VIEWS November 2016

November 2016 • Vol. 32, Issue 1

Transformational Change and Respecting Our Roots

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RID BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Melvin Walker, M.Ed.,

CRC, CI and CT, NAD V

president@rid.org Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., a non-profit organization, is dedicated to the professional development of interpreters and transliterators and is an advocate for the interpreting profession. Founded in 1964, RID has played a leading role in establishing a national standard of quality for interpreters and transliterators. The association encourages the growth of the profession, educates the public about the vital role of interpreters and transliterators and works to ensure equal opportunity and access for all individuals.

MISSION

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. promotes excellence in the delivery of interpreting services among diverse users of signed and spoken languages through professional development, networking, advocacy, and standards.

VISION

By honoring its past and building a dynamic future, RID envisions a world where: • Linguistic rights are recognized as human rights; • The Deaf Community and the Deaf-Heart are vital and visible in every aspect of RID, the interpreting profession as a whole and among individual interpreters; • Interpreted interactions between and among individuals who use signed and spoken languages are as rich as direct communication; • The interpreting profession is formally recognized and is advanced by robust professional development, standards of conduct, and credentials.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

To actively foster an inclusive environment in which RID embraces diversity as an integral part of the association.

RID is committed to establishing and maintaining a diverse, accessible, civil and supportive environment that adheres to RID’s philosophy, mission and goals.

RID is committed to providing growth opportunities that allow members to reach their full potential and maximize member value. RID pledges to seek partners who share our philosophy and commitment to upholding high standards of diversity within the association.

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. 333 Commerce Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 (571) 257-3957 VP • (703) 838-0030 V (703) 838-0454 Fax • www.rid.org 2

Vice President Erica West Oyedele, M.A., NIC

vicepresident@rid.org

Secretary Joshua Pennise, M.A.,

CI and CT, NIC Adv

secretary@rid.org

Treasurer Billieanne McLellan, CI and CT, NIC, Ed:K-12

treasurer@rid.org

Member at Large LaVona Andrew, M.A.,

CI and CT, NIC Master, Ed:K-12

memberatlarge@rid.org

Deaf Member at Large Ritchie Bryant, CDI

dmal@rid.org

Region I Representative Hartmut Teuber, RSC

region1rep@rid.org

Region II Representative Brenda Sellers, NIC, CI and CT

region2rep@rid.org

Region III Representative Sandra Maloney, M.A., CI and CT, SC:L

region3rep@rid.org

Region IV Representative Sonja Smith, NIC

region4rep@rid.org

Region V Representative Michele “Mish” Ktejik, NIC, SC:L

region5rep@rid.org

RID HEADQUARTERS STAFF

Interim Executive Director Anna Witter-Merithew, M.Ed., CSC, SC:L,

OIC:C, SC:PA, CI and CT

awm@rid.org Senior Director of Finance Elijah Sow

and Operations esow@rid.org

Director of Standards Julie Anne Schafer, J.D.

& Practice jschafer@rid.org

Ethical Practices System Tressela Bateson, M.A.

Coordinator tbateson@rid.org

Policy and Compliance Neal Tucker

Coordinator ntucker@rid.org

Finance Manager Jennifer Apple

japple@rid.org

Operations Specialist Charlotte Kinney

ckinney@rid.org

Accounting Specialist Tong Song, M.P.A.

tsong@rid.org

Accounting Specialist Joshua Sechman

jsechman@rid.org Senior Director of Programs Geneine Ratcliff, NIC, CT

and Services gratcliff@rid.org Director of Member Services Ryan Butts rbutts@rid.org Member Services Specialist Khianti Thomas kthomas@rid.org

Professional Development Manager Professional Development Specialist Communications Manager Communications Specialist

Carol Turner cturner@rid.org Ashley Holladay aholladay@rid.org Bill Millios, M.S bmillios@rid.org Trey Gordon tgordon@rid.org

VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

VIEWS Guidelines VIEWS (ISSN 0277-7088) is published quarterly by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the opinion of RID. © 2016 the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. All rights reserved.

Materials may not be reproduced or reprinted in whole or in part without written permission. Contact views@rid.org for permission inquiries and requests.

VIEWS subscription is a membership benefit and is covered in the cost of RID membership dues.

Address Change Policy: In order to receive uninterrupted delivery notifications, members must notify RID of any email address change four weeks in advance of the effective date of the new address. Address changes can be made in your RID online member profile, mailed to the national office, faxed to (703) 838-0454 or e-mailed to membasst@rid. org. Please include telephone number, fax number and e-mail address changes.

SUBMITTING TO VIEWS Articles All submissions to VIEWS should be sent to the national office via the online submission process at www.rid.org. Any submission that does not meet the stated guidelines or is deemed inappropriate will not be published. The author(s), not RID, is responsible for the content of submissions published in VIEWS. VIEWS prints articles on matters of interest and concern to the membership. Submissions that are essentially interpersonal exchanges, editorials or statements of opinion are not appropriate as articles and may remain unpublished, run as a letter to the editor or as a position paper. Articles should be 1,800 words or fewer.

Unsigned articles will not be published. Please contact the editor of VIEWS if you require more space. Unsigned articles will not be published. RID reserves the right to limit the quantity and frequency of articles published in VIEWS written by a single author(s). Receipt by RID of a submission does not guarantee its publication. RID reserves the right to edit, excerpt or refuse to publish any submission.

Articles which have citations should follow APA format.

Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or fewer. Letters should be sent to views@rid.org or mailed to the national office. Unsigned letters will not be published, although a name can be withheld upon approval by the RID office.

Advertisements All advertising copy is subject to the publisher’s approval. RID reserves the right to reject advertisements for any reason at any time. RID is not liable if an advertisement is omitted for any reason.

Publication of an advertisement does not constitute RID’s endorsement or approval of the advertiser, nor does RID guarantee the accuraacy of information given in an advertisement. Because RID is committed to non-discriminatory personnel practices, advertisers in RID publications must affirm that they are equal-opportunity employers.

Advertising specifications can be found at www.rid.org, or by contacting the editor.

All editorial, advertising, submission and permission inquiries should be directed to (703) 838-0030, (703) 838-0454 fax, or views@rid.org.

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issue in this

CONTENTS

departments, news, and features From the Editor President's Report From the Interim Executive Director Holiday Closure Notice Meet the Board of Editors LEAD Together Conference 2017 Registration Slots Update - Conference 2017 FAQs - Conference 2017 Call for Small Group Facilitators Criminal Conviction Policy Update Governance Committee Report Newly Certified EPS Decisions

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VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

FROM THE EDITOR Towards a Bilingual, Bi-modal ASL/English Publication

By Bill Millios Communications Manager VIEWS Editor Staff here at HQ have been working towards making our publications - specifically the VIEWS - fully bilingual, with both American Sign Language (ASL) and English, and we have been finding the logistics of this process challenging.

We’d like to share some of the considerations in hopes that with the great wealth of knowledge and skills represented by our membership we can find effective means for ensuring that VIEWS and other publications are inclusive to all our stakeholders.

A bit before RIDNOLA15, RID Publications announced that VIEWS would be going fully digital, and we were excited that this would enable articles to be published in ASL, written English, and/or written Spanish. During the business meeting of the membership at the RIDNOLA15 conference, the following motion was passed calling for every article to be published in both ASL and English: C2015.09

Video: https://youtu.be/KQoKrTbK7Es

Primary submitter(s) name(s): Deaf Caucus Move that​the RID Views and Journal of Int erpreting (JOI) be published in bilingual format ­ASL and English, starting with the first digital copy of RID Views and the next issue of JOI. Rationale: With the advent of RID Views going digital, it is now timely that the full issues of RID Views and JOI are published in both ASL and English. Precedents have been made by Street Leverage and Gallaudet University’s Digital Journal of Deaf Studies.

Authors of articles and those making contributions to either RID Views or JOI will be required to submit their work in both versions ­ASL and English. Both versions will be edited in which the authors will be responsible for their editing. Authors may use ghost ASL signers, if preferred. Links to ASL versions must be provided by the authors.

Estimated Fiscal Impact Statement: The fiscal impact should be that the costs will be negligible for RID as the authors are responsible for both versions.

Member Comments: No discussion ensued and Betty Colonomos called the question, seconded by Wink Smith. A vote was taken, which required a 2/3 majority to pass, and, with 188 votes in support, 56 opposed, and 3 abstentions, debate was closed​.

A vote was taken, and the motion C2015.09 carries​.

