History The Greg Smith Memorial Fund was set up in 1985 to help NorCRID members during emergencies, usually medical in nature. The original committee also intended that other assistance be provided such as transportation and meals. This fund was established in memory of Greg Smith, an interpreter who died of AIDS in 1984 and who received help during his illness from friends in the interpreting community. The fund was proposed by Stephanie Feyne in 1984. Stephanie was the first chairperson of the committee. The other original members were Ken Mikos and Donna Abernathy. When Stephanie moved to New York in 1988, Maureen Fitzgerald replaced her on the committee. In 1994, Ken Mikos and Donna Abernathy resigned and were replaced by Dan Veltri and Dan Langholtz. The fund awards an annual emergency grant/loan of up to $1000 per year to an interpreter in financial crisis due to a medical emergency of their own or their significant other. A medical emergency may be due to a long or short-term incapacitation or the physical or mental illness of a spouse or partner. The monies are intended to provide assistance for basic necessities (such as rent, private health insurance premiums, PG&E, phone, food, interpretation). The names of recipients and terms of repayment remain confidential.
Fund Guidelines
1. NorCRID members who are experiencing a crisis, usually a medical crisis
and are unable to work are eligible to apply for funds.
2. You must be a member of NorCRID for three months to be eligible to apply for funds.
3. There is a 60 day grace period for members who have lapsed in membership.
4. Lapsed members can apply for funds immediately upon paying their membership
dues and do not have to go through another 3 month waiting period.
5. The funds are granted as a loan but repayment is voluntary. The committee
encourages the recipient to contribute to the fund when they can as a repayment.
6. The current maximum amount granted is $1000/year. The committee defines
the year from NorCRID conference to NorCRID conference.
7. To apply for funds a NorCRID member contacts the committee contact person
(currently Maureen Fitzgerald). The contact member shares the request information
but not the name of the requester with the other committee members. The committee
discusses the request until there is consensus on whether to grant the request
and how much money to grant.
8. The fund contact person then contacts the treasurer to write and send a check to the applicant.
9. The treasurer will inform the president (or vice-president)
that a check was sent to the recipient. Only the fund contact person, the
treasurer and either the president or vice-president need to know the name
of the applicant.
10. If a request is denied, the applicant may appeal. Either the president
or vice-president shall assume the role of the advocate at the applicant's
request and bring the case back to the committee members for reconsideration.
The second decision is final.
11. The fund will be perpetuated by donations and any other means adopted
by the NorCRID Board.
For more information
please contact Maureen Fitzgerald at: Phone: 510.843.2643 (v & tty)
E-mail:
JOHN McBRIDE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The John McBride Scholarship was established with approval from the board in March of 1997 in memory of John McBride and in recognition of his contributions to the profession. The fund is used to further a practice John himself initiated before his death. Every year John donated a part of his earnings from interpreting at the NorCRID annual conference to pay the conference registration costs for an emerging professional.
NorCRID will continue John’s practice as an annual tradition through the John McBride Professional Practice Awards. We will underwrite opportunities to introduce novice professionals, professionals new to the area, and/or professionals who are unfamiliar with NorCRID, and who are beginning an interpreting career in our area. The awards will be presented annually to worthy emerging members of our field. Students are not eligible as recipients.
For more information or to make recommendations please email:
RID SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The RID Scholarship Fund provides awards for pre-certified interpreters to take the RID performance tests. The award is given as an open-ended loan with the intention that when recipients can afford to, they will repay the fund. The award is not intended solely for those in financial hardship; rather, it is intended as a show of recognition that the recipient has obtained the skills required to sit for the tests. Click the following link to download a scholarship application.
