Educational Interpreting Issues letters

Dear Members,

The Educational Interpreting Issues Committee has developed two letters for member use which are now posted on the AVLIC website under the Members Only tab or by following this link: http://www.avlic.ca/member.php?eiic. One letter is for members to send to their local unions; the other is for local school districts. Members who work in the Kindergarten to Grade 12 setting may download these letters and use them to lobby for change or to educate unions and school district administration as needed. Each Affiliate Chapter also has a copy of these letters via e-copy.

Ministers of Education and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) across the country will soon be receiving a similar letter with a copy of the MAVLI DVD, Best Practices in Educational Settings Making an Informed Choice: Educational Interpreters vs Signing EAs. The DVD, as most are aware, is an educational tool developed by MAVLI that demonstrates the difference between an interpreter and a signer.

Several years ago the EIIC conducted a survey of Affiliate Chapters. An area of need identified at that time was educating both unions and school districts about the role and responsibility of an interpreter. We hope that these resources assist interpreters in the K-12 setting in these areas.

Sincerely,

Colleen Friel
AVLIC President
president@avlic.ca
www.avlic.ca

Did you know...

The current AVLIC Board has representation from coast to coast: 1 member from Nova Scotia, 1 from Quebec, 3 from Ontario, two from Alberta and two from BC. When considering nominations for our upcoming elections please think of your colleagues locally who would contribute nationally and represent our diverse membership.

This message brought to you by the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada

Capital Ideas: AVLIC 2010

The Ottawa Marriot Hotel was the site of the very first official AVLIC conference in 1980 where the name AVLIC for our organization was chosen. SLINC is very proud that they will be hosting the conference at the same hotel where history was made 30 years before.

The AVLIC 2010 Conference 'Small Steps Big Difference' runs July 6-10, 2010. Visit www.avlic2010.ca

Did you know...

The last time Sign Language Interpreters of the National Capital (SLINC) hosted the AVLIC conference was in 1996. SLINC is hosting AVLIC’s 18th Biennial Conference "Small Steps Big Difference” July 6-10, 2010 in Ottawa. Check out the website at www.avlic2010.ca <http://www.avlic2010.ca/>

Did you know...

It is the 30th anniversary this year of AVLIC's founding meeting.

In the fall of 1979 several interpreters met in Winnipeg to establish an organization whose purpose it was to represent the profession of interpreting at the national level, to promote networking among existing interpreter organizations and to nurture the development of the vibrant interpreting profession.

Did you know...

Some employers of interpreters across Canada are supporting their employees by sponsoring AVLIC’s Canadian Evaluation System, Phase 2 Narrative and Interactive workshops. If your employer does not currently offer these professional development opportunities, please direct them to http://www.avlic.ca/ and/or have them contact AVLIC for further details at ces@avlic.ca.

This message brought to you by the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada

From the AGM in Halifax

New Business Motions:

Motion HA09G-06:

I move that article 2.01 of the AVLIC bylaws be changed to read as follows: 2.01 Active voting membership shall be open to interpreters who currently provide visual language interpreting services and whose application has been approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will approve applications for Active membership from interpreters who are graduates of an interpreter education program or who meet the defined criteria. Active Voting Members shall have one (1) vote. Dual membership in both the Corporation and an Affiliate Chapter of the Corporation is mandatory for Active Voting Members living in provinces or territories with Affiliate Chapters. Eligible Active members who live in a province or territory in Canada where there is no Affiliate Chapter may become Active Voting Members under the terms of the In-Lieu-of-Affiliate Chapter Membership Policy.
Martin Koob (Sheila Johnston) CARRIED

Motion HA09G-07:

I move that article 2.02 of the AVLIC bylaws be changed to read as follows: 2.02 Student membership is open to individuals who are currently enrolled in an interpreter education program. Student Members must uphold the objectives of the Association. Dual membership is mandatory in both the Corporation and an Affiliate Chapter for Students living in provinces or territories with Affiliate Chapters. Eligible Student members who live in a province or territory in Canada where there is no Affiliate Chapter may become Student Members under the terms of the In-Lieu-of-Affiliate Chapter Membership Policy.
Martin Koob (Sheila Johnston) CARRIED

Motion HA09G-08:

I move to rescind the 2006 policy motion TO06G-36 which states: “Applications for Active Membership received from French/LSQ interpreters from Quebec which do not meet the Dual Membership requirement will be reviewed by the Board. The Board may waive the Dual Membership requirement in order to ensure that all interpreters from Quebec have an opportunity to join their national professional association. The Board in considering applications will ensure that there is no affiliate chapter that is able to appropriately represent the interpreter that she or he could join, in order to protect the integrity of the dual membership system.”
Martin Koob (Sheila Johnston) CARRIED

Motion HA09G-09:

I move that the additional fee charged to those members utilizing the In-Lieu-of-Affiliate Chapter membership policy equal 50% of the lowest national Affiliate Chapter membership rate.
Jody Morrison (Marnie Quinlan) CARRIED

Motion HA09G-10:

I move AVLIC develop a strategic plan for the association that will recommend a staffing model that will improve the delivery and operation of AVLIC’s programs and activities in order to ensure that AVLIC’s objectives are being carried out and that its mission statement is being upheld. This strategic plan should include the following elements listed in the rationale.
Jocelyn Mark Blanchet (Christie Reaume) CARRIED

Motion HA09G-11:

I move that AVLIC dedicates the resources both human and financial towards developing a national four-year strategic plan. The financial commitment to this project is not to exceed $25,000.
Jocelyn Mark Blanchet (Christie Reaume) CARRIED

Motion HA09G-12:

I move that AVLIC hire the consulting firm of Nathan Garber & Associates to assist AVLIC in creating a national strategic plan.
Jocelyn Mark Blanchet (Christie Reaume) CARRIED

Motion HA09G-13:

I move that as of September 1, 2010 the Written Test of Knowledge no longer be incorporated as a phase in the Canadian Evaluation System.
Leona Parr Hamel (Marna Arnell) DEFEATED 2 abstentions

Motion HA09G-14:

I move that an AVLIC Ad-hoc committee is established to investigate Canadian interpreters obtaining RID certification and its impact in Canada, and that the committee presents its findings to the membership at AVLIC 2010, in Ottawa. Adele Routliff (Laura Henry) DEFEATED Motion HA09G-16: I move to remove the phrase “Documentation of eligibility to work for an employer by passing the employer’s screening of interpreting skill” from the membership criteria.
Sheila Keats (Barb Mykle-Hotzon) CARRIED