2. What if I don’t meet the pre-requisites?
3. What’s an auditor?
4. How many waivers will be allowed?
5. Are there people who won’t be considered for
attendance as an auditor? Why?
6. How do I apply to attend as an auditor?
7. What happens then? When will I know if there’s room
for me?
8. What documentation is acceptable as proof of
satisfying the pre-requisites?
9. How did Conference of Legal Sign Language
Interpreters, Inc. &“Iron Sharpens Iron
Conferences come about?
10. What’s so unique about this conference?
11. Why isn’t CLSLI a membership organization?
12. Are CLSLI Board members salaried?
13. Can I get
copies of the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation? How?
14. Why didn’t you send out a “call for papers” or
a “call for interpreters”, etc?
15. So how were the presenters and interpreters
chosen?
16. Why choose presenters from spoken language
interpreting?
17. Can I suggest someone to be considered as a
presenter, an interpreter or just a good resource?
18. Can I volunteer to help?
19. Are there any specific areas where assistance
may be needed?
20.
I have a different
certification than what is listed—but I still work in courts.
Can I come?
This will be an
advanced conference geared towards those sign language interpreters who
are credentialed, who have had at least 24 seminar hours of introduction
to or fundamentals of legal interpreting training, and who preferably are
working as interpreters in the legal and/or judicial system.
Content and priority seating will be dedicated to those who do meet
all of the listed pre-requisites (see registration page for specific
details).
What
if I don’t meet the pre-requisites?
CLSLI encourages
every interpreter who has not had legal training and who intends on
working in legal and judicial settings to take the introduction to or
fundamentals of legal interpreting training that is given by individuals
across the country. However,
there will be a limited number of waivers given for certain people who
don’t meet the pre-requisites (listed on the registration page) to
attend this conference. If you don’t meet the pre-requisites in credentials or in
seminar hours, you may apply to attend as an auditor.
An auditor is someone who can be
defined as a “hearer or listener”.
At this conference, auditors will be those who have requested that
the pre-requisites for attendance be waived in order to attend.
Auditors will not be allowed to participate in discussions or ask
questions during the presentations, except by submitting written questions
to a facilitator to be considered for possible response from the presenter
and/or participants. Auditors
will receive CEUs, handouts and pre-readings.
The cost for attendance as an auditor is the same as for those who
do meet the pre-requisites.
How many waivers will be allowed?
That will depend
on the seating capacity and the number of registrations received from
those who do meet the pre-requisites.
Are there people who won’t be considered for attendance as an auditor? Why?
Yes. Not everyone who applies to attend as an auditor will be allowed to audit—even if there is ample seating capacity. One of the fundamentals in the philosophy of the “Iron Sharpens Iron” conference is the mutual mentoring that occurs among like-minded, similarly qualified and similarly experienced professional interpreters. Therefore, to ensure that the uniqueness, training, and education of the conference is indeed that of “iron sharpening iron”, there must be the same kind of attention given to the pre-requisites of the attendees as there is to the selection of the speakers. No students or non-credentialed interpreters will be allowed to attend. No person who is not involved professionally in interpreting, law or other related fields will be allowed to attend. Of course, CLSLI reserves the right to make exceptions based on input from the Board and to seek the input of others in such a decision.
How do I apply to attend as an auditor?
Fill out the
registration form and mail it with your payment and a note requesting that
the pre-requisites be waived and that you be allowed to attend as an
auditor.
What happens then? When will I know if there’s room for me?
Your name will be
placed on a waiting list—first come, first considered. You will be notified of your request for waiver being granted
or denied at least one month prior to the conference. Should it be denied, your registration fee will be fully
refunded.
What documentation is acceptable as proof of satisfying the pre-requisites?
For proof of
current, valid certification, a copy of your current RID membership card
or a copy of your NAD certificate is sufficient.
For proof of the required training, a copy of your RID CEU
transcript or valid copy(s) of certificate(s) of completion is sufficient.
How did Conference of Legal Sign Language Interpreters, Inc. and the concept of the “Iron Sharpens Iron” Conferences come about?
Diane Fowler
writes: “I guess CLSLI is partially my “brain-child”.
I am the co-founder and director of CLSLI, a non-profit 501 (c) 3
entity incorporated in the state of Georgia, whose sole mission (as stated
in the mission statement) is “to present legal sign language
interpreters an opportunity to enhance skills and augment knowledge in the
specialized field of legal and judicial interpreting by providing quality
training and education in a focused environment that is conducive to
discussion, learning, and mutual mentoring”.
The phrase “iron sharpens iron” actually comes from a Proverb
in the Old Testament: “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens
another.” (Proverbs 27:17-New American Standard Bible)
The concept of having these unique conferences—conferences that
incorporate distinguished speakers, instructors and leaders from the
fields of sign language and spoken language interpreting, linguistics, and
law, that are advanced in the level of instruction and training, and that
have fairly stringent pre-requisites—had its genesis last August (2001).
In my own professional path, I have been strongly influenced by my
experiences in the mutual mentoring process that occurs when like-minded
individuals come together in the process of feedback, mentoring, and the
challenging give-and-take of professional interpreters who have similar
goals of excellence and quality in our work—whether it’s in person or
through an email list, such as ASL_Legal_Terps@topica.com.
