Mary Lou Bingham Award  2004 Recipient - Paula Frederick 

Nancy Hayes (R), President of ALRID, presents the MLB Award to Paula Frederick (L), 2004 Award Recipient

Paula Frederick is able to add this award to her impressive collection she has earned over her many years of service and dedication to Alabama and the profession of Interpreting. Paula has been awarded COSDA's Earl Lindsey Service to the Community Award, COSDA's Interpreter of the Year Award (first interpreter to receive this honor), along with being a charter member, if not founder, of the Montgomery Division of ALRID (MYALRID). An excerpt of a support letter reads,

"She has served numerous times as President of MYALRID, mentored countless interpreters in her 25 years of interpreting. Paula was the first full-time interpreter at JCCD and the first one to officially retire from there. Paula served as President of ALRID for more than one term." 

Paula, we congratulate and thank you for all of years of service, leadership and friendship. You may be retired, but you're not forgotten; and as usual we will all look to you for leadership and direction for the future.

Congratulations also go to all of this year's nominees. I know each of these ladies personally and, all I can say is, when I grow up I want to be half as good as they are today!

2004 Nominees for the Mary Lou Bingham Award were: Karen Campbell, Charlene Crump, Judith Labath, and Paula Frederick, 2004 Recipient

Without their talent, leadership, and selfless dedication to the interpreting profession we would not be as advanced as we are today. You are all winners in the eyes of your peers.

The Mary Lou Bingham award itself was redesigned and presented as a freestanding award instead of a plaque this year. It is a clear, glass, flame shaped award with a picture of Mary Lou Bingham attached to it. There is a quote under Mama Lou's picture that says, "Get With the Deaf."  The entire time I interviewed Mama Lou she repeated that phrase many times.  Along with the award, the past, present, and future winners will also be given lifetime memberships to ALRID including all benefits entitled to ALRID members.

Congratulations, Paula! Congratulations to all the nominees! Congratulations to the state of Alabama for being so lucky to have such a distinguished list of dedicated and talented interpreters supporting our state.