National Speech –
Language Hearing
Association
What we do for you…and what
you can do for us!
Points for discussion…
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Membership
Leadership structure of the
association
Programs available for members
Importance of student
involvement
What NSSLHA can do for it’s
members
NSSLHA Background
Information…
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The National Student Speech Language
Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is an
association for students managed by
students.
The National Student Speech Language
Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is a preprofessional association for students
interested in the study of communication
sciences and disorders.
National policy and activities are governed
by 10 students (Regional Councilors) and
five ASHA members (Faculty).
Benefits of NSSLHA
Membership
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Two issues of Contemporary Issues in Communication
Science and Disorders (CICSD), a NSSLHA publication.
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Three issues of NSSLHA's newsletter; NSSLHA NOW.
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A print subscription to The ASHA Leader.
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A print subscription to your choice of one of the following
ASHA journals: American Journal of Audiology; American
Journal of Speech Language Pathology; Journal of
Speech, Language, and Hearing Research; or Language,
Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.
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Access to the "members only" areas of the NSSLHA and
ASHA Web sites, which include all ASHA
journals, ASHA's Literature Review Service, and
convenient membership dues renewal.
More benefits of national
membership…
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Discounted Associate Affiliate membership in ASHA's
Special Interest Divisions.
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Discounts on the purchase or lease of a new car from
Subaru of America.
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Discounts on ASHA or NSSLHA products and
publications.
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Technical assistance and resources from ASHA.
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A NSSLHA credit card with no annual fee for the first year
(approved application required).
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Professional liability, medical, and dental insurance
through plans available exclusively to NSSLHA members.
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Eligibility for the NSSLHA to ASHA Conversion Program
Discount, which represents a significant savings on dues
and fees for your first year of ASHA membership and
certification.
NSSLHA to ASHA Conversion
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Many students find this
to be one of the
biggest benefits of
NSSLHA membership.
The program allows
students with 2
consecutive years of
membership in
National NSSLHA to
transfer their
membership to ASHA
at a discounted rate.
If you only have one
year membership in
National NSSLHA,
qualify for the recent
grad conversion rate.
Save
$150.00
Total=
$336.00
NSSLHA to
ASHA Conversion
Save
$50.00
Total=
$436.00
Recent Grad
Conversion Rate
Without membership in
NSSLHA…
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The initial fee for membership and
certification for ASHA without
membership in NSSLHA is:
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$486.00
The conversion rate really helps a new
grad cut down on costly expenses when
beginning their career!
Students who qualify for the
conversion rate are eligible to
receive the discount until August 31st
of the year following their graduation
from their Master’s program.
Benefits ~ Last but not least!
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A reduced
registration fee
for the ASHA
convention!
A student that is not a
NSSLHA member would
not receive the same
discount.
Great opportunity to
experience the
conference as a student;
so take advantage of the
discount before you are
an ASHA member!
These rates are taken
from the 2006 convention
and are subject to
change in 2007!
NSSLHA Member
Convention Rates
Early Bird:
$180.00
Pre-Registration
$190.00
On Site:
$240.00
ASHA Member
Convention Rates
Early Bird:
$360.00
Pre-Registration
$390.00
On-Site:
$440.00
NSSLHA Membership
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National NSSLHA has 303
independently operated
chapters located on college
campuses and universities in
the United States, Canada and
Greece.
There are approximately 13,000
student members.
NSSLHA keeps on growing!
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Rough estimates provided from
the past few years
Gradual increase is noted and
expected to continue as
NSSLHA continues enhancing
member benefits.
2003 = ~12,000 members
 2004 = ~13,000 members
 2005 = ~15,000 members
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Who are NSSLHA Members?
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NSSLHA members consist of:
Undergraduate students
 Graduate students
 Doctoral students
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NSSLHA members study
Speech-Language Pathology,
Audiology, and Speech and
Hearing Science.
The Structure of NSSLHA
Leadership…
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NSSLHA
consists of an
Executive
Council that
volunteer their
time. Members
of the council
include:
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10 Regional
Councilors
(students)
5 Consultants
(faculty
members)
A Director of
Operations at
the ASHA
National Office.
Region 1
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&
Beth Myers, Vicepresident
2nd Year Masters SLP;
Clarion University
Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Maine,
New Hampshire,
Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Vermont, Nova
Scotia, Quebec
Region 2
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Danielle Lyons
1st Year Masters SLP;
Adelphi University
New York, Greece,
Saudi Arabia
Region 3
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&
Kathryn A.
