August 20, 2010: Fall 2010 education catalog now available!

We are pleased to announce EFA's Fall 2010 Education Program! The schedule runs from September 23 to December. Classes cover creativity, proofreading, freelance writing, editing, children's publishing, and indexing. Check out the catalog now ...

June 19, 2010: Election winners

Congratulations and welcome to new MAL board members Suzannah Driver-Barstow and Mary Kelly McColl, as well as to no-longer-interim secretary Cindy Corliss. Also to those who are returning for another term — J.P. Partland as co-executive director, and MALS Scott Bogue, Chuck Brandstater, Amy Fass, Amy Rose, and Erin Wilcox!

A very special thank you to all new contenders who ran in this very close election! We appreciate your willingness to give your time to the EFA. If you are interested in volunteering in a capacity other than board member (and there are plenty of opportunities), please contact J.P. Partland and Margaret L. Moser at co-executives@the-efa.org.

We'd love to hear from you!

June 1, 2010: Speak up. Vote now! Time is running out - June 5 deadline

The 2010 EFA elections are coming to a close so please remember to vote soon. If you vote by mail, mark your choices on the postage-paid pre-addressed ballot, and mail it postmarked no later than Saturday, June 5. If you vote in person, mark your choices on the ballot, seal it in an unmarked envelope, and bring it with you to the annual meeting Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at the EFA office. Not sure who to vote for? Read more about the candidates and elections process...

May 25, 2010: Announcing a social media teleconference!

On Tuesday, June 8, 2010, EFA held a teleconference on social media for freelancers. See General Meetings for more details. A recording is now available to members only at the download center...

May 24, 2010: Vote Today! and come to the Annual Meeting of the Membership!

Drop everything and Segway, fly, walk, drive your Zipcar -- but come and renew old friendships and make new ones. Whether you've done it before or haven't, here's your chance to meet friends and colleagues face to face. Email and conference calls are better than passenger pigeons and smoke signals, but nothing beats personal contact. Come to the EFA's annual meeting on June 16! Read more about the party, the meeting, and the elections...

March 22, 2010: 7:30 pm

April 15 looms! Help is at hand! Julian Block has generously agreed to present another tax teleconference for EFA members this year. See the General Meeting for detailed information. A recording is now available to members only at the download center.

January 2, 2010: EFA's Spring Education Courses

What better way to start the New Year than by giving yourself the gift of knowledge? Cruise on over to the education catalog and take home something truly useful.

December 29, 2009: Annual Holiday Party and Potluck

Make your plans to attend the annual EFA Holiday Party! It will be held on Tuesday, December 29, at EFA world headquarters at 71 W. 23rd Street, fourth floor, NYC, starting at 6 p.m. Following EFA tradition, this will be a potluck buffet. Bring a dish to share--EFA will provide the beverages and chips. Guests and kids welcome. We look forward to seeing you!

November 30, 2009: Webinar: Turning Journal Entries into Polished Pieces

In four 90-minute sessions, you will see the possibilities for transforming your journal entries into poems, personal essays, and/or stories suitable for publication. Instructor: Shelia Bender. Lots more info at the education catalog

November 12, 2009: Meeting of the Brooklyn Associates for a Greater English Language

Thurs., Nov. 12 at the Olive Vine Cafe, at 54 7th Ave. in Park Slope, at 6:30 PM. It is open to current and prospective EFA members. Residents of all boroughs are welcome. Come join our lively discussion of issues important to editorial freelancers. Take the 2 or 3 train to the Bergen St. stop, walk 1 block S/E on Flatbush Ave. to 7th Avenue, and 3 short blocks to the restaurant. For further details, contact Claudia Gutwirth (claudiajojo AT aol DOT com).

September 9, 2009: Fall 2009 Education Catalog

Dealing with Nightmare Clients - Introduction to Developmental and Structural Editing: Memoir and Narrative Nonfiction - and much more, including new Seattle-based courses. Members and non-members are welcome. Good stuff to be found at http://the-efa.org/eve/catalog.php.

