With the success of the 1st Summit, planning for the 2nd North American Summit on Interpreting is well underway. A thorough review of evaluations and feedback received from the first Summit led us to make several adjustments to the first announced theme and dates. The adjusted conference theme centers on quality and the Summit has been expanded to a two-day meeting:

Quality Interpreting in Push-Button World:
How Professional Identity & Technology are Driving the Future of Our Field

June 17 and 18, 2011
Washington, DC

Three topics emerged clearly from the 1st Summit:

1. The Impact of Technology
2. The Need for a Broader Professional Identity
3. The Employee vs. Freelance Workplace Model

Quality is the essential element that links all three topics. Technology is turning our previous work patterns on their head, almost overnight in some sectors. New tools are being adopted. Interpreters, vendors and buyers are all adjusting how they are providing services. With so much change, how do we ensure that the quality of services delivered remains consistent and high for end-users?

The evolving discussion on the need for a broader professional identity to link all our sectors also hinges on quality. If there is no basic agreement as to what defines the skill set and minimum training standards for entry-level interpreters, how do we guarantee quality across the board? How do we further research and academic pathways without college and university programs targeting all interpreters?

Quality is also core to the third topic, the current tug-of-war between employee versus freelance workplace models. The importance of this issue is already well recognized by companies that hire and train interpreters, but it remains a sleeper issue for interpreters themselves. Yet how this debate is resolved will have a profound impact on everyone’s ability to deliver the training, remuneration, and working conditions essential for providing high-quality services.

Check back often for conference updates. Also, be sure to follow the InterpretAmerica blog. We look forward to continuing the dialog on quality in interpreting with you in Washington on June 17 and 18, 2011!