Index

Presenters Biographies - Workshop Descriptions

Evon Black	Mama Cares: It runz in the family . . .
Susan Boinis & Patty Gordon	Current Practices in Team Interpreting
Paul Deeming	Keeping the Playing Field Equal: Communication & Interpreting Techniques for Working with DeafBlind Consumers in Meetings with Hearing/Deaf Participants
Mark Alan English & Patty McCutcheon	Interpreting by Design: Applying a Demand-Control Lens
Kelly Flores	Parliamentary Procedures 101
Jessalyn Frank	Beginner Yoga & Beginner Pilates
Jeffrey Kirkwood & Gail Nygren	Deaf Smart: The Influence of Deaf Culture on Interpreting Decision Making
Curt Micka	Emotional Intelligence and the Enneagram
Soohyun Tak	Exploring Hidden Biases in Interpreting Work, Keynote
Cynthia Weitzel	Interdependency Vs. Codependency

*Mama Cares: It runz in the family*... is a humorous one woman show, created and performed from her memories and experiences of growing up deaf with a Southern country mother from Arkansas. Evon Black will take you a journey of her memories and experiences of growing up Deaf within her hearing family. Through her black deaf child eyes, she would take you to some of her humorous experiences dealing with hearing siblings, families and communities ranging from her upbringing, church and sitting in the kitchen. The wealth of cultures and stories would leave the audience to smile and to learn at the same time.
Evon Black ~ .10 CEUs ~ Back to the Top

Current Practices in Team Interpreting New and experienced interpreters will participate in activities around the nature of team interpreting, ways to team and communication strategies between team interpreters.
Susan Boinis & Patty Gordon ~ .45 CEUs ~ Back to the Top

*Keeping the Playing Field Equal: Communication & Interpreting Techniques for Working with DeafBlind Consumers in Meetings with Hearing/Deaf Participants* Deafblind participants in meetings with hearing and/or deaf people often get left behind in the flow of communication due to the differences in communication needs and styles as well as the interpreting process unique to deafblind individuals. Deafblind participants may not be aware of this problem when it happens and at a loss how to resolve it so that they maintain equal participation in the meeting. Interpreters may be aware of the problem but also be at a loss to know how to rectify it or realize that they can be empowered by their deafblind consumer to do so. This workshop will explain the differences in communication between meetings with and without deafblind participants, how those differences contribute to the problem, and how a change in communication and interpreting techniques can “equalize the playing field” so that deafblind members do not get left behind. Participants will also learn how to conduct pre- and post-meeting debriefings with their deafblind consumer and meeting chair to improve communication and the interpreting process.
Paul Deeming ~ .3 CEUs ~ Back to the Top

*Interpreting by Design: Applying a Demand-Control Lens* This workshop is in response to the growing demand from deaf and hearing consumers to work closely with a cohesive team of interpreters in dynamic settings. We will lay the foundation of corporate and consumer expectations, explore various business environments and the impact of our work in these setting. Our design will show how best to predict and adjust to demands quickly. We’ll explore the strategies for building rapport and confidence with all our clients. Establishing a team that understands how to anticipate and negotiate business protocol is essential. Preparing to interpret in these dynamic environments takes time and commitment. Identifying interpreter strengths, styles and areas of support can help your team handle the complexities from board communications to college room lectures.
Mark Alan English & Patty McCutcheon ~ .6 CEUs ~ Back to the Top

*Parliamentary Procedures 101* Description coming soon!
Kelly Flores ~ .15 CEUs ~ Back to the Top
Beginner Yoga & Beginner Pilates YOGA is the new wave in healthy well being community. It is something that can be done at home, in your office, outside, at the beach, anywhere. It combines a wide range of techniques, body positions, breathing, mediation, diet and reflection. We will learn about preparation, breathing techniques, warm up poses and do some poses such as the butterfly, cat and dog, several standing poses and end with the sun salutation. You will be shown how to apply Yoga to the office or to your working environment. While some Yoga techniques are used with different audiences, this Yoga approach will be through complete silence, use of American Sign Language, eye contact and some gentle tapping on the floor. Come with comfortable to “move” in clothes. PILATES is core strength exercises that develop stability. It is the exercises of Joseph Pilates with the mind frame of bringing together the body/soul/spirit. There are principles that are followed in the Pilates community but not agreed upon in which order. These principles were not created by Joe Pilates himself but developed as a result of his work later. Centering, Concentration, Control, Precision, Breath and Flow are some of the named principles. You will learn some of the basic exercises of Pilates, what types of classes, levels there are out there to pursue your ongoing training. People find themselves more flexible, toned, leaner, and a better back posture as result of Pilates. No equipment will be used in this class, so come in comfortable clothes to “move” in.
Jessalyn Frank ~ .10 CEUs (each session) ~ Back to the Top

