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.

President

Esther Diaz

As co-founder of AATIA, it has been very gratifying to see how the organization has grown and prospered in the nearly 25 years since its formation. The recent establishment of a physical headquarters shows that AATIA is here to stay. As any organization, it needs ongoing care and maintenance. My goals for the coming year are:

· To find ways to serve the needs of senior language professionals in a variety of languages and specialties

· To mentor new leaders for AATIA by recruiting members who are willing to help each of the Directors to accomplish their tasks and potentially be ready to step into their shoes

· To continue to improve our website and online directory

· To finish revising the Manual of AATIA Policies and Procedures (MAPP) to provide up-to-date instructions for Board members and upcoming leaders

I ask for your support to accomplish these goals.

J. Henry Phillips

To choose between two candidates, the differences are what count. I offer a full-time certified professional translator and interpreter with a 4-year university language degree; a self-employed entrepreneur 22 years a member of AATIA who values professional freedom and voluntary consent. See my credentials at portugueseinterpeter.com. This is not a schoolteachers’ association. Schoolteachers, bureaucrats, politicians and lobbyists favor policies which benefit their own professions just as I favor mine. Lobbyists want you enrolled at their diploma mills—rather than accredited universities. "Grandfathered interpreter" licensees seek testing requirements to eliminate competitors just as corporate agencies want laws that hobble small companies. As president I advertised the association so that all members had increased opportunities for employment based on the following ethical precept: "Exemplify in your work a courageous regard for the whole membership, and not just some powerful and influential faction thereof with which you come in close personal contact."

Secretary

Marcela Ramos

I have been a member since 2007 and throughout this time, I’ve learned and grown as a young professional in this field. I am grateful for what the organization has given me and now I believe I’m ready to give back; therefore, I am honored to be included in this year’s ballot for secretary. This is an opportunity for me to demonstrate my commitment to the organization and I’m ready for this role if given the opportunity. I hope I can count on your vote.

Director of Communication

Juan Tornoe

It is an honor to be a new member of the Austin Area Translators & Interpreters Association. Austin has been home for me and my family for a bit more than 7 years now. It is not enough to formally become part of our community by, among other things, joining this association, but I strongly believe that not only I should be an active member of the Austin community, but it is more than time to begin giving back after all that it has given to us through the years. Yes, I am a newbie to this industry, but I can contribute to it utilizing the skills that I’ve developed through the years: I can put my experience in marketing, advertising blogging and social media to work promoting our organization, its members and the services they provide. I hope to have the privilege to be of your service.

Director of Finance

Rose Tempfer

I am honored to have been nominated for Finance Director and thankful for the opportunity to be more involved in AATIA. I look forward to actively participating and contributing to the overall well-being and ongoing development of benefits for my fellow Interpreters and Translators. A native Texan, I lived 30 years in Queretaro, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, Mexico. I studied Spanish at the Instituto Tecnológico in Monterrey, Mexico, where I ultimately founded Communicación Bilingue Language Center. Thus began a 20-year career as ESL and SSL Instructor, Coach, Translator and Simultaneous Interpreter. Clients include: Price Waterhouse, Grupo Alpha, Hylsa, Quasar, Crown Plaza and Sheraton Ambassador Hotels, American Chamber of Commerce, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, IRS Tax Services, and CASA social services. I’ve been a member of AATIA and NAJIT since 2006. I joined TAJIT in 2009. I’m currently preparing for court interpreter certification. As Past Chair of the Board for Wimberley Chamber of Commerce and current Ladies Auxiliary President to the Wimberley Veterans of Foreign Wars, I learned first hand how to plan as a team for the benefit of a larger group. Although not an accountant, I am knowledgeable of the standards of general accounting procedures. If elected, I promise to keep AATIA accounts current and fulfill all duties assigned.

Director of Membership

Joseph Brettell

I am an active member of AATIA currently working primarily with the English and Spanish languages in judicial interpretation. Firstly I would like all members to know that I take all of my responsibilities and commitments very seriously and that if elected I will sincerely do my very best to serve as Director of Membership. After speaking with the former Director, Mrs. Gisela Greenlee, I have become aware that all documents and records associated with membership are in good order and quite well organized. One way in which I feel that I will be able to make significant progress is by increasing our membership. My plan is to put together a presentation outlining the benefits of membership in AATIA and to go around to various businesses, organizations, institutions, etc. who contract interpreters and translators and present to them the case for becoming a member. As we all know the benefits of membership are many and varied and with more active members, our organization will only grow stronger. My hope is to live up to the legacy that Mrs. Greenlee, the former Director of Membership, left behind and my commitment is to maintain well ordered all matters of membership in the organization, and to significantly increase membership. Thank you very much, and I look forward to serving AATIA in the coming years.

Director of Professional Development

Carolina Modesto

Professional Development represents an ongoing cycle of educational activities upon which we may build in order to achieve desired personal and professional goals. As translators and interpreters we all bring a rich and diverse pool of knowledge to the table that can be utilized creatively in the realm of translations and interpretation. With a background in psychology, various years of experience as a translator, and as a long-time AATIA member, I would feel honored to contribute to the achievement of your goals. With your vote, I look forward to continue organizing meaningful and enthusiastic events that have a focus on technology and are conducive to making us more competitive and productive translators/interpreters during these rapidly changing times.

AATIA members should receive an email today containing a link to a special election ballot to fill two vacancies on the AATIA Board of Directors. Members may vote for nominees Anna Hovenden (Secretary) and Carolina Modesto (Director of Professional Development) or write-in candidates. The email supplies an ID and password for the electronic ballot, and the entire process takes less than a minute.

Members who do not receive the enabling email should contact Elections Online to request the ID and password.

Results will be anounced here and at the May 9 member meeting.

The following are the results of the 2009 AATIA Board of Directors election. Sixty-three (63) ballots were received, all of which were valid and counted.

This year for the first time the election was conducted online via ElectionsOnline.us.

*Elected.

Italics indicate write-ins.

This year marks AATIA’s first online election for the 2009 Board of Directors, candidates for which were profiled earlier.

Members eligible to vote (Active members) should receive an email on Wednesday, September 10, from Elections Online with an assigned one-time  username and password allowing access to the online ballot, along with the link to the ballot. The ballot will accommodate write-in votes.

To be counted, ballots must be received by September 30, 2008.

Results of the election will be announced at the general membership meeting on November 8, 2008 and here on the AATIA blog. The term of office runs from January through December 2009.

Nominating Committee Chair Carlota Grimes has announced candidates for the 2009 Board of Directors elections. Candidates will make brief presentations at the meeting on September 13, 2008. The election will be conducted by online voting in September, and results will be announced at the November member meeting.

Grimes expressed thanks to all the candidates for their willingness to run for office. She also thanked fellow Nominating Committee members Marco Hansen and Carolina Modesto for their participation.

The candidates’ statements and photos are presented below.

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On your mark! Get set…AATIA is gearing up for the September election of the 2009 Board of Directors. The six positions include: President, Director of Communications, Director of Finance, Director of Membership, Director of Professional Development, and Secretary.

Carlota Grimes will chair the Nominating Committee, which also includes Marco Hansen and Carolina Modesto. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on the Board next year or would like to nominate someone else, please contact a member of the  Nominating Committee by August 2, 2008.