 Greetings, Alta community. My name is Caitlin Hendrickson, and as you may remember, I served as the inaugural ombuds at the Alta 44 conference last year. I wanted to reach out via video and let you know that I'm continuing as your ombuds, and will be available to assist all Alta members and attendees of the Alta 45 year-long programming, as well as attendees of previous conferences or folks otherwise affiliated with the Association, past or present. I'm looking forward to working with you and wanted to remind you of my role as you engage in Alta 45. As ombuds, I'm an advanced conflict transformation practitioner, available to assist with a wide variety of concerns, issues, conflicts and other challenges. An ombuds is often referred to as an organization's conscience and plays an important role in upholding organizational values and advancing fairness, respect, inclusion and the constructive resolution of matters of concern. The four core tenets of ombuds practice, confidentiality, informality, independence and impartiality will continue to inform my work with you. My work as ombuds is strictly confidential, meaning that I will not disclose anything that you share with me, or the fact that we even spoke with anyone at all, unless I have your explicit request, or permission to do so as part of an informal ombuds process, or of course if you happen to share a situation involving imminent risk of serious harm. All services I offer are informal in nature. As ombuds, every conversation with me is off the record, and I do not conduct or participate in formal processes. However, I can answer questions about or help you connect with the Alta 45 formal process, if that is of interest to you. As ombuds, I function independently of all this organizational and administrative structure, which allows me to serve all Alta constituents in an impartial manner. I invite you to reach out to me regarding any concern or issue that may arise for you, no matter how small or large, resolvable or impossible, it may see. Whether it involves a communication breakdown concerns regarding the climate culture or functioning of the association or the 2022 programming issues related to respect, equity or inclusion, or concerns regarding discrimination or harassment. I will be there to listen and assist you in navigating the situation in English or in Spanish, in English or Spanish. Please see the Alta 45 ombuds webpage on the Alta website, www.literarytranslators.org for more information, including how to reach me via phone or email. I have an audio or video call, and for anyone who may wish to share concerns anonymously without meeting or discussing them, there is an anonymous report form linked on the Alta 45 ombuds webpage. Submissions of that form will be sent only to me. As such, ombuds standards of practice and terms of use apply as detailed on the webpage. Thank you for your time. Take good care, and I look forward to being of assistance in whatever way I can, as your ombuds.