CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

Motions Affecting Membership Renewals

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Motion OT10G-26:           

I move that the criteria for CASLI Active membership be changed from the current criteria: 

• Graduation from an interpreter education program
• Working experience as a Deaf interpreter
• Valid RID certification
• Proof of membership in a professional interpreter association from another country for the two years previous to and including the date of application for CASLI membership

to the following criteria:

• Graduation from an CASLI Board recognized interpreter education program at a post-secondary institution
• Meets the criteria for Active Deaf interpreters

RATIONALE:  The stop-gap training measures being taken to address the current supply and demand within the field have resulted in a loop-hole in CASLI’s membership criteria that needs to be addressed to maintain the original intent of motion TO06G-09. 

The rationale from Motion TO06G-09 reads as follows:

Reserving the Active membership category for those people who meet defined criteria is a step toward becoming more accountable for the quality of service provided by Members. It will contribute to CASLI's goal of promoting professionalism and standardization in the field of interpretation and will complement the support that CASLI provides to members striving toward certification.

Specifically:

• the first bullet is to be re-worded to more clearly define “interpreter education program”
• Valid RID certification is to be removed
• Proof of membership in a professional interpreter association from another country is to be removed. 

The following discretionary process would still remain to ensure that qualified interpreters who do not meet the criteria still have an avenue in which they can achieve membership.

Applications which outline credentials not listed in the above criteria (for example the grandfather clause in the Joint Affiliate Chapter Membership Processing: Policies & Procedures) will be reviewed by the CASLI Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, in considering applications, will adhere to the standards intended in the membership criteria and categories.

Employers are able to establish in-house training measures to address the shortage of interpreters and consequently their employees can then achieve RID certification without having completed an CASLI Board recognized interpreter education program. We believe that granting membership based on RID membership is counterproductive to CASLI’s goal to promote standardization, thus the proposal to remove it as one of the Active membership criterion. 

Further, proof of membership in a professional interpreter association from another country does not necessarily guarantee that the interpreter meets standards that are promoted in Canada. 

Motion OT06G-10:

I move that all individuals who are Active Members in good standing as of the date of ratification of membership criteria but who do not formally meet the new criteria will, nevertheless, be eligible for Active membership. Sara MacFayden, (D. Karran) CARRIED

Motion OT10G-28 (AMENDED):

I move that CASLI institute a late renewal policy that requires that members who do not renew their membership by the deadline have 30 days to pay the dues for that membership year plus a late-renewal fee of 25% without forfeiting the privileges and obligations of membership.

Members who wish to reinstate their membership in CASLI at any time during the current membership year, must pay the full year’s dues and the late payment fee.  After 30 days all the privileges and obligations of membership will be forfeit. 

[Editorial Note: Motions WP14G-06 and WP14G-07 over-write most of Motion OT10G-28(Amended) - that is there is no longer a 30 day 'grace period' in which to renew a membership. However, the late-renewal fee of 25% remains the current rate charged. In Motions WP14G-06 and WP14G-07 a " Board-approved administration fee" is quoted and the Board has decided to follow the membership's original rate of 25%] 

Motion CA12G-38:

I move that Deaf Interpreter Membership criteria be amended to the following:

• Graduation from an CASLI recognized Interpreter Education Program (IEP)

OR

• a minimum of 40 documented hours of work as a Deaf Interpreter within the last 4 years

AND

• a minimum of 20 documented hours of professional development specific to Deaf Interpreting within the last 4 years

AND

• a minimum of 20 documented hours of professional development specific to the process of interpreting within the last 4 years

AND

• a minimum of 20 documented hours of professional development specific to ethics within the last 4 years.

AND

• Letter of support from the Board of the Affiliate Chapter the applicant is applying to become a member

AND either one of the following:

• Letter of support from a Deaf organization in good standing in the province where the applicant resides/works.

