August 2008
Welcome to the Vermont Speech-Language Hearing Association website. It is intended to provide information on what is going on in the state, such as upcoming conferences in Vermont & the northeast region, executive board activities, information on licensure, job postings, opportunities to join forums and other information/events relevant to our professions. Take a look around. We hope you will find the website helpful.
This year VSHA is celebrating its 50th anniversary and we plan celebrate. Please set aside Friday, September 19, 2008 from 6-8:00 p.m. to recognize and celebrate our past accomplishments as well as looking forward to future opportunities and growth. You will find more information about the upcoming party on the VSHA website by clicking on “50th Anniversary Celebration” in the sidebar on the Home page. We hope you will join us and bring your stories of VSHA from past years!!
The VSHA board members are: Gayle Belin (President), June Golato (Secretary), Paula Gervia (Treasurer), Kari Fabrizio (Immediate past president) Jessie Graham (Past president), Liz Adams (Membership), Susan Kimmerly (SEAL & School Affairs Chair), Carrie Ross & Ginette Perry (Program Co-chairs), Lisa Abbott-Moore (Public relations chair and interim ASHA Advisory Council representative), Dinah Smith (Academic Programs Chair). Feel free to contact any of us with questions, concerns, and/or suggestions for VSHA. You can find our contact information on the sidebar under “Contacts”.
The executive board has continued to keep quite busy in 2008 with the following activities:
* We have continued the work first initiated by immediate past president & SEAL, Kari Fabrizio, to understand & solve the shortages of SLPs in Vermont. A report generated by a state-wide coalition can be found on the website in the middle of the Home page.
* An Ad Hoc Committee (Susan Kimmerly, Art Farnum, Maria Short, Catherine Lavigne, Darlene Remy, Carol Geery, & Gayle Belin) began researching the Use and Supervision of SLP-As in Vermont and making recommendations about the possible need for state policy. Work on this continues & we welcome any suggestions from VSHA members. A summary of the work to date can be found on the Home page.
* Dinah Smith, academic chairperson, surveyed VSHA members to explore regional networking opportunities for SLPs.
* The board met in July to work on the Strategic Plan for 2009-2011. Stan Dublinski, an ASHA senior advisor, came up to Vermont & facilitated a discussion about the previous plan & plans for the next 3 years. Watch for this updated plan to be posted on the website soon.
Forums and chat rooms are available on this website so take advantage of the opportunity to communicate and network with one another. You can check a box in the forums to ensure you are notified when responses are posted regarding a topic of interest. We also encourage VSHA members to support their organization by joining a committee or the executive board: It’s fun and offers great opportunities for professional networking. Visit our Membership page for more information.
As the new VSHA president, I have big shoes to fill, following both Kari Fabrizio as immediate past president and Jessie Graham before her. I look forward to connecting with all VSHA members, long-standing members as well as new ones. With your involvement, VSHA can accomplish wonderful things. Suggestions are always welcome and they, along with questions, comments, or concerns, may be directed to my attention by emailing me at President@VSHA.us or gayle.belin@uvm.edu. I hope to see you at our Anniversary Party on September 19th or at the fall conference on October 17th.
Sincerely yours,
Gayle Belin
VSHA President: 2008-2010