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FROM HEADQUARTERS The intent of this motion is certainly admirable - to make bilingual, fully-accessible publications available to our members. Given that we are a field that specializes in ASL and English, our publication should reflect this identity. Providing articles and research findings in an ASL format allows for the greater dissemination of information to the wider Deaf community in a way that is now technologically available.

We knew there would be growing pains and difficulties. And we knew there were things that we didn’t know. Now that we have begun the implementation process we have discovered some of the challenges we could not perhaps have foreseen. We have not found a model of a regular (monthly or quarterly) bilingual and bimodal publication in both ASL and English, and so we ask for your input as we pioneer this initiative.

For now we are focusing on VIEWS. As we learn through this process, we will apply what we learn towards the bilingual publication of JOI. Two of the biggest issues that we face with converting VIEWS to a fully bilingual publication relate to recruiting authors who can produce a bilingual submission, and editing & production of ASL videos.

We have had mixed success in past recruitment of authors for VIEWS, and there seem to be multiple reasons why potential authors decline. Interest varies related to themes and topics, time available for writing seems to be elusive, and often potential authors express general nervousness about writing for a national publication.

The requirement for authors to create both ASL and English articles seems to have added an additional challenge for recruitment. As the new Board of Editors have reached out to potential authors whose first language is ASL, there have been concerns about having to create an English translation before submitting their article. Similarly, native English speaking authors who feel hesitant to publish in their first language have expressed additional reluctance to do so in their second language. As suggested during the business meeting, authors in both languages may ask a friend or colleague for support, though the additional time and logistics seem to be presenting a barrier to author recruitment as we move forward. Additionally, sometimes articles are submitted by non-signing authors on topics that are of interest to the interpreting community, and we wonder if the onus should be on them to hire an interpreter to translate their article, as they cannot do it themselves, or if RID should fund that -- the motion dictates there would be negligible financial impact by its passage.

Another issue is the editing and production of the video. Reviewers and editors of the publication will often recommend edits of an English-written article for clarity and/or length. This is not so easy when the article is submitted in ASL. Sometimes an article can have multiple rounds of editing before it is published. Video requires more time, and more setup, and multiple edits spread over multiple occasions, which would require a static setup for the signer, so that the viewer is not distracted by changes in the clothing, background, or lighting. While video cameras are as close as the nearest smartphone, the quality of the video that comes out of these devices is not always up to par with the expectations of a professional publication. Lighting and framing of the subject are important. Transitions and titling must be edited in. The motion of the membership implied that the author of the article would submit a fully-produced result. Text submission edits and video editing are different types of work, and present different types of challenges to the authors.

The newly appointed Board of Editors of VIEWS is considering all of these things, and is attempting to develop guidelines. In the meantime, we hope you will be patient with us, and supportive as we work towards producing a fully bilingual, bimodal publication.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Exploring the Meaning of a Member-Driven Organization

by Melvin Walker, M.Ed., CRC, CI and CT, NAD V RID President

Abstract: https://youtu.be/imcCb8g5vqE Abstract: What being a member-driven organization means varies among all of us—particularly in times of great turmoil and the need for change. This article discusses what being memberdriven means to me as President. It also recognizes that in spite of the best efforts and intentions of RID’s leadership, we must acknowledge that there are members who are disenfranchised and frustrated. There are a variety of valid reasons why—all indicate the need for more of us to participate in face-to-face dialogue about key issues and how to move forward in a common direction. The purpose of the 2017 LEAD Together Conference is to create a space for such dialogue to occur. Although the conference is limited in space and numbers for who can participate, it offers an excellent opportunity to increase the number of representative members who can work together to explore the future of RID and the field-at-large. And, by equipping those who participate with information and tools to replicate the conversations in their home community, we can begin the task of moving forward with a shared commitment to a shared vision and a shared plan of action.

Full Article: We have been referring to RID as a member-driven organization for several decades now. I want to use the President’s Column over the next several issues of the VIEWS to explore what it actually means to be a member-driven organization and how we can do a better job of exemplifying memberdriven qualities in the coming months leading up to and beyond the 2017 LEAD Together Conference.

Article: https://youtu.be/NoM3HCosv_Q

What do we mean when we say we are member-driven? I suspect it is a phrase that means different things to each of us. From my perspective as President of RID, this phrase means that it is we, the members, who drive the direction and progress of the association. We do this in a variety of ways. Certainly, at its core, we drive the association by exemplifying the values associated with our mission—advocating for best practices in interpreting, striving to be current through ongoing professional development, committing to the provision of high quality interpreting services, pursing and meeting the established and recognized certification standards, and demonstrating our respect for the linguiswww.rid.org

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FROM THE PRESIDENT tic rights of deaf people by creating shared and inclusive spaces for interacting.

We also drive the organization through our engagement in the political process. This includes nominating qualified individuals to serve on local, state and national boards. Ideally, to have the most qualified leadership in place, we aspire to contested elections where members have a choice in who represents them. The political process also involves voting on referenda and motions that come before us. In order to foster the opportunity for greater member participation, online discussion and voting will be included in the 2017 biennial business meeting.

As well, we drive the association through our volunteer service and contributions. Generally, we stand united in our belief that member engagement is the lifeblood of our association. We depend heavily on the insights and observations of active, engaged, passionate members to call to our attention issues we are facing, and to foster respectful dialogue. We equally rely on the contributions of volunteer leadership to take those insights and observations and translate them into actions that guide and direct the association. As illustration, we have well over 450 members who serve as volunteer leaders at the local, state and national level as board members, committee members, member section leaders, and council members. We also have members serving as test raters, EPS mediators and adjudicators, CMP sponsors, or providing other services in support of the profession and/or association. We owe a deep level of gratitude to each and every one of these individuals! Without them, we simply would be unable to move the work of the association forward.

Yet, even with the important and outstanding contributions of so many, we must recognize that some members remain disenfranchised and frustrated by what they perceive is happening—or not happening—within RID. The reasons for disenfranchisement and frustration are varied. In some instances, the concerns expressed relate to the perception that we have not sufficiently valued the contributions of the many volunteers that have served the organization by either failing to do what they recommended or by failing to use their expertise to the fullest. For others, the concerns expressed relate to our failure to consistently or effectively engage the unrepresented voices of our membership. For others, it is about decisions made that are perceived as counter to what the members want or believe to be necessary. Some perceive that the association’s leadership has not been sufficiently transparent regarding what is happening, why it is happening and what should/could be done about it. In other instances, the concerns expressed relate to the decision-making process itself and how, when and if the average member is sufficiently informed, engaged, and included in the process. For others, it relates to perceptions of unfairness in the testing and certification of interpreting competence. All of these perceptions—among others—are important to our understanding of who we are as a community of individuals who forge a collective identity as members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. And, all are important to our ability to strengthen our value and relevance as an association.

One of the greatest challenges in serving as the association’s President is how to balance the range of perceptions we all hold against the realities in which RID currently exists. RID has been engaged in a period of tremendous upheaval and transition. Although the ensuing change has been necessary, we recognize it has been difficult. We, the Board, have been focused on the need to identify and implement a plan of recovery—one that will enable RID to survive long-term and become more relevant. To the best of our ability and within the restraints of our fiduciary duty, the leadership has sought to be as informative and transparent as possible. We recognize and respect that in the eyes of some members, we have fallen short in meeting your expectations. We also recognize and respect that the volume and format of information that has been forthcoming has been less than ideal and at times overwhelming. In the fast-paced and complex world in which we live, we are constantly confronted with a lot of information. With all the competing information we receive every day, most of us pay attention to what we experience as intense, or what we experience repeatedly, or what is most important to us. We also tend to focus 8

VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

FROM THE PRESIDENT on the most efficient sources of information…such as social media…even when those sources are not always accurate or informed. Finding the time to watch lengthy vlogs or read lengthy reports published by RID is not easy—even when doing so helps us to be well-informed about organizational issues.

The board also recognizes that our current system of governance may no longer be effective in serving the needs of our membership and the association as a whole. The way we are structured and the ways in which our bylaws currently define our political structure may no longer be relevant given our size and aims. A governance committee has been appointed and will be reporting to the membership in the coming months. We need time and opportunity to explore and consider what alternatives to our current governance structure might exist and might serve us better.

