By Matthias Steiert
NCTA’s most recent General Meeting was held on December 6 at the Berkeley Public Library, welcoming members and non-members, both in person and over Zoom. This hybrid format was chosen to enable broader participation, since NCTA’s members are spread out across the state of California. The purpose of the General Meeting was to allow a space for thoughtful dialogue on key issues shaping the association’s future, most notably a proposed name change intended to support long-term growth and inclusivity.
All in all, 12 members were present in person and 8 attended online, with 2 non-members also present in person. Our Events Director, Noemí Gonzales-Roca, arranged for the online attendees to gather in a Zoom breakout room during the first half hour until those attending in person at the library had a chance to gather and chat. Following introductory remarks and a review of the agenda by our President, Olivia Singier, the discussion quickly moved to the central item of the afternoon: a motion to change the association’s name.
At 3:35 p.m., NCTA’s Secretary Sarah Schneider formally introduced the motion, which was seconded by Ana Salotti (Membership Outreach), thus opening the floor to questions, comments, and concerns from members. The association’s new proposed name is California Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators – CAPIT. The name reflects greater inclusivity with respect to the region (all of California) and explicitly mentions interpreters (a major group of language professionals).
Members engaged in a wide-ranging discussion about the implications of a name change. Several participants sought clarification on whether the change involved a merger with another association and how it might affect NCTA’s relationship with the American Translators Association (ATA), including certification renewals and rebates. Questions were also raised regarding timing and process. Olivia explained that the anticipated effective date would be January 2026, subject to completion of a filing process with the California Secretary of State. While some members estimated a longer timeline, the board clarified that the administrative steps are expected to take approximately two weeks once initiated.
There was a discussion about the pros and cons of a name change and another about the addition of a new group called WCIG (Worker’s Compensation Interpreters’ Group). Some members did not understand the relationship between the name of this worker’s group and professional interpreters. Concerns were voiced about the suddenness of the announcement and whether the proposal had been sufficiently discussed at prior national gatherings, such as ATA’s 66th Annual Conference. In response, board members emphasized that the idea had been under consideration for four to five years, reflecting sustained strategic planning rather than a last-minute initiative.
Several contributors highlighted the potential benefits of name change, particularly in terms of expanding membership, broadening the client base, and positioning the association more effectively in a changing regulatory and professional landscape. References were made to evolving labor policies, such as California’s AB 5, as to why professional associations must remain adaptable and future-oriented. There was also the discussion that ATISDA, Association of Translators and Interpreters in the San Diego Area, may or may not merge with our association. ATISDA is a very small, but very active association with 28 members.
At the same time, members expressed valid concerns about branding continuity and the risk of losing existing members who strongly identify with the current name. Branding the new name might be difficult, since it may not disseminate easily throughout the community of language professionals. Questions about practical matters—such as website redirects, online group transitions, and communication during the changeover—were addressed by Ana, who confirmed that technical redirects would be implemented and that members would be surveyed to ensure a smooth and transparent transition.
I myself attended the meeting via Zoom and expressed concern that a name such as CAPL (California Association of Professional Linguists) would have been a better choice to include not only interpreters and translators but also editors, voice-over talents, transcriptionist translators, etc. My critique is that while a name change stood in the room for a number of years, most members were not aware of it. A vote to officially change the name should have taken place via email to reach as many members as possible. Following the meeting, several longtime NCTA members who had not been able to attend the General Meeting expressed discontent about the name change.
Vote and Outcome: After nearly an hour of discussion, the motion was put to a vote at 4:16 p.m. The results were as follows:
- 11 votes in favor (in person)
- 3 votes in favor (online)
- 1 vote against (in person)
- 1 abstention (online)
With a clear majority, the motion passed at 4:20 p.m. Olivia thanked members for their engagement and trust, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue in guiding the association’s evolution.
The meeting concluded with updates from Ana and Noemí presenting the upcoming calendar of events. To start the year off, we will have our annual New Year’s Brunch. There will be another Spanish Book Club meeting and on February, 21, 2026, we will have our next General Meeting. Additionally, there will be meet-ups in San Francisco and the East Bay, and the Spring Sessions workshops will be held on April 11, 2026 at Preservation Park in Oakland.