Seeing the gaps in education and the lack of advanced training for
legal interpreters on a national, organizational level, and being
convinced there had to be a way to address and bridge these gaps, I
consulted with colleagues, got advice from my CPA and attorney, started
reading books, kept talking with colleagues, kept reading, and prayed a
lot! One woman (who, me?!),
with God’s help, may have jump-started the process of pulling together
the components of such an undertaking into one setting to bring about a
unique event in a non-typical format, but it was really an idea whose time
had come—and all I had to do was walk through the doors that were opened
for me. As I’ve said before, this venture has the fingerprints of
many, many others (particularly the Conference Development Team!) all over
it. Whatever good comes of
this joint endeavor is attributed first of all to the actual Founder of
CLSLI, my Lord, Jesus Christ, and to my colleagues and friends who have
used the mettle of their own “iron” to sharpen the mettle of my own
“iron”. These folks are
the ones who, on a daily basis, live out the philosophical foundation for
this conference—iron sharpening iron—for others to see and experience
and learn from and pass on/pay forward! By bringing together a few of those who are vanguards in our
field, it is my hope and vision that those who attend will have the mettle
of their iron sharpened, not
only through the presentations, but also through the interaction of
friends and colleagues. It is
to that end that this conference is dedicated. The deltas—i.e., those
areas that need improvement, the “could’ve/should’ve’s” of
missing the mark of excellence, are entirely my responsibility.”
What’s so unique about this conference?
Everything!
·
All sessions will be held
in a plenary format—no breakout sessions will be held.
·
All presenters and working
interpreters were personally invited to present and to interpret—no mass
“call” was sent out.
·
In order to keep the
training fresh and cutting edge, all presenters have been asked to present
only new material or fairly new material that has not been presented more
than once or twice in the US.
·
Structured time has been
built in each presentation to allow for questions, answers, and discussion
among participants and speakers.
·
CLSLI, a non-profit, 501(c)
3 entity, strives to keep the participation fees affordable by seeking
avenues for additional monies from grants and other funding sources. CLSLI
is not a membership organization.
·
CLSLI and the “Iron
Sharpens Iron” conferences are run by legal interpreters, with legal
interpreters, for legal interpreters.
·
CLSLI believes that fiscal
responsibility is a tenet of great importance not only legally but also
ethically. Therefore, great
care will be taken that monies that are generated will be used wisely to
promote the mission, i.e., no funds will be expended on “death by
chocolate” soirees.
·
CLSLI does not have
employees. Therefore, as
independent contractors, presenters and interpreters will set their own
fees for their services. All
things are negotiable, of course, and CLSLI has the final right of
refusal. Integrity is one of the qualities that we look for in
speakers, interpreters, consultants, vendors, etc., and even in our
non-paid volunteers and Board members.
Why isn’t CLSLI a membership organization?
Interpreters have
enough fees to pay just to stay in business!
Certification maintenance, professional dues, business licenses,
state licensure, CPAs, professional liability insurance, more testing, and
on and on and on! We don’t
need another associational dues bill!
Are CLSLI Board members salaried?
No.
The CLSLI Articles of Incorporation and the CLSLI Bylaw address
that issue. Some direct
expenses required for the operation of CLSLI and the conferences may
be reimbursable, following appropriate action from the Board.
The President and Director, Diane Fowler, may be given a nominal
fee for her work at times but it is not a regular salary.
Can I get copies of the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation? How?
Yes.
As a non-profit, 501(c) 3 entity, these documents are required by
law to be made available to the general public.
In addition, there is a legal mandate that the financial records be
made available as well. If you’re interested in obtaining copies, please send your
request in writing to CLSLI, Inc., P. O. Box 2407, Suwanee, GA 30024.
Why didn’t you send out a “call for papers” or a “call for interpreters”, etc?
CLSLI's
mission is to promote quality and excellence and distinction in legal
interpreting through high caliber seminars.
Although the "calls" are typical and much easier to do,
we knew (from personal experience as attendees) that there are problematic
issues inherent in that process.
One of the major reasons we do not send out a call for papers is
simply that we want to make sure that what we offer during the "Iron
Sharpens Iron" Conference is well worth the fee, expenses, and the
time spent not working and away from home and family.
For us, it's a matter of integrity and making sure that we try to
meet the attendees' expectations of a good conference.
Hence, instead of "calls" and "blind proposal
selection", we decided to set our standards high and try to avoid the
known pitfalls.
Our goals and expectations are indeed lofty but not excessively so.
And while nothing is guaranteed in life, and there is much beyond
our control, the aim is still for excellence in all that we do.
So how were the presenters and interpreters chosen?
We asked people
who the “dream teams” were! We
mainly relied on word of mouth, personal experience, as well as known or
perceived qualities such as integrity, reputation, trustworthiness,
content and quality of prior presentations, respect for others, etc.
And of course, the choices were numerous, giving us quite a list of
resources for several conferences to come!
Only the constraints of time and space and funding kept us from
having everyone whose name was mentioned.
With so many instructors and leaders and educators and
practitioners of such high merit, the choices were tough indeed!
Why choose presenters from spoken language interpreting?
Spoken language
interpreting has been around for a long time.
Although at times spoken language interpreters and sign language
interpreters definitely differ in our philosophy and the approach that we
take to our work, we have a lot to learn from one another.
Can I suggest someone to be considered as a presenter or as an interpreter or just a good resource in a specific area?
Of course!
Just send an email or drop us a note, giving us the person’s
name, contact info, and why you think they would be an attribute to an
“Iron Sharpens Iron” conference. We can’t promise anything, but it’s always good to have
recommendations from those with personal experience.
Sure!
Send your contact info in an email or note, along with what
specifically you would be interested in doing and what your specific
strengths are in that area.
Are there any specific areas where assistance may be needed?
Yes!
Experienced and successful
grant writers would be lovely!
I have a different certification than what is listed—but I still work in courts. Can I come?
Only those RID and NAD certifications listed meet the pre-requisites. However, we’re aware that there are other state certifications (such as Texas) whose standards meet or exceed the criteria of RID’s and NAD’s certifications that are listed. Check with us! We’ll check it out and let you know. And remember, you can also apply to have the pre-requisites waived and attend as an auditor.