The JLD is delighted to share insights on our division from former Administrator Céline Sutherland Browning. Céline is a highly accomplished interpreter with years of experience under her belt, including several as a diplomatic interpreter for the U.S. Department of State where she also served as an interpreter grader. Céline has volunteered years of service to the JLD in multiple capacities, from Editorial Committee to Planning Committee and more. She was at the helm when the pandemic hit and under her guidance, the JLD successfully created a thriving on-line community for its members. It is our hope that her experiences and insight provided here serve as inspiration for all of us. Readers can find out more about Céline at her website.
Why did you join the JLD?
I joined the JLD after attending my first ATA conference in 2012[1] while still a student at MIIS[2]. Our entire first year class attended the conference as it was relatively close by.
What motivated you to get involved with the JLD as an officer, committee member, or other role within the JLD?
Honestly, this all came about because my dear professor who was there with me at that conference voluntold me to be on the planning committee.
What role(s) did you play?
That soon led me to serve on the planning committee, editorial committee, serving as the secretary, assistant administrator, and administrator. I think I was actively participating from the year 2012-2021 in some role or another within the JLD.
Please share your favorite parts of being on the Editorial Committee.
To be honest, being part of the editorial committee was perhaps the hardest thing I have done, as I am not a born writer. There were years where we were short staffed and struggled to find editors, I was not very good with graphic design, and gathering.
What kinds of challenges did you face as a member of the Planning Committee? How did you overcome them?
I found it challenging to interact with the potential speakers we were trying to engage to participate in the conference. Gaining their attention, maintaining their interest, and proving our legitimacy to lead to their agreeing to speak was difficult at times, especially if they were not already ATA members or people directly in our field.
What motivated you to create JLD-specific opportunities, some of which have been adopted by other divisions? Past examples include: planning, publishing, and selling our own publications, establishing a planning committee for JLD sessions at the ATA conference, organizing division-only gatherings for members after the Welcome Reception, and the JLD Dinner.
In my case, I believe the only thing I (together with incredible members on the team) “created” was the JLD Tech Team and the multiple online events starting from the Pandemic year of 2020. Early in the year, we recognized that life as we knew it was very different, and we didn’t know how long things would continue to be so. In order to bridge the gaps and distance between our members, my assistant administrator, Paul Koehler, and our inaugural Tech Team brainstormed how we could bring together our knowledge in respective areas of our industry and professions to create ways to feel closer and more involved.
With any new initiative comes challenges. What were some of those challenges and how did you overcome them?
Some challenges were especially felt during the Pandemic year (2019/2020) when suddenly everything had to happen online. How did we bring people together? What was too much engagement? What was sustainable? What was inclusive? We all had to learn how not only to use and manage platforms and databases, but also be assertive and firm when it came to organizing and operating these big online events.
What have been some of the biggest challenges to adapting to technology, especially given how fast-paced technological change is? What have you found easier to work with because of the changes?
I think technological changes have allowed us individually and as a committee to work closer together at a faster pace. But that also can lead to too much communication, too little personal space, and potentially burnout. Collaboration is invaluable but being able to find a balance between the more analog-days and the current rapid-paced work and life is crucial to being able to sustainably continue our efforts.
How did you feel about what you were trying to accomplish back then?
Honestly, I think many of us felt overwhelmed. Certainly I was. However, I recall with great fondness and admiration how much energy, passion and conviction my fellow Administration Team and Tech Team had in making things a success. We had many, many hours of meetings, emails back and forth, and trying so hard to provide a sense of guidance, direction and joy for our division members. I think it worked, and many of these online events are ongoing today thanks to the continued dedication and passion of the Tech Team members, both OG and new.
What worked well and why? What did not work well and why?
I think having varying kinds of online events was key. Some were panel discussions, some were open-chat (coffee hours), some were more formal lecture-type sessions. We even had, and continue to have, an annual event where we invite translators and interpreters in the Japanese/English field to join us from all around the world regardless of their ATA/JLD membership status[3]. This gave us an opportunity to connect with people who may not have known about ATA/JLD, young students who were pondering a career in the field, colleagues from different corners of the world, and to exchange ideas within smaller breakout rooms that rotated periodically. Varying events allowed members to attend what felt right for them at the time, and nothing was mandatory. I think it provided a good opportunity for members to get together especially for those who found it difficult to attend Annual Meetings (ATA Conferences) in person.
The JLD is still here 38 years later. What do you think has contributed to that longevity?
Passion for our craft, and admiration for our shared expertise.
What is the significance of the JLD to you? What do you think you would have done if the JLD had not existed?
If the JLD had not existed, I do not think I would have continued to be an ATA member. Yes, it is always interesting to meet people in our same field, but being able to further connect with people who use the same language combination(s) give a greater opportunity for exchanging ideas, tips, tricks and other survival stories. We also are a jovial group who likes to have a good time. I think this is why we always have a great turnout at the JLD table at the conferences and at the division dinner during the conference.
As one of the people who contributed to the history of the JLD, what were some of the JLD-related tasks that you found most meaningful?
I found the planning committee to be the most meaningful, since we could gather as a group of people, share our knowledge/information on different topics and professionals to collectively suggest session topics/guest speakers. This clearly shapes the experience when attending an Annual Conference being able to directly contribute to that was an honor and serious responsibility. Although it did not come directly as a result of applying at the conference, being a contractor with the State Department Office of Language Services and seeing staff at the conferences every year did lead me to being invited to apply to the Japanese Staff Diplomatic Interpreter position which I held for 3 years. It was also rewarding to finally meet many companies and colleagues I work with and for at the conferences, being able to put a name to a face. Connections made at the conferences over the years also led to me being suggested to Marie Kondo’s company to interpret for her on various occasions.
[1] 53rd Annual Conference in San Diego, California.
[2] The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California, https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/
[3] This is the JLD Global Coffee Hour, held once annually in late spring.
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