Winter 2007 - Region 1 Newsletter

Happy New Year Region 1!

I hope everyone has had a great semester and a wonderful break. Now it is time to get back to work! For this newsletter, the goal is to keep your chapter informed of upcoming events and to encourage idea sharing within our region. I hope that we can work together to allow for chapters to grow and become even more successful in 2008!

As your Regional Councilor, it is my responsibility to bring issues and concerns to the Executive Board. If you have any issues that need to be addressed, please don't hesitate to notify me. If there are problems that I cannot find a solution for, I will bring them with me to the Spring Executive Council meeting.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted chapter updates! This section should be a great resource for all chapters. If you are having trouble finding new activities, or just want to "spice up" your chapter, take a look at what other chapters in the region are doing. If you have any questions, or would like more information about a specific activity, please just send me an email.

Gina Nalesnik
NSSLHA Regional Councilor, Region 1
University of Pittsburgh
E-mail: NSSLHA.Region1@gmail.com

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1. Bloomsburg University

The Bloomsburg University NSSLHA chapter has had a very productive fall semester. We began the semester by inviting all new students to a pizza party to introduce them to other Bloomsburg NSSLHA members. Throughout the semester, we participated in numerous service projects such as preparing dinner for Dollar Dinner, walking in the Breast Cancer Walk, organizing a canned food drive, and volunteering at the local food cupboard. Also, Bloomsburg NSSLHA members donated old prom dresses and accessories to a local high school. These donations allowed underprivileged students to "shop" for a prom dress to wear to their high school prom. Another charity Bloomsburg NSSLHA contributed to was the Danville Ronald McDonald house. Due to the generosity of Bloomsburg NSSLHA members, we managed to raise $150, enough money to pay for ten nights stay at the Ronald McDonald house.

This semester, Bloomsburg NSSLHA began a series of presentations called Graduate Prep Sessions. These presentations were designed to help prepare students for graduate school. One speaker educated our NSSLHA members on cultural differences they may encounter while working. Another session focused on how to write a personal statement and resume. We also had a speech pathology graduate student describe her typical day in graduate school and an audiology graduate student talk about the audiology program.

Bloomsburg NSSLHA proudly supported their speech pathology research committee as they presented their research poster at ASHA. In addition, we represented the speech pathology/audiology program at the local Major's Fair and the Great American Smoke Out. In honor of CSD Career Awareness month, Bloomsburg NSSLHA members decorated Bloomsburg's sidewalks with facts about speech pathology and audiology and hung flyers around campus to increase awareness.

While Bloomsburg NSSLHA was very busy this semester with various projects, we still managed to have plenty of fun as a NSSLHA chapter. Members participated in a Grey's Anatomy night and the annual Christmas party. We created a banner for homecoming and had NSSLHA homecoming king and queen nominations. Overall, Bloomsburg NSSLHA had a very successful fall semester and we look forward to the spring.

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2. Boston University

This semester Boston University NSSLHA was proud to be the Ambassador Group for the 2008 ASHA Convention! We are thrilled to announce that 21 undergraduates attended the convention as well as all of the graduate students! At the convention our very own Jon Suen won an award for his participation in NSSLHA which included a $500 prize. In addition, several other students won free memberships to special interest divisions. We are also in the process of planning events such as our Speech and Hearing Awareness Week to raise funds to donate to charities.

3. Edinboro University

Participated in the 2007 Autism Walk in Erie, Pennsylvania (April)
Participated in the Memory Walk for the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and raised $360.00 (September)
Held two garage sales to raise money for ASHA convention and donated remaining items to local thrift shop
Hosted the EUP Speech and Hearing Club Annual Alumni Conference (October)
Attended 2007 ASHA convention in Boston, Massachusetts (16 students)
Collected food and personal care items for the "Edinboro Cares" program at EUP (November)

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4. Emerson College

This fall, the Emerson College NSSLHA chapter began several initiatives to supplement our curriculum and enrich our learning experience at Emerson. To kick off our semester some of us volunteered for the Greater Boston Memory Walk for Alzheimer's awareness and research. We cheered the walkers on to support them in their three mile walk.

