An informal group of dedicated individuals from various associations of the Deaf including the Nova Scotia Cultural Society of the Deaf (NSCSD) , Halifax Association of the Deaf (HAD) and Deafness Advocacy Association Nova Scotia (DAANS) formed for the express purpose of supervising the progress made in the Maritime Sign Language Project. Of course, NSCSD had and still has the ultimate and final administrative and fiscal responsibility for the MSL Project.

All members and observers of this informal group conducted themselves as individuals as opposed to acting as representatives of particular associations.

Elliott Richman agreed to chair these informal meetings and to act as its spokesperson. Elizabeth Doull agreed to serve as its Secretary. NSCSD opened a separate bank account(at the CIBC) for this project alone with Elizabeth Doull, Jim McDermott and Richard Martell have signing authority. Any two of these three individuals must sign checks from this account. Elizabeth Doull agreed to find an auditor for this particular project.

Elizabeth Doull agreed to keep books on behalf of the project.

INFORMAL GROUP COMPOSITION

It has been decided to open the Informal Group meetings to observers with the understanding that the Chair controls the meetings with no interruptions or condescending remarks permitted. Meetings are held on the second Friday of each month.

The informal group consists of the following members and observers.

Elizabeth Doull Secretary
Joan Drysdale
Diane Falvey
Brian Foran
Norman Lushman
Irv MacDonald Amherst
Richard Martell Project Coordinator
Jim McDermott Assistant to Project Coordinator
Eleanor Morse-Taylor
Elliott Richman Chair / spokesperson
Philip Taylor
Noni Warner
Alan Williams Assistant to Project Coordinator and NSCSD Treasurer
The informal group wishes to acknowledge Melba Blunden and Susan MacInnis, both former members of the informal group, for their invaluable assistance.
PROGRESS MADE TO DATE

Noni Warner believed that this informal group could greatly benefit from Ceil Lucas’ (of Gallaudet University) linguistic and research expertise. Noni Warner investigated the possibility of either bringing Ceil to Halifax to meet with the Informal Group or to establish videoconferencing links between Ceil and us. For various reasons, these options did not pan out but Ceil agreed to offer assistance in whatever capacity she could via e-mail.

Elliott Richman offered Deafness Advocacy Association Nova Scotia office as a repository for various written or videotaped materials on or about MSL. As things currently stand, individual Informal Group members, Saint Marys University and possibly Society of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians all possess various such materials.

Job descriptions for the Project Coordinator, Research assistants/videotapers were developed as follows:

The Project Coordinator:

- reports to the MSL Research Project Committee (aka the "Informal Group")
- coordinates the Maritime Sign Language Research Project
- designs an information sheet about the MSL Research Project to distribute to interviewees and members of the Deaf community in gatherings
- develops a questionnaire for each interviewer to gather basic background information
- develops a release form permitting the Nova Scotia Cultural Society of the Deaf and Canadian
Cultural Society of the Deaf to use the material (with the help of the MSL Research Committee).
- investigates the availability of videotaping equipment for the purposes of editing, copying, splitting and other videotaping techniques
- purchases materials like videotapes and keep a record of purchases.
- investigates and document organized social, sports and other events for possible videotaping sessions
- makes a list of potential MSL interviewees from across the Atlantic Provinces
- contacts MSL signers to schedule videotaping interviews
- contacts MSL signers and explain the purpose of the MSL Research project
- assesses each interviewee's signing before any intensive videotaping if and when necessary
- schedules interviews with interviewees and groups across the Atlantic Provinces
- organizes get-together videotaping sessions in various locations in the Atlantic Provinces
- interviews Deaf signers
- supervises Research Assistants
- develops a demonstration videotape for the videotaping workshop for research assistants
- develops interview guidelines for research assistants to follow in an interview
- instructs research assistants how to operate a video camera and conduct interviews
- assigns videotaping/interview assignments to research assistants across the Atlantic Provinces
- assesses the work of completed videotaped interviews
- edits raw videotapes and makes back-up copies
- documents each MSL signer: name, age, education, family background, Deaf relatives, MSL/ASL exposure, residence, etc
- researches and collects information on British Sign Language, Scottish Sign Language and signs used on Martha's Vineyard
- documents (writes down) activities for the MSL Research Committee for documentation
- writes monthly reports to the MSL Research Committee
- is responsible to retain receipts for all expenses for the reimbursement from the MSL Project
- is responsible to DELEGATE duties to research assistants
- is responsible to keep records of research assistants' hours worked and passed on to the MSL Research Committee for payment.
- performs other duties assigned by the MSL Research Committee

The coordinator will be paid $ 300 every two weeks for 40 weeks (or at a negotiated period agreed BETWEEN the Coordinator and the MSL Research Committee).