What has become increasingly clear over the months of attempting to balance our perceptions with our reality is that we need to have more dialogue—conversations that involve more of us, face-to-face, talking about where we are, where we need and want to be, and how we can go about getting there. This is part of our tradition as a member-driven organization. And, this is why, on the heels of recovery from major conference and other organizational losses, the Board determined to host the 2017 LEAD Together Conference in Salt Lake City, July 20-24, 2017. It was not an option to continue with a large/open conference format, as had been our practice, as the growing decrease in attendance and growing increase in losses in the past decade demonstrated our practice was no longer relevant or viable. It was also not an option to simply cancel a national gathering for the biennial year. The need for dialogue is too great. So, instead, we have committed to a conference structure that allows for a strong representation of us to come together to focus on our future, and to equip those who attend with information and resources to go back to their communities to engage others in continuing the conversation. We, the Board, look forward to this time of dialogue, planning, and renewal with those of you who will attend. Together, we can once again revitalize the best of what comes from a member-driven approach – our shared commitment to a shared vision and a shared plan of action. Thank you.

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FROM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Reflections from 333 Commerce Street

Abstract: https://youtu.be/a-xTgY3vR9Q

Anna Witter-Merithew, M.Ed. CSC, SC:L, OIC:C, SC:PA, CI and CT Interim Executive Director Abstract: RID is beginning to emerge from a period of crisis management, where a series of legal, fiscal and administrative issues demanded immediate attention in order to keep RID solvent and sustainable. Many activities are occurring—NIC performance testing has resumed, NIC test development and revision will soon be underway, the CDI JTA will be developed soon, the annual report and audit are in progress. It is a busy time. The RID HQ staff have contributed exemplary expertise and dedication to facilitate this period of crisis transition and their contributions are greatly appreciated.

This period of transition from crisis to stability marks an important benchmark in RID’s life cycle as a nonprofit. Literature on organizational life cycles indicates that there are 5 stages-- Stage 1: Imagine and Inspire; Stage 2: Found and Frame; Stage 3: Ground and Grow; Stage 4: Produce and Sustain, and Stage 5: Review and Renew. If an organization is not actively engaged in one of these stages, it is likely in the process of decline and dissolution—characterized by ineffectiveness, in-fighting, and crisis. This is where RID was headed prior to the Board of Directors and HQ making the necessary and transformational shift by engaging in a Stage 5: Review and Renew process. This stage is characterized by change management, grounded in a thorough analysis of the issues and realities faced by the association, followed by redesigning of operational and governance structures to meet the current needs of the association. Examples of what RID has done as part of its change management process are offered as part of the full article.

And, the gathering of member representatives during the 2017 RID LEAD Together Conference in Salt Lake City, July 20-24, will allow for a broader base of member engagement in transforming and renewing RID into the organization we want and need it to be.

Full Article: It is a busy time at 333 Commerce Street—the NIC performance testing has resumed with a new vendor, Comira, through the guidance of CASLI leadership. CASLI is gaining momentum resulting from the efforts of its staff, volunteer leadership and committee members. The NIC JTA will soon be published and the development of the CDI JTA will begin in the near future. A bridge plan for CDI should soon be announced.

The annual audit is in progress and due to be completed in the next few weeks. The FY2016 Annual Report is being compiled for a January delivery to the membership. Several groups of foreign visitors have been hosted in recent weeks. Several new staff have been on-boarded. Plans for the 2017 biennial conference, that will be held in just a bit over eight months, are underway. And, the list goes on.

Being busy is not a new phenomenon at RID HQ—it is a long-established reality. Like many non-profit organizations with a modest revenue base, the workload often surpasses the staff capacity. However, over the past year and a half, as we have faced and addressed a significant fiscal and organizational crisis, the level of commitment, productivity and collaboration among the RID staff has been stellar. The investment each staff member has made to help RID regain stability and achieve long-term sustainability has been evident in each step along the way! In recent months, I notice an air of peace and pride settling in—I believe it comes from the knowledge that staff have each made a significant difference in helping RID turn a very difficult corner. Even though fiscal restraints led to a lack of COLA increases this year, staff commitment to the membership, to one another, and to the work of RID flourishes. And, although we are not yet out of the woods, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The opportunity to work with this fine team of professionals is an honor.

All of us at HQ recognize and appreciate that the events of the last few years have not only been difficult and stressful for us, but for each of you as well. The various changes have created great angst, confusion 10

VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

FROM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and frustration for the membership. As we interact with you across programs and staff, our understanding of your challenges increases. This inspires us to continue to make the changes necessary for RID to improve your membership experience. We all share with you in the desire for RID to fulfill its potential and intention as part of the Deaf and interpreter communities.

We are also growing in our understanding that every organization follows a life-cycle—a series of stages that mark its progress or decline (Simon, 2004). Simon (2004) identifies 5 stages of the life-cycle of nonprofits—Stage 1: Imagine and Inspire; Stage 2: Found and Frame; Stage 3: Ground and Grow; Stage 4: Produce and Sustain, and Stage 5: Review and Renew. She posits that if an organization is not actively engaged in one of these stages, it is in the process of decline and dissolution. The length of each stages varies, depending on the size and momentum of an organization.

Up until recent years, RID could be considered to be in the stage of Producing and Sustaining a range of programs and services following a long-established system of governance and operations. An important aspect of this stage is that the organization actively engage in ongoing self-assessment processes to ensure relevance and sustainability. This means engaging in thorough and comprehensive program evaluations; making time to conduct a comprehensive and long-term assessment of finances and the cost-riskbenefit outcome; assessing the effectiveness of the governance structure to make sure it is still appropriate to the size and purpose of the organization; and, re-examining partnerships and allies. When these types of assessments are not conducted regularly, they can mark the beginning of decline and dissolution—characterized by ineffectiveness, in-fighting and crisis. This had already started happening within RID. The only way to avoid further decline and dissolution is to engage in the stage of Review and Renew— which is the stage that the RID has been engaged in for several years. This stage is characterized by change management, grounded in a thorough analysis of the issues and realities faced by the association, followed by redesigning of operational and governance structures to meet the current needs of the association. The Board’s work with TSNE was the beginning of the shift towards the change management process. The 2014 and 2015 organizational assessments TSNE conducted, as well as the series of Risk Assessments HQ conducted between April – November 2015, were a part of the analysis process. The establishment of CASLI is one example of the redesigning aspect of this stage; as is the change in approach to conferencing.

As we begin to surface from the crisis management process we have been in for some months to implementation of change management, there is the need for many more conversations among volunteer leaders to ensure consistency in understanding and intention. To this end, the Board has been conducting quarterly Volunteer Leadership Webinars to provide context and discussion of changes. As well, monthly meetings with Member Sections and regular meetings between AC Presidents and Regional Reps continue to occur. There is also the need for more indepth conversations between the volunteer leadership and the general membership. This is the focus of the RID 2017 LEAD Together Conference scheduled July 20-24, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Over the coming months there will be opportunities for local and national discussions to occur—look for further information in the coming weeks.

The HQ team looks forward to supporting these events and contributing to the creation of a dynamic, diverse and respectful learning environment at the RID 2017 LEAD Together Conference where perspectives can be shared and a plan of action for RID’s future can begin to be defined. Here is to our continued movement forward in hope, good faith, and positive intention!

Reference: Simon, Judith Sharken (2004). Five Life Stages of Nonprofit Organizations: Where You Are, Where You’re Going, and What to Expect When You Get There. St. Paul, MN: Publishing Center of Amherst Wilder Foundation.

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HQ ANNOUNCEMENT

RID Holiday Season Office Closing The RID Headquarters will be closed from Monday, December 28, 2016 – Monday, January 2, 2017 to enable the entire staff to spend time with their families and friends during the holiday season. There will be no staff available to respond to calls or answer emails during this period of time. Staff will return from this holiday break on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017 and be available to assist members at that time.

Video: https://youtu.be/eWNdjbIBxwI

Certification Cycles Ending: It is important to note that the certification renewal cycle will reach expiration for over 2,000 Certified members on December 31, 2016. If you are unsure if you are one of these members, you can verify your renewal cycle expiration date by logging into your RID member account. You can also view your account to determine your standing in terms of meeting the certification renewal requirements. If you have any questions about your cycle please make sure to contact the Professional Development Department by December 20, 2016. Please remember to allow up to 3 business days for a response. Also, no one will be in the office after Friday, December 23rd, 2016 until our return on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017.

Thank you, and from all of us at RID Headquarters - Happy Holidays!

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VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

MEET THE BOARD OF EDITORS

New Board of Editors Appointed for VIEWS

By Bill Millios Communications Manager RID In the Letter from the Editor in this issue of VIEWS, we talked about the challenges that we are facing as a publication, trying to move to a bilingual/bimodal ASL/English publication.

