Meetings
Suppy Swap and Organizing Tips
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Start the new year off right by bringing your excess or unneeded office supplies and equipment to the first EFA-Rochester meeting of 2010 to trade with or purchase from (at bargain prices) colleagues, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday (note new day of the week), January 21, 2010, in the Card Room of the Renaissance (2500 East Avenue; entrance on Penfield Road, free parking with valet service).
We will also talk about organizing a home office and one's time to be more efficient and effective in the new year. Speaker: Carol McManus, proprietor of Carol G. McManus Consulting, LLC and an experienced professional with expertise in human resources, employee relations, and facilities management and operations. She has worked in mental health and personnel administration, and was a legal administrator for a mid-sized law firm for 10 years.
McManus served as a commissioner of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board for eight years, acting as an appellate court judge in thousands of cases in controversy. She also has served in elective office as a school board member, town board member and deputy supervisor, and county legislator.
McManus consults with small-to-medium-sized companies and public entities in a variety of areas, including organizational practices.
RSVP by January 20 to chapter coordinator Ruth E. Thaler-Carter at (585) 248-8464 or:
Email_here
Gearing Up for Tax Filing
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Come to the Nov. 24 meeting of the EFA-Rochester for tips on making the most of this year's deductions and preparing for filing from a representative of H&R Block. The meeting will be held in the Card Room of the Renaissance, 2500 East Avenue (entrance on Penfield Road) from 6:30-8:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Parking is free.
Free, but RSVP required to ensure sufficient handouts and refreshments. RSVP to:
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 The Rochester chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) will meet from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, in the Park Avenue neighborhood, for "Hands-on Twitter Tips," which will build on the general guidelines provided at our June 2009 meeting. Bring your laptop, because presenter and hostess Kat Nagel will walk us through setting up Twitter accounts and profiles, and demonstrate the actual use of this new technology in social networking. This might be EFA-Rochester's first-ever "tweetup"! Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Happy holidays! Come join fellow freelancers to brainstorm plans for building your freelance writing, editing, design, indexing or other editorial business in the new year at the December EFA Rochester meeting on Wednesday evening, December 17. The meeting is free; free and valet parking available. Thursday, June 26, 2008 We will meet in the Card Room of the Renaissance, 2500 East Avenue (entrance on Penfield Road). Topic: ideas for home-office design and wishlists for business supplies or equipment; ideas for upcoming meetings. Wednesday, April 23, 2008 The Rochester chapter met to hear invited speaker Karen Deyle, the restaurant critic for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Our presenter was Pamm Dodge, representing H&R Block, who borught $25 coupons, as well as a slew of useful tips and sample forms. Thursday, December 20, 2007 The theme of the meeting was "New Year's Resolutions for Editorial Professionals," with the goal of brainstorming ideas about how to fulfill such resolutions by enhancing business, resources, visibility and skills in the new year. Thursday, October 25, 2007 The first swap-and-sell meeting of the Rochester chapter met in the Card Room of the Renaissance apartment building at 2500 East Avenue. Thursday, August 30, 2007 The Rochester NY chapter held an informal networking/social meeting in the Card Room of the Renaissance, 2500 East Avenue. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Robbi Hess, new owner/publisher of Byline magazine, spoke about the adventure of buying a magazine and becoming a publisher, as well as what Byline is looking for and how it can help writers get published. Chapter coordinator Ruth E. Thaler-Carter provided information on freelance rates of other area publications. Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Tuesday, March 27, 2007 Rochester chapter members shared and critiqued each others business card, brochure, web-page printout, and other materials in a general networking session. Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Chapter coordinator Ruth E. Thaler-Carter provided a recap of the January meeting and additional details on setting up and managing a website — why, how, what, who, etc. Participants brought printouts of their own websites for critiques and discussion. Thursday, January 25, 2007 The Rochester chapter started the new year at a new location — the Learning Center of the Brighton Memorial Library (2300 Elmwood Avenue) — with a session on effective websites for writers, editors and other editorial professionals. Topics included hosting companies and options, design concerns, updating and management, keywords and search optimization, and more. Tuesday, December 19, 2006 The invited speaker for the December meeting was Robbi Hess, new owner of Byline magazine, but she was unable to join us due to a family emergency. Instead, participants enjoyed potluck refreshments and an evening of networking, and discussed goals for the new year. Almost everyone at the meeting expressed a desire to learn and do more about their websites in 2007 — either launch one, update and enhance one, or make one better. Based on that discussion, the January meeting (see above) will focus on just those issues. Tuesday, October 17, 2006 At its October monthly meeting, the