Listen Up!

Director's Corner

I would like to ask each of you to go back in time; all the way to High School. What was your favorite subject? Mine was History. The history of the Association for the Hearing Impaired, Inc. is a proud one, full of many wonderful stories and countless reports and documents demonstrating that the Association has, for 25 years, served the needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons, of all ages, in Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties and beyond. Many individuals, too many to name, have contributed to this agency’s success. I have had the distinct privilege of working with some of these men and women for the past ten-months. They have served as my mentors and will play valuable roles, as will some of you, in charting the AFTHI’s course for the future.

Listen Up! Is currently read by more than 800 households, businesses, clergy, schools and community organizations. Still, I believe that there are many individuals and families who no longer feel a connection to the Association for the Hearing Impaired, Inc. Please help me embarked on a “Where Are They Now?” search campaign. In an effort to mobilize the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities; their families, friends, classmates and co-workers, I am interested in reaching out to those individuals that have a past history with the AFTHI and introduce them to our current members.

The AFTHI proposes to do this as follows:

(a) Developing new “social” programs and special events/activities: opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as their families and friends, to regularly meet and network around common interests, issues and concerns at the AFTHI or other locations.

(b) Scheduling a “Class Reunion.” I am working hard to develop this initiative whose purpose is to invite individuals that have, during the past 25 years, participated in or accessed services (even on only one or just a few occasions or not recently) from the AFTHI, as well as their families,
friends, co-workers/employers to attend an evening a family entertainment; fun for all ages.

(c) Coin Drop to support AFTHI programs/services in Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties and beyond.

Note: Its is my intent to schedule the Class Reunion and Coin Drop during the month of July. Many More Details to Soon Follow!

Sincerely,
Bennet F. Driscoll, Jr.

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Your Dollars Make a Difference

The Association for the Hearing Impaired, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contributions are fully deductible and appreciated.

If you would like to make a gift “in memory of” or “in honor of” a friend or loved one, we will notify the appropriate person of your thoughtful gift. You can also remember the Association in your will or life insurance policy.

Your generosity will make an important difference in the lives of deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. For more information about leaving the Association in your will, contact the office at 761-0554.

Become a Member
(or Renew Your Membership)

Association for the Hearing Impaired Memberships are available at many levels:

• Individual, $15
• Family, $20
• Sponsor, $50
• Patron, $150

Of course, contributions in any amount are welcome! Make your check payable to "AHI" and mail to 71 Glenwood Ave., Queensbury, NY 12804. For more information on the benefits of membership, please contact us: (518) 761-0554.

We thank everyone who supports our work. Particularly the Tri-County United Way and Area Lions Clubs.

Deaf New York Picnic

Saturday, August 21, 2010 at the Broome County Fairground - Whitney Point, New York - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

PLAYS - DOOR PRIZES! - FOOD & DRINKS will be sold or may bring your own EXHIBITS ($2.00 per adult and free for children under 17 years old)

Sponsored by: Empire State Association for the Deaf

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Oticon, Inc.
29 Schoolhouse Rd.
Somerset, NJ 08873
www.oticonusa.com
Oticon - Life without boundaries.
Hearing without limits.

Oticon was a Gold Level Sponsor at the AFTHI's Annual Be A Hear-O fundraiser. This past year, I had the opportunity to join AFTHI board member Grady Aronstamm in Saratoga Springs at a presentation on the Oticon Dual Connect. Oticon's motto is People First.

Join AFTHI at Uno's

We will be having Uno's Days on the 2nd Thursday of each month. This month, AFTHI day at Uno's is June 8.

Just print out a coupon from our web site and take it with you. Uno's will do the rest. When you present the coupon to your server, Unos will give up to 20% of your check to the Association for the Hearing Impaired.

Our goal is to raise $200 or more each month! See you at Uno's!

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The Association for the Hearing Impaired, Inc. wishes to acknowledge the Glenn & Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation for their generous grant award to our agency. Monies will be used to produce and disseminate the Listen Up! newsletter, for the ongoing upgrading of our website and increased awareness of and participation in AFTHI programs and services by residents of Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties and beyond.

