Vermont RID Membership
Please visit our membership page.

Vermont RID Meeting
The Fall VTRID meeting will be held immediately following the "Ethical Decision Making for Interpreters" workshop. Come on! You won't want to miss this exciting meeting!

WHEN: Saturday, September 20, 2003
WHAT: Potluck VTRID fall meeting
WHERE: Alice Peck Day Hospital: Dwinell Room, Lebanon, NH.
TIME: Immediately following workshop...by 5pm

AGENDA ITEMS NOT TO BE MISSED....
*Elections!!!!!! Are you interested in running for office? Would you like to take a larger role in your state's interpreter organization? We need you!

*Deciding on upcoming workshops
*Updates on the Mentoring Program and Legislative efforts

If you have any items you would like to see added to the agenda, please email them to Wendy Schneider at wendyschneider@hotmail.com

National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Conference Highlights
We would like to thank Joan Pellerin for representing VTRID at this year's RID conference. Other VTRID members in attendance were Amy Williamson-Loga, Stephanie Jo Kent, David Krueger and Michelle Cornutt.

Here are several highlights of this year's conference. Be sure to keep your eye on the upcoming RID Views for a more detailed description of the conference.

If you are not a member of the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, but would like to be, you can download a membership from from RID's website at www.rid.org.

Conference award winners included Arkansas and Colorado RID for winning the Silver Scribe Award for outstanding newsletters and Ohio RID for outstanding web design. The Daniel Pokorny Award was given to Amy-Jean LeBlanc and Lois Van Broekhonen. The National Council on Interpreting Outstanding Service award was given to Carl Kirchner. The RID President's award was given to Gary Sanderson. The Mary Stotler award was given to Theresa Smith. The Judy Husted Award was presented to Cathy Cogen and Stella Ashley.

Upcoming conference announcements - The 2005 RID national conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas and off to Seattle for the 2007 RID national conference. The 2004 Region IV Conference will be held July 14 - 17 in Oklahoma City. The 2004 Region V Conference will be held April 29 - May 1 in Portland, Oregon. And it looks like the Region II 2004 Conference may be headed to Puerto Rico! No word, as of yet, on the Region I Conference.

The affiliate chapter handbook is now posted on line. You can find the handbook by linking to committees from the front page of the RID website.

The 2003 RID Silent Auction raised over $8,000.00; over 60 vendors displayed in the exhibit hall.

The members of the 2003 - 2005 RID Executive Board are: President, Angela Jones, CA; Vice President, Jimmy Beldon, SD; Secretary/Treasurer, Cheryl Moose, IL; Member at Large, Glendia Boon, SC; Region I Representative, Joanne Jackowski, PA; Region II Representative, Gary Johnson, Wash DC; Region III Representative, Bruce King, OH; Region IV Representative, Glenace Humphrey, MO; Region V Representative, Robert Balaam, CA.

The RID membership now totals 10,412 members. The draft form of the new code of ethics for the National Council on Interpreting (joint RID/NAD) test can be found at the following link. Feedback is being solicited. http://deafcan.org/CodeOfEthics

Conference Motions voting results were as follows:

Motions killed from the 2001 Conference included the allowance of proxy voting during a national conference by alternative methods including electronic voting.

Divide the national board position of Secretary/Treasurer into two positions - motion withdrawn.

Hold all organizational members accountable to the Code of Ethics - motion defeated.

Add electronic voting to the voting procedures for elections and other referenda - motion passed.

Require all test candidates to have a degree from an accredited institution according to the following schedule: a minimum of an Associates Degree is required for candidates by 2008, 2012 for Deaf candidates; a minimum of a Bachelor's degree is required for candidates by 2012, 2016 for Deaf; require the Certification Council to establish equivalent criteria established in lieu of the educational requirements such as one or more of the following - life experience; years of professional experience, years of education not totaling a formal degree - motion passed.

Establish a national committee for the purpose of grant writing and fundraising for the organization - motion referred to the executive board.

Approve the document entitled "Video-Based Interpretation and Transliteration" - motion referred back to the Technology committee.

Allow certified interpreters to exercise a "family focus" option in which a certification cycle of four years would be extended to eight years when an interpreter must shift focus to family members and away from career development - motion failed.