August 5, 2009: New Facebook Page Administrator

If you're on the fence about networking on Facebook or you'd like more information about EFA's fan page, contact admin Lisa L. Owens. You can send her a note through Facebook's message system or email her directly at lisa AT llowens.com. (Remember to replace AT with the appropriate symbol.)

July 2, 2009: The EFA's on Facebook!

Connecting via social media is here to stay, and with good reason: it works. The EFA now has a Facebook presence, at www.facebook.com/editorialfreelancersassociation. If you're on Facebook, fan the page - and tell your friends. If you're on the fence about Facebook, contact Wendy Thayer at shinywen@gmail.com.

June 19, 2009: EFA Election Results

The EFA Board of Governors welcomes new Members at Large Amy Rose, Barbara Magalnick, and Enid Yurman, as well as returning MALs Scott Bogue, Chuck Brandstater, Amy Fass, and Erin Wilcox. We also thank those who are departing: treasurer Tony Johnson, secretary Anita McClellan, MALs Laurie Lewis and Marion Dreyfus, and education chair Jennifer Maybin, for their exemplary service to the organization. And, finally, we thank those who ran for election, but were not yet, or again, called. A contested election is the sign of a healthy, competitive group and we trust that they will continue to offer their eager and intelligent input for a long time to come. Many thanks to all! Your coexecs, Margaret Moser and JP Partland

June 17, 2009: Annual Meeting

Drive, fly, walk, parachute in -- this is your chance to renew old friendships and make new ones. Details at http://the-efa.org/eve/meetings_general.php

May 27, 2009: Freelance Forecast Survey - Teleconference

Talk with Jake Poinier, creator of the Freelance Forecast Survey! He'll take your questions. Details on the General Meetings page at http://www.the-efa.org/eve/meetings_general.php

May 21, 2009: EFA Elections - Time is Running Out - June 6 Deadline

If you haven't already done so, mark your EFA ballot and get it in the mail before June 6. There's a contested race for Members-at-Large, and there's a gaping hole where the new treasurer's name should be. Yes, even though this isn't Florida and there won't be any hanging chads, your vote counts.

May 20, 2009: EFA establishes Facebook page!

The EFA Board of Governors is pleased to announce EFA's fan page on Facebook. The fan page constitutes free advertising for our organization. The more fans we get, the more potential clients will find our Web site, and the more jobs we will see posted on our job list. Read more under member benefits ...

April 22, 2009: Jesse Weissman

The EFA regrets to inform you that our Chapter Coordinator, Jesse Weissman, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2009. As you know, Jesse was a longtime and much valued member of our organization. He initiated the very successful chapter development program in 1997, and did service as a hard-working member at large and as EFA treasurer as well. A proofreader by trade, Jesse will be remembered as a kind and sensitive man who was devoted to his wife Sue-Ellen. His gravelly voice, his gentle demeanor, his service, and his heartfelt signature line, "May you succeed in all your endeavors," will be sorely missed by all of us at the EFA. Cards can be sent to Sue-Ellen at 10 Shore Boulevard, #1L, Brooklyn, NY, 11235.

April 8, 2009: EFA Board Nominations Deadline Extended

If you've been on the fence about taking part in the work that keeps the EFA going, it's not too late to jump down and jump in. The deadline for nominations has been extended to April 17. Yes, you're needed. The March 30 announcement (below) has the details.

March 30, 2009: Call for Nominations!

The EFA Board of Governors is now accepting nominations for one co-executive director, serving a two-year term; one treasurer, serving a two-year term; and up to seven members at large, serving one-year terms. Read more about the board in the About section ("About the Board").

Nominations and candidate statements of not more than 150 words each must reach the EFA by Friday, April 10. They may be sent by e-mail (no attachments, please) to secretary@the-efa.org or by fax to 1-866-929-5439. Please include full contact details for both nominator and nominee. If you nominate yourself, you are both nominator and nominee. Printed ballots will be sent to members in good standing the week of May 25. Marked ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by June 6 to be counted. Ballots will be tallied and the results of the election announced at the annual meeting on June 17.