Rochester chapter discussed a new meeting location for 2007, heard a report on the successful Communication Central conference, shared resources for end-of-year planning, and discussed potential chapter activities in 2007. Friday, September 15, 2006 Pamm Dodge of the Upstate New York Grantwriters Association shared tips on becoming a grantwriter with members and guests of the Rochester chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association at the chapter's September meeting. Tuesday, August 15, 2006 Is blogging worth your while? Members of the Rochester, NY, chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association tossed the idea around at their August meeting and agreed that blogging can lead to paying work, and can be a worthwhile professional tool even if it doesn't generate any income. Advantages include a having forum for ideas and perspectives that otherwise might not get heard, a way to polish writing and thinking skills, and a basis for convincing clients that your words are indeed worth their while on a paying basis. Disadvantages include lack of editing, which can mean embarrassingly sloppy writing being seen by the world at large; too much freedom of expression, when expressing political or other opinions could make some clients not hire a blogger; and the risk of having blog content stolen, published without the author's knowledge, or plagiarized. Tuesday, July 18, 2006 Admit it. You've always wanted a legitimate way to write off that trip or vacation as a business expense. At the July 18 meeting of the Rochester chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), Carol Sauka, writer, speaker, spokesperson and moderator, provided tips on planning and organizing out-of-town and overseas jaunts that qualify as legitimate business expense for writers, editors and other editorial freelancers. Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Rochester-area writers, editors and other editorial professionals enjoyed an informal get-acquainted session at the May meeting of EFA-Rochester. A highlight of the evening was the opportunity to swap and critique business cards and other promotional items. Tuesday, April 18, 2006 Got a book idea burning a hole in your brain? At the April meeting of the Rochester chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), Randi Minetor enthralled her audience with the tale of how she sold her book in no time flat to the first publisher who received her proposal! Tuesday, March 21, 2006 As the home of the former Lawyers Co-op and HQ of legal-publishing giant Thomson West, Rochester is a major player in legal publishing, and that means opportunities for editors and proofreaders. The March 2006 meeting of EFA-Rochester featured tips on entering that niche from legal editor Carol Calamia. In recognition of Rochester's long ties with legal publishing, Calamia educated participants on what it takes to succeed in editing for a law firm. For 20 years, she was the copy editor at Nixon Peabody LLP (and its predecessor firm, Nixon Hargrave), as well as creating presentations for attorneys. She also writes a series of clever, easy-to-digest tips on grammar and usage for the law firm. Recently promoted to CLE administrator, Calamia has a depth of skill, knowledge, and experience that is hard to match. Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Topics included: EFA membership benefits, upcoming national education programs, member news, and planning for future chapter meetings and special events. Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Independent writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, and other editorial professionals got the lowdown on essential skills and local opportunities in editing at the January 2006 meeting of EFA's Rochester chapter from chapter coordinator Ruth E. Thaler-Carter. Tuesday, December 20, 2005 Independent writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, and other editorial professionals enjoyed an informal evening of networking over holiday refreshments at the December 2005 meeting of EFA's Rochester chapter. Participants swapped ideas for meeting topics and presenters in the new year, shared useful resources, and announced recent successes and new projects. Tuesday, November 15, 2005 Independent Rochester-area writers, editors, proofreaders and other editorial professionals found out about end-of-year tax planning at the next meeting of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) of Rochester. Tuesday, September 20, 2005 It was time for "Show and Tell"! Members of EFA-Rochester and their guests got critiques of and compliments on their business cards, brochures and website home pages, for a better sense of what works in promoting freelance editorial services. Tuesday, June 21, 2005 Chapter coordinator Ruth E. Thaler-Carter provided a report on the national EFA annual meeting and election earlier in the month, including details of the 2005 national EFA conference on October 8 in New York City. She also provided tips on improving proofreading and editing skills. Tuesday, April 19, 2005 The EFA Rochester chapter found out what it takes to work in academic publishing from Suzanne Guiod, editorial director of the University of Rochester Press. Suzanne Guiod has been with the UR Press since October 2004. She has worked as a publisher with Arcadia Publishing in Portsmouth, NH; managing editor of the Encyclopedia of New England Culture, a freelance editor, assistant to a literary agent, a production editor, and more. Tuesday, February 15, 2005 In addition to tips on"Honing Your Editing & Proofreading Skills," the February 2005 meeting featured an update on plans for a fall 2005 national EFA conference. Tuesday, December 21, 2004 Rochester-area writers, editors and other editorial professionals garnered important tips on improving their year-end tax planning when the Rochester chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) brought