SHHH 2005 Convention
The 2005 SHHH Convention was held in Washington, DC from June
30 to July 3, 2005. We didn't make it this year, but got some great
reports from Cheryl Heppner. Thanks, Cheryl, for allowing us to share them
with our visitors!
Here's Cheryl's report on Friday's
Plenary Session with FCC Commissioner Copps.
I know that you're used to seeing "odds and
ends" articles at the end of the series, but we put this
"odds and ends" articles near the beginning. It seemed like
a good idea at the time ;-)
Bilateral Cochlear Implants! How much does having two CIs
help? Is having two CIs better for everyone? Answer
these questions and more!
How has the terrorism threat affected air travel for folks
with hearing loss? Joan Cassidy's report provides lots
of information and several perspectives on this important topic.
Wondering why we're seeing more and more captioned movies
in many areas of the country? Wonder what you can do to get more in your
area? Cheryl's report on the Movie Captioning panel
probably has just what you're looking for!
And don't forget to visit the Exhibit
Hall!
The 12th Annual Research Symposium was on the Origins of
Regenerated Hair Cells. Here's Cheryl's excellent
report.
Bonnie O'Leary reports on a workshop entitled "Coaching
- A Partnership That Can Help Cope with Late-Onset Hearing Loss".
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By Cheryl Heppner
July 2005
Editor: Here's Cheryl with continuing coverage of the recent SHHH
Convention in Washington DC. We normally publish the "Odds and
Ends" type articles at the end of a series, but thought we'd try it
at the beginning for a change ;-)
As always, our thanks to Cheryl and NVRC for their permission to share
this article with you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remembering Rocky Stone
Rocky Stone's widow, Ahme, wrote a wonderful article about Rocky, the
origins of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, and its evolution. The
article is the first thing in our convention program books. SHHH was
founded in November 1979, and is now celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Ahme shares that she has no idea what Rocky had in mind 25 years ago.
She thought Rocky was going to have a small group of hard of hearing
people meet at their house to discuss issues they had in common, and
instead he used his retired CIA friends and family to get SHHH off the
ground. She jokes that with these friends and others who pitched in to
help, the comings and goings might have led the neighbors to think it was
a CIA cell.
By 1983, Rocky had filled the family and utility rooms with furniture
and papers for SHHH. He moved SHHH to an office on Battery Lane in
Bethesda. The next year SHHH held its first convention in Chicago with 450
people attending.
With more volunteers coming to work, SHHH moved to another office on
Wisconsin Avenue and in January 1985, SHHH was able to pay some staff for
the first time, although Ahme called it "a pittance." April 1988
brought the tragedy of a fire, started in a Chinese restaurant downstairs,
which destroyed the SHHH office. "When the flames had died and the
shock wore off, Rocky called a staff meeting in the Tastee Diner across
the street," Ahme wrote.
SHHH persevered and found nearby office space. Rocky retired in 1993 as
the organization's volunteer Executive Director, and since that time four
others have filled his position.
In her article, Ahme thanks all of the people involved with SHHH and
says "we can look forward with great hope to the next 25!"
"A Celebration of Life" for Rocky Stone was held during the
convention on Friday, July 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The program book has
the text of "Ode to Rocky Stone" which was co-written by Joan
Kleinrock, Daniel Greenberg and Mary Sue Twohy. Twohy also wrote the
music.
The convention program also had a full-page list of national staff,
volunteers, professional advisors, and professional service providers for
the past 25 years.
Orlando Here We Come!
Next year's convention will be at the Coronado resort in Disney World,
Orlando, FL from June 29 through July 2, 2006.
Convention Access
FM or infrared assistive listening systems were available for all
workshops and plenary sessions. You could check out a free receiver at the
ALD Distribution Center and return it at the end of the convention. All
workshops and plenary sessions also had CART. This was no small
undertaking, since there were as many as 6 workshops going on at a time.
Companies providing the listening systems and support included Audex,
ELT Group (AudioLink), Connections Unlimited, Phonic Ear, and Williams
Sound.
I caught Ted Simon of Connections Unlimited in the hallway on Day 1 and
asked him how many years he has been volunteering. He thought it was 12
years! Ted coordinated the crew that worked with him to provide technical
support -- Les Callaway and Max McCarthy of Houston; John Richardson and
Hans Roesler of West Palm Beach; Maurice Smith of Newark, CA; and Scott
Smith of Tucson.
Realtime reporters for the CART were coordinated by Deanna Baker and
Scott Smith for the 13th year. CART writers included Deanna Baker, RMR
from Flagstaff, AZ; Kimberly August of Tucson, AZ; Ann Blazejewski, RMR,
CRR of Waldorf, MD; Sandra Gartrell of Washington, DC; Jeanette Christian,
RPR, RMR, CRR of Topeka, KS; Karyn Menck, RMR, CRR of Nashville, TN; Lisa
Nhan, RPR of Merrimac, MA; and Darlene Pickard, CRR, CCP of Marysville,
WA.
Convention Activities
There were so many convention activities that it was overwhelming! To list
just a few:
- An all-day workshop on Wednesday, June 29 for state leaders, with an
appreciation luncheon
- Region 7 luncheon meeting (Texas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Arkansas)
- Chapter and state roundtables on various topics -- accessible
meetings, attracting new members, grant writing, fundraising, financial
affairs, community service centers, using computers for chapter
development
- Communication Accessible Pilates Classes with Dr. Gina Oliva,
professor of physical education at Gallaudet University for beginners and
'seasoned experts'
- Free hearing tests, in a booth, courtesy of Oticon
- Raffle with many exciting donated prizes -- tickets were $1 each, 13
for $12, or for prizes over $500 in value, $5 per ticket.
- Free emergency hearing aid repair of minor problems by volunteer
audiologists and hearing instrument specialists, and in some cases hearing
aids for loan.
- Free Internet Cafe with high-speed connection from America Online,
with six computers at which you could check and send e-mail.
- Newcomer welcome session to meet SHHH staff, board members, and other
newcomers
- Gathering of past members of SHHH board of trustees with Dr. Terry
Portis
- Meeting for people thinking about being an SHHH trustee
- SHHH Board of Trustees Meeting
- Mix and mingle luncheon for Clarion and HiRes 90k cochlear implants
by Advanced Bionics and Bionic Ear Association
- State organization leaders meeting to discuss key issues and
brainstorm solutions
- Gathering of State Government Agency employees and Commission members
- Reunion for Hearing Assistive Technology Training and Chapter
Leadership Training participants
- Welcome party hosted by DC local host committee, family barbecue at
the zoo, tour of DC
- Ice Cream Social sponsored by Motorola in the exhibit hall
- Meet the authors/book signing by Marcia Dugan, Dora Weber, Dr. Sam
Trychin, Gael Hannan, Dr. Gina Oliva.
- Worship service on Sunday morning
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(c)2005 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Persons (NVRC), www.nvrc.org. When sharing this information, please ensure
credit is given to NVRC