Ronald McDonald House Grant to Fund Fabulous Friends

The Association for the Hearing Impaired, Inc. wishes to thank its many volunteers who share their time and talents with us and advocating for the needs of the deaf and hearing impaired throughout Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties and beyond.

On Sunday, May 16th, I was proud and privileged to accompany six members of the Fabulous Friends with the Flying Fingers who were invited to perform at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Annual Recognition Ceremony in Menands. Recently, the RMHC’s notified the AFTHI that their grant’s program would be funding The FFFF
and other programs/services for children and youth at the AFTHI.

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Memberships, Contributions & Grant Funds

The Association for the Hearing Impaired truly appreciates the financial support of all of its members as well as from those who provide private contributions, grant monies or wish to honor the life of a loved one with a Memorial contribution.

The AFTHI wishes to thank those individuals by recognizing you in the monthly edition of Listen Up! The following list includes those that have either paid dues or sent a contribution since mid-April, 2010. To those of you that have supported our agency in the past, the AFHTI thanks you too!

• Frances Herrmann (Saratoga) - membership
• Laura Smith (Warren) - membership
• Mahoney Notify Plus, Inc. (Warren) -membership
• Donna Kosloske (Warren) - membership
• Dawn & Ernest Sacco (Warren) - membership
• Glens Falls Post No. 233 American Legion—Contrib.
• Tri-County United Way
• Saratoga County Office for the Aging
• Warren County Office for the Aging
• Washington County Office for the Aging

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Thanks to the Bridge Club

It is our pleasure to thank the Bridge Club for their basket for the “Be A Hear O” dinner dance. We regret if we have inadvertently left anyone out in our last edition of Listen Up.

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New TASK Force Formed

NTID News

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-Fairport, NY), a long-time supporter of the deaf and hard of hearing community, announced on May 19th the formation of a Task Force to increase job opportunities in the health care professions for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Seventeen people from four centers, including the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology and Gallaudet University in Washington have formed an unprecedented partnership to start developing educational opportunities and expand opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing universitylevel students to enter health care professions.

Sandie Clark

NY Relay Outreach Ambassidor
Captioned Telephone Services

Phone: 518-744-4433
Email: Sandie.Clark@sprint.com

What's Going On?

Paid Advertisements in Listen Up!

Each month, the AFTHI will accept up to 10 paid “business card” size ads. in the newsletter. The cost: ($60/six months or $115/12 months).

Kiwanis Club of Glens Falls Annual Duck Race

The race supports a number of area organization, including the Association for the Hearing Impaired will be held at Haviland’s Cove in Glens Falls on Saturday, July 31st beginning at 12:00 Noon. Tickets will soon be on sale.

Loan-Out Program Busier and Busier!

The AFTHI is pleased to announce that we are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of persons seeking to borrow assistive technology from the Loan-Our Program, as well as books, tapes, CD’s and games from our Resource Library. Now, because of popularity of the programs, it is ever more important that equipments and all resources be returned by the recommended DUE DATE. Thanks!

NYS Access Pass Program:

Provides State residents with certain permanent disabilities free or reduced cost admission to recreational facilities operated by NYS Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation. (oversees 178 state parks & 35 historic sites). For additional info: phone: 518-474- 0456.

Enrichment Day at the AFTHI:

Thank you to all of the students, teachers of the Deaf and other school employers who participated in the Enrichment Day activities, including pizza and ice cream sundaes, on Tuesday afternoon, May 11th (more to follow next month).

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Fabulous Friends Performance Schedule

The Fabulous Friends with Flying Fingers has released its Spring 2010 Performance Schedule. Additional dates may be planned. Performances are as follows:

• Memorial Day Parade (Glens Falls & Queensbury) on Monday, May 31st
• Upper Hudson River Railroad (date & time TBA)
• LARAC Arts Festival on Saturday & Sunday, June 12th & 13th (times TBA)

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Written by a Friend of the AFTHI...

When my sister was younger she came home from school one day and demanded that I take her to the library so she could get books on sign language. I asked why? She told me that there was a new kid at school who was deaf and she wanted to befriend him. Today, I stood beside her at their wedding watching her sign!