Region IV Report Deb Martinez, Region IV Representative FROM THE BOARD YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/kJZrnDNUP3Y Deb Martinez, MA, CI and CT, NIC Advanced, SC:L
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ince our last update the Region IV Presidents have been meeting on a monthly basis. I am very proud and honored to serve with the AC Presidents who continue to show up and do the work of raising the standards within their prospective states, and also within the region. The Region IV Presidents work hard, are responsive, and actively engaged in making their state chapters a better place for the Deaf Community and the interpreters they lead. No easy task. Many discussions I am involved with locally, regionally and nationally pertain to member engagement and involvement. During our most recent presidents’ meetings, one president called the lack of participation in RID and the chapters “The Other Pandemic”, aptly so for many. When I was first entering the profession in the early 90s we joined the organization (state and national) and we contributed to our state chapter because “that is what you do”. You get involved, serve the Deaf community, and work to make “it”, our profession, a better place for those that come behind you. It was a means by which I met other interpreters and found my footing by listening to the experienced interpreters discuss dilemmas and issues facing the pro-
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VIEWS Volume 36 • Issue 3
fession or the Deaf community. It is nostalgic for me however the past is not the present and it is time for us to look forward instead of us looking back. It’s time for us to create more diversity in our field. It’s time we recognize that how we conduct business needs to change. By the time this article is published I will have joined with some of the chapters and will still be in the process of participating with other chapters who are completing their Town Halls, focused on RID’s motions for voting equity and restructuring. I look forward to participating in those events and continuing the conversations we as a Region and a Board regarding service and what the future holds for us.
Nebraska
NERID will host our Fall conference, slated for Oct 23 &24th, with Seth Gore. He will be presenting his Unlearning Words workshop and adding a second part at the conference. Bill Ross will also be presenting at the conference.
-Tina Work, President
