Member of the Year... Steve Kaufman

The 2010 Member of the Year hails all the way from the 516 area code of Long Island, New York….. Steven Kaufman!

Steven is always responsive to queries and comments on Facebook and on other NSA related e-mail groups. He offers constant support to everyone in the stuttering community and is a devoted friend to everyone in the NSA. He organizes and works with other chapter leaders for combined outings and workshops. Some of these events included helping put together a workshop for Russ Hicks in Washington D.C., planning a baseball outing for those in attendance and planning the holiday party in December with four other chapters in New York.

For the past two years this person has sent out letters to all the major sports teams, to over 100 restaurants, stores and service industries requesting items or gift cards for our annual auction. In the last year alone he has spoken to six SLP classes at local universities with no fear, something he could never do before the NSA. He has also assisted with transportation logistics for the conference the last two years - including sending e-mails to various NSA groups advising them of ways to save time, money or just sharing travel tips.

Steven has worked very hard at ensuring the link to the NSA website is listed on most of the state ASHA websites as a reference as well as our annual conference listed on their sites calendar. He is very proactive, always willing to help and has great follow thru to ensure all tasks he assists with are completed.

The list goes on and on but these are the highlights of some of the great things that Steven has done for the NSA and people who stutter. His love for the NSA is evident in all he does and to everyone he meets. He is constantly looking for ways to make the world a better place for people who stutter. Thank you for all you do Steven!

Volunteer of the Year... Bernie Weiner

The 2010 Volunteer of the Year award goes to Bernie Weiner!

Bernie is always responsive to queries and comments on Facebook and on other NSA related e-mail groups, especially those requiring difficult or time consuming responses. He shows support to everyone in the stuttering community, without even being asked and never allows a question to go unanswered in any forum.

He often assists their local chapter with tasks and always does it with a smile even though he is no longer the chapter leader. He takes the time to welcome new members to the organization that he encounters both on-line and in person. He assists the NSA with reaching out to new NSA members to welcome them to the NSA and be available to answer any questions they may have. Bernie also assists Tammy by responding to tons of different, unique e-mails received by the national office ranging from wanting to learn more about the NSA, to sharing their story, to thinking they have the cure for stuttering, to "I have a dog who stutters what do I do" type stuff.

As a representative of the NSA, Bernie is always receptive to responding on the NSA's behalf with no direction but always with professionalism and follow thru. He is a former chapter leader of ten years, has led several workshops, is currently a regional coordinator and a friend to all who stutter. By giving so much of his time to the NSA he is helping support the cause and other people who stutter in so many ways, and he is changing many lives for the better.

Bernie has been like a father to me since the day I met him and I love him just as much as I would my own father. He has given me, and others, even complete strangers, the encouragement and support to push forward and reach for our dreams despite our stuttering. Congratulations Bernie!

Chapter of the Year... Albany, NY

The 2010 Chapter of the Year award went to The College of Saint Rose Chapter from Albany, New York!

This chapter always has a fresh new agenda every month and encourages different members facilitating. The chapter arranges several social events throughout the year, which are highly attended.

Chapter members are always helping the school clinicians with client questions and often speak with their clients parents. This last year the chapter presented a well attended workshop at their local library for the general public entitled, “Don’t be afraid of Stuttering”. This was an ISAD related project to educate people on stuttering.

The chapter also did a video message of support for those who stutter which was shown on a pod cast of Stuttertalk. They spend a lot of time advertising their chapter and often attend other chapters’ workshops and activities. They also help sponsor the Welcome Reception of the School’s Annual Council of Fluency Weekend Workshop.

The chapter is lead by Grace Gregory and Mary Archambault.

NSA Hall of Fame Award... Nina Reeves

It may be hard to imagine what things might be like if Nina Reeves wasn't an integral part of this organization. But there is simply no denying that the NSA is a pioneer in the world of advocacy for people who stutter everywhere. This year's inductee into the NSA Hall of Fame has shined in every role that she has given her heart and soul to. Not only has she consistently offered to host CEU workshops for SLPs, she is truly a woman who has embraced our community. She is ASHA-certified and recognized as a fluency specialist. She and her husband, Lee, are long-time supporters of the NSA, and the greatest legacy of this newest member of the Hall of Fame is that numerous parents and children are eternally grateful that her guidance and love has allowed them to embrace their stuttering and not feel frightened of it at all. We are truly blessed to have Nina working for us!

(Photo here of Barry Liben, NSA board member, presenting Nina the award)

Chapter Leader of the Year... Behnaz Abolmaali

We are proud to announce that the 2010 Chapter Leader of the Year award went to the chapter leader of the Austin, Texas chapter - Behnaz Abolmaali! Unfortunately, we were unable to find her during the General Session so could not present her with the award at this years’ conference. She was informed by Tammy Flores that she is the recipient and received the award shortly after the conference. Here is her story….

Sometime during 2008, Lee Reeves had a chance encounter with Behnaz Abolaami who was working at a bookstore in Austin, Texas. He complimented her on how they were handling their stuttering and gave her a quick introduction to the NSA along with his business card. Shortly after that, Lee had lunch with this Behnaz and introduced her to the NSA and his passion and charisma rubbed off on her. She remembers him saying "You have to help people who have not come as far as you have" and this statement really made an impression on her.

