Just over thirty years ago in Canada, Cheryl Stephens and Kate Harrison Whiteside started organising meetups for editors and writers who were also struggling to convince organisations of the potential of using plain language. Back then they called it The Plain Language Consultants Network. The idea rapidly grew in popularity and numbers and they started organising conferences. In the year 2000 at the conference in Houston, they convinced others to start taking on some responsibilities. This was the beginning of the Association that exists today and can boast members from all over the world.

 

To celebrate International Plain Language Week, we have put together a digital booklet to reflect on PLAIN has attracted and helped new and long-standing members.

 

Itzamá Enríquez íñiguez Ser Escritura MEXICO Independent editor and proofreader. PLAIN member since June 2022. What is the best thing PLAIN brought to your career? The professionalizing tools, working community and external recognition. Eytayo Ogunyemi Law Accent NIGERIA Lawyer and plain writing advocate, on a mission to make law accessible for all. PLAIN member since June 2023. What is the best thing PLAIN brought to your career? PLAIN has enriched my career by granting access to invaluable mentorship and connecting me with a like-minded network dedicated to a common goal.Robert Linsky ClearInfoGroup.com USA Member since 2003. Clear communications expert combining plain language with graphic design, information design, psychology and usability. What do you wish for the next 30 years of PLAIN? I hope PLAIN will continue to grow in membership and foster plain language and clear communications throughout the world. Greg loannou Colbourne Communications CANADA Member since 1997. A generalist who's worked on material from books to board games -- even a marriage proposal. What do you wish for the next 30 years of PLAIN? We need to be infiltrating the communications world by moving from advocating plain language as a skill set to having plain language built into all related skill sets.vijayalaxami Hegde Independent Writer INDIA Member since 2020. A plain language writer and editor. What is the best thing PLAIN brought to your career? A sense of belonging to a peer community. It is also a source of inspiration to look at other people's work in different countries and languagesHeloisa Fischer Comunica Simples BRAZIL Member since 2017. Naturally curious communicator and educator. What makes you proud in your own work on plain language? I am proud to have conceived an effective method for teaching plain language. Within a few hours, my students begin to think differently their communication.

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