5 min read
Language Services Associates (LSA) last week had the honor of sponsoring the 2023 US Deaf Golf Championship Tournament, hosted at the Northwood Golf Club in Rhinelander, WI.  Going above and beyond typical corporate sponsorship, LSA worked with nationally certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, Ann Sarkauskas, to dedicate her time and skill for the duration of the Tournament. Ann was instrumental in facilitating communication between the Chairman, Board Members, Tournament Players, Pro Shop Staff, Food and Beverage personnel, and many more, both Deaf and Hard of Hearing and hearing.  
“Though a challenging environment and challenging subject matter, it was an enriching experience to interpret for 100+ Deaf people interacting with golf course staff and non-signing attendees.  LSA generously donated my time as their employee to the USDGA as a means of sponsorship for the association and the event,” said Ann. “The tournament just happened to take place in my tiny hometown, due to it having one of the nicest and most challenging golf courses in the country! I was able to visit my place of birth and raising while working to provide language access to the Deaf Community, to which I owe my profession and career this past 3 decades.  I am ever grateful to my employer, LSA, for their contribution, and to the USDGA for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” 
Throughout the week, Ann acted as a seamless broker between sign language users and non-signers. Her inclusion and expertise significantly contributed to the success of the tournament.  USDGA Chairman Paul Rutowski expressed his deep appreciation for the collaboration with LSA, and the invaluable contribution made to the United States Deaf Golf Association’s Tournament.  
“Ann, the top-notch professional interpreter provided by LSA, played a pivotal role in the success of our tournament. Her fluency in ASL and exceptional communication skills were instrumental in bridging the gap between signers and non-signers throughout the entire week. With Ann’s assistance, communication flowed seamlessly, allowing everyone involved, from the Chairman to the Board Members, Players, Pro Shop, and Food and Beverage staff, to connect and engage effortlessly.”  
Paul went on to share, “I am truly grateful for the outstanding collaboration with LSA, as they fulfilled our need not only for Deaf ASL users but also for our service providers and operations staff. Their commitment to excellence made a lasting impact on our event.”  About LSA    Language Services Associates (LSA) offers a full suite of language interpretation solutions to help optimize the experience of limited English proficient patients and customers. Providing native language support improves the efficiency and productivity of staff, raises customer satisfaction levels, and builds loyalty. For thousands of clients worldwide, in more than 230 languages, LSA provides a competitive differentiator in the healthcare, government, financial and banking, insurance, entertainment, hospitality, and manufacturing industries.