Deaf Smart: The Influence of Deaf Culture on Interpreting Decision Making Participants will explore cultural norms that influence Deaf and Hard of Hearing people’s expectations of interpreters. An interpreter’s refined understanding of Deaf cultural norms, both behaviorally and linguistically, are keys to a well received interpreting event.
Jeffrey Kirkwood & Gail Nygren ~ .15 CEUs ~ Back to the Top

*Emotional Intelligence and the Enneagram* Emotional intelligence is a key predictor of job-related success in every occupation and at every organizational level. In this presentation you will learn how the Enneagram system can help increase your self-awareness, self-management, and emotional intelligence. You will learn about 9 distinct personality types and how/why it is that people can so easily see and interpret the same situation through different lenses and worldviews. For interpreters, the Enneagram can help you recognize and manage personal patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that may color or bias what is seen, heard, and “interpreted”. And it can offer you insights into how others are seeing and viewing the world. Finally, by better understanding your own and others’ motivations, fears, and behaviors, you can increase your capacity for appreciating, empathizing, and “connecting” with others. Come join me for a morning of exploration, insights, discovery, and personal/professional growth!!
Curt Micka ~ .3 CEUs~ Back to the Top

Exploring Hidden Biases in Interpreting Work Presenter will introduce discussion briefly on the recent trend towards emphasis on awareness of diversity in the workplace, in the school system and everywhere else. Definitions and misconceptions of diversity, which is not limited to race or gender only, also will be introduced. How our own personal biases can affect our professional interactions will be discussed. Tools and strategies to minimize our own biases also will be provided. The objective is to recognize one’s own biases and redefine our own personal values, behaviors, and attitudes to achieve quality working relationships with culturally or ethnically diverse consumers.
Soohyun Tak ~ .6 CEUs ~ Back to the Top

Interdependency Vs. Codependency Participants are invited to explore the issue of maintaining healthy boundaries while engaged with colleagues and clients in a variety of settings. A combination of lecture, group activities and discussion will be used to explore the following questions: What draws us to the helping profession? What purpose do boundaries serve and why are they so important? How do we best take care of ourselves, personally and professionally? How do we mediate optimum working relationships with clients and colleagues? The knowledge and skills gained through this workshop are of benefit to all interpreters regardless of level of skill or experience - ITP students to the most skilled interpreter veterans. Due to the sometimes sensitive nature of this topic, all participants will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement at the start of this workshop.
Cynthia Weitzel ~ .3 CEUs ~ Back to the Top

Evon Black Mama Cares: It runz in the family . . . Evon Black was born and raised in a small town – Blytheville, Arkansas. She has 4 brothers and a sister. She is the youngest and the only deaf sibling in her family. She has been deaf almost all of her life. She graduated from Arkansas school for the Deaf in 1981. She went to Gallaudet University, got her BS degree in Psychology in 1987, and got her Master Degree in 1996 in Educational Technology. Evon has worked primarily in the Deaf student development area for approximately 22 years ranging from Deaf residential schools to Gallaudet University. Prior to Sprint as Alabama Relay Account Manager, she was the Senior Admissions Counselor and handled 21 states for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. For more than 20 years, she has been a performer and motivational speaker nationally. Evon have been an active member in several of civic organizations, holding various positions with the National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) for 19 years. She currently resides in Birmingham Alabama with her precious 11 years old son, known as "DJ". To name a few beside her one woman show, she was an actress for the touring group "I did not hear that color" written by Bob Daniels; she performed for the University of MD, in a unique Play called "Fidgety Phil". http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/WORLDAROUNDYOU/sep-oct99/evon.html Back to the Top