Luckily, we’ve acquired some highly qualified guidance. The following individuals have agreed to give generously of their time and expertise, towards making VIEWS a publication that we can be proud of. Each one brings a different perspective, a different skill set - and each one should be greatly appreciated.

Please help me welcome the new RID VIEWS Board of Editors: Erica Alley, Ph.D., NIC-Advanced, is Assistant Professor of Interpreting and Program Director for the new online Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies and Communication Equity (MAISCE) at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She holds a Ph.D. from Gallaudet University in ASL-English Interpreting Research and Pedagogy. She has extensive experience as an interpreter, including a full-time position at Gallaudet Interpreting Services (2008-2014) and part-time (freelance) work in conference, community, and video relay service settings. Dr. Alley has 5 years of experience as a faculty member in the university setting, teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses. She has an interest in interpretation in the medical setting, and has pursued education to team teach healthcare interpreting as part of a Deaf-Hearing instructional team. Dr. Alley’s research interests include interpreting in VRS, trilingual interpretation (Spanish-American Sign Language-English), and video remote interpreting. She is currently pursuing research on footing shifts in VRS as well as a study of the linguistic features of gender in interpreted job interviews. Dr. Alley has presented her research at a variety of national and international conferences including the National Association of the Deaf (2016) in Phoenix, AZ, the National Symposium on Healthcare Interpreting (2015) in St. Paul, MN, the International Symposium on Signed Language Interpretation and Translation Research (2014) in Washington, DC, and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (2013) in Indianapolis, IN. Her first international conference was Critical Link 7 (2013) in Toronto, Canada where she presented the results of a pilot study investigating interpreters’ understanding of the rules that govern their work in the VRS setting. Dr. Alley’s research has been published in peer-reviewed journals for practitioners, educators and researchers. Select publications include the Interpreters’ Newsletter, International Journal of Interpreter Education, and an edited volume of Selected Papers from the International Symposium on Signed Language Interpretation and Translation Research (Gallaudet University Press, 2015).

Michael B Ballard, MA is a doctorate student at Drake University (Des Moines, IA) studying Philosophy in Education. Michael also is currently an instructor of American Sign Language at Iowa State University (Ames). When he does not have his nose in books, poring over research articles, writing papers, or teaching, Michael loves to spend time with his wife and four children, playing and watching sports, and enjoying a nice bonfire. www.rid.org

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MEET THE BOARD OF EDITORS Christina Healy, PhD, CI and CT, Ed:K-12 Christina Healy is a community interpreter in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Along with her professional work, she serves the local communities as an ORID board member and OAD conference co-chair, as well as mentoring recent graduates and facilitating workshops that explore the cognitive processes of interpreting. She earned her B.S. in ASL/English Interpreting from Western Oregon University and Ph.D. in Linguistics from Gallaudet, and she is now pursuing specialty certification for interpreting in mental health settings (QMHI).

Please, may I write in first person? Hi there, and welcome back to VIEWS. Thank you for stopping by.

I am honored to serve on this board and will seek, with your input, to make VIEWS a publication that serves RID stakeholders significantly and consistently. I am always grateful to engage with the research world, sharing my studies nationally and internationally through publications and conference presentations. I also have seen harmful repercussions when we let a disconnect arise between research and practice. Each must inform the other if either are to progress, and individuals’ experiences and perceptions are equally valuable to our profession as formal research. I never cease to be amazed at the rich insights that my coworkers and consumers bring when we pause and reflect on the complexities of human interactions and interpretations of those dynamics. If you are reading this, chances are you have something worth sharing — take a few days to ruminate, and when you discover it I look forward to seeing your submission! Let’s work together to learn and grow as individual practitioners and as a profession. VIEWS has had a long evolution over the past forty years, and I look forward to what we all will make it in this new generation.

Su Kyong Isakson, MA, NIC, Ed:K-12, is a freelance interpreter, IMI practitioner, mentor and educator hailing from Alaska. She recently completed her Master’s degree in Teaching Interpreting Studies through Western Oregon University; her Master’s thesis focused on the adaptation and development of a data collection tool to be used by instructors for assessment, placement, and differentiation of heritage signers. Her areas of interest include curriculum and pedagogy of heritage language learners as well as language attitude and it’s impact on interpreting. Ms. Isakson is currently a faculty instructor at the Community College of Baltimore County’s interpreter preparation program in Catonsville, MD.

Lianne Moccia, M.Ed., CI/CT, TC - Originally from Boston, Lianne took her first “sign language” class at the Learning Center in Framingham, MA. After time in NC and AZ Lianne returned to northern NH with a Masters degree and RID certification and has been working as a private practice interpreter for over 30 years. She lives with her husband on 34 acres of land, growing food and flowers.

Early in her career Lianne was fortunate to meet colleagues in rural Vermont who brought her to The Bicultural Center in Maryland where she met MJ Bienvenu and Betty Colonomos. Their work turned her work on its head and nothing has been the same since!

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MEET THE BOARD OF EDITORS Lianne’s community practice extends throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.

Active in VTRID and NHRID, she started the Vermont Mentorship Project and is the immediate past president of NHRID. She has taught workshops throughout New England and beyond and since its inception in 2002 has coordinated the Etna Project NH. This project brings together committed colleagues from all over the country to look at interpreting work and learn to unpack decisions.

The extended and intensive commitment encourages trusting relationships that permit, invite, and encourage intellectual intimacy and growth.

Jill Radford, M.A. – Jill is a self-directed, enthusiastic educator with a passionate commitment to education. She is skilled in the design of challenging, enriching, and innovative activities that address the diverse interests and needs of students. She possesses outstanding communication skills; she can present information in a variety of ways, emphasizing relevance of class material to the world beyond the classroom. She is an active team member who effectively collaborates in her workplace with all levels of staff members and establishes quality relationships with students.

She is a former administrator and Principal at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, a former ASL instructor at Salt Lake Community College, and was a Classroom teacher, then Program Specialist, and then Educational Director at the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf in Utah.

She has five beautiful kids; she is currently with them, and her husband, on a cruise in the Caribbean.

Jonathan Webb CI and CT, NIC Advanced, author of KG: The South, is currently a lecturer in the Department of World Languages & Cultures at Iowa State University, where he was invited to develop a program in American Sign Language & Deaf Culture, as well as foster greater inclusion for Deaf students across campus. He has worked as an ASL/English interpreter primarily in the states of Missouri, Utah, Hawai’i, Iowa, California and Nevada.

Jonathan’s language was born out of primarily the Black Deaf Community of St. Louis, MO and interpreter mentors. Over the years he has specialized in visual-gestural oriented interpretation as well as mental health interpreting, while having gained copious experience and training in medical, legal, and higher ed settings. Beyond teaching ASL and ASL/English interpreting, Jonathan also facilitates experiential trainings on issues significant to social justice, from systems of oppression to navigating difficult/necessary dialogues, through a balanced academic and grassroots lens of liberation and love.

He currently lives in Anaheim, California where he enjoys the ocean and sunshine with his family.

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LEAD TOGETHER CONFERENCE UPDATE

LEAD Together Conference 2017 Registration Slots Update

by Geneine Ratcliff, NIC Sr. Director of Programs and Services Greetings! As many members prepare for the holiday season, Video: https://youtu.be/72NG2Xd8nCE we know the 2017 LEAD Together conference seems far off but it is not. In preparation, we wanted to provide the membership an advanced preview of the registration details.

The registration process for the 2017 LEAD Together conference is different than past RID national conferences. Because there are a total of 650 registration slots for the LEAD Together conference, RID will use a combination of a general registration lottery and governance structure process to fill the registration slots. The general registration lottery process allows all interested members, who believe they fit the target audience description, to have an equal chance to be selected for a registration slot.

There are two tracks for the 2017 LEAD Together conference--a leadership track and a skills development track. Members can seek a registration slot from one of two tracks. However, members cannot submit for both registration processes.

A vital role during the conference will be the small group table facilitators. 50 registration slots are reserved for individuals who will function in this role. A call for facilitators can be found elsewhere in this publication.

The Leadership Development track will consist of 400 slots and the Skills Development Track will consist of 200 slots. The breakdown is in the chart at the top of the following page.

