Oct Vlog

Long awaited blog from ITOC!

[video description: Stephanie Chao, Taiwanese American women, black framed glasses and hair pulled back.  She is wearing a black cardigan and clasping her hands in front of her.  Background is the white and blue wall.]

Hi Everyone, 

I know it has been a while since ITOC has posted.  We apologize and thanks for your patience.  ITOC hasn't posted in a while. We recently turned over to the new ITOC counsel and it took us some time to get settled into our new roles.  Over the next few months, each counsel member will be introducing themselves to you.  

So, let me introduce myself.  My name is Stephanie Chao.  I am the new ITOC Chair. 

This past summer during the RID conference, we had an ITOC MS forum.  We had such a great turn out of around 50 people.   That was amazing.  We also handed out the first ever ITOC Outstanding Service Award to Leandra Willams.  Congrats! We will be doing this again in 2017, so we will be asking for nominations and your votes at that time.    

During the forum, we also asked people to come up and share what they would like to see ITOC to do. Some ideas included: wanting to see more POC posting vlogs on the RID website and on social media in general.  wanting ITOC to provide scholarships to interpreters of color to attend conferences and workshops. However, to make that happen, we need your fundraising ideas!  We would also like to set up quarterly public forums to gather your feedback and ideas.  The first forum will be set up on our facebook page.  If there seems to be a lot of interest, we can set up a video call for future forums.  

This next month, we will be setting our goals for the 2015-2017 term of ITOC.  We want your input in what you would like to see ITOC to do.  

We are still in the need to fill a few regional representative positions (regions 1, 3, 4). if you are interested, please contact us.  

Lastly, join our FB group and like our FB page!  Feel free to give us your feedback and ideas via email or facebook.  We are always open to hearing/seeing from you.  

 Looking forward to working with you!

Welcome 2015-2017 ITOC Chair: Stephanie!!

 

 

[Image:  Stephanie is in a black shirt and dark green cardigan.  You can see the bedroom door on the left.  On the right, a poster of the map of the world.]

English Version 

Hello!  My name is Stephanie Chao.  I am the new Chair for ITOC.  There are two things I'd like to see ITOC do in the next two years.  First, I want to continue discussions on cultural awareness, diversity, and intersectionality.  Specifically, how these impact our work as interpreters.  Secondly, I'd love to see more POC become presenters and give workshops at RID conferences.  I'd love to hear your ideas.  Please share what you would like to see ITOC do on Facebook.    

Welcome 2015-2017 ITOC Vice Chair: Michon!!

Image: Michon Shaw, a Black woman, wearing a light blue blouse, a braided pearl necklace and dangle earrings is signing in front of a tan color wall.

English Version:

Hello! Hi, I'm Michon Shaw. I'm from Tampa, Florida. I was born and raised here in Florida. In 2006, I graduated from the University of Southern Florida's (USF) Interpreter Training Program. Since that time, I have been working as an interpreter with 6 years in the VRS setting. While VRS is a wonderful field to work in, I wanted more, so I made the decision to return to school.

 

Now I am a graduate student and I have an expected graduation date of Dec 2015. I am studying interpreting pedagogy. That means that I am taking courses to become an interpreter educator. Specifically, in the college setting, for interpreter training programs. It's something that I am excited about.

 

I'm also excited about the future of ITOC. Yes! I know it will be a good one! Thank you for selecting me to be your Vice Chair. I am excited because I can envision us coming together and having a collaborative discussion about our field. Of primary importance, ITOC needs to think about how we can grow our membership. Also, we need to discuss the current state of the field. If you look around, there's not that many interpreters and transliterators of color. Right?! There's not many. And yes, while there are some areas that have more interpreters of color than others, there's not many of us. I want to see us sit down and figure out how we can help our field grow, with more interpreters and transliterators of color.

That's my goal.

So, do we need to go into high schools, and grab high school students and encourage them to take ASL classes? Maybe. The point is, let's come together, discuss and figure out what we, the ITOC members... what can WE do?

I look forward to meeting you soon. Take care, bye bye.

Welcome 2015-2017 ITOC Secretary: Kristeena!!

