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I am honored to be given the challenge of moving MSHA forward from 2010 to 2012. I accept this responsibility with honor and humility. I have worked with many leaders of MSHA through the years and I am grateful for their mentorship and guidance. I hope to borrow the best of each of them to sustain and grow our organization through the next few years.
These are challenging times in schools, hospitals, clinics and private practices. It seems as though all the “knowns” are now “unknowns.” Doing more – with less – seems to be the recurring theme.
As President of MSHA, I have the unique opportunity to interact at the state and national level with ASHA and the Council for State Association Presidents (C-SAP). Challenges to membership, licensure, scope of practice, funding for positions, reimbursement for services and volunteer support for state associations are prevalent throughout the country.
Someone said that the primary responsibility of a state association is to be “Guardians of Licensure,” I believe that!
MSHA has a strong record in public policy. We fought for passage of laws providing for licensure reimbursement (2006) and comprehensive licensure (2007). We fought for SLP representation of the Autism Commission (2009). We beat back a challenge from MSDE (2008) that would have resulted in the loss of teacher association membership with it’s guarantee of negotiated contracts, salary, benefits and rights of legal protection.
MSHA has an active Board of Directors that includes Convention, Public Policy, Adult Service Delivery, University Relations, Private Practice, and CEU Services.
MSHA has been working on behalf of all SLPs. We invite everyone to consider volunteering for work on a committee. Every contribution is important.
Professional associations are Houses of Worship. You may not spend time in one, but when trouble arises, you want one to be there.
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