*Susan Boinis & Patty Gordon* Current Practices in Team Interpreting Susan Boinis is a freelance interpreter from St. Paul, Minnesota. She has been interpreting since 1980 and holds CI and CT certification from RID. Susan has an M.A. in Linguistics from Gallaudet University and an undergraduate BA in French and Linguistics from Macalester College. She interprets throughout the state and nationally. Most recently, she was chosen to work at the 2007 RID convention in San Francisco. Susan presents workshops nationally and internationally on a variety of topics including Team Interpreting and Interpreting with Deaf Refugees and Immigrants. She was one of the authors of the ‘MRID Modules for Educational Interpreters’ and recently authored a book entitled, ‘Preparing for Assignments’, for the New Mexico Mentoring project. Susan is an active member of MRID’s Freelance Committee and the Public Policy Committee as well as a past president of MRID. Patty Gordon, CI, CT, has a B.A. in Linguistics from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Liberal Studies degree from the University of Minnesota. She also holds certificates from the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Teaching ASL and Master Mentor programs. She has been a freelance interpreter working in performing arts, medical, government and corporate settings since 1987. She is an adjunct instructor at the College of St. Catherine's interpreting program and has taught workshops on teaming, ASL linguistics and mentoring around the United States. Back to the Top

Paul Deeming Keeping the Playing Field Equal: Communication & Interpreting Techniques for Working with DeafBlind Consumers in Meetings with Hearing/Deaf Participants Paul Deeming, M.S., C.I. has been working in the interpreting field since 1992 and certified since 1997. He earned a BFA in Theatre in 1983 and an MS in Deaf Education in 1988, both from the University of Oklahoma. He has worked in a variety of settings including mental health, medical, rehabilitation, post-secondary education, religious and performing arts. Deeming specializes in working with deafblind consumers and earned a certificate in the DeafBlind Specialist Training Program from Northern Illinois University in 1994. He is a frequent interpreter, SSP (Support Services Provider) and presenter at the American Association of the Deaf-Blind’s conventions. In addition to interpreting in the private sector, he works full-time as a case manager for DeafBlind Services Minnesota. Other employment experiences include working as a rehab counselor for blind and deafblind consumers, advocate, and communications specialist. He is a member of RID, MRID, the American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB), the Minnesota DeafBlind Association (MDBA) and ADARA (Professionals Networking for Excellence in Service Delivery with Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing), and a founding member and former board member of the DeafArt Club of Minnesota. He was named MDBA’s Honorary Member of the Year in 2001 and Volunteer of the Year in 2004. Back to the Top

*Mark Alan English & Patty McCutcheon* Interpreting by Design (Applying Demand-Control Theory) Mark Alan English, CI, has presented in North America the past 18 years. His interest is in exploring and developing corporate, psychiatric, medical and substance abuse interpreting workshops after his adjunct faculty work at the College of St. Catherine, Minneapolis Health Care Interpreting Program. He has worked the past seven years on the Demand Control research project with Dr. Pollard and Robyn Dean. He currently is a Field Consultant for the 3 year D-C FIPSE grant teaching faculty at five ITP’s across the country. Patty McCutcheon, CSC and SC:L, holds a Bachelors in Management, and has been interpreting for 28 years in areas of corporate, post-secondary, legal and performing arts. Currently she is coordinating interpreting services at Winona State University working closely with issues of professional ethics in dynamic settings. Patty has presented on Video Relay Interpreting, Business Practices, and interpreting in performing arts venues. Patty was adjunct faculty for the Interpreter Training Program at Saint Paul College and the Minnesota Supreme Court Interpreters Program. Back to the Top

*Kelly Flores* Parliamentary Procedures 101 Kelly Flores, B.A., CI and CT, is the current RID Region III Representative. Before serving as a national board member, she was president of the Michigan RID chapter for six years. Kelly is currently the program coordinator and full time faculty member for the Oakland Community College Sign Language Interpreter Program. She was an adjunct faculty member at Oakland Community College for three years previously and an adjunct at Lansing Community College’s Sign Language/Interpreter Program for 12 years. Kelly has a B.A. in linguistics from Michigan State University and an associate degree in sign language interpreting from Lansing Community College. She has been an interpreter for 18 years. Kelly lives in the Metro Detroit area with her husband and daughter. Back to the Top

