Dear NFADB Members,
As I approach the end of my first six months as NFADB President, I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me and the good work of the presidents in whose footsteps I follow. I thank all of you.
I and our members are fortunate to have a high-powered and hard-working board. Your NFADB Board of Directors, made up of 13 individuals—8 family volunteers, 1 professional volunteer, and 4 special advisors—continues to work tirelessly for the good of our association and is committed to NFADB’s mission. Learn more about our board members on our website.
The past six months have been exceedingly busy.
- New members joined the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. During these transitions we took some time for Board orientation and training on many topics, including our individual roles and responsibilities, NFADB’s legal responsibilities, and how to be effective NFADB ambassadors.
- We are updating our branding and brochure and increasing our social media venues.
- We reviewed our management processes and procedures and have begun to revise guidelines and policies and create an operation’s manual to support our work.
- We are in the process of transitioning to a new software program to support administrative activities, such as membership tracking, events, and training opportunities. It will also house our upcoming redesigned website and provide new features for our members such as forums that foster family-to-family relationships. We will announce its availability as soon as it goes live.
NFADB committees continue to be the lifeblood of our organization. Several were formed at the specific request of members. NFADB encourages and invites general members to become involved. I know you will find committee work a rewarding experience and the committee chairs welcome your participation. Find their contact information on the volunteer section of the NFADB website.
NFADB exists to empower the voices of families with individuals who are deaf-blind and advocate for their unique needs. Since October 2018, we have represented NFADB at the:
- New York Deafblind Collaborative Parent Day, Queens, NY, December 2018
- Texas Deafblind Symposium, Austin, TX, February 2019
We look forward to the following NFADB Ambassador and Exhibit Opportunities during the spring and summer:
- SoCal Workshop Weekend for Families and Educators, Long Beach, CA, May 31-June 1, 2019
- Pennsylvania Family Learning Conference, State College, PA, June 21-22,2019
- USH Connections Conference, Philadelphia, PA, July 13, 2019
- International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Dallas, TX, August 2-5, 2019
Please save the date for our annual General Membership Meeting, which will be held online at 7:00 pm Eastern Time, July 9, 2019. All general members are invited to attend. More information will follow.
Continue to celebrate NFADB’s 25th Anniversary year during 2019! Originally started by and for families in 1994, NFADB has expanded to include any interested individuals, professionals, state family affiliate groups, organizations, and agencies who wish to empower the voices of families with individuals who are deaf-blind, regardless of age or ability. We are in this deaf-blind community together!
Again, thank you for this opportunity to serve as your President. Don’t hesitate to email (patti@nfadb.org) or call (724-864-2553) me with any NFADB concerns you may have.
Respectfully,
Patti McGowan
President
National Family Association for Deaf-Blind
