We did it! On Wednesday, April 1st, we welcomed into the world a brand new association for freelancers.
On January 14th of this year, PWAC members voted to join the independent membership of the Canadian Media Guild Freelance Branch at a new home with a new name, the Canadian Freelance Guild.
Within a scant two and a half months of the vote, a dedicated transition team has merged the two membership databases, launched a new website and a new logo, developed bylaws, and is already offering timely professional development webinars as one of the main benefits of membership.
April 1st marked the day that all former PWAC members were asked to renew their yearly dues (at a new, lower rate of $150 per year) and we got the payment system working as well. Yes, a few glitches, but that was to be expected.
Both PWAC and CMG Freelance have a long-standing reputation of defending freelance rights and providing professional development and advice for our respective memberships. That will carry on as a basic tenet of the CFG.
There are plans in the works to offer a number of webinars to members in good standing over the coming weeks.
Need to learn how to get more from Zoom, the popular video meeting software? We’re offering Session III of our popular Zoom tutorial on April 6th. The first two sessions were booked solid in short order, so don’t wait. If you’re a member, click here to register!
And on April 14 at noon ET, a representative from the New School of Finance will tell us about government initiatives for income replacement and other protections for the self-employed and others affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There will also be information about filing your income tax for 2019 and we’re leaving ample time for a Q+A session. If you’re a member, click here to register now.
A founding convention and election of officers for our new association will be held in October of 2020.
Together, we’re better.
Don Genova and Doreen Pendgracs
Transition Committee Co-Chairs
Canadian Freelance Guild