Major Kathy Gates, USA
Fellow MAA Members,
I am honored to serve as President of MAA in 2001. There are many exciting challenges that face us this year, to include a possible merger with our sister organization of Veterans Administration audiologists. As discussed below, we are exploring the possible formation of a larger Federal Government Audiology organization that would increase our collective voice on many issues. I welcome your comments on this and all issues, and look forward to resolving this issue in a manner favorable to us.
MAA continues to make significant contributions to the field of Audiology. Some of the ongoing initiatives include: Audiology Awareness Campaign, the NHCA Endowment Fund, MAA AuD Scholarship Fund, Operation Bang, and CAOHC representation.
I would like to thank the Executive Board for their continued support, and also welcome LtCol Angela Williamson as our new MAA Secretary/Treasurer. Thanks to CPT Marjorie Grantham for her efforts in serving as the editor for the MAA newsletter for the past couple of years. She has recently turned over the responsibilities to CPT Martin Robinette. I welcome CPT Marty Robinette as our new editor and look forward to publishing an online newsletter this Spring. Please contact CPT Robinette to submit an article to the newsletter.
I want to thank Capt. Rob Pluta for his continued success in updating and maintaining the MAA Web site. The Web site continues to reach out not only to military audiologists but also out to other professionals in the field. Capt. Pluta continues to market our Web site and create links with many sites, including the ASHA Resource Center. For additional information about our Web site or if you would like to share information with other military audiologists via our Web site, contact our Webmaster.
Lastly, but not least, I want to especially thank our Executive Secretary, LTC Lynn Henselman for her continuing efforts to keep the MAA Executive Board informed about upcoming events, timelines, and suspense dates. LTC Henselman, we are all extremely grateful for your dedication to our organization. Thanks for all that you do!
I’m thrilled to see so many members pursuing the AuD as evidenced by the number of applicants for the MAA AuD Scholarship. Out of an extremely tight competition, the following MAA members were awarded an AuD Scholarship for 2001: Ms. Carole Faulkner-Gischia, LCDR Antoni Joseph, Capt. Sharisse McCoy, and Ms. Therese Walden. Congratulations to all!
During last year’s business meeting, we agreed to meet with the VA Audiology Association to discuss the possibility of establishing a new organization of federal audiologists. Finally, on 18 April 2001, we are going to meet with the VA to discuss a possible merger. Mr. Tom Hutchison will represent MAA. The goal of this meeting will be to determine the benefits of merging the AVAA, the speech pathology VA group (AVASLP) and MAA under an umbrella organization of government audiologists and speech pathologists. There will be a panel discussion of representatives from all three organizations to discuss the plans for developing this larger umbrella organization. An overall government (VA and military) organization would have over 1000 members allowing us to be heard and have considerable clout when dealing with our national professional organizations, Congress, to DOD and to VA. I encourage other MAA members to attend this meeting to share your thoughts and suggestions on how we might develop this larger organization. Even if we develop this larger organization, MAA will not lose our autonomy in the process.
The Army is hosting Military Audiology Short Course (MASC) and it will be held in conjunction with the Force Health Protection Conference. The MASC is scheduled for 26-30 August 2001 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A one-day CAOHC Course Director Recertification Workshop will be offered on 30 Aug 2001. The MASC banquet will be held Monday evening, 27 August 2001 at the Albuquerque Petroleum Club. The next general business meeting will be held during the MASC. You can register for MASC and make hotel registrations on-line. There are several hotels available {Double Tree, La Pasada, Hotel Blue (formerly Ramada)}, but the Double Tree is closest to the Convention Center. The room rates are $65/night (government).
I thank all of you for your constant support and dedication to the organization. I hope to see all of you in Albuquerque.