This November we funded eleven members to attend the ASHA convention in Boston. Unlike previous years, this year's Emerson NSSLHA chapter turnout at the Convention was impressive indeed. This was the first ASHA convention for many of our members (most of whom are seniors), and we were excited to provide this opportunity.

We are also very proud to announce that our chapter has a new Web site. It was put together by Tom Shull (a senior in the program) with the input of the chapter members and advisor, who contributed ideas and suggestions during several weekly meetings. Thanks to Tom who worked tirelessly to create a user-friendly and cool-looking Web site.

To supplement our academic curriculum, our chapter initiated several learning opportunities for our program. We had guest speakers, such as Dr. Margaret Kenna from Children's Hospital, who spoke to us about her work with cochlear implants and the SLPs' role in working with the recipients. Another exciting event was the nasal endoscopy demonstration by Glenn Bunting from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. For many of us this was our first exposure to such as endoscopic procedure and we even had some of our members volunteer for it!

Finally, we had the privilege to attend Dr. Oliver Sacks's lecture his new book Musicophilia. This was a great event and some of our members had the opportunity to meet Dr. Sacks and have their books signed. These were all great events and learning experiences for our chapter and we are very excited for next semester when we organize our fundraiser to contribute to NSSLHA Loves!

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5. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Advisor: Dr Lisa Price
President: Laura Wright
Vice-President: Mary Weidner

Communication Partners–NSSLHA members volunteer 1 hour per week as native speakers to assist foreign students in learning the English language and customs.
Chairperson: Katie Chapman
QUOTA–NSSLHA members developed a campaign to increase awareness of potential hearing damage caused to ear buds. They have advertised in campus bulletins and will be going into elementary and high schools to give presentations on potential hearing damage.
Chairperson: Jamie Finelli
Emerson Square–NSSLHA members went to a local nursing home to socialize with the residents. Students played games, talked, and made crafts with the elderly residents.
Chairperson: Holly McMillian
Food drive–NSSLHA members collected food, toiletries, and clothes for the Eastern Orthodox Foundation. These donations benefited low-income families around the region. IUP NSSLHA donated 3 truckloads of items to the foundation.
Buddy system–senior members of NSSLHA volunteered to help freshman students and new students into the major with the adjustment into college life and the demanding field of speech and language pathology.
Miss IUP Pageant–NSSLHA sponsored a participant in the Miss IUP Pageant. This pageant benefited a local charter school.
Continuing Education–NSSLHA members attended a seminar on basic sign language. They also attend a seminar on sensory issues related to Autism.
Fundraisers–NSSLHA sold t-shirts and tote bags with our school and major logo. We also sold homemade candy and fudge made by a professor within our department.
Social Events–We have held a club game night where we played various board games and had pizza. We also attended Fright Night at a local amusement park. We have a banquet planned for the spring semester to wish off our graduate students.

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6. Marywood University

Hello to everyone from Marywood University! Our chapter has been very busy throughout this fall semester.

To kick off the year, an ice cream social was held to allow all returning students to catch up from last year as well as to welcome the incoming freshmen and any newcomers into the program.

Throughout the fall season, the undergraduate and graduate clinicians volunteered at the local Headstart centers. Combined, we administered 41 speech/language screenings and 301 hearing screenings! Although this endeavor was quite challenging at times, the clinicians gained valuable insight and experience within our field. Around Halloween, undergraduate and graduate students alike decorated our speech and hearing clinic and organized a spooky fall harvest party for our young clients. The youngsters participated in a haunted house and creepy crafts and of course were given plenty of treats. Clients, clinicians, and faculty all came dressed in costume and a fun time was had by all.