Then in April of 2009, when Joseph couldn't make it to the TSHA (Texas Speech and Hearing Association) conference in Austin, Lee recommended "the girl I met in Austin..." to help Russ work the NSA booth. This would be her first involvement in anything to do with the NSA. Russ was hesitant about the idea at first but really didn't have much of a choice.

So Behnaz’s first experience with the NSA happened at TSHA booth in Austin so for three days she worked with Russ and he could tell that the NSA was beginning to have a big impact on her. She was a tireless worker and was interested in everything NSA.

During a dinner outing the week of the TSHA conference, Russ and Behnaz had a long, powerful conversation, and he was the one who urged her to start a local NSA chapter in Austin.

Several months later, a little over a year ago, she established the Austin Chapter of the NSA and developed the chapter's website herself. The chapter is affiliated with the University of Texas and has really become an integral part of the Austin Center for Stuttering Intervention and Research. Dr. Byrd, the fluency specialist at UT who leads this center, has been a huge support of their chapter. She is an SLP who truly values support and self-help groups for people who stutter. The chapter is very fortunate to have her and the two of them make a great team!

Because of her dedication and energy, the Austin chapter continues to grow and has become one of the most active NSA chapters in Texas, especially in the number of chapter members that have become contributing members of the NSA.

Behnaz graduated from the University of Texas in 2008 with a degree in Government. While at the University, she worked as a student journalist. She recently decided to go back to school again to become an SLP. When she decides to do something, you can bet it will be done.

From that single chance encounter in the Austin bookstore to a future SLP and NSA leader, Behnaz brings a lot of passion and dedication to both her local chapter and the NSA. Her involvement in the NSA has helped her to grow and it shows through her actions by the support and advice she gives to chapter members and other leaders within the NSA.

Conference Dedication... Gerald Maguire

This year, the NSA honored a member who is truly remarkable and has shown that the field of stuttering and treatments for it have evolved in many ways. Dr. Gerald Maguire, who works out of the University of California-Irvine Campus, is responsible for starting the world's first clinic dedicated wholly to the medical treatment of stuttering, and through technological advances, has treated patients from South Africa and England. He was interviewed on CNN, and has been cited in numerous journals regarding his work. A person who stutters himself, he is also a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is a member of the Research Advisory Board and a lecturer on, amongst other topics, "New Understandings in the Pharmacologic Treatment of Stuttering."

SLP of the Year... Diane Games

The NSA has some of the most passionate SLPs today committed to helping everyone in the stuttering community. Diane Games is the recipient of the "SLP of the Year" award. Being an SLP is about having a great capacity to care, and greatly improve the lives of people who struggle with the challenges of their speech every day. It is truly appropriate that she is the winner of this award, as coincidentally she runs her own practice in the Queen City of Cincinnati. She has held the presidency of the Southwestern Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and hosts the Fluency Friday Plus program for children and teens in her area.

Parent of the Year... Stephanie Coppen

NSA was thrilled to honor Stephanie for her dedication and hardwork.

Letter from Stephanie Coppen's husband:

Steph,

We are SO proud of you, being awarded Parent of the Year. That is truly awesome! Deacon and I wish we could be there in person to enjoy your success with you, but even though we aren't there physically, we are there in spirit, thinking about you, smiling, beaming with pride, and yes, there are tears of joy too (like the ones I have now trying to write this)!!

The husbands in the audience will likely understand the following, which I've said many times on many occasions, but most importantly to me, when you're having a rough day! The times I said, "you are a great mom to our children", and you didn't want to believe it, well, here's proof. Your tireless efforts working with Cameron, working on his behalf, helping him see that he is in fact not different from anyone else, he just speaks differently, and most importantly, to never let his speech limit him in doing whatever it is he want to do, is proof that you are a great mom. You love your kids, care about your kids, and will stop at nothing to help them. You are Parent of the Year, in many ways.

Your work with the NSA is just more proof of your worthiness of this award.  Your dedication to help others who stutter, or who have children or family members that stutter, is inspiring. As the NSA and its impact within and outside the stuttering community grows, you should feel proud that you are a part of it. The days and nights spent researching, the emails with other parents, the NSA committees, the list goes on.

I know how you like surprises! So I'll end this by saying congrats, we are proud of you, we love you, and I can't wait until you get home to celebrate with you.

Love,

Matt, Cameron, Rachel and Deacon

Youth Chapter of the Year 2010... Phoenix Metro

The Youth Chapter of the Year, 2010, was awarded to the Phoenix Metro NSAKids Chapter. Lynn Remson, co – leader, was on hand at the conference to accept it on behalf of whole energetic leadership team that also includes: Karen Kumar, Margo Berkowitz, and D’nell Rynd. This chapter is a young one which took off with much enthusiasm generated from the 2009 NSA Conference in Scottsdale. The Phoenix Metro Chapter has met many times since then with an attendance between 15 and 40 at any given meeting. They’ve had guest speakers and interactive topics with parents/SLPs together. But the most recent “favorite” program was the end fo the school year part with a scavenger hunt for prize, water balloons and decorating “stuttering cookies”! Congratulations to all!

(photo here of Marybeth Allen presenting the award)