See Also—April 2022

ASI News
—The Future Has Arrived (don't let it pass you by!)
—Calling New Indexers!
—Annual Meeting (hold the Hines)
—Hines-sight is 20/23
—Cast Your Ballots!—Board voting has begun!
—ASI Still Seeks See Also Editor
—Dennis Duncan, An Interview with
Associated Industry News
—#DennisDuncan (Now Trending)
—Announcing ISC/SCI Annual Conference
Business and Marketing
—"Up" Your LinkedIn Profile Game (in 3 Steps or Less)
Spotlight on Gina Guilinger

ASI News

The Future Has Arrived (don't let it pass you by!)

Registration is open for April's 2022 Conference—"The Future of Indexing: A Mix of Art and Technology" and spots are filling up fast!

This marvelous two-day event has been packed with amazing speakers and workshops on a wide variety of topics, including the following:

Friday, April 29th:
• "Where Do You Fit? The Art of Indexing in the Age of Automation" with Joshua Tallent.

  The publishing process is constantly changing, and with those changes comes the fear that certain elements of the process, like indexing, will be sidelined. To help alleviate these fears, our keynote speaker, Joshua Tallent, will discuss not only the challenges we currently face in this ever-growing industry but also those hopeful opportunities that we are likely to see in our immediate future.

• "Laying the Ground for the Future: Improving Your Index Editing Process" with Fred Leise

  This presentation is designed for both beginning and experienced indexers alike. During this one-hour session, skilled indexer Fred Leise will take us through the steps of the indexing process, provide us with editing actions to help improve specific features of the index, and finally teach us how to better understand and tighten our overall indexing structure.

Saturday, April 30th:

• "Indexing the Metatopic—Bridging the Gap Across the Pond" with Melanie Gee

  Though there are many different editing practices between the US and the UK, there is one thing we can all agree on and that is the need for user-friendly indexes. Join us on Saturday as Melanie Gee shows us how to achieve our shared goal by debunking the myth of the "one size fits all" approach to indexing the metatopic.

Don't miss out on your chance to attend! (For the full program and registration link, click here).

Calling New Indexers!

On Thursday, April 28th, a special indexing workshop will be held just for you!

"Titian and Turing: An Introduction to the Artistry and Technology of Indexing" is a course designed for individuals considering a career in indexing. Led by master indexer Fred Leise, you will receive a thorough introduction to the basic art and science of indexing.

This three-hour workshop will focus on what it takes to become the "ideal indexer," with a special emphasis on the index creation process. You will also delve into the business of indexing and administration of indexing projects—keystones for every new indexer.

Space in this course is limited to 15 students. (To learn more and register, click here).

Annual Meeting (hold the Hines)

Please join us for ASI's Annual General Meeting, which will be held virtually on Friday, May 20th, at 10:00 a.m. PDT / 1:00 p.m. EDT.

This year's meeting will feature the President's Report from Michele Combs, the Treasurer's Report from Anne Fifer, and the annual presentation of the Kohlrabi Awards. Unfortunately, it will not feature the presentation of the Hines Award, as the Hines Award Committee did not receive any nominations this year.

(To help us avoid this exclusion from happening at next year's meeting, read on!)

Hines-sight is 20/23

Indexing is one of those careers that too often flies under the radar. Like the index itself, many don't notice its existence until they go looking for it. For some of you, this aspect of anonymity might be one of the bigger appeals to the job; yet, even the most introverted among us deserves a little recognition now and again—especially those who go above and beyond the call of duty.

This is the purpose behind the Hines Award. We want to continue to celebrate the service so many of you have provided that keeps us as a society up and running, but to do so we'll need your help!

Nominations should be current ASI members who have worked extra hard for the advancement and improvement of the indexing profession. Who do you think of when you hear the words "distinguished service?" Start making note of those outstanding members today so you will be ready to submit their names for the 2023 Award (more instructions to come).

(For full rules and instructions on the submission process, click here).

Cast Your Ballots!—Board voting has begun!

Are you ready to vote for your new 2022 ASI Board of Directors?
The Nominations Committee has announced the following individuals for this year's ballot.
(Click on their name to learn more about each candidate.) Members, log in to access the candidate page and ballot.

President Elect
• Theresa Duran

Treasurer

• Cheryl Lenser

Director at Large

• Amy Hall
• Judy Staigmiller
• Amanda Wilson

At ASI, we are continually looking for new leaders who will work together to represent the diversity of our incredible members and give voice to their views. Help us achieve that goal by voting now (if you haven't cast your ballot yet)!

ASI Still Seeks See Also Editor

Daniel Heila has officially taken over the reins from the incomparable Janet Perlman as editor of ASI's quarterly journal—Key Words. He has thus stepped down as the editor of See Also, a post he filled admirably for nearly two years.

This means the position is now open, and we are looking to readers like you to help fill it!

This volunteer position is open to all current members of ASI. It comes with a one-year contract and offers an honorarium. We are looking for an editor with journalistic integrity who will help us keep our members informed on ASI events including webinars, online learning courses, and local conferences. We also share updates from our sister associations as well as our local chapter and special interest groups.

To apply for the position, please email your current resume or CV and a cover letter explaining how you are qualified and why you are interested to our Executive Director Gwen Henson.

Dennis Duncan, An Interview with

We don't often get to see indexing shine in the spotlight, but it seems author Dennis Duncan has done nothing but since the US release of his book Index, A History of the.

To discuss his latest work (and its prodigious prosperity), ASI President Michele Combs sat down with the “industry celebrity” for an exclusive interview—now available to read in our 2022 Spring Issue of Key Words. Grab your copy now for a "behind-the-scenes" look at his writing process, the story of how he chose his indexer, and more (including special insight into how indexers can better relay to the publishing world the importance of our work).

