Hello and Happy New Year! My name is Charley P., and I am the incoming Area Language Coordinator for Panel 75. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be of service, and excited to get started!
Thanks to all the diligent work by Jennifer C., the Area Language Coordinator for Panel 73, and the Language Steering Committee, Area 72 was able to interpret & translate a number of events and documents in the final quarter of 2024. Seven events were interpreted into Spanish: the Area 72 Assembly, the CPC Quarterly, the Appointed Trusted Servants Meeting, the Grapevine/La Viña & Literature Quarterly, the Trusted Servants Handoff Meeting, the Finance Committee Meeting, and—notably—the Archives Quarterly, to accommodate a visiting presenter from California. One event was interpreted into ASL: the Accessibility Quarterly. Thirty-one total documents were translated, including three Area Newsletters.
As for myself, I have a lot to learn about the position and have been working to be brought up to speed. I have received the handoff documents from Jennifer C. and have met with her a number of times to learn about my responsibilities as incoming Area Language Coordinator. I have also met with Lisa S., the Area Language Coordinator for Panel 71, to discuss the role. I have attended the End of Rotation Potluck / Handbook Handoff and have received my initial orientation. At that event, I received the interpretation equipment, and was trained in its use.
My most pressing goal for the first quarter of 2025 is to form the Panel 75 Language Steering Committee! In particular, I’m seeking panel participants who are excited by the prospect of travelling to a variety of Area 72 events across Western Washington over the next two years. If you’re interested, please email me at languagechair@area72aa.org—or come and talk to me during the January Area 72 Business Quarterly! I’m also eager to determine which standing committee quarterlies will require Spanish or ASL interpretation. As of this writing, those decisions have not yet been made, as the Panel 75 Appointed Trusted Servants have not yet been approved by the districts. Stay tuned!
I am deeply honored by the prospect of being able to serve Area 72 alongside the rest of Panel 75. I am so looking forward to working with everyone to ensure that our Area’s translation and interpretation needs are being met. Thank you so much for the opportunity, and I’m excited to meet you all in January!