March 5, 2009: Winter/Spring Classes

Get a Jump Start on Your Career with Winter/Spring Courses from EFA! For course details and to sign up, click Events in the main menu then select Education, then Catalog.

March 2, 2009: Taxes for Freelancers Teleconference

It’s that time of year again, when April 15 looms and freelancers begin to panic. Help is at hand! Join your freelance colleagues from Science Writers in New York and the Editorial Freelancers Association on Monday, March 2, for a joint national teleconference on taxes featuring tax authority Julian Block. The call will start at 7:30 p.m. eastern time and run for about an hour. The teleconference is scheduled for Monday, March 2, starting at 7:30 p.m. eastern and running for about an hour. You can call in at any time after 7:15 p.m. To access the teleconference at any point, call (218) 936-6581 and enter passcode 24327. There’s no charge except the cost of the call to you at your usual long-distance rate.

February 17, 2009: Meet Author Meryl Gordon

Meet celebrated journalist and nonfiction author Meryl Gordon at the February EFA General Meeting! Visit the Events/General Meetings page for more information.

January 28, 2009: EFA Winter Classes

Get a Jump Start on Your Career with Winter Courses from EFA!We are earlier than even the early bird with our winter course offerings! For course details and to sign up, click Events in the main menu then select Education, then Catalog.

January 12, 2009: Holiday Party!

Here's an event that you can put on your calendar: the EFA Holiday Party! Make a long weekend of it ... this year's event will take place on Monday, January 12, at the EFA national offices on the fourth floor at 71 W. 23rd Street in New York City. As usual, this will be a potluck buffet event. Bring a dish to share. EFA will provide the beverages and chips. We look forward to seeing you!

December 14, 2008: Newest issue of The Freelancer now online!

The November-December issue of the EFA newsletter, The Freelancer, will be in your mailboxes soon. Read the issue online now in the Members-Only area of the Membership section. Remember that you must be logged in to read.

October 24, 2008: Newest issue of The Freelancer now online!

The September-October issue of the EFA newsletter, The Freelancer, will be in your mailboxes soon. Read the issue online now in the Members-Only area of the Membership section. Remember that you must be logged in to read.

September 4, 2008: Jennifer Maybin steps in as Education Chair

Jennifer Maybin, a medical editor and writer for more than twenty years, has volunteered to take over from Lisa Owens as EFA education chair. Welcome, Jennifer! Jennifer has worked for medical education companies, medical and healthcare publishers, healthcare websites, pharmaceutical companies, and journals during a career that spans more than twenty-five years. This background will of course serve her well in her capacity on the EFA Board of Governors as education chair.

August 28, 2008: Fall 2008 education catalog now available!

We are pleased to announce EFA's Fall 2008 Education Program! The schedule runs from October to December and features three online courses and two one-day workshops to be held at our NYC headquarters. Read more ...

August 7, 2008: New Member Directory launch!

The EFA member directory has at last been reengineered and its design integrated to the rest of the site.

Members log into the site with a unique username and password combination to access a new Members-only area, edit their directory profiles in real time, upload either a text format or pdf version of their resumes in real time, and renew online. New memberships and renewals will now be effective as soon as the application or renewal transaction clears, and both invoices and receipts will be sent immediately and automatically by email. Members who forget their login will get that information from the site itself (rather than from the EFA office) by supplying their email address of record.

The Members-only area includes the usual access to update member directory profiles, but as well to a variety of EFA logos for use by members on their websites and the full electronic library of archived PDF versions of the EFA newsletter, The Freelancer, back to 2002.

Please direct questions about the directory and logging in to the EFA web chair (web.site AT the-efa.org).

July 25, 2008: Resumes for Freelancers booklet now available!

Through its Lulu.com storefront, EFA now offers Sheila Buff's booklet on how to turn your traditional resume into an effective marketing tool. See more under Booklets!

June 19, 2008: Election Results

Welcome to new and returning EFA board members and so many thanks to those leaving us — Trudy Balch (secretary) and Lisa Owens (education chair), both of whom will be sorely missed!