Sidenote: The duties are really detailed and the Project Coordinator can give some of the work to his research assistants or anyone else on the Informal Group. Elizabeth Doull offered to volunteer some of her time and energies to this project. (Thanks Elizabeth!)

The Research Assistants:

- report to the Coordinator
- operate a video camera
- interview Deaf signers or hearing children of Deaf parents when necessary
- distribute information sheets to interviewees and groups
- ensure the release forms be signed AFTER making sure interviewees understand them.
- ensure that questionnaires are fully filled out by interviewees and people involved.
- keep a record of activities and hours worked and videotaping sessions
- is responsible to retain receipts for all expenses for reimbursement by the MSL Project
- performs duties as assigned by the Coordinator

The remuneration for the Research Assistants have not yet been decided.

Thanks to Elizabeth Doull, Diane Falvey, Richard Martell, Jim McDermott and Noni Warner for their beautifully detailed work with the job descriptions.

Doug Tupper and Lori Park of Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy must be thanked for their help in revising the release consent and confidentiality agreements for us last fall.

Richard Martell has been hired as the Project Coordinator. Jim McDermott and Alan Williams both agreed to be Richard’s assistants.

It has been estimated that around fifty Deaf Nova Scotians know some MSL. However, the Informal group wishes to lament the recent passing away of certain Halifax based elderly individuals (Byrnus Gillam, Allison and Jessica Pye) who could have proven invaluable for its work.

Videotaping of some people already took place at the following events:

Sept 1998 Halifax Association of the Deaf Picnic at Dingle Park, Halifax Four people at Nova Scotia Community College, Halifax Four BSL users were videotaped in Britain (thanks to Keith Todd)

Oct 1998 Halifax Association of the Deaf Dinner in Halifax Regional Municipality Some people were surveyed to see if they were willing to be videotaped at some time later.

Nov 1998 Videotaping took place at the Canadian Deaf Darts Tournament banquet in Halifax.

Dec 1998 Four people were videotaped at a Christmas dinner in Saint John, New Brunswick Three Newfoundland Deaf people were videotaped (thanks to Norman Lushman)

The Informal group is looking forward to a big event in July 1999 when ECAD will be hosting its biennial conference in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Attendees are expected from all four Atlantic provinces who will prove to be a mine of information ready to be videotaped.

FUNDING SOURCES

The informal group received invaluable assistance from Linda Lelievre, DAANS Executive Director, who determined (after making numerous phone calls to various federal departments) that there are no federal monies the informal group could tap into for expanding or extending its current MSL project. The only federal "cultural" funds Lelievre found supported only Canada’s official languages - English and French.

Elliott Richman heard of 1998 Young Canada Works in Heritage Institutions (from Canadian Heritage / Patrimoine canadien).after its application deadline (March 31, 1998) passed. As a side note, Canada’s heritage institutions provide economic value as well as social and cultural benefits to Canada and to Canadians. Young Canada Works in Heritage Institutions is designed to capitalize on these important assets by enriching historical knowledge about Canada and by enhancing young people’s appreciation of Canada’s achievements, people, places and heritage collections.

The informal group plans to apply for a "1999" Young Canada Works in Heritage Institutions if such a program exists.

An application for funding from the Interprovincial School Development Association of the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority was rejected. Thanks to Elizabeth Doull and Noni Warner for writing this proposal.

The informal group is indebted to the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf for its strong support in the area of MSL research.

PERSONAL SIDE NOTE

Elliott Richman personally accepts all responsibility for not filing quarterly reports on time with the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf in violation of a verbal agreement between Elliott and Helen Pizzacala (CCSD President). Elliott hopes these violations will not reflect negatively on NSCSD, HAD or DAANS. From now on, monthly (not quarterly) reports will be filed shortly after each monthly meeting. This will allow CCSD officials to provide more immediate feedback (if and when desired.) Elliott Richman agrees to file these monthly reports.

Respectfully submitted

Elliott Richman
richmane@gov.ns.ca