The AATIA Board of Directors met with Mayor Lee Leffingwell on Thursday, September 23, at the Austin City Council Meeting. Video of this presentation is available at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/channel6/default.htm. (Select "City Council Meetings" September 23 video. Then fast-forward to the segment on "Proclamations." Ours was the third proclamation.)

This is the press release from the City of Austin:

Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association Celebrates 25 years of serving the community in over 40 Languages

25th Anniversary coincides with International Translators Day on Sept 30

The Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association (AATIA) celebrates a quarter of a century of bringing professional member-based language translation services to Austin’s legal, medical, and international business communities. The momentous occasion also marks International Translators Day on September 30. “The program does an excellent job of facilitating successful international communications while establishing mutual respect between nations and communities in the Austin area,” said Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. As one of the most active professional associations in the country, Austin’s premiere language specialists do more than simply translate words - they build bridges by relaying concepts and ideas between languages. Members must be subject matter experts and be sensitive to the cultures associated with their language expertise. AATIA members translate and interpret many languages from Arabic and Bengali to French and Spanish. AATIA will be recognized with a proclamation for their international communications efforts for the Austin area by the Austin City Council at the September 23rd meeting. The Austin Area Translators and Interpreters Association actively promote global business and personal relationships by collaborating with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the City of Austin International Program, the International Hospitality Council of Austin, and the International Center of Austin. "The International Economic Development Division of the City is pleased to partner with the AATIA as they provide a valuable service that compliments the City's objective of increasing international relationships and business," said Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office Deputy Director, Rodney Gonzales.