Co-executive: JP Partland
Secretary: Anita McClellan

Members at Large:
Scott Bogue
Chuck Brandstater
Marion DS Dreyfus
Amy Fass
Laurie Lewis
Ida Walker
Erin Wilcox

Thanks to all, and we look forward to a productive year!

May 17, 2008: EFA Board Candidates Announced

The EFA Board of Governors has accepted nominations for a co-executive director and a secretary, and candidates for seven members at large. Elections will be conducted by mail. The ballots and written notice of the election will be mailed to you as of May 22. Return ballots must postmarked no later than June 7.

May 4, 2008: Annual Meeting, Election, and Party

The annual EFA business meeting, election, and party will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at the EFA office, 71 West 23rd Street, 4th floor conference room, New York City. Socializing will start at 5:45 p.m., and the business meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. sharp. The party, to feature a delicious buffet, will begin after the business meeting, at about 7:15 p.m. Please reply to EFA's office manager, Judi Greenstein, by e-mail (office AT the-efa DOT org) if you plan to attend. It'll help us put together that delicious spread! But if you don't have a chance to RSVP, don't worry. Just come, and everyone will be glad to see you!

April 23, 2008: Cicely Nichols, 1937-2008

The last of the EFA founders, Cicely Nichols, died on April 5, 2008 after a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her three daughters, Hilda, Jenny, and Christy. A memorial service was held on Sunday, May 11 in Greenwich Village.

February 10, 2008: EFA Call for Candidates

The EFA Board of Governors is now accepting nominations for the following positions:

• One co-executive director, serving a two-year term
• One secretary, serving a two-year term
• Up to seven members at large, serving one-year terms

The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2008. All nominations must include a 100- to 150-word bio statement, which should include objectives in serving on the board. Read more about these positions and participation in the EFA board.

February 5, 2008: Spring 2008 Education catalog now available!

Register now for spring classes!

December 4, 2007: Holiday Party!

Hold the date: Monday, January 7, 2008 ... Celebrate and kick off the new year at the EFA holiday party!

October 20, 2007: New Member Benefits!

EFA members now receive discounts when they join Better World Club ("the environmentally friendly alternative to AAA") and ZipCar.

Read more at Membership Benefits ...

October 8, 2007: Code of Fair Practice revised

The Code of Fair Practice is now updated and revised. This third edition is also available in pdf format for download and printing.

September 19, 2007: Making Word Work for You now available!

Through its Lulu.com storefront, EFA now offers Hilary Powers' invaluable book on getting the most out of Microsoft Word when editing manuscripts on screen.

June 22, 2007: Election Results

Welcome to new and returning EFA Board members!

Co-executive: Margaret Moser
Treasurer: Tony Johnson

Members at Large:
Scott Bogue
Chuck Brandstater
Paula Damiano
Amy Fass
Laurie Lewis
Anita McClellan
Holly Thesieres

Thanks to all, and we look forward to a productive year!

June 10, 2007: Annual Meeting, Election, and Party

The annual EFA business meeting, election, and party will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at the EFA office, 71 West 23rd Street, Suite 1910, New York City. Socializing starts at 5:30 p.m. The business meeting will begin at 6:00 sharp. The party, to feature a delicious buffet, will begin after the business meeting, at about 7:00 p.m. Please reply to EFA's office manager, Judi Greenstein, by e-mail if you plan to attend info AT the-efa DOT org. It'll help us put together that delicious spread! But if you don't have a chance to RSVP, don't worry. Just come, and everyone will be glad to see you!.

May 11, 2007: EFA Board Candidates Announced

The EFA Board of Governors has accepted nominations for a co-executive director and a treasurer, and candidates for nine members at large. Elections will be conducted by mail. The ballots and written notice of the election will be mailed to you as of May 23. Return ballots must postmarked no later than June 9.

April 13, 2007: EFA Call for Candidates

The EFA Board of Governors is now accepting nominations for the following positions:

• One co-executive director, serving a two-year term
• One treasurer, serving a two-year term
• Up to seven members at large, serving one-year terms