The Call for GALA Board Candidates Is Open

Because this is one of the few moments in the year when the association asks its members directly for their time and their service, I'd like to share a little about what board work involves and who tends to find it rewarding. If it speaks to you, I hope you’ll consider nominating yourself.

GALA is member-led. It belongs to professionals, universities, and companies in more than 60 countries and across every part of the language industry. Directors are both representatives and stewards of that membership. They’re responsible for where GALA is headed and for how its money and attention are spent along the way. Directors are unpaid volunteers, and the required effort and commitment are substantial.

But being a GALA board member also gives you one of the most interesting seats in the industry. What former directors mention is how unique the vantage point was. Sitting with the whole industry's challenges and opportunities for a few years gives you a perspective on your own work that is difficult to come by anywhere else.

What Makes an Effective GALA Director?

Candidates who thrive as directors tend to share a few things.

• They bring a strategic mindset and are comfortable thinking in multi-year horizons, including the stretches when the path forward isn't yet obvious.
• They govern at the right altitude, which means setting the direction of the association while trusting staff to run operations.
• They think independently and are willing to voice the uncomfortable view in the room, then stand behind whatever decision the board reaches together.
• Financial literacy is a real asset, since financial stewardship is among the key duties of a director.
• Every election is also an opportunity to widen the representation of regions, disciplines, company sizes, and company types around the board table.

I'll be candid about one thing: a board seat is not a particularly effective route to visibility or new business, and anyone weighing it on those terms is likely to find the commitment disappointing. But for members who want a genuine hand in shaping what this association and this industry become, there are few better places to be.

Considering a Run for the Board?

Everything you'll need as you consider this opportunity can be found right here. The Board Elections page has the timeline and the nomination form, the Board Eligibility and Responsibilities document describes the commitment in plain terms (and is worth reading first), and the Board of Directors FAQ answers most of what members ask us.

If this sounds like a welcome challenge to you, nominate yourself. Or forward this to a colleague who should. The nomination period closes on 02 October.