Unofficial Business Meeting Minutes - July 31, 2005
Note: Minutes will become official upon adoption at the next meeting of the general membership
President Bill Hudson called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM. He thanked the interpreters for their hard work during the day-long conference. He thanked the officers: Scott Dougherty, Webmaster, Joni Hunt, Corresponding Secretary and Anita Iurlano, Recording Secretary. He noted that Chris Noschese had served two terms as President and as an organization we are grateful for his service. He shared that Chris’ email address included the word SOAR which exemplifies his dedicated service and promotion of PESDHH. A photo taken by Susan Lindsay, exemplifying SOAR and featuring an inscription on back of photo, will be given to Chris.
President’s Report - Bill Hudson
This is the fourteenth year of convocations and the establishment of PESDHH. Given the changing training opportunities of teachers of the deaf, Bill stated that PESDHH must take a new direction by conjoining with the PaTTAN Low-Incidence Institute. Bill has engaged in ongoing discussion connected to this year’s program and we have been welcomed to continue this process next year. PESDHH's next convocation will be on August 2, the Wednesday of Low-Incidence week. It will occur between the School Age Institute and Great Start Institute. This will allow PESDHH to draw attendees from both institutes.
In an open discussion, Ruth Garrity discussed the advantages—we don’t have to go across the state, we have an opportunity to show PDE that we are professional organization of reputation that is worth supporting and that individuals will be better able to attend both the PESDHH and PaTTAN trainings. Jean Saunders, Past President, suggested that the Wednesday slot will allow us to add more breakout sessions. She encouraged members to consider being keynote and breakout speakers because they have valuable information to share. Scott Dougherty reiterated that we are experience-rich and we are an accepting, welcoming people willing to be your audience. Katie Clementes and Rich Patton shared that they would like to discuss materials and ideas with people who do our same job.
The East will chair the next convocation. In addition, two vacancies exist in the organization. The Vice President will coordinate the convocation and the Treasurer will pay the bills.
Bill shared his experience in the southeast where a group of professionals faced the challenges, collaboration, and consensus. He discussed setting up a program for behaviorally challenged students where five counties, a consortia of mental health agencies, intermediate units, and schools for the deaf were able to achieve consensus. He stated that PESDHH similarly needs to face the challenge, collaborate, and gain consensus.
Treasurer’s Report - Becky Houghton
Becky was unable to attend PESDHH and Bill gave a brief summary stating there is $8,000 in the bank account and bills will be paid with the money raised from registration fees and the convocation basket raffles which earned almost $350 for the organization. Bill also thanked the Scranton School for the Deaf for sponsoring the wine and cheese social. He also thanked Patty Greeno, teacher from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and her mother for putting together the wonderful baskets for the raffle.
Elections
Tom Clouse took the floor before reviewing the nominations with Bill. For those who are at a quandary about what to do with another PESDHH bag, Tom modeled a bag that he converted into an apron. Tom stated that you could also make rain hats, but personally he was into barbequing. PESDHH is very fortunate to have Tom as an outstanding leader with an awesome sense of humor.
Bill stated that Nan Rodgers, educational consultant from PaTTAN’s Harrisburg Office, accepted the nomination for Vice President with the understanding that the convocation is a rotating responsibility. No additional nominees were proposed. Becky Plymale moved to close and accept the nomination. Jean Saunders seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and passed.
Bill stated that Robin Marvin, from IU14 Berks County, agreed to be the Treasurer. Ruth Garrity moved to close and accept the nomination. Donna Hopstetter seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and passed.
Membership
Laura Russell, Membership Chair, encouraged members to go back to their schools, talk up PESDHH to staff, and emphasize why it is worth joining for $20. At our best, we had 230 members, but membership has dropped this year to 77. She stated that to hold a conference we need more people as members. She prepared envelopes for attendees to take back to their schools. This organization is worthwhile and we need to keep going and doing more. This year, new members’ names were placed in a hat and Nancy Wolfgang won a strip of tickets for the basket raffle. Laura clarified that if you paid the additional convocation registration amount for not being a 2004-05 member, you still need to pay for a 2005-06 membership.
Old and New Business
Marlene Schechter-Connors suggested that we need to engage in activities that reenergize PESDHH by doing smaller localized training to make PESDHH more active across the state. She thanked Scott Dougherty for getting the Clipboard newsletter up and running and stated we need to be a viable professional group by doing meetings across the state.
PESDHH began with a 1992 event sponsored by the Bureau of Special Education. The first convocation was held at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and chaired by Marlene and Anita. She thanked all individuals who worked on this year’s convocation.
The formal meeting was adjourned at 7:20PM, but the social continued with the winning of the baskets and socializing. Thanks again to the generosity of the Scranton School for the Deaf!
Submitted by Anita Iurlano, Recording Secretary