OR

• Letter of support from an Active CASLI member who has experience working with the applicant (must be a current member of both the Affiliate Chapter in which the applicant is applying to be a member and CASLI)

RATIONALE:  The CASLI Board of Directors has been reviewing the membership criteria for all categories of membership. Since ratification of the previous motion pertaining to membership criteria for Deaf Interpreters, there has been advancements in Deaf Interpreter training and recognition of the use of Deaf Interpreters. Also, feedback has been provided to the CASLI Board of Directors from stakeholders concerning the further development of this criteria. Thus, it was discussed and decided that the criteria should include more references specific to interpreting. The new criteria outlines a timeline for the requested documentation, interpreting related training and references from local interpreting and Deaf organizations.  

 

Motion WP14G-06:

I move that beginning in the membership term 2015, CASLI Active members who do not renew their membership by the deadline of midnight on March 31, annually, will no longer be members in good standing; all benefits and privileges of membership will be considered lapsed.

• To reinstate a lapsed membership, the member not in good standing must:
• Meet the criteria of Active membership or the grandfather clause for Active membership; AND,
• Pay the current year Active membership fee; AND,
• Pay the Board-approved administration fee at the time of renewal; AND,
• If the membership is lapsed for more than one year, the member must pay the membership fees for the one (1) lapsed year with the option of paying the lapsed fees by installment. Active membership can lapse and be reinstated within a 2-year period.

Upon reinstatement, a member will have all benefits and privileges of Active membership including their status in the Canadian Evaluation System (CES) restored.

RATIONALE:  When membership fees are not renewed by March 31, annually, a member does not risk losing their Canadian Evaluation System (CES) status immediately. This practice is in line with other professional organizations; it offers a clear protocol for all members across Affiliate Chapters and it lessens the administrative burden of the current grace period.

Active membership can lapse and then be reinstated within a 2 year period (e.g. if membership lapses on March 31, 2014, membership must be renewed by March 31, 2016).

Members experiencing exceptional circumstances can apply for membership exemption as per the criteria outlined in the Membership Exemption policy (also known as Membership Leave).

This motion falls in line with WAVLI’s provincial title protection.

This procedure is in response to feedback received from the Special Topic Session held Friday, July 11, 2014 [during the CASLI 2014 conference in Winnipeg, MB].

Motion WP14G-07:

I move that beginning in the membership term 2015, when a lapsed membership extends beyond two (2) consecutive membership years, the membership expires and all benefits, privileges and CES status are forfeit.

To become an Active member once again, the applicant must:

• Satisfy the criteria for Active membership - the grandfather clause for Active membership, however, no longer applies; AND,
• Pay the current year Active membership fee; AND,
• Pay the Board-approved administration fee at the time of renewal; AND,
• Pay one additional year of Active membership dues (with the option of paying by installment within the current membership year).

Upon fulfilling the requirements, the member will once again have all benefits and privileges of Active membership; however, the member must re-enter the Canadian Evaluation System (CES) at Phase One. 

RATIONALE:  This procedure is in response to feedback received from the Special Topic Session held Friday, July 11, 2014.

Motion WP14G-08:

I move to establish a 25% reduction to CASLI’s Active membership fee category for members of CASLI who provide proof of age and are 60 years of age and over. Proof of age is required upon the initial request.       

RATIONALE: In response to the membership and after investigation that shows that many membership organizations honour their long-standing members by offering a reduced fee as they approach retirement years, this motion was developed. The age of 60 was picked as a result of the 2013 membership survey – this was the most popular choice from the respondents. This reduction in fees is a way of showing respect for their years of commitment to CASLI.

There are members who wish to continue to work after the age of 60 and perhaps carry a reduced workload, and who want to maintain the privileges and obligations of membership.

Financial Impact: Currently there are a handful of members across the country at this stage of their careers. There will be changes needed to the current CASLI website to accommodate this new fee structure – cost is estimated at $500.00. The financial impact at present, given the approximate number of members around this age bracket is less than $1,000 per year. Granted that as our membership ages, this number will increase. It is expected that through ongoing recruitment efforts membership will continue to increase and the benefits will outweigh the financial impact.