by Carmen Shapiro | Mar 17, 2015 | News
This was a lot of fun! We were invited to come to talk to students of the Stuttering and Fluency Graduate Course at La Salle University on Tuesday, March 17. This is a regular event that Dr Barbara Amster has been hosting for her class for many years and this year she is joined by Dr Mitchel Trichon, a new teacher at La Salle who also happens to be a member of our chapter.
I have participated in the panel for the last five years and I’ve always enjoyed talking to the students and catch up with some of the other panel members that have become regulars (Shaun, we missed you today!). Usually we sit in front of the class and answer the students’ questions, offering different perspectives on a topic or talking about our experiences.
This year we started introducing ourselves and talking about our experience with therapy and how we’ve handled our stuttering. Afterwards, the students broke up into seven groups and each of the panel members talked to one group at a time, rotating every ten minutes. As a person who stutters, I felt more comfortable in the new format because I was talking to 5 or 6 persons that were very close to me at eye level, rather than being at the bottom of the classroom facing up to 35-40 people that had their eyes focused on me. So, just to start, it was a lot easier and less threatening to talk to the students that way. We were just having a casual conversation and I was more relaxed.
I was asked often about stuttering in different languages and the difference between therapy methods in Spain vs the US. They also asked about my childhood experiences, my involvement with the NSA, difficult situations, what I found helpful about therapy (or not), and many other topics. I also asked them about their classroom exercise to go out and pretend that they stuttered.
By the end of the two hours I had been talking non-stop and I was very tired and at the same time very happy to have been able to share so much with the students. It was very exhilarating and a lot of fun. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more time, I felt that I had a lot more to say and wanted to continue to talk longer. There is always next year.
by Carmen Shapiro | Feb 16, 2015 | News
Happy Anniversary!
Chapter Meeting at the Bala Cynwyd Library, 1987
February marks the 30th anniversary of our chapter. Our founder, Bill Parry, tells the story about the first meeting. He placed an ad on the newspaper to advertise the meeting, not really knowing if he would reach anyone. The day of the meeting, a Saturday, started with a blizzard and Bill was wondering if anyone would venture out. Well, 26 people showed up! The next month, over 30 people attended. There was such a need for a support group for people who stutter that bad weather didn’t deter anyone.
At that time, the NSA was called The National Stuttering Project (it became NSA around 1999-2000). The NSP was an organization that had originated in California in 1977 and promoted self-help support via support groups where people could share experiences, learn about their stuttering and gain self confidence, which lead to increased fluency. In 1985, attorney Bill Parry convinced the NSP to come to Philadelphia and at a regional meeting held on January 19th, 1985, the chapter was founded. The first meeting took place in February 3rd, 1985.
While researching for this anniversary I have learned that during our 30 years of existence our chapter has had a lot of influence on many areas that have helped define the work done by the NSA and its chapters (keep reading). I am very thankful to Bill Parry and Lou Madonna for all the work they have done and I hope to be able to continue in their tradition of helping people who stutter find the support and resources they need.
Stay tuned for details about a Spring celebration for this important milestone!
Did you know?
- Bill Parry is the author of the opening and closing words that, with some minor modifications, every NSA Chapter uses to begin and end its meetings.
- Bill Parry and Dan Weiss, editor of the Philly NSP newsletter “Speaking Out”, were honored with the “Spirit of Philadelphia” Award by WCAU-TV10 for their service to the community through the Philadelphia NSP Chapter.
- The Philadelphia NSP Chapter hosted the sixth annual convention of the NSP in June, 1989.
- During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, we coordinated closely with the Delaware NSP Chapter, until it folded in 1992. Barbara Koval and Paul Castellano, who were involved with both the Philadelphia and Delaware NSP Chapters, were responsible for creating the National Stuttering Awareness Week observance back in 1988. They were instrumental in having a resolution passed by Congress which was signed by President Reagan.
- Bill Parry was elected to two 3-year terms on the NSA Board of Directors from June 1997 to June 2003. This was a time of turbulence and transition for the organization, with a change in leadership as well as a change in name – from the National Stuttering Project to the National Stuttering Association.
- Bill Parry was also Chair of the Advocacy Committee from 1997 to 2003 and got involved in employment discrimination matters. He researched and created most of the material that the NSA offers for advice regarding advocacy issues for employment, discrimination, etc.
- Lou Madonna was awarded Chapter Leader of the year in 2005.
- Bill Parry is the author of the book “Understanding and Controlling Stuttering” and all its profits go to the NSA.
- We also work closely with the South Jersey Chapter which was formed in 1998 by Katherine Filer and Lucy Reed; however, the Tri County Fluency Group, its precursor, was started by Katherine Filer in 1992.
Time line
- Jan 19, 1985 – The Philadelphia Area Chapter is founded at the regional meeting of the National Stuttering Project (NSP). Coverage of the event by Channel 6 AM Philadelphia starring Bill Parry and C. Woodruff Starkweather can be seen here.
- Feb 2, 1985 – Bill Parry, our founder and first chapter leader, held the first meeting of the chapter during a blizzard. 26 people showed up.
- 1987 – Bill Parry and Dan Weiss receive Spirit of Philadelphia” Award from Channel 10 News. See video here.
- 1989 – 6th NSA Annual conference held in Philadelphia.
- 1997 – Bill Parry becomes member of the NSA Board of Directors and Chair of the Advocacy Committee and remains for 6 years.
- 2000 – Bill Parry retires as chapter leader and Sherri Laster takes over through the end of that year.
- June 2001 – Lou Madonna becomes Chapter Leader.
- April 2003 – Regional workshop at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), conducted by Russ Hicks.
- June 2005 – Lou Madonna receives Chapter Leader Award at the NSA Conference.
- July 2005 – Alan Badmington, from Wales, held a Saturday workshop at our chapter.
- June 2010 – Lou Madonna retires as Chapter Leader. Bill Parry resumes leadership of our chapter.
- November 2013 – Carmen Shapiro becomes Chapter Leader.
by Carmen Shapiro | Jan 29, 2015 | News
Bill Collins, Mitch Trichon, Jim McFarlane and Carmen Shapiro met at the Ludington library to talk about the new website and other types of media we would like to use for outreach. We talked about the type of content that we would like to see on the website, such as summaries of our meetings and events, references to other resources and pictures of our chapter activities. We have already put those in place, check out our first two pictures!
Media planning session at the Ludington Library
A lot of ideas were brought up to the table and all of them can be implemented in time. We talked about creating a Facebook page for the chapter, or even a Twitter account. Organizing social activities outside of the regular meetings, having guest speakers, and reaching out to other organizations in the area are also great ideas that we are going to work on.
If you would like to participate or contribute in any way, please contact Carmen.
This was a lot of fun! We were invited to come to talk to students of the Stuttering and Fluency Graduate Course at La Salle University on Tuesday, March 17. This is a regular event that Dr Barbara Amster has been hosting for her class for many years and this year she is joined by Dr Mitchel Trichon, a new teacher at La Salle who also happens to be a member of our chapter.
