Associate Director
Lisa Brochu
January 2008

On a personal note, I am happy to announce that Tim and I plan to be married in July in Colorado. We will let you know if those plans change at all.

Certification
The chart below tracks the performance of the certification program through the end of 2007. Our recertification rate is about what I'd expect (66% overall), better in some categories than others (67% in CIT and CHI categories; 82% in CIP; and only 50% in CIM). As we continue to collect data over the years, it becomes easier to establish trends and respond to them. Our ability to analyze data will take another quantum leap this year when Russ completes the changeover of the certification database to the master database (anticipated completion in late March), which will allow us to track recertifications of CIGs as well.

We are now implementing an electronic test scoring system that will speed things up tremendously - instead of hand-grading roughly 1200 exams each year (each of which takes five minutes or more depending on who's doing the grading), our new equipment will scan and grade and spit out a detailed analysis of results at the rate of 30 per minute. The original quote on the equipment was over $3000 plus an annual lease program, but we were able to find a comparable machine that actually better suited our needs for a one-time purchase price of under $500.

We will also improve the review system for CIT applicants by enabling them to submit review materials on-line (this is part of the database changeover system) so that we should save substantial amounts of paper (the typical review packet includes approximately 100 pages total from the applicant that will no longer be required with an online submittal), postage (approximately $20 per packet), and processing time (up to 2 hours per packet). Multiply that times the typical year of receiving approximately 250 CIT packets and we're saving roughly 500 reams of paper (addressing our green initiative); $2500 in direct postage costs (and our part in reducing the overall postage delivery loads again addressing our green initiative); and cuts the processing time by 2/3 (Carrie's time). This should also speed up the process somewhat for the reviewers and those waiting to hear their results as we will no longer have to wait for postal delivery turnaround time (which has added up to two to three weeks).

A reminder to incoming board members - you are entitled to one free registration at a certification workshop offered by the national office during your term of office. You do not have to apply for certification, but it is offered as an opportunity for you to learn more about this important program for NAI. There is a policy for board members (established by board motion in 2002) that if you choose to exercise this option for a CIT workshop and then subsequently earn fees from holding CIG or CIH workshops, you would need to reimburse NAI for the registration fee (currently $475).

International
Registration information is now available for the Panama ecotour, offered April 18-29, 2008. It is being coordinated by ANCON Expeditions of Panama.

Progress is being made on the international conference in Korea. We have a few open spots on the program schedule, but all current speakers have been notified and scholarships are being finalized this month. The Korean Park Service is donating $50,000 to support 100 of their employees in attendance and the Korean Forest Service is donating $24,000 to support 12 delegates from developing nations. With the hiring of Laura Diane Moore, Deb has been relieved of sales duties and is now managing the logistics of the international conference.

I spoke at length with Teresa Coble regarding the intent to create an international section. I believe that as long this section operates in cooperation with the national office, it can offer a viable opportunity for NAI members to be more active and supportive of international activities and colleagues.

Tim and I will be traveling to Greece in late March to accomplish a number of things: signing the MOU with NAI-Greece, locating a conference site for the 2009 International Conference (University of the Aegean is anxious to be our partner in this effort), holding a Certified Interpretive Host trainers workshop for the trainers who attended our Italy CIT workshop last year, and speaking at University of the Aegean to promote interpretation as a profession and involvement in NAI-Greece. A portion of this trip will be subsidized by University of the Aegean.

Contracts & Speaking Engagements
I have been asked to lead a two-day strategic planning workshop for Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (the folks downstairs in our building).

Travel Update
Travel schedules are frequently subject to last-minute change, but we attempt to update the staff travel schedule monthly. View my upcoming known travel at http://www.interpnet.com/resources_leaders/staffschedule.shtml.