Image: Kristeena, a Latina woman, wearing a grey blouse and black headband is signing. In the background, is a white door, cream color wall, and an olive green dresser with various items on top.

English Version
Hello! My name is Kristeena! I am the secretary for Interpreters and Transliterators of Color. I will like to accomplish that we acknowledge the diversity of ITOC members  and increase awareness and honor our life experiences.  I love learning about different cultures of the world.  I am fascinated about Intersectionality because of our life experiences that we face as People of Color.

ITOC Update: Council and RID NOLA Conference Updates!

ITOC Update

Signed version

ITOC nominations update:

Nominations for the ITOC council 2015-2017 term were open from Jan - April.

The following individuals were nominated:

Chair: Stephanie Chao, NIC (California)

Vice Chair: Michon Shaw, NIC - A (Florida) 

Secretary/Treasurer: Kristeena Thaten, DI (California)

All of the positions were uncontested and the nominees have accepted their nominations. 

Their terms will begin at the conclusion of the 2015 RID National Conference. We will post more information to introduce you to the new ITOC council soon.

Council vacancies:

We have vacancies on the council. Region 1, 3 & 4 still need representatives.  If you are interested in filling the vacancy for your region please contact itoc.secretary@gmail.com. The new database from RID allows us to sort out our members by region. We will also begin to directly ask members to serve as region representatives. The term for current region reps ends at the conclusion of the 2016 RID Regional Conferences.

National conference update:

We are looking forward to the RID national conference! We have several conference activities planned.

·  Saturday, 8/8 ITOC member section forum at 12:30pm. We will provide an opportunity for networking, give an update on ITOC activities over the last two years, and will recognize an interpreter of color for their work in our community.

o Here is where we need your help! We would like to recognize an interpreter of color for their service to our community. We think it's time for us to make sure our contributions to the field are not only known, but documented! We have legends among us and we want them to be honored. If you want to nominate someone to be recognized, the requirements are simple.

1) Send an email or signed message to itoc.secretary@gmail.com.
2) Give us the name of the individual that you would like to see recognized. 3) Tell us why they should be recognized. What type of contributions have they made to their community (This may be volunteer service at the local, regional, or national level. It could be educational achievements that aim to advance the interpreting profession overall or specifically for interpreters of color. Or, something else not listed here that is worthy of recognition).
4) Send us your nominations by July 1, 2015 to give us time to review nominations and prepare to recognize the individual during the ITOC forum at the national conference.

That's it. The ITOC council will review all of the nominations and will select one award recipient. We hope this tradition will continue and that every two years at the national conference, we will recognize an interpreter of color for the excellent things they are doing for our community and for the field of interpreting!

·  Monday, 8/10 at 9am - Social Justice Plenary Session - a discussion on social justice and what it means for interpreters.

·  Tuesday, 8/11 at 2pm - Social Justice Round Table - an opportunity to engage in conscious, critical dialogue, covering a range of issues in our field. We will have panelists who will demonstrate the importance of vulnerability and how to engage in these important discussions, in a safe space. Participants will be given the opportunity to engage in similar dialogues in small groups. Anyone who wants to learn about social justice and how to engage in these discussions will want to participate. Those already actively aspiring towards social justice will also not want to miss the Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon sessions. 

o Note: The SJ plenary session and the SJRT are the result of a collaboration between ITOC, IDP, Deaf Caucus and BLeGIT and is also ITOC's way of directly responding to the survey of our members, who overwhelmingly wanted to see discussions of social justice, power, privilege and oppression, and multiculturalism at the RID national conference. We hope you can make it!

ITOC lanyards

We will have ITOC lanyards on sale again starting now, and during the conference. The cost is one for $3 or two for $5. The profit earned by the sale of these lanyards will help us continue to provide professional development opportunities that specifically address the needs of interpreters of color.

See you at the conference! 

ITOC Poll - Feb 2015

ITOC Council: Call for Nominations

The call for nominations for the following ITOC council positions is now open!

