Transcript to come soon.
Check out the detailed look at the latest videophones from CSDVRS’s Z, HOVRS’s MVP, and Viable’s VPAD.
July 16, 2008
July 11, 2008
NAD Board Election Results
(Transcript to come soon)
President (2008-2010):
Bobbie Beth Scoggins (SD)
Vice President (2008-2010):
Christopher D. Wagner (FL)
Secretary (2008-2010):
Lynn Z. Null (OK)
Treasurer (2008-2010):
Ronald E. Sutcliffe (MD)
Region I Representative (2008-2012):
Sean Gerlis (NY)
Region II Representative (2008-2012):
Michael K. Berger (IL)
Region III Representative (2008-2012):
Liz Hill (AL)
Region IV Representative (2008-2012):
James “Manny” Johnson (CA)
Michelle Lapides crowned NAD Miss Deaf America 2008-2010
Transcript
Interview with Michelle Lapides
Amy: Congratulations, Michelle! You are now the new 2008 Miss Deaf America. How do you feel about receiving this special honor tonight?
Michelle: It’s a huge honor. How I feel right now… It all is surreal. Everything is surreal. I still wonder to myself: Is this real? Am I still dreaming? Wow. Amazing. This is a dream I’ve always wanted to accomplish since I was 3 years old. Now, here I am, and it came true. Wow. Explaining how I feel… just one word: surreal.
Amy: Let me tell you… it’s real. It’s not a dream. It’s real.
Michelle: Yes, my dream came true today.
Amy: Michelle, you’re now a new NAD youth leader. For the next two years, how can you bring more young leaders into NAD?
Michelle: I am proud to say that I am a new representative, a new leader for the NAD. So, how can I bring more leaders into NAD? By developing more media recognition, like vlogs for example. This will draw a lot of young people. One of today’s hot topics is Facebook, and this is a good networking opportunity. So, we should use it to our advantage. In doing so will attract young people eventually.
Amy: Wake up. This is reality. It’s all true.
Michelle Lapides of Maryland was coronated NAD Miss Deaf America 2008-2010 this evening. She will proudly wear the tiara for the next two years as she journeys across the country on behalf of the NAD to inspire young deaf leaders. The six finalists, from Washington, DC, Maryland, Nebraska, Texas, Missouri, provided an entertaining competition during the suspense-filled Finals. The first runner up was Katherine Murich, Miss Deaf Texas and the second runner up was JoAnn Benfield, Miss Deaf Missouri.
The platform presentations for all of the finalists covered deaf education. Each contestant provided different takes on the current system and provided several ideas on how to tackle this thorny problem. The current Miss Deaf Amercia, Chelsea Tobin performed her talent, “Dr. Seuss ASLized” as MDA for the last time.
During the “artistic expression” (formerly known as the talent competition), entertaining stories were shared. One contestant provided a lively dance and another taught the audience how to defend oneself from an attacker. Lapides performed a heartfelt story about a woman reminiscing about her loved one in an old black-and-white photo taken in 1945.
After elegantly gracing the stage with their evening gowns, the contestants answered the following questions, “Which reality show would you want to join?” and “What does the NAD Conference theme mean to you?”. The answers to the first question was entertaining, two chose the “Bachelorette”, two chose “Survivor”, one chose “Real World” and the final contestant chose “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”.
July 10, 2008
Deaf Member of South African Parliament Presents on “Diversity and Human Rights”
Today’s plenary keynote presentation, “Diversity and Human Rights” by the Honorable Wilma Newhoudt Druchen (South Africa) was both inspiring and electrifying - she spoke about her experiences growing up in Cape Town, South Africa during apartheid, family lineage including her husband’s collegiate studies at Gallaudet, return to her home country to advocate on behalf of deaf South Africans, and finally, the significance of her work as a member of South African parliament on behalf of the African National Congress (ANC). All the while, she stressed the importance of human rights, sign languages, and diversity, with brief coverage of the U.N. Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf to be held July 2011 in Durban, South Africa. Newhoudt was recently elected to the board of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
And the Winner is…Gallaudet!
Last night’s College Bowl in the Grand Ballroom that pitted CSUN, Gallaudet and NTID/RIT against each other was a memorable one even before the matchups began. As alumni, families, friends and casual
observers filled the room, the competitive spirit filled the room as various supporters waved their pompoms emblazoned with school colors.
Harvey Corson, superintendent of Louisiana School for the Deaf from 1977-1990, said that “the night was a wonderful intellectual challenge and a great opportunity for alumni and friends of each institution to support the student players.”