Leadership Track- Governance Structure The 400 Leadership slots will be equally divided between a governance structure registration process (200) and general membership lottery (200). For the governance structure registration process, 200 slots will be distributed between the Regions (5), Affiliate Chapters (136), Member Sections (30), Committees (12), and Councils (6). Each of these volunteer leadership groups has autonomy in determining how they will assign the conference participant slots. RID will provide some guidelines--such as encouraging the assignment of some of the slots to underrepresented and/or marginalized groups within RID. The goal is to encourage thoughtful and deliberate discussions within their member groups to determine who will be the best representatives to attend the conference. Details about the distribution of these slots were shared with the volunteer leaders during the Volunteer Leadership Webinar on November 22, 2016.

The governance structure portal will open for registration February 1-February 28, 2017. Members who were not selected through the Region, Affiliate Chapters, Member Sections, Committees, or Councils, can then register through the general membership lottery.

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LEAD TOGETHER CONFERENCE UPDATE

The second way to attend the conference is through the general membership lottery.

The general membership lottery will open to ALL members March 1-31, 2017. After the lottery closes, all names will be placed into a system which will automatically randomize the order of the names and assign a number. The number represents the member’s place in the registration queue. The first 200 members from the list will be notified via email to register and pay for the conference ($425.00) no later than April 10th. Members will have until April 28th to complete this process. If members do not register and pay during this timeframe, they will lose their slot. We will move to the second block of members on the list. The second block of members will have until May 19th to register and pay for the conference. As in the first round, if the second round of lottery members does not complete the registration process during the timeframe, they will lose their slot.

The process will be repeated until all registration slots are filled.

Skills Development Track The Skills Development track has 200 registration slots. All of the slots will be filled using the general membership lottery process as described for the Leadership track.

We are excited about the 2017 LEAD Together conference and look forward to seeing you there!!

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2017 LEAD Together Conference

CONFERENCE FAQS

FAQs Q. Why is registration being limited for this conference?

A. The short answer is that after careful consideration, the RID Board determined that offering a modest, yet highly collaborative, national conference in 2017 is in the best interest of the organization at this time.

For the LEAD Together Conference, RID is taking a new approach to registration that aims to contain costs for members and maximize opportunities for attendee engagement while minimizing the risk of financial loss to the organization. As illustrated in the chart below, RID has experienced a decrease in % of members participating in national conferences over time. When RID was a smaller organization, a higher percentage of members were involved in conferences and decision-making.

Conference Attendance 1991-2015 in Relationship to Membership Size

Regardless of the number of members attending conference, the number of members participat18

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CONFERENCE FAQS ing in business meetings is small. At times, participation has been so low that the Board has had to wait well beyond the start of the meeting in order to have enough voting members present to conduct the business of the organization. In fact, the 2009 conference was the last conference during which the Board did not struggle to achieve and maintain quorum (200 voting members) for the business meeting.

2015 Conference ● 1209 members at conference ● 368 voting members at business meeting part I ● Initially no quorum. Later, 228 voting members at business meeting part II 2013 Conference ● 1069 members at conference ● 200+ voting members at business meeting part I ● 153 voting members initially at business meeting part II, later quorum confirmed 2011 Conference ● 1800 members at conference ● 192 at start of business meeting part I—not a quorum. Later 201 voting members present. ● 200+ voting members at business meeting part II 2009 Conference ● 2559 members at conference ● 200+ voting members at business meeting part I ● 200+ voting members at business meeting part II [note: there were no specific numbers of voting members present specified in the minutes of the business meeting—only that a quorum was present] Also, the cost of conferences has exceeded the revenue available to cover the expenses. The chart below shows the financials for conventions over time.

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CONFERENCE FAQS In Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016, RID faced financial losses in three main areas: legal fees, certification deficits, and the NOLA15 Conference. After paying nearly $230,000 in hotel attrition from the NOLA15 Conference, it became clear to the board that RID’s traditional approach to conferences was no longer viable. In recognizing the small % of members able to attend the national conference and/or participating in business meetings, it became essential to find alternatives that would not increase registration costs for members. Further increasing registration costs to participants in order to cover costs for RID would only serve to make the conference affordable to an even smaller percent of members. Alternatively, increasing losses to RID was no longer sustainable. The board determined that rather than cancel a national event for 2017, it would offer a smaller conference with modest costs for facilities and registration.

Taking advantage of the need for a more modest approach to conferencing, the board also determined that a smaller conference provides the rare and exciting opportunity to more actively engage participants in deeper levels of discussion and collaboration around the direction of the association and field over the next 5-10 years.

Q: Why is RID limiting the ability for members to earn CEUs? The Board is sensitive to the fact that some members use the national convention as a mechanism for earning CEUs in a condensed manner. The opportunity to earn CEUs will still be available, both onsite and through streaming options. There was a time when there were limited options for earning CEUS and, it was important for RID to take the lead in providing professional development opportunities for its members. However, members now have access to more than 100 approved sponsors offering onsite, online, independent study, and various entities are providing specialty conference options.

Q: Why is the conference being conducted in ASL only? Doesn’t that limit who will come?

A: ASL is the shared language among RID members and the Deaf Community. Conducting the conference in ASL is part of creating an inclusive and authentic environment where we all communicate directly with one another using our common language. We hope that it doesn’t limit who seeks to come, but respect that it might. For hearing participants to collaborate in an ASL only environment means letting go of some of our “hearing privilege” to create greater equity in how power is distributed among those who are typically linguistically marginalized in an Englishpreferred environment. So, it is an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to Deaf members, colleagues and community as allies.

Q. What is the registration process?

A. There are two different ways a person can register. First is through the Governance Structure process. Each volunteer leadership entity (affiliate chapters, member sections, committees and councils) were assigned slots they can use to register members they believe best represents them for a conference of this type. Each entity will determine how to distribute the slots among their membership. Individuals interested in securing one of these slots should contact the volunteer leaders of their respective chapter, member section, council or committee. 200 slots have been allocated to these RID volunteer leadership entities. Registration and payment for these slots must be completed by February 28, 2017. Any unused slots will roll over to the general membership lottery.

The general membership lottery is the second way a person can seek registration. Upon entering the general membership lottery, the person must indicate if they are registering for the skills development track [200 slots] or the leadership track [200 slots]. The portal for the general membership 20

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CONFERENCE FAQS lottery will open March 1st and close March 31st. Thereafter, the registrants for each track will be randomized, the first 200 on each randomized list will be notified of selection, and have until April 28th to pay to secure their slot. The lottery will then be closed to those first 200 individuals. Slots unpaid by April 28th will be offered to the next individual[s] on the list until all slots are filled. Individuals selected in the second round of the lottery will have until May 19th to pay to secure their slot. The lottery will be officially closed May 20th.

In addition to these registration options, RID seeks to recruit 50 small group facilitators for the leadership track and 15-20 trainers/mentors/teachers for the skills track. Look for the Call for Facilitators in the November issue of VIEWS. The Call for Trainers/Mentors/Teachers will be forthcoming in December.

Q: For the general membership lottery, how will the randomization occur?

A: Excel has an excellent tool that allows for randomization of names. That is the process that RID will use. This is the process that is used by Charter Schools and other organizations/entities [like Ted Talks] who rely on randomization.

Once the list is randomized, the first 200 names on the list will be notified they can access the conference registration portal through their online member account. Once the member pays, their registrations will be secured. If members fail to pay by the deadline, their slot(s) will be offered to the next individual[s] on the randomized list until all slots are filled.

Q. What are the registration timelines?

A. Governance Structure Registration [ACs, Member Sections, Councils, Committees] - Registration portal opens February 1st - Registration through the volunteer leadership registration system will close on February 28th.

- At that time, any unused registration slots will roll over into the general membership lottery.

General Membership Lottery and Registration - Lottery opens March 1st - March 31st - All registrations in the lottery randomized—first 200 notified and must pay by April 28th.

- Access to registration closes for first 200. Unused slots assigned to the next group on the randomized list.

- Notifications sent and second group must register by May 19th.

- Lottery closes May 20th, 2017.

Q. If a volunteer leader is not chosen through the governance structure and still wants to attend the conference, can they enter the general membership lottery?

A: YES! All volunteer leaders will know if they were selected prior to the opening of the General Membership lottery on March 1st.

Q: Can members register for both the skills and leadership lotteries?

A. No. In order to maximize the equal opportunity to participate in the conference, individuals must decide at the time of entry into the lottery the track in which they wish to participate—leadership or skills. Duplicate registrations will be eliminated from the lottery.

Q: What if a volunteer leader entity does not know who they will send as a representative by the www.rid.org

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CONFERENCE FAQS deadline, but wants to hold onto the slot?

