In this issue…

Addressing the Localization Skills Shortage • Prof. Sue Ellen Wright, Kent State University
Director’s letter • Michael Anobile
Standards for Language Interpretation • David Sawyer, The Monterey Institute of International Studies
Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics? • Deborah Fry, Fry & Bonthrone Partnerschaft
ExCom Corner
Linguistic Tools of the Trade • LISA Interview with Monica Beltrametti
Intelligent Switches • Meredith Fischer, VP Corporate Marketing and Chief Communications Officer, Pitney Bowes, Inc.
Client/Server Localization • Rebecca Ray, Remedy Corporation
Russia’s Door is Open for Translation Work • John Freivalds, JFA, Inc.
What are We Talking About? • Prof. Sue Ellen Wright, Kent State University

Director’s letter

Michael Anobile

Dear LISA Members,

Recently, we have received a number of complaints that LISA Forums are being used to promote proprietary interests. Such practices undermine our charter by fostering the impression that LISA is an arena for localization suppliers and IT providers to tout their wares. They are compounded when members openly head hunt or send junk mail using LISA Directory information. Many members have now voiced their conviction that LISA’s integrity must be preserved. In light of this, the Executive Committee has published a proposed LISA Membership Code of Good Conduct (page 16). This and related issues will be addressed at the General Assembly Meeting in Madrid on August 26

LISA has reached a pivotal point in its evolution. In order to become more responsive to business and technological requirements, we need more members' active participation and support. The OSCAR initiative is an example of how members who regularly compete in the marketplace are cooperating to improve the industry. In May, the LISA Executive Committee launched the LISA 2000 drive to raise the capital for three specific programs deemed necessary by the members of the December LISA Executive Round Table. These programs are:

The LISA Educational Initiative Taskforce (LEIT), whose initial goal was to catalog the existing localization, globalization and internationalization courseware globally available, has achieved its first milestone. A matrix of available courses will be presented to Forum attendees in Madrid. The next step is to evaluate these courses against a set of criteria established by industry experts as the means of developing skill sets in line with localization employment requirements. If existing programs don’t measure up, LEIT will develop them! These secondary steps will require funding to take the program forward. (See the opening article by Prof. Sue Ellen Wright for more details.)
The second section of LISA 2000 focused on developing a survey capable of meeting our industry's specific needs for reliable business planning data. Please take the time to review the article “Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics?” to understand the current status and what needs to be done to move forward.
The third section of the Initiative is to develop a LISA Public Relations program to educate companies as to how the localization industry impacts global business.

The LISA 2000 Initiative has already been supported by members who recognize the significance of cooperation and the resulting potential for industry development. At the recommendation of the LISA Executive Committee, the deadline for investing in LISA 2000 has been extended to permit more people to become involved, and to give members the opportunity to discuss these programs in more detail at the LISA General Assembly meeting. For more information please visit the LISA Website: http://www.lisa.org/2000/index.html.

In summary, any trade association is what you, as members, want to make of it. Now is the time to use your association to create a better industry!

Sincerely,
Mike Anobile signature
Mike Anobile
LISA Managing Director