Jessalyn Frank Beginner Yoga & Beginner Pilates Jessalyn Frank, a native of Wisconsin now resides in Minnesota. Jessalyn graduated from Gallaudet University with a BA in communications and minor in Criminology. As a young child, Jessalyn was exposing to various physical exercises and tagged along with her mother to different classes. She began becoming more interested as a young Adult in well being, healthy eating and practicing Yoga, Pilates and other aerobic fitness. At Gallaudet she trained with individuals who were well known in the aerobic, Yoga and Dance community to become knowledgeable of practices and certified Currently she is slowly perusing her own business under the title Deaf Fit, she hopes to be able to provide fitness opportunities, workshops, trainings on well being, reducing stress and harmony through the practice of all forms of training. Currently a Community Specialist with CSD of Minnesota she is operating programs under the Deaf Domestic Violence Program, Health Education and Recreation. She understands first hand how human service jobs take a toll on personal health and well being and aims at finding solutions that are suitable for everyone to use and practice to maintain personal healthiness. Graduating from University of Minnesota this upcoming 2008 in Deaf Education with a minor in GLBT studies, she awaits free time to begin to focus on her life long love and interests in promoting healthy lifestyles in the community. Jessalyn lives with her partner Renee, pet bunny; Cinnabuns and two cats Dante and Zoë. Back to the Top

Jeffrey Kirkwood & Gail Nygren Deaf Smart: The Influence of Deaf Culture on Interpreting Decision Making Jeffrey Kirkwood, MS MLS CI & CT, is an old school interpreter having learned interpreting from within the Deaf community and from experienced mentor-interpreters. He holds a Master of Science degree in Education, as well as the degree of Master of Liberal Arts. He has also studied Theology at the graduate level. His career spans 28 years and over 40,000 contact hours of interpreting. As a generalist with specialty skills, Jeffrey has worked in a wide array of settings from the sublime to the mundane. He has taught and facilitated learning locally, regionally and nationally. As his career has advanced Jeffrey has developed a belief that coherent interpreting is context specific and content dependent. He is further convinced that the key to success as an interpreter can be summed up with one word: attitude. Gail Nygren NAD IV, Coda, graduated from the College of St. Catherine’s Health Care Interpreting Program in 1991. As a freelance interpreter she specializes in medical and mental health settings. Her passion for the deaf community drives her to develop and refine interpreting techniques that aid in delivering high quality services. She is committed to expanding her knowledge so she can share these experiences with the interpreting community. Since 2002, she has presented several workshops locally on mental health interpreting. At the RID 2007 national conference, she had the privilege to present a workshop with Linda Gill about simultaneous and consecutive interpreting skills. Gail currently divides her time between medical, mental health, and medical emergency on call interpreting. Her life as a Coda affords her a keen ability to integrate her knowledge of ASL and Deaf culture with the professional challenges of interpreting. Back to the Top

*Curt Micka* Emotional Intelligence and the Enneagram Curt Micka, J.D. is the Assistant Director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division of the MN Department of Human Services. Prior to joining the Division, he was the Director of the MN Commission Serving Deaf & Hard of Hearing People (MCDHH) for 8 years and from 1979 – 1987 he was the lead attorney with the Legal Advocacy Project for Hearing Impaired People (LAPHIP), a program of the MN Disability Law Center. Curt has been a student of the Enneagram for 10+ years and is a Board Member of the International Enneagram Association (IEA). He is also the past President of the MN Chapter of the IEA. He earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota and has been a professional mediator for 18+ years. He has mediated hundreds of workplace, special education, community, organizational, and family and divorce disputes. In addition, he teaches workshops on conflict management and is a conflict coach. He owns and operates Conflict Management Services. Back to the Top

*Soohyun Tak* Exploring Hidden Biases in Interpreting Work Bio coming Soon!

Cynthia Weitzel Interdependency Vs. Codependency Bio coming soon!