I'm sending this on behalf of Lara Whitley. This message was posted on the Message Boards. I'm sending it to the mailing list:


"My name is Lara Whitley and I am a United Methodist pastor in the Central Texas Conference serving a church just south of Fort Worth. As you may have heard, the Central Texas Conference has the honor of hosting the 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church from April 21 - May 2. We will be receiving some 3,000 guests from around the world, including a large number whose first language is Portuguese. To host the Conference in our region is truly a one-in-a-lifetime experience and we are committed to extending every courtesy possible to our guests.

While a professional agency has been hired to provide interpreters for the plenary floor, I am responsible for arranging conversationally fluent interpreters to be available DFW airport, the hotel in which the international delegates are staying, and at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Volunteers will not have to translate anything "official", just be present to help give directions and extend "Texas hospitality" to our visitors. It is my hope that some of you who are part of this Meetup may be willing to volunteer a day (or more) to make our Portugese-speaking guests feel comfortable.

The dates and venues for which I need Portuguese-speaking volunteers are:

Monday, April 21
One person at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown FW from 7am-8pm
One person at DFW Airport - times yet TBD

Tuesday, April 22
One person at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown FW from 7am-8pm
Two people at the Fort Worth Convention Center from 2pm-8pm
One person at DFW - times yet TBD

Wednesday April 23
One person at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown FW from 7am-8pm
Two people at the Fort Worth Convention Center from 8am-8pm
One person at DFW - times yet TBD

Thursday, April 24
One person at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown FW from 7am-8pm
Two people at the Fort Worth Convention Center from 8am-12pm

Friday, April 25 through Friday, May 2
One or two people each day at the Convention Center from 8am-8pm

Shifts can be split-up if necessary. Please contact me if you would be interested helping the Methodist church welcom people from our world's Portuguese speaking nations.


Peace and grace,
Lara Whitley