Last call for applications to join WASCLA's Board of Directors!
If you have been planning to submit your application, but haven't do so yet, there is still time: applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.
We are seeking candidates who support WASCLA's mission to eliminate language barriers to essential services throughout Washington and value our contributions to the community including the annual WASCLA Summit; Language Access Update calls; the Interpreter & Translator Directory; multilingual ISpeak cards; and who want to take an active role in our information-sharing and advocacy efforts.
We welcome you to join us to help continue this important work.
Invitation to Join WASCLA Board of Directors
The WASCLA Elections Committee is seeking candidates to apply to join the WASCLA Board of Directors, for 2-year terms to begin on April 1, 2019.
Applications are due no later than Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
Why Join the the WASCLA Board of Directors?
To carry out our mission of eliminating language barriers to essential services in Washington State through collaborative efforts, WASCLA seeks Board members to engage in our education and advocacy work. WASCLA works at the policy level to ensure that language access is available in all service sectors including education, health, legal and courts, emergency services, and more. While we are not a direct service organization, we serve the broader community by hosting the annual WASCLA Summit, Washington's only conference dedicated to language access; monthly opens calls on language access issues; and a free Interpreter and Translator Directory on our website. The members of our working Board of Directors serve the organization by sharing their skills and expertise to help WASCLA make a real difference in ensuring that our state is a place where all can thrive. Washington’s strengths are rooted in our increasingly diverse population, but current challenges facing refugees and immigrants, now 14% of our state population, make WASCLA’s work more critical than ever. WASCLA also works in partnership with other organizations to ensure communication access for Deaf and DeafBlind communities to essential programs and services.
Board members have the opportunity to work with leading state and national language access and policy experts, and have an important impact on the availability of communication services in Washington State and beyond. Board service offers opportunities for networking with like-minded organizations and also for individual professional growth. We welcome you to join us!
Eligibility for joining the Board of Directors:
Board members must be members of WASCLA. Everyone who subscribes to WASCLA’s email distribution list and supports our social justice mission is considered a member of WASCLA. If you regularly receive our emails, then you are already a member. If you would like to join WASCLA, please send an email to:
with the word MEMBERSHIP in the subject line, and your request to be added to the WASCLA distribution list.
Valuable skills for Board candidates include basic knowledge of immigration and disability rights issues, as well as background in diverse disciplines, civic engagement, nonprofit management, communications, and fundraising. Fluency in language(s) other than English is a plus but is not required. What counts most is support for our mission and the ability to make a commitment to help WASCLA thrive.
What’s Involved with Board Service?
Each board member commits to participating in monthly board meetings and in the work of at least one committee or function. At present, WASCLA is run by an all-volunteer board, and members of the board of directors should expect to spend an average of ten (10) hours per month on behalf of WASCLA, including leading one major area of our policy work and/or organizational operations. Participation in more than one function is welcome too! We encourage geographic diversity on the board; we meet in person and remotely. Some availability during standard business hours is strongly encouraged, although certain tasks can be done behind the scenes to fit around other daily commitments.
To learn more about the commitment that WASCLA Board members make to the organization, please read the WASCLA Board Member Agreement, available here.
How to Apply:
Nominate yourself: if you are interested in serving on WASCLA’s board, the application process is easy. You have two ways to apply:
1) if you have a Gmail account, use our online application submission form. Please submit by March 20, 2019.
2) if you do not have a Gmail account or you would rather download and email your submission, use this form and return it by March 20, 2019 by sending it to wascla.lep@gmail.com, subject BOARD.
Nomination of others: Suggestions for potential nominees are welcome; however, please do not nominate anyone without their prior approval. Instead, if there is someone you think would be a good addition to WASCLA’s board, please share this announcement and encourage them to apply.
Further Information or Questions:
If you have other questions or want more information, please email your questions to wascla.lep@gmail.com, subject BOARD, and a WASCLA board member will contact you.
PS. If you are unable to become a board candidate now, there are many other ways you can get involved with WASCLA’s work, including committees, projects and support functions.
We welcome people interested in policy work in all fields to join our committees, as well as those who can provide needed operations assistance in communications, event planning, technology, fundraising, grant writing, research, and more. Please contact us at wascla.lep@gmail.com so we can discuss current opportunities with you.
Thank you,
WASCLA Board of Directors