It’s been a while since I last sat down to write on this blog. The last six months to a year have been a blur! Between becoming a board member of a non-profit national organization whose sole purpose is providing professional development and advocacy to members of our profession, taking care of my website translation business while managing the day-to-day responsibilities of family, it’s been a rollercoaster! There is a gigantic amount of work to do, so here we are!
For those of you who attended the National Assoc. of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV this past June, I was so glad to have the opportunity to meet and greet so many of you. Did we have fun, or what??? This conference offered a myriad of opportunities for networking and professional development at all levels for newcomers, intermediate and well-seasoned professionals in a welcoming, encouraging and nurturing setting.
The program included names of the likes of Don Alberto Gómez-Font, Judy Jenner, Janis Palma, Tony Rosado, Ernesto Niño-Murcia, Xosé Castro-Roig, Antonio Martin, Kathy Kauffman, Javier Castillo Jr., Nora Díaz, Prof. Karen Borgenheimer, Dr. David Gilbert, Jason Knapp and myself, just to name a few, covering topics from ethics to advances in technology and working with AI to how to connect with immigration and advocacy, to vocabulary and everything in between; no topics were left untouched.
There have been so many changes affecting the profession that it is hard to keep up! That is why it is so important to attend as many events and opportunities for professional development and networking as you may have headed your way. Stay sharp and well-informed about the new trends and challenges already being implemented. Stay hungry and keep your eyes on the prize!
IN THE NEWS… Kudos to Minnesota, Nebraska and Massachusetts for having taken positive steps to meet the demands of contract and/or staff interpreters. A big thank you to the local and grassroots organizations that have dedicated so much time and efforts to provoke change and bring awareness of the working conditions of these colleagues in the profession.
The year seems to have started with a loud roar. I am busier than ever! From interpreting to translation projects, our profession and the translation and interpreting industries are thriving. There is a constant need for qualified interpreters and translators across the nation. Take advantage of the benefits of being a part of a T&I organization. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Invest in yourself and your future. Become a member and volunteer at a local or national professional organization. Remember, your colleagues are your first line of potential clients. Start planning now!
Everyone is talking about AI and VRI and its impact on the profession. What do you think? Are you prepared for the unstoppable constant that is change and everything that comes with it such as revolutionary, yes revolutionary, changes within our very existence and survival? What is your plan of action? Are you truly prepared? Are you able to adapt? Can you reinvent yourself and diversify? These are the questions we have to ask ourselves and an honest and real conversation with yourself has to happen.
Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the benefits of belonging to a T&I organization; if you want to take your career to the next level, invest in yourself and your future. Become a member and volunteer at a local or national T&I professional organization. Make sure you give back to those who are so willing go to work for you. Your colleagues are you first line of potential clients and allies.
Start planning to get more involved in your profession now. Ask me how!
The Traveling Interpreter 