Reflections on HLAA - Part One

By Denise Portis

Editor: You probably already know that Terry Portis was asked to resign as HLAA Executive Director last winter, because the board wanted someone with considerable fundraising experience. After what seemed like a brief and unpublicized search, the Board named Brenda Battat to be the new Executive Director. I know that Brenda has been a real stalwart at HLAA for many years and I wish her well in her new position. I'm not aware of her fundraising experience; perhaps someone could enlighten me in that regard.

Like Denise Portis (Terry's wife and an HLAA booster in her own right), I wish HLAA the best. But I have to admit that I thought the way this all happened was a bit troubling.

In any case, Denise recently wrote about her reactions to the events of last winter, and gracious allowed us to share them with you. You can keep up with her blog at www.hearingelmo.com.

This is part one of two parts.

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Many of my regular "readers" have asked me to post my thoughts on the Hearing Loss Association of America, and how I "feel" about the organization now that a bit of the heartache is in my "past".

It has been difficult to sort through my personal feelings, in order to look at things objectively. Frankly, I've given up trying to seek an objective viewpoint as the way the Board of Trustees behaved this past Fall, DID affect me personally. I realize that I cannot pretend it did not hurt me, when in reality it did.

So as I write, I hope you'll allow me some leeway to sort through how I feel personally as well.

I'll never forget what HLAA's founder, Rocky Stone, told me at the Atlanta convention in 2003. "Terry's biggest obstacle will be the board. It has always been the biggest obstacle to any of the Executive Directors... including myself!" The last convention I saw him at was the Omaha convention. He always cared about how I felt, and how Terry was dealing with the board. Rocky is in Heaven now, and I miss seeing him at the conventions!

Many local chapter leaders of HLAA have discussed and analyzed why it is that HLAA does not grow. I have always believed that part of the reason it does not grow, is that hearing loss is an invisible disability. Those whose seek support and information, are usually those whose hearing loss has reached the level that it directly affects their communication and therefore, their lives. The disability has reached the point that it is really no longer invisible. It is difficult to hide. I had always hoped that HLAA would begin to steer it's efforts towards "hearing conservation" and in doing so garner the interest and attention of the nation and it's professionals.

HLAA's median age is not that of a younger generation. Even though there are record numbers of young people with hearing loss as a result of iPods and music concerts, even though thousands of young soldiers are returning from Iraq with hearing loss, HLAA's membership still consists of those who are older. I do not believe for a moment that those past the age of 50 cannot recruit, mobilize and educate the press, professionals, and politicians about hearing loss. I believe they can... and yet it is not happening.

Terry "inherited" a great number of problems when he became the Exec. Dir. of HLAA. Many were problems that he and I should have investigated prior to uprooting our family and heading to DC. In MANY ways, I'm glad we did not know what we know now. Our home is now in DC, and we have made a life here with our family. As the Executive Director, Terry knew that he would serve at the "pleasure of the board". He also knew that even if escalating problems were the result of past failures and mistakes, the "buck stopped" with him as he was the current Executive Director.

I think Terry stuck it out as long as he did because bottom line, there is not a group of people he cares about more than those with hearing loss. He began to love folks with hearing loss because of me... his love grew and his determination to continue trying to make a difference happened because he met many of YOU.

Being asked to resign, is not uncommon for Executive Directors... especially those who work for a non-profit organization. As Terry had been living under a great deal of stress due to dishonest accusations for over a year, he and I had already discussed that he needed to seek a new position as the stress was no longer worth the satisfaction of working for HLAA.

The board "encouraged" him to give his resignation and told him to "take care of his family"... take his time looking for another job, etc. Warm fuzzy feelings, ya-da, ya-da. (grin) Within two weeks the president had called Terry and retracted all that the board had told him during the November meeting... a meeting where he could have had the opportunity to speak the truth about what was really going on with documented proof to back him up. He was told that his last day needed to be mid-January. As we already knew Terry's health would not survive staying in non-profit leadership, we did our best to encourage our kids (as they were scared to death) and begin looking for "something new" for Terry's career.

Do I still love HLAA? Of course I do! HLAA is the ONLY national consumer organization whose mission is to serve those with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support. The fact that HLAA's board is "dangerous" and does indeed effect the overall health of the organization, does not change the fact that "good" is still being done across the country through local chapters and state organizations. However, board members are the key to successful development efforts. They use their circles of influence to connect development staff with funding sources.

Here's Part Two