A: If the entity doesn’t know who it will send by Feb. 28th, but wants to hold the slot, they can complete the registration under the name of the entity [EX: Deaf Caucus, SCRID, ITOC], pay for the slot and secure it. Then, they can determine the specific representative prior to the conference and notify HQ at least 30 days in advance of the conference of that individual’s name.

Q: What if plans and intentions change and someone awarded a slot no longer wants the slot?

A: If it is a governance structure slot, the slot can be assigned to someone else. If it is a general membership slot, the member, can request a refund minus a $50 administrative fee. Once the individual member slot becomes vacant, it will be offered to the next person on the randomized list until the slot is filled. Cancellations will not be accepted after June 1, 2017.

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CALL FOR SMALL GROUP FACILITATORS

Call for Small Group Facilitators

by Anna Witter-Merithew, M.Ed. CSC, SC:L, OIC:C, SC:PA, CI and CT Interim Executive Director Hello, I’m Anna Witter-Merithew, and on behalf of RID HQ and Video: https://youtu.be/0y1jeQkMkT4 the Board of Directors, I’d like to extend a personal invitation for small group facilitators.

We seek applications for 45-50 small group facilitators for the leadership track of the RID 2017 LEAD Together Conference.

The leadership track format will alternate between plenary speakers, and small group discussion, activities and developing of recommendations. Facilitators will support a group of 9-10 members in applying the essential concepts from the plenary speakers to a series of discussion questions, as well as leading activities that will foster the ability of the small group to make strategic recommendations to the RID membership and Board of Directors.

The ideal small group facilitator applicant is someone with prior experience in group facilitation, mentoring, teaching and/or coaching, who has excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

They should be comfortable facilitating groups in ASL, and have a passion for advancing relationships within the Deaf and interpreting communities. Facilitators will be responsible for fostering a collaborative, respectful and productive learning and sharing environment and balancing the group process with time limitations. They will be responsible for ensuring that strategic recommendations from the group are documented and submitted to conference organizers according to program design. The facilitators will track also attendance for CEU purposes.

A group of meta-facilitators will be floating during the small group sessions and will be available for consultation by the small group facilitators and the participants as needed. Small group composition will vary twice through the day—once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This will allow both facilitators and participants to work with the broadest group of leadership track participants possible.

Small group facilitators will be required to complete a facilitator training prior to the conference.

A series of on-demand training modules will be available online in both English and ASL for a period of 6 weeks prior to the conference. The modules will acquaint facilitators with the conference content and structure, and strategies for use in guiding the discussion questions and activities.

Individuals selected to be facilitators will be able to register for, and progress through the modules on their own time; however, all of the modules must be completed prior to the conference. It is estimated that completing the modules will take no longer than 8 hours. The individuals successfully completing the training modules will also be able to earn CEUs. Serving as a facilitator is an excellent opportunity to offer volunteer leadership to the participants and conference. Facilitators will be participants of the conference, since all participants in the leadership track will be actively engaged and working. The difference is in the role they will execute. Facilitators will be eligible for CEUs for their participation. The conference registration fee of $425 will be waived for these individuals. Interested individuals should complete the application

by January 15, 2017. www.rid.org

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CALL FOR SMALL GROUP FACILITATORS I hope that those of you who are qualified, and interested, will join me in helping to lead RID’s summer conference; we need passionate, involved individuals to help lead these groups to develop the vision and goals for the future of RID. Thank you.

The application to become a facilitator is here: http://rid.org/application-for-leadership-track-small-group-facilitator/ 5

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FROM THE DESK OF JULIE ANNE SCHAFER, J.D.

Between Two Right Answers: The Formulation of a Criminal Conviction Policy for RID

by Julie Anne Schafer, JD, Director of Standards and Practices In his book How Good People Make Tough Choices, Rushworth Kidder suggests that a true moral or ethical dilemma exists when two rights are pitted against one another. In the case of the RID Criminal Conviction Policy (CCP), RID finds itself in the middle of two rights and having to make a decision about what is the best course of action. It is right that consumers be protected to the greatest degree possible from the potential abuse or victimization that can occur when individuals who are interpreters break the law, and it is right that individuals who are convicted of a felony and serve out their punishment to have the opportunity to be restored to society. Over the last six months, we as a profession have engaged in earnest and passionate dialog around RID’s proposed CCP, mindful of these and other “rights” that surface when considering a policy of this nature. Our work is not yet done. In the coming weeks, we will engage with volunteer leaders and offer another opportunity for members to offer feedback to the proposed CCP. We look forward to working together to find a balance and set a CCP that reconciles, to the greatest extent possible, two right answers.

The CCP and Call for Comments On June 17, 2016, RID released an invitation seeking comment on a proposed Criminal Conviction Policy. The comment period was open until 11:59 PM EST on July 15, 2016. We received 110 timely responses, which are summarized in the accompanying charts (http://rid.org/2016/07/criminalconviction-policy-update/). Some key aspects of that iteration of the proposed policy are: 1. The CCP will apply to both candidates for certification and recertification and is a self-disclosure. RID will not be conducting criminal background checks.

2. There are three categories of criminal convictions that must be disclosed: • Any felony conviction; • Any conviction (felony or misdemeanor) involving moral turpitude; and/or • Any conviction (felony or misdemeanor) related to the provision of interpreting services.

3. Candidates for recertification must disclose relevant criminal convictions as part of their annual renewal. The policy is not retroactive; only convictions that happened since the last annual renewal must be disclosed.

4. Candidates for certification who disclose a criminal conviction related to the provision of interpreting services will be denied credentials but may request review by an EPS adjudication panel.

5. All other relevant criminal convictions will be referred to an EPS adjudication panel for review.

Narratives can be submitted by impacted individuals as part of the adjudication process.

Click here for more information, including the full text of the policy.

How did we get here?

In many of the responses we received, commenters questioned the impetus and timing of instituting such a policy. For some, the proposed CCP seemed knee-jerk and reactionary. However, RID has been evaluating the need for such a policy through groups like our Ethics Committee since www.rid.org

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FROM THE DESK OF JULIE ANNE SCHAFER, J.D. at least 2013. Throughout this time, Deaf consumers, interpreters, and other stakeholders have approached RID, many times through our EPS, regarding interpreters with criminal convictions.

The EPS process is confidential and, thus, we have not shared the details of those complaints with our membership. In some situations, the EPS policies and processes were sufficient to address the complaints. In others, the current iteration of the EPS Policy Manual was not sufficient to address conduct of RID members that raised serious concerns about the interpreter’s ethical conduct. For example, the EPS Policy Manual requires that complaints be filed within 90 days of the incident that gave rise to the violation. When the EPS is made aware of a member with a criminal conviction that would typically meet the criteria for a valid complaint, it is often well beyond 90 days after the incident occurred.

As a result, headquarters staff and various volunteer groups and leaders have considered the possibility of instituting a separate policy applicable to criminal convictions. The proposed policy released for comment in June 2016 represents the formalization of our consideration of this policy.

We want to thank everyone who took the time to submit comments and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback. There were several common themes that emerged as areas of concern for members and underscored the need for further dialogue and consideration about the scope and administration of a CCP. As a result, we delayed the August 1, 2016 publication date for a finalized policy in favor of further dialog and engagement with our members and impacted stakeholders.

Stuck Between Two “Right” Answers What the themes in the charts do not reflect are the personal stories that were or have been shared as part of the overall policy development process. These stories--some from the perspective of crime victims, some from the perspective of individuals potentially impacted by the policy-are a critical part of the development process as they give insight into the overall impact of the CCP. In our discussions around this policy, we considered these stories and the impact of such a policy, both positive and negative, as well as the role of RID in setting a CCP. In these considerations, two concepts emerged: the concept of duty and the concept of systems of oppression.

When we considered our duty to consumers of RID-certified interpreters, we thought of stories of interpreters abusing their role to cause harm to their Deaf consumers. We discussed requests from Commissions/Offices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and other state agencies to have a policy in place to include a criminal background disclosure as part of the certification and recertification process. Currently, 31 states are regulating the practice of interpreting in some way. Some of the laws and regulations include a provision for a criminal background check while others do not. We thought of school districts around the country that waive criminal background screenings for RID certified interpreters. We questioned whether, knowing these things, we had a duty to act. Ultimately, we decided we did, but that was not without first examining the potential to perpetuate systems of oppression.

