Congratulations to our own Cristina Helmerichs and Odile Legeay, who have been elected to the Board of the ATA:

Election of American Translators Association officers and directors took place Thursday morning during the Annual Meeting of All Voting Members.

Dorothee Racette was elected President-elect, Virginia Perez-Santalla Secretary, and Gabe Bokor Treasurer.

Three new Board members were also elected to fill 3-year terms: Cristina Helmerichs, Odile Legeay, and Frieda Ruppaner-Lind.

David Rumsey was elected to fill a 1-year term on the Board.

Conference photos and news will be posted on the ATA website.

The translation industry is growing during these tough economic times, and will continue to do so due to the nature of the globalized economy, predicts Margarita Griggs, a member of the American Translators Association (ATA). Griggs, who recently received an international award for her work with high school and college students, says organizations in the United States will need to rely more on the global economy because the domestic economy is struggling. And organizations will need accurate translation when conducting business around the world, she says. The translation and interpreting services industry has grown at a rate of 10 to 15 percent annually over the past decade and is now an $11 billion industry. Parade Magazine recently ranked translation as the second hottest job, noting that the need for translators will grow by 26 percent over the next ten years.

From "Interpreters in High Demand"
KOLOTV.com (NV) (10/09/09) Wightman, Karoline
Quoted in ATA Newsbriefs

Mark your calendars!

AATIA’s Literary Special Interest Group—the LitSIG—has (mostly) finalized its schedule for the rest of the year:

• November 21, 2009
• January 23, 2010
• February 20, 2010
• March 27, 2010
• April 24, 2010 (Poetry Month!)
• May 22 (or 29), 2010

All meetings take place on a Saturday from 2 to 4 pm, unless otherwise noted.

For more information about specific meetings, including location, or to learn more about LitSIG in general, contact the LitSIG coordinator, Liliana Valenzuela, at litsig@aatia.org.

For those who won’t be attending the ATA’s 50th Anniversary conference in New York, the AATIA’s November 14 meeting is the next-best thing! Four Austin members will provide a debriefing on their experiences at this milestone event in the Big Apple.

Pat Bobeck, who translates French and Spanish into English and specializes in (among other things) geology, petroleum engineering, and environmental sciences will talk about her visit to New York.

Esther Diaz, Administrator of ATA’s Medical Division, will also share her perspective on the conference.

And literary translators Liliana Valenzuela and Tony Beckwith will discuss their conference presentation, “Two Heads are Better than One: A Literary Translation Story,” and explain how they jointly translated a book of 73 stories riddled with jokes, puns, plays on words, cultural references, and onomatopoeia.

Join us and get a first-hand report of what’s going on at the heart of our industry. As always, there’ll be refreshments and lots of good networking on Saturday, November 14, from 1 to 4 pm at our downtown space at the ICA premises (check www.aatia.net for the address, directions, and parking instructions.)

Watch this blog for more details!

Free parking is available at the Convention Center parking garage, which is on the west side of the building that houses our offices. Enter from Brazos Street, inform the attendant that you are attending an AATIA event, and sign a garage parking record sheet. There is no charge. 
 

Results for AATIA 2010 Board of Directors Election

Total ballots returned = 55
Total number of eligible voters = 153
Percent of ballot return = 35.95%

President
Esther Diaz receives 50 votes, 90.91% of the total.
J. Henry Phillips receives 5 votes, 9.09% of the total.
 
Secretary
Marcela Ramos receives 51 votes, 92.73% of the total.
No selection made. receives 3 votes, 5.45% of the total.
Steven Mines receives 1 votes, 1.82% of the total.

Director of Communication
Juan Tornoe receives 50 votes, 90.91% of the total.
No selection made. receives 3 votes, 5.45% of the total.
Fritz Hensey receives 1 votes, 1.82% of the total.
Tony Beckwith receives 1 votes, 1.82% of the total.

Director of Finance
Rose Tempfer receives 52 votes, 94.55% of the total.
No selection made. receives 2 votes, 3.64% of the total.
Ben Maya receives 1 votes, 1.82% of the total.

Director of Membership
Joseph Brettell receives 51 votes, 92.73% of the total.
No selection made. receives 3 votes, 5.45% of the total.
Tony Beckwith receives 1 votes, 1.82% of the total.

Director of Professional Development
Carolina Modesto receives 51 votes, 92.73% of the total.
No selection made. receives 2 votes, 3.64% of the total.
Maurine McLean receives 1 votes, 1.82% of the total.
R.M. Conner receives 1 votes, 1.82% of the total.

Once again, the Austin Classical Guitar Society has been kind enough to offer AATIA members a special rate for a very special event.

The legendary Kazuhito Yamashita , Japan ’s most celebrated classical guitarist, will be making a rare appearance in the United States, on Saturday, October 10th at the Northwest Hills United Methodist Church at 8:00pm.

Interested members can call the ACGS office (512-300-2247), mention AATIA, and receive their discount. Discounted tickets can also be purchased at the door. Members’ families are also eligible for the discounted ticket price.

Kazuhito Yamashita
Saturday, October 10th, at 8PM
Northwest Hills United Methodist Church
7050 Village Center Drive
Special Ticket Offer to members and affiliates of AATIA
Tickets $25 (normally $45!)
512-300-ACGS or AustinClassicalGuitar.org

Yamashita rose to international prominence when he performed phenomenal feats on the solo classical guitar including Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Musorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. He has recorded and toured extensively with flute giant James Galway. His debut in Austin is one of ACGS’ proudest moments and is the ideal beginning to our 20th anniversary season.
  

Join us for this month's meeting of the Interpreters Special Interest Group. We will have two speakers:

First, Leonard Sepeda will tell us about the language services program at Dell Children's Medical Center and how they are implementing the Spanish Bilingual Assistant Program.

Then, Tomas Leon will tell us about court interpreter legislation considered by the Texas Legislature this year: what passed, and what didn't.

The meeting will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 at AATIA Headquarters. See map in right column for directions and parking information.

Everyone is invited.

In recognition of St. Jerome, the principle translator of the Vulgate Bible and patron saint of translators, the AATIA will host a historic International Translation Day celebration.

There will be entertainment from the Executive Director of the Austin Classical Guitar Society, Dr. Matthew Hinsley, the lively and funny Gabacha-chas led by Maurine Mclean and Lisa Rogers, and an exciting samba exhibition with audience participation led by Rebekah Fowler.

A rich variety of delicacies and beverages will be offered for your pleasure.
Free parking is available at the Convention Center Parking Lot. Enter by turning north on Brazos from East 1st Street, going 2/3 of a block, entering the CC Parking lot on the right, and telling the attendant that you are with the AATIA. See the map in the right column.

Please join us at the ICA office on October 3rd from 7-10 p.m. for fun, friendship, and food. Friends and family are welcome.

Michael Blumenthal, President