During mid-fall, chapter members sold raffle tickets for our semester fundraiser and a drawing was held to determine the winners of gift certificates to area restaurants and businesses. Shortly before Thanksgiving, members raised money and participated in a Hunger Walk to increase awareness of the hunger and homelessness within our own community of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Informative stations were positioned around campus, providing the walkers an opportunity to discuss ways in which our school community could support the goal of ending hunger and homelessness in the surrounding areas.

As the semester wound down and everyone began preparing for finals, we managed to find a little time to hold a holiday social for the students and faculty within our chapter. We were able to mingle with others in our department whom we may not have had the opportunity to meet this semester. Entertaining games, creative raffle prizes, delicious desserts, and a Pollyanna gift exchange filled us all with holiday cheer, as we left with a few new acquaintances and excitement for the upcoming semester. Most importantly, our chapter's holiday spirit was expressed as members participated in the Marywood University's Campus Ministry Giving Tree.

Through this gift drive, warm clothes, new toys, and slightly used items were donated by our chapter members to help make the holidays special for people in need in this season.

Although our major is quite demanding, we have realized especially during our chapter events that we truly are a family and will continue to offer each other support and friendship. As the year progresses, we look forward to even more exciting and educational experiences together.

We wish you all health and good fortune in the New Year!

Marywood NSSLHA Chapter

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7. Misericordia University

The Misericordia University Chapter of NSSLHA has worked very hard this year. Since September 2007, we raised $1,015.00 for our club by holding a basket raffle and face painting during homecoming weekend and selling Gertrude Hawk Chocolate. We also participated in a Buddy walk and held a bake sale on campus which helped to raise $100.00 for children with special needs.

In October we had a Halloween party complete with trick or treat bag decorating, pizza, and a piñata, for the pediatric clients who attend the Misericordia University Speech-Language and Hearing Center. Coming up during finals week, the club is having a 'relax with a movie day' before finals for the members of the club.

Our club has made great progress thus far and we look forward to continuing that success in the coming semester.

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8. Northeastern University

Northeastern University's Undergraduate NSSLHA group has been very busy throughout the semester. We have a great group of active members and a dedicated executive board, that worked together to help us to reach all of our semester goals.

During the months of September and October, the club worked to raise awareness about Autism on campus. In addition to raising awareness, we collected donations for Autism Speaks. As a culminating event for all of our efforts, 34 of our members volunteered at the Greater Boston Walk for Autism on October 14th. We helped with registration, face painting, petitioning, and a variety of other tasks. Everyone had a great time, and our team donated $3,900!

In November, the club participated in the Northeastern University Health Fair. We wanted to focus on providing information on speech and hearing issues that affected college age students. We set up our table to raise awareness about protecting your hearing( especially when listening to your i-pod), vocal hygiene, and the most common causes of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in college age students. Our most recent activity this December, was a holiday card making event for veterans, specifically those affected by Traumatic Brain Injury. The club has been very successful with all of its endeavors over the last few months. We have many great ideas that we are looking to with excitement, and we cannot wait to get working on them next semester!

Northeastern University Undergraduate NSSLHA Chapter

Northeastern University's Graduate NSSLHA members have adopted a family for the holidays! We will be collecting items to benefit a local family to make their holidays a little brighter.

In November, several members volunteered at ASHA. On Thursday night, the Department held a reception for faculty, staff, alumni, and current students. Professor Mike Epstein (Audiology) entertained the crowd with several songs with his band, The Motion Sick.

In honor of Halloween, Northeastern University's Graduate NSSLHA members coordinated a Halloween Party for their clients from the Northeastern Speech Language and Hearing Center. The children had a lot of fun making costumes and listening to spooky stories.

In the meantime, our members are applying for community service grants to better serve the surrounding area. Other Northeastern University Graduate NSSLHA members are conducting their own research involving noise exposure and accent modification.

