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Fall 2024 Update from the President


DSA Webinar Series

With the generous support of the Laurence W. Levine Foundation, the DSA Webinar Series is open to everyone!

Our recent session, “Medicare & You,” held on October 30, 2024, provided a helpful overview of Medicare, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage (Parts A, B, and D), with technical support from Sorenson Communications. For those who missed it, the presentation will soon be available on the DSA website.

The next webinar, “Estate Planning Basics: An Overview of the Estate Planning Process,” is scheduled for Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 3:00 PM Eastern. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover in future webinars, please let us know—this series is designed to support your learning!

Donation to Executive Director Fund

Great news! AARP has donated $25,000 to help DSA secure a part-time executive director, bringing us closer to fulfilling this objective by the end of 2024. This milestone will strengthen our organization and allow us to better serve the DSA community.

Infrastructure Committee

I want to express appreciation for Vice President Char Parsley’s Infrastructure Committee and their leadership on short- and long-term goals, including the executive director hire and other key initiatives.

ALDA Conference Follow Up

I recently spoke as the keynote presenter at the ALDA conference, where our booth generated significant interest. We welcomed seven new members, and many expressed enthusiasm for the DSA 2025 Conference in Kansas City. Several at the ALDA conference had questions about open captions for our workshops, which pointed to the importance of accessibility. This experience helped deepen our partnerships and opened doors to new collaborations, building strong momentum as we look forward to 2025!


DSA 2025 Kansas City Conference

Don’t miss the chance to take advantage of our early bird Combo registration rate for the 2025 DSA Conference in Kansas City! Until December 31, 2024, you can register at the discounted rate of $400, which will increase to $475 after that date. For those interested in specific events, non-combo registration is also available. Go to the 2025 Conference tab on the DSA website for both registration forms and all other conference details.

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Davila will be our Opening Ceremony keynote presenter on August 3, 2025, with a welcome reception afterwards. The conference schedule on page 13 includes Pickleball, Comedy and Sports Luncheons, Kansas City BBQ Farewell Luncheon, and SignTasTic! Game Night by Daniel Cook.

Members will soon receive a Pre-Conference Tours survey link via email. Lorrie Shank and the DSA 2025 Local Committee are working hard to plan these tours. Please share your survey desires so we can design pre-conference tour opportunities to fit your interests. We plan to include the sign up form for tours in the next issue of New Horizons.

For those who plan to arrive early for pre-conference tours, we’ve arranged a guest room block at Hotel Phillips, just a short walk from the Marriott Downtown. Rooms are available at $194 per night, with check-in on July 31 and check-out on August 3, 2025. You can make reservations via the 2025 Conference tab on the DSA website. You can also all the hotel directly at 1-816-346-4419, and mention the Deaf Seniors of America Group block.

Sponsorship, advertising, and exhibit opportunities are also available. We invite companies, organizations, and individuals to showcase their offerings. Workshop presentation proposals are being accepted to engage and share knowledge with attendees. Details are at the 2025 Conference tab on the DSA website.

Bylaws Committee

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to contribute to DSA, consider volunteering for the DSA Bylaws Committee, chaired by Dr. Harvey Corson. Your involvement would be crucial to refining our organizational structure and ensuring our bylaws support DSA’s mission and goals. Contact me if you’re interested and I’ll put you in touch with Dr. Corson.

COVID-19 and Flu Season

With flu and COVID cases on the rise, we encourage everyone to consider getting a flu shot and the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Free at-home COVID test kits are available at covidtests.gov. We care about your health—please prioritize your well-being this season.

Connect With Us

We always value hearing from you! If you have ideas, concerns, questions, or feedback, feel free to reach out to the DSA Board via email. Your input is important to us.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with health, happiness, and safety!

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