Marianne Martinez of the Austin Sister Cities program will be one of the featured speakers at AATIA’s next member meeting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 12. The broad goals of the program are to foster friendly relations and promote understanding between the people of Austin and the citizens of our sister cities around the world.

This program is designed to contribute to the educational, cultural, social, and economic presence of the City of Austin in the international community of nations. You may have noticed the related displays at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The meeting, to be held at the Austin History Center (9th & Guadalupe), will have the usual high-quality networking, top-notch refreshments, and other meeting segments, which will be announced here as the details surface.

Join AATIA’s Interpreters Special Interest Group for an update on healthcare interpreting this Saturday, June 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the International Center of Austin (201 East 2nd St). Find out about the recent NCIHC General Meeting and national certification efforts.

Street parking is available and parking meters are free.

The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care  (NCIHC) will hold its 2nd Annual Membership Meeting at the Emory Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 5-6, 2008. It will be followed by the Southeast Regional Interpreters Conference, held by the Medical Interpreter Network of Georgia (MING), at the same location on June 6-7, 2008.

The NCIHC offers a brochure on this year’s meeting and a report on last year’s event. Register and get hotel information. Information about submitting presentation proposals, exhibiting, or sponsoring may be viewed on the website or obtained by contacting a representative of NCIHC.

Don’t miss the chance to attend two great events over a long weekend!

Nora Comstock will speak at the next SpanSIG meeting. She is the Executive Director of Las Comadres, an informal internet-based group that meets monthly in many US cities to build connections and community with other Latinas.

The meeting will be held at the Austin History Center, 9th & Guadalupe, 10:15-12 noon, on Saturday, May 10. Don’t forget the member meeting at 1:00 p.m. the same day, same place.

Due to the conflict with the Old Pecan Street festival and the related parking problems downtown, the LitSIG meeting this coming Saturday, May 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. will be held at the home of Marian Schwartz.

Liliana Valenzuela will coordinate a discussion of the April issue of Poetry magazine, which is devoted to translation.  Last we heard, Liliana had two copies left; contact her to obtain a copy and the prospectus for the discussion.

AATIA will observe World in Translation Month at the member meeting on Saturday, May 10, 1:00 p.m., at the Austin History Center, 9th & Guadalupe, according to Maurine McLean, Director of Professional Development.

Tony Beckwith will share insights on translating tangos, with musical examples. Marian Schwartz will point out some key Internet sites for literary translators.

In addition, Frank Dietz will demonstrate how to use RSS feeds from the new AATIA blog, walking us through the process of connecting to this valuable resource.

Refreshments and networking round out the meeting. Language-loving guests are welcome.

On Saturday, April 12, 2008, some two score and ten enthusiastic translators and interpreters gathered to celebrate the opening of the AATIA’s new home in downtown Austin. Housed at the ICA, the International Center of Austin’s premises at 201 East 2nd Street, the association now has a permanent office and some very convenient meeting and workshop space available to its members.

In spite of the glorious weather, the Open House was well-attended, and after champagne toasts and welcoming speeches by President Michael Blumenthal and other Board members, guests enjoyed refreshments (including cold boiled shrimp and a spectacular chocolate cake!) and the opportunity to visit with their colleagues.

This is the first time that the group has had a home of its own. Many thanks are due to AATIA founder (and new office manager) Esther Diaz for her tireless efforts on behalf of the association that have, once again, resulted in improved conditions and services for members.

Congratulations to all who contributed to making the event a success, and our sincere appreciation to Ralph McElroy Translations for their generous sponsorship.

Were you there? Or do you wish you could have been? Either way, please add your comments here, and share your thoughts with all the other members who visit this blog. Let’s keep the conversation going!

The Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators (TAHIT) will hold its annual symposium in Dallas on April 25-26.