The March issue of The AATIA Letter, now online as a pdf, features Frank Dietz’s article "Getting Your Files from There to Here"(posted here earlier) and Tony Beckwith’s mini-memoir "The Caledonian Ball," plus the news about AATIA’s HQ office in the heart of downtown Austin and the new blog (you’re reading it!).

AATIA Angels make monetary contributions to the association above and beyond any dues obligations and volunteer activity. According to Director of Finance Al Favela, the following have contributed toward the 2008 budget:

Tony Beckwith, Albert Bork, Michael & Marta Blumenthal, Tomoko Carroll, Sonia Hart, Yolanda Zamarrita Linehan, Ralph McElroy Translations, Leon McMorrow, Rita Pavone, Ezequiel Quijano, Maria Victoria Delgado Ryan, Kathi Stock, Phillip Thomas, Liliana Valenzuela, and Nereida Samuda Zimic.

The Board of Directors expressed thanks to these Angels for their generous support of the association. Others who want to become AATIA Angels, even non-members, may contribute via the PayPal button at the bottom of the membership page.

Michael Blumenthal will speak at the American Translators Association Spanish Language Division Conference, which will be held March 28-30 in Philadelphia. The abstract of his bilingual presentation, titled “The Pancreas: Function and Dysfunction,” follows:

Homeostasis, the dynamic balance of neurological and chemical processes in the human body, is maintained by constant feedback and regulation involving the brain, nervous tissues, and a great number of glands and organs. One important and essential organ that helps maintain homeostasis that many translators and interpreters do not know much about is the pancreas. Pathological conditions of the pancreas can be chronic or acutely life threatening. The goals of this workshop include: identify the pancreatic anatomical structures with which medical translators and interpreters must be familiar; discuss function and dysfunction of the pancreas including pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, and diabetes; become familiar with the most common diagnostic and laboratory tests; and provide a useful Spanish<>English glossary of terms.

& Noah Nordskog" href="http://aatia.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/julienoahnordskog.jpg" class="broken_link">AATIA Secretary Julie Nordskog and her son Noah were featured in the CBS 42 news cover story, “Volunteering as a Family Project,” broadcast on February 18. The video clip and text of the story are now available on the KEYE TV website.

If you’ve been dragging your feet about registering for the information session on ATA certification, drag them no longer! The registration deadline is Monday, February 25th. Contact Laura Vlasman, ATA Certification Coordinator for AATIA, for more information.

Beginning literary translators may now apply for travel funds to attend the 2008 conference of the American Literary Translators Association in Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota, on October 15–18. To apply, send a letter that includes the applicant’s curriculum vitae, ten double-spaced pages of translation into English, and the original foreign language text to:

ALTA Travel Fellowship Award c/o UTDallas 800 W. Campbell Road - JO51 Richardson, TX 75020-3021 Attention: Lindy Jolly

Application deadline is May 15.

Over a dozen AATIA volunteer interpreters and career models helped serve the 3000 people attending the Austin Independent School District’s Feria para Aprender (educational fair) on February 17th. A photo of AATIA member Marco Hanson, wearing the official AATIA t-shirt, and Univision news reporter Regina Rodriguez accompanied the Austin American Statesman’s slideshow on the event. (See photo 4. Site may require free registration.)

CyraCom is partnering with Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth to present an Interpreter Skills Development training course on April 8–10, 2008, open to all practicing medical interpreters in the area.

This comprehensive, three-day course teaches how to apply interpretation techniques of clear, effective communication between Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients and healthcare professionals. The cost is $325 per person, which includes lunch each day and all educational materials.