Associated Industry News

#DennisDuncan (Now Trending)

The spring issue of Key Words isn't the only place you will find mention of Dennis these days! You can also read about his publicized success in the two articles linked below (each with a "teaser" quote to pique your interest):

"[Google] is today's "wormhole" into not just one text but conceivably all texts. Far from displacing indexes, though, it has highlighted their unique ability to make previously unforeseen connections between ideas. They catalog our own desire to label and comment, to moor our ideas to the world." – Alexandra Horowitz, "The Pleasures That Lurk in the Back of the Book" (posted on The Atlantic).

"I don't want to give anything away (words I never thought I'd use about an index), other than to say that its relationship to Duncan's text is not just as a guide but also as a companion. Duncan has written such a generous book, attentive to the varieties of the reading experience, that it's only fitting he gave Bain's index some space to flourish, a chance to come into its own." – Jennifer Szalai, "A Smart, Playful Book About the Underappreciated Index" (this New York Times review was included on LitHub's list: "What Should You Read Next?").

Got an extra 10 minutes (and 46 seconds) on hand? Listen to this delightful interview between Dennis Duncan and Scott Tong (co-host of "Here & Now," a live radio production for current and daily news, presented by NPR and WBUR Boston).

Who knew back-of-the-book indexing could be so exciting? (Well, we did, of course!)
And while we're on the subject…

Announcing ISC/SCI Annual Conference

ISC/SCI (The Indexing Society of Canada/Société canadienne d'indexation) has opened early bird registration for their annual virtual conference, and this year's keynote speaker is none other than…you guessed it! The one and only Dennis Duncan.

Additionally, former ASI president Devon Thomas will present “In Defense of Mark-up.” The conference will also feature discussions on cybersecurity, financial security, index productivity, and more!

To learn more and/or register for the event, visit ISC/SCI's conference page here.

Business and Marketing

"Up" Your LinkedIn Profile Game (in 3 Steps or Less)

Since 2003, the online networking service LinkedIn has allowed job seekers and employers alike to connect from the comfort of their own homes. As of September 2021, the site was the job networking home to over 774 million members from over 200 countries and territories across the globe.

It is arguably the most prominent professional site in its field and the perfect tool for every freelance worker out there (especially the "stay-at-home" indexer).

Many of you already utilize this service, but for those who don't (or for those just looking to "up" their LinkedIn profile game), here are 3 quick and easy steps you can apply today:

1. Add a Cover Photo: It might seem like a silly thing to worry about, but the banner above your profile picture is the very first thing any potential recruiter is going to see when they click on your page. Whether it's a simple landscape photo or a banner featuring your website URL, utilize this space to make sure your first impression is a good one! (for more tips on how to create your banner, click here).
2. Keywords: Think about any skill sets you have that set you apart from the others. Do you speak a foreign language? Are there any computer or indexing programs you are particularly adept at? Do you have connections that might benefit a future employer? Whatever the skill or asset, find a way to work those "keywords" into the front sections of your main profile page. This makes your profile more likely to appear in specific industry-related searches. (for more tips on the power of keywords, click here).
3. Focus on the Top: Most of us don't have a lot of time to add all the bells and whistles to our profile, and recruiters are likely just as busy, so why waste their time (and yours) with things they're probably not even going to read? While there are a lot of technical advantages to having a full profile, if you focus on the top sections (namely your cover photo, profile picture, headline, summary, and recent experience) then you stand a chance of hooking them from the start!

Spotlight on Gina Guilinger

If you would like to be in the Spotlight, or would like to nominate someone for it, please contact Madeline Powell.

Where do you live now? Where are you originally from? Do you share your home with pets or family?

I live in the same city I grew up in, Arvada, CO, which is a suburb of Denver, with my teenage daughter. I did move to Seattle in the mid-90s and spent nine years there before moving back here when my daughter was born.

What is your educational background?

I have a B.A. in Law, Society, and Justice from the University of Washington and learned indexing through the Berkeley course.

Do you have any hobbies, travels, volunteer work, or other interesting things to share?

I am a volunteer usher for the Bonfils theaters in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and I also do volunteer work at my church and for my daughter's theater school. My daughter and I love all of the performing arts so we attend as many theater, opera, ballet, circus, and symphony performances as we can. I also enjoy reading and baking, and I meet my 93-year-old granddad every week for beers and stories of his past.

What kind of work did you do before you studied indexing? Are you still doing that or other work in addition to indexing?

Prior to indexing, I worked in independent bookstores in Denver and Seattle. I was also an Operations Management Specialist/Dispatch Supervisor for UPS and a research and technical assistant for my father's industrial minerals consulting firm. Indexing is the only work I currently do.

When did you start indexing? When did you join ASI?

I started indexing just over 10 years ago and joined ASI at the same time. After several years of leadership at the chapter level, I am now serving on the Board. [Editor's note: Gina will be the next president of the ASI board.]

For you, what is the best advantage of ASI membership?

The continuing education opportunities through workshops, webinars, online learning courses, and conferences have allowed me to build and grow my indexing business. Meeting and building relationships with other indexers, both in-person and online, has also been invaluable. Having a national organization to advocate for and educate about indexing really benefits the profession. The option to purchase a locator listing has also led to some of my most lucrative and long-term clients.

Finally, what is your best coping strategy for the pandemic?

With our lifestyle of working from home and homeschooling, we were fortunate to not have to make too many changes when things shut down. My daughter took up letter writing to keep up with her friends, and we found new ways to enjoy the arts through streaming performances and recordings of older shows. Knowing that our safety measures and distancing will not be permanent has kept our spirits up.