(Thanks for Greg Camp of Virginia RID for the use of his conference summary)

**Ethical Decision-Making for Interpreters**
This is a workshop for working interpreters, Deaf community members, and advanced interpreting students who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).

The workshop will help participants to rethink and explore the values and importance ethics offers to the field of interpreting. As well as to see the ethical decision-making process in a different light and be able to generate new strategies for applying an enhanced understanding of the RID Code of Ethics to our work.

Date: September 20, 2003
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (VTRID meeting will follow the workshop)
Place: Alice Peck Day Hospital: Dwinell Room, Lebanon, NH.
Cost: $60.00 For VTRID members/ $85.00 for non-members-includes lunch

Presenters: Bonnie Kraft & Kellie Stewart
Bonnie Kraft was born and raised in the Boston area, spending most of her time within the local Deaf Community. She was first certified in 1979, and has been teaching since 1981. She got a BA in Behavioral Science in 1988 and an MA in Intercultural Relations in 1999, both from Lesley College (now Lesley University) in Cambridge, MA. Bonnie also has a storytelling video titled Tomorrow Dad Will Still Be Deaf, published by Dawn Sign Press in CA. She currently lives north of Boston with her rescued Greyhound, Shayna, and spends her spare time coming up with new recipes for healthy dog treats.

Kellie L. Stewart has been a certified interpreter for 20 years. She is currently employed as the Associate Director and Coordinator of Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students at Harvard University. Kellie has been an interpreter for 21 years and an interpreter educator since 1987. She has taught countless hours of courses and professional development seminars in New England and around the country, primarily focusing on the teaching of ethics, legal interpreting and general interpreting topics. Kellie has also been part of the instructional team in two distance education programs, the 1-year on-line Legal and Court Interpreting Program and the 3-year Educational Interpreters' Certificate Program, under the DO IT Center at Front Range Community College in Denver. Kellie is a member of the Adjunct faculty at Northeastern University in Boston. She is currently serving in her 5th year as the CIT Membership Coordinator.

This workshop will be conducted in ASL if there are Deaf participants. No ASL to voice interpretation will be provided. ASL fluency is recommended.

For additional information or questions, please contact Stephanie Cramer at 802.496.9598 or stephaniecramer@madriver.com

Northeastern University is approved by the RID CMP to sponsor continuing education activities. This workshop is offered for CEUs or ACET credits in the content area of professional studies. For non-members of VTRID there is a $10 processing fee for CEUs or ACET credits.

Sponsored by the Northeastern University Interpreter Education Project, US Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration, Interpreter Training Program Grant #H160A000020.

COME TO THIS YEAR'S New England Regional Mentorship Conference
September 12-14, 2003
at the Renaissance Bedford Hotel,
Bedford, Massachusetts!
This year's program offers something for everyone.

The Program
Friday night's opening session will feature MJ Bienvenu and Risa Shaw presenting on Deaf and hearing interpreters in mentoring relationships. Saturday and Sunday will offer a variety of individual sessions and all-day tracks.

Both experienced and novice interpreters can benefit from Saturday morning and afternoon sessions on "Charting the Way: Navigating the Maze of Mentorship" with Wendy Harbour and Catharine Van Nostrand and "Mentoring Toward Interpreter Credentials" with Kellie Stewart.

If you're a certified interpreter -- Deaf or hearing, mentor or protégé -- you may enjoy Saturday's track on "Mentoring in Legal Settings" presented by MJ and Risa. It is an opportunity to look at what it takes to mentor or be mentored in this specialty area. Experienced mentors who would like to move toward teaching in the workshop venue would benefit from John Lewis' "Building a Better Workshop: Design and Presentation"

And if you're Deaf and a fluent user of ASL, "Creating Formal Partnerships Between Deaf Mentors and ASL-English Interpreters" is for you. Norma Tourangeau and Jeanne Dillon will present this all-day track in which you can learn and practice how to work with interpreters to enhance their ASL skills.

On Sunday, three concurrent sessions will be offered: "ASL Enhancement", with MJ; "Mentoring through Process Mediation", presented by Kate Eifler, Carol Fay, and Lianne Moccia, and "CDI Task Analysis: Implications for Teaching and Mentoring ", featuring a panel of experienced Deaf interpreters.

