----- Original Message ----
From: Florence Devouard Anthere9(a)yahoo.com
Please, if you blame, provide suggestions of how things can be improved
next time. As a board member, I would consider totally excluded that I
learn arabic to provide translation. I would also consider totally
excluded that I go to EACH language in turn to beg for translation.
Already overworked, I am not sure it is making the best use of my time.
I also think that if the board makes the decision to hire translators,
there will be a HUGE uproar of complaints, because we indeed have the
resources internally.
ant
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
But, obviously we don't have the resources internally because it didn't get done.
I feel that the Board and/or Election Committee should make a list of languages that
notices, candidate statements, etc. should be translated into. The Election Committee
should then try to recruit volunteers to do those translations and have volunteers that
can do things with both long turnaround times and "we need this translated in the
next hour" turnaround times. If volunteers do not step forward to do the translations
in specific languages, like Arabic, than the Board should use Foundation resources to make
sure that those translations get done. We might have a huge population that speaks both
Chinese and English and has the ability to do the translation, but it might not be
something that they are interested in doing. In the same way that you can't force an
editor to work on a specific article or an admin to work on a specific task, you can't
force a volunteer to do the translation just
because they have the ability.
And, I don't think it's an issue of begging. I think it's an issue of
recognizing where there is a deficiency of resources and filling those gaps. Personally, I
can name 3-5 agencies here in the SF Bay Area that can do translations in both Arabic or
Chinese. Some of those agencies might even be willing to donate a couple of hours of time
if they are approached early enough in the process.
I also want to add my approval to the thought process that the Election Committee should
be formed a lot sooner. I for one am willing to volunteer today to serve on that committee
for next year's election. Of course, you're going to have people that come in and
out, but having a specific committee chair in place now to start talking about these
issues and working on solutions will greatly enhance the transparency and reliability of
the process.
Sue Anne