TAD Conference Summary

Posted in: Inside TAD by TAD Administration on July 12, 2009 | 0 Comments

247 Attended the 45th Biennial TAD Confab in SA

The registration committee reported that 247 people attended the 45th Texas Association of the Deaf Biennial Conference at Holiday Inn’s El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel from June 11 to 13, 2009 in San Antonio. The same hotel hosted the TAD conference in 1977 during which time the first Miss Deaf Texas Pageant took place, Kathy Weldon won the crown, and Larry Evans was elected to his first term as President. Mario Montalvo chaired the event. Incidentally Evans, Weldon and Montalvo gathered with other attendees for a group photo in the hotel lobby immediately after the general meeting and elections as did the attendees at the recent June 2009 Conference. The 2009 Conference did not hold a Miss Deaf Texas Pageant.

There were 21 exhibitors, which represent four VRS providers, state agencies, educational programs, interpreting services, assistive devices, and two art-related booths, especially Viva De ‘Via, a collection of Deaf-themed art works. Sponsoring the conference were a total of 11 organizations and corporations, which enhanced the quality of the event, especially during the economic downturn.

The speakers, keynoters, workshop presenters and panelists were all sponsored by a variety of groups such as ZVRS, Lamar University, DARS, and Texas School for the Deaf. Claire Bugen, Chris Wagner and Paul Rutowski teamed up as collaborating keynoters to take on the conference theme of “Change, Challenge, Commitment: Moving Forward Together!” Laura Davis, Stella Egbert, John Evans, Michael Wynne, Mark Gobble, Dr. Alan L. Marcus, and Elizabeth “Libby” Pollard also impressed the participants with their workshop presentations. On the basis of the post-conference evaluation forms collected, such speakers, panel discussions, and other events were highly rated, garnering 4.5 stars out of a possible 5

From the beginning of the world film premiere of “Journey Through Deaf Texas” on June 11 to the awards/banquet/dance night of June 13, the conference kept nearly every TAD member and guest busy, inspired, entertained and well fed. New officers and board members for 2009 to 2011 comprised of youth, wisdom, experience and talents. Paul Rutowski is the new president who is joined by Katherine Murch as newest board member and Betty Bounds as secretary. Incumbents are Chris Kearney as Vice President, Steve Baldwin as a four-year board member, Larry Evans as a two-year director, and John Mills as treasurer.

Conference core team members were chair Karen Kirby, budget chair Sabrina Dannheim, program chair Julie Grisham, exhibit chair Leslie Walter, and CEU chair Anne Hoscheit. In addition to countless volunteers from Austin to San Antonio, members of SA Deaf Awareness Week also assisted with the Sorenson sponsored film reception and conference events. We appreciate the volunteers who have always been the heart and soul of the TAD conferences.

The next conference will take place sometime in June of 2011 in Corpus Christi, which will be a concurrent one with Texas Society of Interpreters for the Deaf. TSID president-elect Rita Lee and TAD president Paul Rutowski will eventually appoint co-chairs of the conference this fall. Watch for further details on the TAD website www:deaftexas.org.

Texas Association of the Deaf is a 501 3 (c) non-profit advocacy organization that was established in 1886 to safeguard the rights of the Deaf and hard of hearing Texans. TAD is affiliated with the National Association of the Deaf and other disability organizations. Seasonal newsletters are available to people who join TAD for only $20 to $25 for up to two years toward the next conference. In between conferences, TAD keeps a peeled eye on Texas legislation, state agencies, educational programs and situations whenever the civil and human rights are violated and communication access is denied.

For further information about this posting or TAD in general, send your inquiries to Betty@deaftexas.org.