Anthony G. Sandonato, CPA, to its December 2004 meeting. Sandonato is a tax manager with Mengel, Metzger, Barr and Co. LLP in Rochester who specializes in tax planning and compliance for individuals, corporations, estates/trusts and exempt organizations. He is licensed in New York State as both an attorney and a CPA. Tuesday, November 16, 2004 Whether one's primary editorial activity is writing, editing, proofreading, copy editing or websites, and whether it's called writer's block or procrastination, every editorial professional faces the occasional internal barrier to getting their work done. In a lively session on "Overcoming Writer's (and Working) Block," participants shared their tips, methods and incentives for overcoming writer?s block and reducing procrastination. Tuesday, October 19, 2004 Members brought drafts and ideas for unsold articles to this brainstorming session, and generated suggestions for market possibilities for each other. The 2005 Writer's Market was available as a resource. Tuesday, September 21, 2004 Tech writer/editor Katherine "Kat" Nagel, owner of MasterWork Consulting, discussed the basics of "Why, When and How to Produce a Website." Nagel is a Web developer for a number of Rochester-area organizations and colleagues. In an overview approach to this important promotional resource for editorial freelancers, she reviewed design basics, program/application options, work-sample formats, hosting services and other essentials to creating websites. Wednesday, December 17, 2003 David G. Young, CPA, is a partner with the firm of Young & Company CPAs, LLP. Young & Company's web site address is www.YandC-CPAs.com. Mr. Young spoke to us about tax issues and provide tax tips and other information, such as the benefits of incorporating. Thursday, November 20, 2003 Attorney William R. Alexander is an attorney with the Rochester firm of Remington Gifford Williams & Colicchio and concentrates in the area of intellectual property. He spoke to the group about intellectual property issues, particularly matters pertaining to copyright law, that are of interest to writers. Tuesday, October 21, 2003 Robert H. Lieberman of Ithaca is an agent, a writer, and a filmmaker. He spoke to us about the benefits of having an agent as well as entertain questions about writing fiction. He also will sign copies of his latest book, The Last Boy, which has been optioned for the screen. Wednesday, September 24, 2003 Wednesday, April 23, 2003 Attendees were asked to bring sample contracts along for discussion. Wednesday, January 22, 2003 During the meeting, attendees were asked to share their strategies, tips, and helpful hints for finding and securing writing work at websites. In addition to talking about which websites, job lists, and newsgroups are useful, and which should be avoided, attendees will be asked to describe their successes at securing online work and to share sample cover letters, resumes, and supporting documentation to help fellow writers in attendance. Thursday, November 7, 2002 Attendees were asked to share their strategies, tips, and helpful hints for managing the day-to-day aspects of a writing-related project or assignment. Questions such as how to begin a project, how to organize information, and what electronic tools are most helpful will be addressed and discussed. [ back to top ]
To receive location and attend, RSVP to: chap_rochester AT the-efa.org
The meeting is free, but you must RSVP - a picnic dinner will be provided, so we need to know how many people will be there!Holiday Meeting
Bring a dish for potluck sharing!General Meeting
General Meeting
Tax Planning for Freelancers
Holiday Meeting
Swap and Sell
Networking
Marketing and Promotions
General Meeting
Meet, Greet and Network
Websites, Part 2
Effective Websites
Holiday Meeting, and New Publishing Opportunity
General Meeting
Grantwriting Tips
The Professional Benefit of Blogging
How to Make Money from Your Summer Vacation
Breaking Out of Writer's Block & Overcoming Procrastination
Informal networking
The Magic of a Bestselling Book Proposal
Randi Minetor's first book, Breadwinner Wives and the Men They Marry, sold to the first publisher who received it in less than seven days. In it, she profiled couples where the wives make more money than the husbands. At the time of her EFA-Rochester presentation, Minetor was working on a series of nine books about the Passport To Your National Parks' program for Globe Pequot Press, one of the leading travel publishers, and she had only written a single chapter of the first book when the publisher bought it, just three weeks after it arrived in the slush pile. "Both of these deals were made on the strength of the nonfiction book proposal, a magical document that demonstrates my understanding that writing is an art, but publishing is a business," Minetor said. She shared the format, style and content that make a book proposal sing.
When she isn't writing successful book proposals (and books!), Minetor is the president of Minetor & Company, Inc., a public relations and marketing firm that specializes in communications solutions for small high-technology companies and select nonprofit organizations. She served as executive director of the High Falls Film Festival for several years. As of February 2006, she is represented by Regina Ryan Publishing Enterprises, Inc. Tips on editing for law firms
General Meeting
Editing Skills and Opportunities
Holiday cheer and networking
End-of-Year Tax Planning
Show and Tell
General Meeting
Academic Publishing
Honing Your Editing & Proofreading Skills
Tax Planning
Share techniques for "Overcoming Writer's (and Working) Block
Share Your Favorite Articles? Where Should You Pitch Them?
Why, When, and How to Produce a Website
Tax Issues
Intellectual Property
Having an Agent
Research Resources and Techniques
Contracts
How to Get Writing Work Online
A Day in the Life of a Project
Wednesday, December 31, 1969