It's rather easy to find national and international industry conferences that focus on translation or localization. Unfortunately, it has been a little more difficult to find national and international conferences focused on interpreting. As the interpreting marketet is smaller, this is certainly to be expected. Fortunately, interpreters have something big to look forward to in June. The 1st North American Summit on Interpreting will be held June 17th in Washington, DC.
Now interpreters and interpreting companies can attend a serious conference where presentations on interpreting are billed as the main event instead of being included as almost an afterthought. The organizers, Barry Slaughter Olsen and Katherine Allen, have lined up some big sponsors and good speakers including Diane DeTerra of the National Foreign Language Center and Nataly Kelly of Common Sense Advisory.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
1st North American Summit on Interpreting
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I'm a bit concerned about this conference because it's hosted by a for-profit association. The average interpreter can only afford to attend so many conferences a year and when for-profit organizations start taking away from events hosted by interpreter associations, what do we lose? What's at risk?
For-profit company. Sorry, I meant it's hosted by a for-profit company.
Anonymous, why does it concern you that someone might make a profit? Wouldn't a little profit provide more incentive to create a great conference that will get attendees to return in future years? A non-profit association usually exists year round and has to pay out fixed salaries no matter what; however, a for-profit LLC created specifically for the creation of the conference seems a little leaner to me, and its more likely that people will not make any money unless they make the conference worthwhile and keep attendees returning for more.
Also, it appears that the registration fee for this conference is lower than the fees for most other national and international conferences on translation and localization (full registration or one-day pass).
I recommend we evaluate the conference on its true merits. If a full day of presentations and networking focused on interpreting seems worthwhile, and if the presentation speakers and topics look interesting, then the summit may be a good fit for you. If not, then go ahead and pass. Why not evaluate it based on what you know (cost vs benefit of the program) instead of speculating how much money someone might make?
Disclaimer: I am also only speculating - I have no financial interest in this LLC and I don't know if the organizers will make any money.
Dear Anonymous,
First of all, thanks to Adam for shining some light on the 1st North American Summit on Interpreting in his corner of the blogosphere. We are gratified by the interest the interpreting world is showing in the Summit. In an effort to allay your concerns, Barry and I, as Co-Presidents of InterpretAmerica, LLC, would like to clarify the nature of the LLC we have created to launch the Summit. Our decision to incorporate as an LLC was a deliberate one based on our philosophy for strengthening the interpreting profession, something we are passionate about.
We believe that professional work should be fairly compensated, and that in order for interpreting in all its forms and venues to be duly recognized as the professional activity it is, interpreters must be able to make a living exercising their chosen profession. This philosophy also holds true for the speakers, studies, and reports commissioned for the Summit. How can an entity go to noted experts in their fields of expertise and ask them to undertake major research for free and expect to be taken seriously? Our goal is for the Summit and future events to pay for themselves, so that we can continue to provide this forum. It is not a vehicle to sell a product, but rather a way to create space for the profession to progress.
We also created the LLC for practical reasons—to conduct the requisite fundraising and sponsorship activities to pull off an event such as the Summit and to be able to process financial transactions, sign contracts, etc, as a business entity and not as individuals.
We are confident that by attending the 1st North American Summit on Interpreting, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You will have the opportunity to gather with 100+ other colleagues and leaders from professional associations, academe, government, international organizations, and the private sector who are concerned about the future of the profession and have decided to attend the Summit to learn, network, and find ways of strengthening the profession for years to come.
Finally, we invite you to read the last three questions of the FAQs found on the Summit website (www.interpretamerica.net/faq) for additional explanations as to why we incorporated as an LLC.
Thanks for your dedication to the profession. We hope to see you at the Summit.
Sincerely,
Katharine Allen & Barry S. Olsen, Co-Presidents, InterpretAmerica, LLC
To answer Adam, I don't have a problem that they want to make money. Let them make money. We're all idiots if we don't realize not-for-profits make money off of their conferences, too.
What I do have a problem is that they're creating yet ANOTHER event to go to so that they can make money. Now, khallen said they are not doing this to make money, but feel as though they should be paid for their wages. Go for it. You think not-for-profits don't get paid? You can form a 501c3, a BCorp, lots of other things besides an LLC that allow you to have a mission yet still get paid.
Again, my problem is yet ANOTHER event to have to attend. I mean, really, between NCIHC, IMIA, ATA, NAJIT, ATA-ID, ATA-MD, and all the regionals (CATI, MATI, TAPIT, SEMIA, NITA, CHIA, the list goes on), an interpreter will go broke. I realize it is my own responsibility to pick and choose, but throwing yet ANOTHER conference in the mix does not help the industry but rather splits it. So of course Language Line is a sponsor. They, after all, just split the certification efforts together with IMIA to screw us all. Big shocker they'd take part in a new division.
United we stand, divided we fall. That's the main point. The fact that they're an LLC is just salt in the wound.
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