2015-2017 positions open for nomination:

•   Chair
•   Vice Chair
•   Secretary/Treasurer

Nomination Information for the ITOC Council

• Nominations require the signatures of no less than ten (10) Member Section members.
• Nomination forms will be submitted electronically to itoc.secretary@gmail.com by April 1, 2015
• Ballot: Ballots will be sent electronically to voting members by May 1, 2015
• Contested Elections: Contested elections shall be determined by plurality of those eligible and voting. In the event of an uncontested election, the presiding officer of the member section shall cast one ballot for the nominee.
• Elections Results: Election results and vote counts will be made known to the candidates and to the board of directors within thirty (30) days of the election.
• The ITOC Officers (Chair, Vice- Chair and Sect/Treasurer) are collectively referred to as a Member Section council.

Term:

Two year period beginning at the conclusion of the 2015 RID National Conference and concluding at the end of the 2017 RID National Conference.

ITOC Council:

• The Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary/treasurer ITOC shall comprise the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color Council and members of the Member Section Council.
• Each officer shall have been a member in good standing in the RID, Inc. for one year prior to their election.
• Officers shall maintain their membership in good standing in both RID, Inc. and the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color during their 2 year term of office.

Council Duties:

Chair:

a.      The Chair shall be a certified member in good standing of the RID, Inc. and a member in good standing of the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color.

b.       S/he shall conduct all meetings.

c.       Submits comprehensive financial and activity reports to the ITOC members and to the RID Board of Directors as outlined in the Member Section Policy.

d.      The Chair shall represent the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color to the RID, Inc. Community, and its standing and ad hoc committees, or s/he may appoint a representative.

e.      S/he shall represent the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color to other organizations under direction of the RID, Inc. Board of Directors or s/he may appoint a representative.

f.        Belongs and participates on Member Section Council yahoogroup.

g.      Acts as liaison between members of ITOC and the RID Board of Directors.

h.      Maintains other powers as assigned by the RID Board or the ITOC Council.

Vice Chair:

i.        The Vice Chair shall be a certified member in good standing of the RID, Inc. and the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color.

j.        Shall conduct the Chair's duties if the Chair cannot complete his/her duties.

k.       S/he shall act as the liaison to any committees

l.        Belongs and participates on Member Section Council yahoogroup.

m.    Other duties as proscribed by members.

Secretary/Treasurer

n.      The Secretary/Treasurer shall be a certified or associate member in good standing of the RID, Inc. and the Interpreters and Transliterators of Color.

o.      S/he shall keep and maintain a full and accurate record of all general and officers meetings and accurate accounting of all funds and submit them to the Chair in accordance of the due date stated within the Members Section Policy.

p.      S/he shall make an accounting report at all General meetings

We encourage you to nominate ITOC members so that ITOC can continue to function FOR the membership. 

Click here for the ITOC Council nominations form.

ITOC Poll

Happy New Year from ITOC

 

Video access: Erica West Oyedele, a Black interpreter is sitting at her desk signing. She is wearing a blue shirt, blue earrings and blue watch. Her black hair is pulled back in a clip. In the background is a bookshelf filled with books, photos, and a clay sculpture of an "I love you" hand in green is visible.

Hi! My name is Erica West Oyedele. I am the Chair for RID's member section ITOC (Interpreters and Transliterators of Color). I want to take a few moments of your time to share with you what's going on with ITOC. I have three discussion points to share with you.

1) Poll questions: The ITOC council has agreed that one of our goals is to encourage member involvement within ITOC. We believe it’s important that we have a better understanding of your experiences and perspectives. The council decided that we would do this by posting poll questions periodically to seek your input related to the interpreting profession. Poll questions will be posted on our website, and within our Facebook group. Those will be coming soon.

2) RID national conference: The RID national conference is this year in August in New Orleans. ITOC is looking forward to being there. ITOC is currently in the planning stages for an event that we are not prepared to make an announcement but we will soon. Again, this means please look to our website and our Facebook page for more information.

3) ITOC council nominations: This relates to the previous topic. It is time to elect new council members. Positions that will be opening are mine, the position of Chair. As well as the position of Vice Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer. The newly elected council members will take office during the RID national conference. The call for nominations and the vote will take place prior to the conference. More details will be posted soon on our website and in Facebook.

That's all that I needed to cover. Thank you for your time, thank you for watching, and happy new year. ILY!