Dear MSHA Members,
Over the past several years we have seen
changes at the national level such as online
registration for ASHA membership, and increased
continuing education opportunities through an
electronic medium rather than face to face. There
have also been changes at our state level with
online registration for our state convention, and
changes to the MSHA website. We have seen a decline
in membership, likely associated with the changes in
the economy as well as the change in our annual
convention as our organization participated in the
multi-state IMASH Convention in 2008. As current
president, I intend to focus on addressing as many
of the challenges as possible. During my tenure as
president I would like to focus on the challenges
associated with improving communication within the
organization, increasing membership, and increasing
public awareness of the services that audiologists
and speech-language pathologists have to offer, as
well as continue to focus on addressing the
challenges we are facing due to change.
I
have heard and ready many stories and quotes about
change. I would like to share my favorite. My
father-in-law often spoke of one particular
adventure he had as a high school senior. He
attended the New York World’s Fair in 1939.
Fairgoers saw the first prototype of an electronic
box that they were told was going to be a part of
their future and that there would be at least one in
every home in the future. Many fairgoers scoffed at
the statement and dismissed the box as futuristic
nonsense. Here we are today, continuing to address
the challenges of change that television brought
into our lives.
I look forward to addressing
the challenges of change. I believe that when we
work together we will discover positive ways to
embrace the changes and continually improve our
organization and the services we provide to
improving communication for life.
Sincerely,
Mary H. Callahan, MS, SSS-SLP
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