Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
On November 15, 2009, I had a great opportunity to visit the Junior National Association of the Deaf (JrNAD) chapter at the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) in Salem. It had the first meeting after a few years of "hibernation," and through efforts of our own Trustee Colleen Thayer and Second Vice President Margi Morgan the JrNAD chapter is back and alive.
Colleen Thayer who is ASL Specialist opened the meeting by introducing Margi Morgan. Margi spoke about the history of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) that was organized to respond to the 1880 Milan Resolution banning the use of sign language in education of the Deaf. The NAD accomplished many important issues affecting the Deaf, and in 1921 the Oregon Association of the Deaf (OAD) became affiliated with the NAD. The mission of OAD reads:
Click on 'Read More...' to read the rest of article
We, the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens, realizing our value of mutual assistance and co-operation in matters essential to our general welvare and its mission to promote, protect, and preserve the civil rights and advocate to enhance the quality of life for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.
Margi also talked about her experience with the JrNAD chapter while a student in OSD. She learned a lot about leadership by participating numerous activities: fundraising projects, school plays, and meeting local Deaf leaders through the OAD headquarters on campus. She then introduced a newly elected president of the OAD.
I spoke to the JrNAD members about my personal experience as president of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) chapter of the JrNAD back in 1970...almost 40 years ago! But I could remember the JrNAD spirit, especially singing the JrNAD motto:
Promoting Tomorrow of All the Deaf
By Working with the Deaf Youth of Today.
The JrNAD joined me in this song, and we sang it several times. It was fun! Margi and I plan to continue to help and support Colleen Thayer who is the JrNAD sponsor and the OSD chapter of the JrNAD. I subscribe to the JrNAD slogan:Joining Nourishing Adult Development. We are here to develop today's youth by interacting with the JrNAD members.