Educational Interpreters
Were you thinking of coming to this year's New England Regional Mentorship Conference, September 12-14?

A large number of educational interpreters attended last year and a good time was had by all!

And here's some great news! Like last year, the Vermont Department of Education is sponsoring five registrations for educational interpreters working in K-12 classrooms. To take advantage of this opportunity, you must be an interpreter working this fall in a K-12 classroom setting. Simply send a letter of interest to:

Diana Doucette, Project Coordinator
Northeastern University Interpreter Education Project
405 Meserve Hall
Boston, MA 02115
617.373.2463 Voice
617.373.4302 TTY
617.373.3065 Fax

The letter should indicate the name of the school and town where you will be employed as an interpreter in the fall of 2003. Registration waivers will be granted on a first come, first serve basis. However, priority will be given to first-time participants. Even if you are granted a registration waiver, you must still register for the Conference. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. Hoping to see you at the conference!

More Information and Registration Registration forms can be downloaded from www.asl.neu.edu/nuiep following the links for the New England Mentorship Conference. Please direct questions to (617) 373-2463 voice or (617) 373-4302 TTY or email d.doucette@neu.edu. Early registration deadline is August 1, 2003! Don't wait! Space will be limited.

For more information from the Interpreter Education Project and the New England Mentorship Conference, check out their online newsletter at: www.asl.neu.edu/nuiep/NED

Vermont Center - ASL Program
Fall ASL Training
Semantics of ASL with Dr. Marlon "Lon" Kuntze

Lon Kuntze is a descendant from 3 generations of Deaf families. He graduated from California School for the Deaf in Fremont and is a 1975 graduate of Gallaudet University. He recently received Doctorate of Philosophy in Language and Culture from Stanford University (August2003).

WHAT: The workshop will focus on Semantics of ASL And is appropriate for ASL teachers, teachers of the deaf, interpreters and advanced ASL students. It will be presented in ASL. There will be no voice interpretation.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th, 2003 10AM to 4PM each day

ON-site Registration - Friday October 24th, 9:30 AM

WHERE: Austine School for the Deaf, Brattleboro VT

COST: $150.00 includes lunch both days

Betty Colonomos will be back!
Foundations of Interpreting, Part 1
When: November 7-9, 2003
Where: Brattleboro, VT
Foundations of Interpreting, Part 2
When: April 2-4, 2004
Where: Brattleboro, VT
Look for more information to come regarding these 2 exciting opportunities. If you have any questions in the meantime, you can contact Terry Keegan at the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (802 254 3929(v/tty) or email terry@austine.pvt.k12.vt.us

Vermont RID Scholarship Guidelines & Application

Vermont Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (VTRID) Scholarship Guidelines

1. Who can apply?
Applicants must be members in good standing of VTRID.

2. What type of activities may be applied for?
Any activity, sponsored by VTRID or otherwise, that is in harmony with the goals of the VTRID and that would provide further professional development to RID members may be applied for. This would include, but is not limited to, workshops, classes, conferences, and presentations on topics relating to ASL, Deaf-culture/community, and interpreting.

3. How is application made?
The treasurer will maintain a supply of applications. Once the application is completed, it must be mailed along with a copy of an announcement or flier describing the event to the treasurer no less than 30 days before the registration deadline for the event. The applications will be reviewed by the scholarship committee and recommendations will be made to the Board. If approved, the Board will determine if funds are to be made available to the applicant directly or to the sponsors of the event.

4. How are awards made?
The committee operates on an annual budget which has been determined by the Board. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received scholarship funds during the past twelve months. Applicants who meet all the application criteria and whose request falls within budget guidelines will receive an award if funds are available. Such recommendations will be made to the Board, whose decision is final.

5. VTRID Board expects scholarship recipients to make every possible attempt to attend the funded event. In the event of illness or accident, the recipient must inform the scholarship committee chair of the VTRID president as soon as possible.

6. VTRID recognizes that some members may not be able to pay fully for professional development activities and wishes to encourage ongoing skill-building by offering partial funding of such activities. Members are also encouraged to seek other funding sources such as employers, agencies (including state agencies), etc.

Vermont Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
Application for Scholarship
View the application on our website