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9. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University's NSSLHA Chapter participated in Operation Christmas Child where we filled 10 shoe boxes with toys for underprivileged children living in impoverished nations. We have also been raising money all semester for Penn State Dance MaraTHON. All funds raised for THON are donated to the Four Diamonds Foundation which benefits research and treatment of pediatric cancer.

This semester our chapter has participated in resume writing workshops, peer mentoring programs, alumni mentoring programs and graduate school information sessions.

10. Southern Connecticut State University

Southern Connecticut State University held a bake sale to raise money for "The Smile Train" which is an organization that provides free cleft surgery for children. A donation of $250 covers the cost of a cleft surgery for one child. Our Southern Connecticut State University NSSLHA Chapter was able to donate $250 to The Smile Train.

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11. University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh's NSSLHA Chapter is up and running again this year in hopes of offering new and exciting events to its near 100 members. Pitt's NSSLHA Chapter currently has members ranging from freshman to graduate students and is run by a board of four officers: President, Nicole Diduch; Vice President, Chrisa Wilson; Business Manager, Gina Nalesnik; and Secretary, Dorothy Yang.

Our first event this year was the Pittsburgh Great Race which took place on Sunday, September 30, 2007. NSSLHA donated approximately $300 to the Richard S. Caliguiri Amyloidosis Fund, benefiting research to find a cure for Amyloidosis. Thank you to all of our members who participated in the 5K! NSSLHA also recently donated $270 to the Buddy Walk of Pittsburgh.

NSSLHA Chapter members also donated their time recently and cooked and served dinner at the Family house on Mckee and the Ronald McDonald House.

Additionally, in November, five of our members attended the American Speech and Hearing Association Annual Convention in Boston. This was a great experience and we are looking forward to going back next year.

We also have been busy donating Christmas gifts for The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers, an early intervention program in Pittsburgh.

We are excited that this year has already been such a success and we are looking forward to next semester

Pitt's NSSLHA Chapter

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12. West Chester University

Greetings from West Chester University. The big news around here is that we will be having our second annual Professional Conference Series sponsored by NSSLHA and West Chester University. The date of the conference is April 18, 2008 and the speaker will be Barbara Ehren, who is a professor and director of the doctoral program in language and literacy in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Ehren will be speaking about Responsiveness to Intervention (RTI). A brief intro to RTI is offered below:

RTI models, whether they are labeled as such by states or districts, focus on attempts to optimize student performance (before students begin a cycle of failure) by providing scientifically based classroom instruction and then scientifically based intervention, if needed. The following description of RTI by the National Center for Research in Learning Disabilities (2006) captures nicely what it is all about:

The RTI process is a multi-step approach to providing services and interventions to students who struggle with learning at increasing levels of intensity. The progress students make at each stage of intervention is closely monitored. Results of this monitoring are used to make decisions about the need for further research-based instruction and/or intervention in general education, in special education or both.

Conference registrants will be able to earn .5 CEU's and 5 ACT 48 credits for the one day conference. Lunch will be provided and included with the registration fee. Registration fee will be $55 and there will be a job fair/exhibition hall available during the lunch period. Registration forms will be available soon – look for our ad in an upcoming issue of ADVANCE magazine as well as a mass mailing to PSHA members.

We held several other events this semester. We created and sold t-shirts that say "Speech Language Pathologists Have a Way With Words". We sold 75 shirts to our chapter members and professors! We held a bake sale, which went over wonderfully and had a great turnout from our members and fellow students. We also participated in a fundraiser at West Chester Scoops Ice Cream parlor. We had 3 days a week for a month to go in and buy ice cream and they gave us 20% of profits. We came in second place out of all West Chester organizations! We also adopted a block in West Chester, which we clean once a month! Next semester we are planning a bowling trip, annual NSSLHA conference, senior banquet, plus participating in fundraising walks, and going to the Ronald McDonald House to present the soda can tabs we collected in order to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House!

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