Many commenters raised points about the American judicial system and about the disparate impact a CCP would have on people of color and LGBTQ individuals. Commenters also pointed to national movements like Black Lives Matter and Ban the Box to illustrate how the American legal system often works as a system to further oppress already marginalized communities. We questioned whether, knowing these things, we should move forward with a CCP. Ultimately, we decided we should, but sought to establish a policy and process that would not perpetuate systems of oppression.

Did the comments make a difference?

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FROM THE DESK OF JULIE ANNE SCHAFER, J.D. The RID Board of Directors and Headquarters staff carefully considered the comments from RID members and stakeholders. As a result, we narrowed and clarified the list of applicable crimes, included information about EPS Adjudicator Training, particularly related to power and privilege, and added a document retention policy. We also clarified that the CCP is not a criminal background check but a system of self-disclosure.

What happens now?

The Board and Headquarters staff have reviewed and incorporated feedback, as appropriate, into the proposed CCP. The feedback provided led to a narrower policy and a more robust explanation of the implementation procedures and due process involved in its administration. Members of the RID Board and Headquarters staff will meet with leadership from the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color (ITOC) Member Section in December to discuss the revised CCP. We are also working to schedule a meeting with Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersex, Trans* Interpreters/Transliterators (BLeGIT) Member Section. After those meetings we will incorporate, as appropriate, the feedback from ITOC. We will also engage members and stakeholders in further dialogue as we move toward a finalized policy through an additional public comment period that will likely open before the end of the year. Please follow our eNews for updates on how to participate in the invitation to comment. In the meantime, you may direct questions to compliance@rid.org.

How do I participate in the open comment period?

Watch your email inbox for information regarding the open comment period, including deadlines for submitting comments. Unfortunately, we did receive some comments beyond the deadline for our first comment period, so please be sure to note when the policy is closed for comment and have your feedback in prior to the deadline. Comments may be submitted in ASL or English.

And while we understand that there is a lot of passion and emotion around this policy, we ask that in sharing your passion and perspective, you attempt to offer suggestions free from expletives and attacks on RID, its Board, and its staff. We read and consider all comments, but it is our hope that abusive language can be kept to a minimum and that we can work together to put forward a policy that allows us to consider our path as an organization to reconciling our position, as described above, between two “right� answers.

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GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

Committee Report: Governance Margaret Ransom Cobb, CSC, SC:L (California) Paola Morales, NAD III (California) Governance Committee Paola Morales: Part 1

Video: https://youtu.be/rkSLBp3_BTQ

Hello, I’m Paola Morales, from RID’s Governance Committee.

The other members of the Committee are: Margaret Ransom Cobb (Region V member) Board Liaisons: RID Board Region III Representative Sandra Maloney RID Board Member-at-Large LaVona Andrew HQ liaison: Interim Executive Director Anna Witter-Merrithew We also have one open position, if you are interested, please apply!

Margaret Ransom Cobb: Part 2 I would like to share a little bit of RID’s history that may be helpful in understanding the Board’s decision to establish this new Governance Committee. In 1985, RID determined that it was time to make significant changes in its approach: its structure, systems, and, bylaws. The approach that was adopted at that time has governed how RID has operated ever since.

It is worth noting that in 1985 RID had approximately 5,000 members. Over the years, we have seen the membership increase in size to approximately 15,000 at present. However, even as the size of the membership has grown, there has been a steady decrease in the level of member involvement.

In considering the reasons for this, RID has look at the possibility that, due to this significant growth in the number of members, the structure and system adopted many years ago no longer serves RID. The current Board of Directors has appointed the Governance Committee with a goal of exploring and investigating alternatives that may lead RID to a new approach that can be more efficient and effective and can better satisfy the needs of its members and the community.

That is the work the governance committee is undertaking at this time.

Paola Morales: Part 3 Within the Governance Committee, there are two sub-committees - Work Group A, and Work Group B. Both are tasked with investigating RID’s bylaws as they relate to organizational structure.

Work Group A includes Region III Representative Sandra Maloney, Member-at-Large LaVona 28

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GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REPORT Andrew, the interim Executive Director Anna Witter-Merithew. Their focus is on developing communications - getting the thoughts and ideas of the volunteer leadership and the membership, related to governance. The first step in this process is to develop a survey - it is very rough at this point - that will focus on how to improve engagement with the membership, the volunteer leadership, Councils, committees, and Member Sections. More information on this will be forthcoming in the months to come, disseminated through email, e-news, and RID’s VIEWS. Margaret Ransom Cobb: Part 4 Work Group B is made up of the Region 1 and the Region 5 members of the Governance Committee. We were given the task of surveying other national associations, similar to RID. A specific example is the National Association of Social Workers. We have been looking at its structure and its systems in order to gain a better understanding of the purpose and function of a Delegate Assembly approach. In particular, we are looking at five areas: 1) national, regional and state levels of interaction; 2) categories of membership; 3) identification of leadership/leadership training; 4) decision-making/fair representation of members; and, 5) fiscal and legal requirements of a Delegate Assembly structure.

We expect to gather detailed information and will be sharing that with the membership in the near future.

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New Certifications

NEW CERTIFICATIONS

Certifications awarded 12/02/15 to 11/18/16

Region 2 - Northeast

Region 1 - Northeast

Full Name Certification State

Esther Fass CDI DC Sheelah Marie Kimbrough CDI MD Stephan Gregor Kennedy CDI MD Star Grieser CDI VA Jaime Roop Ed:K-12 AL Katelyn Buzbee Ed:K-12 AL Sarah Wallenstein Ed:K-12 AL Danielle Celeste Porter Ed:K-12 FL Elesia Wenglowskyj Ed:K-12 FL Jamie B. Aranda Ed:K-12 FL Katherine Bechtold Ed:K-12 FL Cecilia Epps Ed:K-12 GA Melissa McMahan Ed:K-12 MD Debbie Ann Ballentine Ed:K-12 NC Jennifer Olson Ed:K-12 NC Laura Kelly Ed:K-12 NC Leah Conner Ed:K-12 NC Katherine Elaine Reininger Ed:K-12 SC Karen E Brimm Ed:K-12 VA Teresa Fulling Ed:K-12 IL Amanda Welly NIC DC Brittany Ann Quickel NIC DC Catherine Emilie Lee NIC DC Claire Hatton NIC DC Richard Zabelski NIC DC Samantha Jo Schein NIC DC Annette Marie Rodriguez-Ortiz NIC FL Betsy Hopwood NIC FL Beverly C. Foxx NIC FL Brittany Ann Andrews NIC FL Christina Trout NIC FL Danielle Celeste Porter NIC FL David P Lind NIC FL Diana Sharpe NIC FL Emily Stairs NIC FL Holli Tempe NIC FL Joshua I Abenchuchan NIC FL Joshua Mynatt NIC FL Pamela Elaine Bernkrant NIC FL Rachael Hamlett NIC FL Sarah Fowler NIC FL Tiffany LaShea Taylor NIC FL Jennifer K Bowser NIC GA Joanna Ciccarello NIC GA Laura Tolbert Ruckel NIC GA Andrea K. Smith NIC MD Diane P. Chambers NIC MD Jason R Conrad NIC MD Katherine Mary Hasting NIC MD Keisha Osborne NIC MD Rose S. Trabert NIC MD Ross Cooper NIC MD Sarah Scarborough NIC MD

Full Name Certification State

Randee Pascall-Speights CDI MA Catherine (Kat) Daviton-Burland CDI NY Jesse “Rupert” Dubler CDI NY Phyllis Dora Rifkin CDI NY Ronald Rood CDI NY Heather Ann Schmerman CDI PA David Krueger CLIP-R VT Donald Gibbons Ed:K-12 MA Esther V. Lee-Samia Ed:K-12 ME Shannon Locke Ed:K-12 ME Alivia E Cotton Ed:K-12 NH Manda Kirk Ed:K-12 PA Melissa Anne Hopkins Ed:K-12 PA Christina M. Stevens NIC CT Pamela D’Occhio NIC DE Erin Elizabeth Spurgeon NIC MA Kelly Skeuse NIC MA Karla Marie Caldwell NIC NH Elizabeth Eitel NIC NJ Mimi Cheung NIC NJ Stephanie Schiff NIC NJ Alana Marie Aloi NIC NY Angela Piteris NIC NY Campbell McDermid NIC NY Christopher Sean Matthews NIC NY Dana Victoria Fontana NIC NY Elizabeth Staehle NIC NY Jose Luis Gomez NIC NY Keith Joseph Prestano NIC NY Lauren Dearman NIC NY Nicole Dziuba NIC NY Tim Talbott NIC NY Tyler David Herron NIC NY Valene Przybylo-Souky NIC NY Eliza Nicolosi NIC PA Jessica R. Harnly NIC PA Joshua Walterhouse NIC PA Laura Eisemann Hoffer NIC PA Melissa Anne Hopkins NIC PA Robin Schmidlin NIC PA Sarah Reed NIC PA Danielle Vincenza Massullo NIC WV Tammy Batch SC:L CT Zachary G. Breland SC:L MA Jillian Schleicher SC:L ME Maura Cullen Nolin SC:L ME Christina R. Kelley SC:L NY Christopher Tester SC:L NY 30

VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

NEW CERTIFICATIONS Coral D. Kaplan NIC NC Josee A. Hupp-Croteau NIC NC Stephen m Gage NIC NC Tami Maund NIC NC Theresa Nicole Lott NIC NC Alanna Palardy NIC SC Elizabeth Platt NIC SC Sonya M. Benson NIC SC Elizabeth Hostetter NIC TN Karen H Powell NIC TN Martha Elizabeth Bowers NIC TN Cathleen Michelle McGillick NIC VA Dionne Racquel Hart NIC VA Elizabeth Young Mee Stabb NIC VA Katherine Renee McMullen NIC VA Leah Joy Weaver NIC VA Matthew Heller NIC VA Noel Fabian NIC VA Paula Ann Green NIC VA Sarah Anna Grasso NIC VA Adam Gaspar NIC IL Gino Gouby SC:L DC Marc D. Holmes SC:L DC Sandra K McClure SC:L DC Brenda Adkinson SC:L FL Debbie Spiker SC:L FL M. Charlene McCarthy SC:L FL Sharon Doyle King SC:L FL J. Anne Zimmerman SC:L GA Charlotte Winston SC:L MD Kari Bahl SC:L MD Rayni Plaster SC:L MD James Eric Workman SC:L TN Magen Jennifer Hom SC:L VA Laura J. Garrett OTC VA Christina Whitehouse-Suggs OTC MD

www.rid.org

Region 3 - Midwest

Full Name Certification State

Janet Schwall CDI IN Roger Kraft CDI IN William Schwall CDI IN Brenda D. Boaz-Pond CDI MI Stephanie Jo Naeyaert CDI MI Curt A Slater CDI MN Emory K. Dively CDI MN Pamela Gleason CDI MN Robyn Ann Lehmann-Doane CDI MN Shawn Vriezen CDI MN Michael James McMahon CDI AR Ellisha Cecil Ed:K-12 MI

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NEW CERTIFICATIONS Region 4 - Central

Region V - Pacific

Full Name Certification State

Justin Buckhold CDI CO Matthew J. Gwynn CDI KS Franky Louise Ramont CDI TX Raylene Lotz CDI TX Benjamin Swindle CLIP-R TX Kali Sue Palin Ed:K-12 CO Stephanie Koutavas Ed:K-12 CO Stephanie K Ehrlich Ed:K-12 KS Malachi Thomas Mooney Ed:K-12 LA Michelle Broussard Ed:K-12 LA Dana Redfield Ed:K-12 NM Darla Lane Ed:K-12 OK Jacob Alexander Ed:K-12 OK Joy K Scully Ed:K-12 OK Melanie Copeland Ed:K-12 OK Victoria L Brown Ed:K-12 OK Kathryn Rebecca Wingerson Ed:K-12 TX Patricia Veronica Lury Ed:K-12 TX Courtney Kuenzi Ed:K-12 AK Shannon Buccino NIC AR Janet Batchelder NIC CO Jeffrey Bigger NIC CO Katherine E. Rickers NIC CO Melanie Brauch NIC CO Melissa Williamson NIC KS

Full Name Certification State

James Robert Brune CDI CA Melanie April Vezina CDI CA Rachel Kleist CDI CA Patrick Fischer CDI OR Brandon R. Hill CDI UT Ellen Noelle Hanna CDI UT Nina K Taggart CDI UT Samond Bishara CDI UT Stephanie Belshe CDI UT Stephanie Mathis CDI UT Stephen J Peterson CDI UT Steven G. Stubbs CLIP-R ID Jeremy Ray Tuttle Ed:K-12 AZ Wesley Porter Ed:K-12 AZ Candice Martinez Ed:K-12 CA Laura Espinoza Ed:K-12 CA Melissa Lee Weeks Ed:K-12 CA Rebecah Rose Hazelton Ed:K-12 CA Gina Marie Nichols Ed:K-12 NV Christina Healy Ed:K-12 OR Michael Rose Ed:K-12 OR Debra Duke Ed:K-12 UT Melissa Griffin Ed:K-12 UT Michelle D Draper Ed:K-12 UT Shelly L. Hansen Ed:K-12 WA Douglas Talbott NIC AZ Makaria Adams NIC AZ Margaret M. McGrath-Carlson NIC AZ Nancy Louise Oster NIC AZ Tiffany Jones NIC AZ Rhys McCormick NIC BC Anna Torres NIC CA Aundrea Michelle Love NIC CA Bella A. Munoz NIC CA Bradley Godfrey NIC CA Cambrian Lopez NIC CA Candice Martinez NIC CA Catherine Elizabeth Nordstrom NIC CA Cheri Mone’t Sieckman NIC CA Daniel Candido NIC CA Emily Lopez NIC CA Francine Sorrentino NIC CA Gage Andrew Rodriguez NIC CA Janina Witteborg NIC CA Jasmine M DeLoss NIC CA Jessica Sipes NIC CA Jewel C. Jauregui NIC CA Joy Chow NIC CA Joy Kathleen Miladin NIC CA Katie Lynn Arnhart NIC CA

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VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

NEW CERTIFICATIONS Kristen Del Rosario Kristi Louise Meador Lindsay B. Weishaar Marquette Laquey Meaghan Vehlies Michael Mario Castro Mikhail Ioffe Molly Ann Landy Rebecca Lynn Quigley Regina Takayama Rose a Idano Sandra Heflin Sarah Katelynn Covarrubias Tyler James Rasch Tawny Taylor Dobson Ryan Kraft Allison Schroeder Crystal Hazes Erin Elizabeth Trine Jessica J. Van Winkle Kassie Hughes Madison Chester Ryan Davis Sarika Mehta Amy Spencer Walker Callie Ella Van Wagenen Elise Berrett Melissa Griffin Morgan Lopez Anna Lorraine Mansell Karagiannis Cathy Miller chrisTopher Ryan Wick Jessica Ropella Jordan William Guffey Lisa Sheets Philena Rothpletz Sadie Pile Thor Anderson Dustin C. McLaws Connie S. Loper Richard Hall Dawn Marie Duran Jennifer Harvey Storrer Michelle D Draper Allison Maine Israel Angie Parsons Buck Rogers Carrie L Renner Cassidy Garcia Laurie Reese Reinhardt Michelle (Mish) Ktejik

www.rid.org

NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC NIC SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L SC:L

CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA NV ON OR OR OR OR OR OR OR OR UT UT UT UT UT WA WA WA WA WA WA WA WA WA AZ CA OR UT UT UT WA WA WA WA WA WA WA

International

Full Name Certification Location

Rhys McCormick NIC British Columbia, Canada Ryan Kraft NIC Ontario, Canada

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EPS DECISIONS

Decisions from the Ethical Practices System (EPS) In accordance with Standard 3.10 of the EPS Manual, when a violation of the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct has been determined by an adjudication panel, regardless of the sanction, the interpreter’s name, location, violation, and summary of the sanction is printed in VIEWS. Interpreter

Credentials State

Tenets

Sanction

Gregory Morrow

TC, CI and CT, NAD V

Florida

Violation of CPC Tenet 2: Professionalism and Tenet 3: Conduct.

Completion of prescribed mentoring, ethics training, and readings culminating in a reflective paper addressing defined criteria to be reviewed by a panel. All to be completed within 18 months. Effective October 7, 2016.

Aaron Orange

CSC

Florida

Violation of CPC Tenet 2: Professionalism, Tenet 3: Conduct, Tenet 4: Respect for Consumers, Tenet 5: Respect for Colleagues, and Tenet 7: Professional Development.

Completion of prescribed mentoring, ethics training, and readings culminating in a reflective paper addressing defined criteria to be reviewed by a panel. All to be completed within 18 months. Effective October 7, 2016.

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VIEWS Volume 32 • Issue 1

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. 333 Commerce Street A l e x a n d r i a , VA 2 2 3 1 4 views@rid.org

www.rid.org

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