COMMUNICATION CONNECTION
A quarterly publication of the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Vol. 22, Issue 2
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President's Message
Amy Faith, EdS, CCC-SLP
As we enter into those easy-going summer months, ArkSHA is staying very busy! The 1st Annual Summer Schools Conference has been a huge success! This year's theme was LeARn Local and we definitely delivered! We had approximately 50 SLPs from lots of different school districts join us online to hear presentations from our very own local Arkansas experts. It was hard for me to pick a favorite because there were so many excellent speakers and great topics. A big THANK YOU to the conference planning committee, the speakers, attendees, and Marilyn for keeping things running smoothly. We're already planning for next year's conference!
On the legislative front, we are continuing to prepare for the Interim Study Proposal (ISP) that will be presented at the Senate Education Committee later this summer. It is currently scheduled for August. The ISP will focus on the retention/recruitment of school-based SLPs. We are continuing to lay the groundwork for Arkansas to consider joining the Interstate Compact for Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology. ArkSHA Board members recently participated in a very productive planning session with members of ASHA and the national Interstate Compact effort.
The highlight of every fall season is our Annual Convention, which will be held October 12-14, 2022. This year's theme is Envision: Elevating your Practice. Be on the lookout for additional details!! Please remember that ArkSHA is YOU and we continue to need your help and support. If you're interested in volunteering, reach out to us! And as always, I can be reached via email: President@arksha.org.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!! ~Amy
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2022 ArkSHA Board of Directors |
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President
Amy Faith
Rogers Public Schools
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President-Elect
Elizabeth Cleveland
UCA
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Treasurer
Jodi Hood
Cabot Public Schools
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Secretary
Shayla McCullough
eQ Health/Kepro
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Vice President for CE
Danni Welch
Mobile FEES of NWA
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Vice President-Elect for CE
Tim Chance
Harding University
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VP for Speech Pathology
Cindy Watson
Children's Therapy TEAM
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VP for Audiology & Hearing
Charia Hall
UAMS
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Immediate Past President
Aleecia Starkey
Semi-Retired
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Just a FEW of the Convention Speakers! |
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Sucheta Kamath, MA, CCC-SLP, BC-ANDS
Race, Equity and Walking the Walk &
Emotional Agility in the Future-Self
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Marva Mount, MA, CCC-SLP, F-NAP
Teletherapy Tips and Tricks & Collaborative Practices for the School-Based SLP
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Portia Carr, PhD, CCC-SLP & Dana Moser, PhD, CCC-SLP
Navigating Burnout: Making the Transition to an Alternative Career Path
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Sam Atcherson, PhD, CCC-A, F-NAP
Why Are We Still Talking About Auditory Rehabilitation? Because!
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Ashlen Thomason, PhD, CCC-SLP
Stuttering Assessment
& Stuttering Therapy
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Sarah Warren, AuD, PhD, MPH, CCC-A
Open Communication: The Past, Present, and Future of Public Health in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
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ArkSHA Financial Pandemic Recovery |
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Newsletters are generally about highlighting success, but they also need to be about sharing crucial information. This article is going to share some crucial information for members and non-members. So, let's talk for a minute about ArkSHA's financial situation.
For many years, ArkSHA has had two primary sources of income -- membership dues and convention revenue. Both of these sources of income have been significantly impacted by the recent pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in several very lean years for ArkSHA, where we have had to rely on reserves to maintain our association's paid services, which currently include both association management and a lobbyist.
Your Board has engaged in several hard conversations about our financial situation. We have talked excessively about ways to rethink our revenue streams and be creative with other ways to generate revenue. Additionally, we have sought guidance from national sources of support and other state associations, many of which are in similar situations.
One of the outcomes of these conversations is the decision to raise both membership dues and convention fees. As of July 1, 2022, membership dues will increase from $65 to $75 per year. Dues now cover an entire year from the time of payment. For example, if you join/renew in October, your membership will run until the following October. You will not be getting a bill the following January for January to December membership, as would have happened in the past. Your association has been hesitant to raise dues and members have experienced very little increase in dues, which have remained relatively stable since 2012. We felt this dues increase was both necessary and justifiable at this time.
Convention registration will also go up in cost this year. The member rate will increase from $160 to $195; the non-member rate will increase from $275 to $325. Lunch will continue to be included in this cost. This is the first increase in convention fees since 2013. As can be assumed, convention costs have been rising over the last couple of years, and ArkSHA has absorbed many of these increases. Raising the convention registration amounts will allow us to continue offering a quality convention and more successfully navigate rising costs.
As a Board, we are working diligently in our fiduciary responsibilities, as well as tackling other issues, like marketing, legislative advocacy, and providing quality professional development, with the tenacity our members deserve. We strive to be an association alive with member involvement, working to advance the interests of our members and professions. However, at the end of the day, a healthy association requires a stable financial situation. This is what allows us to move forward month-to-month in service of our members.
If you have any additional questions or input, feel free to reach out directly to me. I may be reached at president@arksha.org.
Respectfully submitted by Amy Faith, Current President of ArkSHA
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Support ArkSHA and help build up our association post-pandemic. |
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ArkSHA Honors and Awards
The honors and awards of the Association are intended to identify and recognize those individuals whose contributions to the professions of speech-language pathology and/or audiology in the state of Arkansas are significant, outstanding, and excellent. The ArkSHA Honors and Awards are presented annually during the ArkSHA Convention.
The SIMPLE form can be found online here. |
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Deadline to nominate is July 15. |
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Betty Bass Graduate Student Scholarship |
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Renamed in memory of Betty Bass in October 2017, the Betty Bass Graduate Student Scholarship is given to individuals enrolled in a Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program in the state of Arkansas. Donations from our members allow us to offer this each year. This is separate from the ArkSHA Charitable Fund.
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In December of 2019, the ArkSHA board started the ‘ArkSHA Charitable Fund’ with the Arkansas Community Foundation to provide our members and supporters with a tax-deductible way to support ArkSHA’s initiatives. This will allow ArkSHA to provide funds for educational/research purposes to a selected 501(c)3 as requested and the board sees fit. |
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One additional student liaison is volunteering their time to serve as liaisons to the ArkSHA Board, sharing what they learn with their peers! |
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Molly Nabors
UAMS Doctor of Audiology Program
In addition to my interest in hearing and balance care, I am passionate about public service and advocating for greater and more equitable access to healthcare. As a seventh-generation Arkansan, I am dedicated to helping the people of Arkansas. I am looking forward to my work as a student liaison because I want to learn to be a more effective professional advocate for public health.
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ArkSHA Student Member of the Moment |
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Sydney Elliott
Harding University
I'm so excited to see Sydney join the profession of speech-language pathology. While Sydney excels in the classroom, she is also able to apply what she's learned in a variety of clinical settings. Whether working with children, adults, or families, Sydney's kindness and caring nature are evident. She makes those around her feel seen and valued. I am confident that Sydney will be a "top of the license" clinician and will bless those whom she serves. I hope that Sydney will be a leader within ArkSHA - she has many valuable skills! ~ Melanie Meeker
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Want to nominate a student or professional member of the moment?
Select the image to the side to be taken to the nomination form.
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Connect with ArkSHA on Social Media! |
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Be sure to use #ArkSHA when connecting with us!
Check out our website, www.arksha.org, where we will continue to make updates.
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