Quinlan, President
4th year doctoral
student; speech
and hearing
science; Vanderbilt
Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, West
Virginia
Region 4
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Sarah Macris
2nd year masters
SLP; The Ohio
State University
Ohio, Indiana,
Michigan, Ontario
Region 5
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&
Kimberly Croteau
2nd Year Doctorate
Audiology; James
Madison
Delaware, District
of Columbia,
Maryland, New
Jersey, North
Carolina, South
Carolina, Virginia
Region 6
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Mollie Carson
2nd year Masters
SLP; University of
Minnesota
Colorado, Kansas,
Minnesota, North
Dakota, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, South
Dakota
Region 7
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Laura Gingrich
1st year Masters
SLP; University of
Northern Iowa
Iowa, Illinois,
Wisconsin
&
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Region 8
Emily Lucas
1st year Masters
SLP, Saint Louis
University
Arkansas,
Louisiana,
Missouri,
Mississippi
Region 9
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& Region 10
Elisa Valdes
2nd year Masters
SLP; Texas Tech
University
Arizona, Montana,
New Mexico,
Texas, Utah,
Wyoming, Alberta,
Puerto Rico,
Mexico
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Kristina Celani
Undergraduate Senior;
University of California
at Santa Barbara
Alaska, California,
Hawaii, Idaho,
Nevada, Oregon,
Washington, British
Columbia
Want to find out more
information about the EC?
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Visit the NSSLHA website for
more information on our
Executive Council!
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http://www.nsslha.org/nsslha/co
uncil/
List of programs…
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Advocacy Program for Students
Chapter Development
CSD Career Awareness Day
CSD Student Survival Guide
E-mail Announcements
NSSLHA Day at the ASHA Convention
NSSLHA Honors Program
NSSLHA Loves Campaign
Regional Project Grants
Community Service Grants
NSSLHA Representation at State Association
Conventions and CSD-related Activities
Student Representation Within the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Specific information on
NSSLHA programs
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Advocacy Program for Students
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A Asserting the need for student advocates, and
emphasizing their value for the cause.
P Preparing students for the role they will
undertake as advocates.
S Simplifying the process, removing the
overwhelming nature of democracy, and
replacing it with a less intimidating, step-by-step
procedure that students can reasonably follow.
NSSLHA Regional Project Grant
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NSSLHA Chapters in good standing are eligible
to receive funds ranging from $300 to $1000 to
support educationally oriented projects designed
by NSSLHA members with the goal of benefiting
the students within a given region.
More program information
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NSSLHA Community Service Grant
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NSSLHA Chapters in good standing are eligible to
receive matching funds up to $1000 to purchase
equipment (e.g., AAC devices, computers and/or
peripheral computer devices) or other materials (e.g.,
clinical tests, software) to donate to a nonprofit
organization.
NSSLHA Honors Program
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Annually, the Executive Council of the National
Student Speech Language Hearing Association
(NSSLHA) awards Honors to outstanding students,
faculty, chapters, and individuals that have made
significant contributions to both the Association on a
national and local level and to the discipline of human
communication sciences and disorders.
COMING SOON!
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NSSLHA is working on a new
strategic plan. The suggestions
made today will be considered
during the planning process.
On-line Praxis and Research
courses available to members
Enhanced publication
opportunities
What is the importance of
student involvement?
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Why should students become
involved with pre-professional
organizations at a local and
national level?
There is strength in numbers.
 You become a better advocate for
the professions.
 You become a better professional.
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What can YOU do?
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As students:
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Volunteer time in organizations
Affiliate with professional groups
Run for offices to develop leadership skills
Attend state association Legislative Council
meetings
Network with students & professionals whenever
possible
Initiate activities and share your ideas
As professionals:
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Discuss personal professional development
Take time to mentor students
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Personal interest = success for students!
Don’t wait until it’s too
late…become involved today!
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Passive acceptance of the teacher's wisdom is easy to most boys and girls. It
involves no effort of independent thought, and seems rational because the
teacher knows more than his pupils, it is moreover the way to win the favor
of the teacher, unless he is a very exceptional man. Yet the habit of passive
acceptance is a disastrous one in later life. It causes man to seek and to
accept a leader, and to accept as a leader whoever is established in that
position. -- Bertrand Russell
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The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank
you. In between, the leader is a servant. -- Max De Pree