The CSUN team consisted of Darren Hause, Joshua Josa, Jairon Popal and Michael Sidansky; coached by David Kurs and assistant coach Robert Sidansky. The Gallaudet team included Jonathan Chanin, Tyler DeShaw, Meredith Peruzzi and David Uzzell, coached by Robert Weinstock with assistant coach Pia Marie Paulone. The NTID/RIT team is Josh Allman, Aaron Delbruegge, Geo Kartheiser, Julie Martin and Randall Kidd with coach Kathryn Schmitz and assistant coach Geoff Poor. The judges were Kelby Brick, Wilma Newhouse-Druchen and Julie Rems-Smario. The event was sponsored by Powered by Purple.
As the competition started, emcee Jackie Roth welcomed everyone and explained the rules then it was off to the races! After the first 20 questions in round one, in which CSUN hurt themselves by losing on a challenge, Gallaudet lead with 16 points, NTID/RIT was second with 13, and CSUN third with 8 points. The audience enjoyed the questions, often deliberating with each other until the answers were revealed. Kimberly Mitchell, TX, “I learned so much. It felt as if I went back to school.”
The second round saw Gallaudet jump out with a commanding lead, accumulating 52 points, in second was NTID/RIT with 34, and CSUN finishing out with 26. In the third round, there were a lot of objections and disputes; at one time NTID/RIT gained ground on Gallaudet coming within 13 points of tying the lead. Nevertheless Gallaudet with several well timed challenges which they won finished strong down to win an unprecedented third straight College Bowl with a score of 127 to NTID/RIT’s
79 and CSUN’s 76.
“It was a true pleasure to see the fans so involved and cheering for their schools! It was an educational experience for everybody! Jackie Roth is charming as always” said Richard Malcolm of Louisiana.
Deaf Youth USA
It all started in Madrid, Spain when three delegates from the United States, represented NAD at the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section camp. One of those delegates was a passionate woman named Melissa Malzkuhn from Fremont, California. After being elected as the Secretary of the WFD Youth Section, Melissa could not sleep on the train ride to her next location. She talked all night with her younger sister, Megan, about deaf youth organizations in other countries and that there were none in America. Upon her return to America, Melissa immediately stepped up to the plate and pulled together a committee of key players. Some members were actively involved with NAD, and some were not, but all intended to see through the birth of Deaf Youth USA. NAD immediately acknowledged the need for a deaf youth organization. With their support and energy, Melissa set up a liaison with NAD to start building the foundation of DYUSA.
There was no turning back, for throughout the years, within the deaf community here in the US, there always has been a gap for participation in the 18-30 age range, and its urgency has grown. The first step for Melissa was comprehensive planning for the first ever camping event for deaf youth in America (18-30ish range, in following the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section models). The DYUSA Camp, only 17 miles away from New Orleans, was held from July 3-7th. Fifty-nine people showed up, from ages 18 to 36 years old, more females than males, from different regions all over the country. They each brought amazing enthusiasm towards a better world for deaf youth and the rest of deaf community.
The NAD board made an appearance during DYUSA this summer, including NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins, NAD Vice President Christopher Wagner, NAD Chief Executive Officer Nancy Bloch, and the NAD Director of Youth Programs Jennifer Yost Ortiz. This gave DYUSA campers the opportunity to have an open and transparent discourse on the NAD, its structure, and their efforts to work with the deaf youth in the past, and why they need DYUSA. President Bobbie Beth Scoggins remarked: “It was a meeting of great minds, an awesome opportunity to leaern of common goals we can both pursue together to empower Deaf Youth of America!”
At the end of the camp, DYUSA formed several vital goals for the following year: membership drives, organizational laws, overhaul of media and website development, planning next year’s camping event for next year, and most importantly, to inspire all deaf youth in America. The board was also elected, coined as Team DYUSA, with Megan Malzkuhn at the head as the Executive Director. Her team includes Lizzie Sorkin as General Secretariat, Ryan Commerson as Media Director, organizational Director Bekah Guerrero, Events Director Erica Hossler, Financial Director Jon Leach, Camp Director Bregitt Jimenez, and two Members-at-Large Stacy Nowak and Jesse Jones. Deaf Youth USA’s mission statement is as thus: DYUSA promotes social justice through media and activism. For more information, ask anyone wearing DYUSA t-shirts or check the website, http://www.dyusa.org.
NAD Board of Directors Elections on Friday
Candidates for the 2008-2010 Board of Directors are listed below. Voting will occur during the Council of Representatives meeting Friday morning, July 11th from 8 am to 10 am.
The candidates are:
President (2008-2010):
Bobbie Beth Scoggins (SD)
Vice President (2008-2010):
Christopher D. Wagner (FL)
Secretary (2008-2010):
Lynn Z. Null (OK)
Treasurer (2008-2010):
Ronald E. Sutcliffe (MD)
Region I Representative (2008-2012):
Jeff Rosen (MD)
Margie English (DC)
Region II Representative (2008-2012):
Linda Mahmood (OH)
Michael K. Berger (IL)
Region III Representative (2008-2012):
Liz Hill (AL)
Region IV Representative (2008-2012):
James “Manny” Johnson (CA)
