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DWU 2011-2013 Board Retreat in Pleasanton-Fremont, California

The 2011-2013 DWU Board is:
President Alana Beal
Vice-President Keri Darling
Secretary Adele Ann Eberwein
Treasurer Bethany Gehman
Public Relations Officer Shilpa Hanumantha
Fundraising Officer Sheli Barber
Affiliate Officer Shelley Oishi
DWU 2013 Conference Chairperson Arlene Gunderson

We had a great time eating out with local, former DWU Board members: Tina Jo Breindel, Founder Shelia Mentkowski, Genie Gertz, JAC, and Founder Sandra Ammons. Camera Shy: Sheli Barber

We had delicious lunch made by our former Board member Sheli Barber for our meeting with DYUSA Bay Area Representatives Rima Cornish and Leala Holcomb. Our wonderful facilitator Sandra Ammons was also with us.

DWU 2011 Conference in Portland, ME: Mothers and Daughters, Sisters, and/or In-Laws

DWU Conference: Day Four

Evelina and her “No Name Yet!” Show

President Summers presenting the Deaf Woman of Achievement (DWOA) to Dr. Laurene Simms this year. Here’s her acceptance:

Mistress of Ceremony Shook recognizing Co-Chair Poulin for her contribution to the conference and the conference committee

Time for CAKE AUCTION with JAC

Outgoing and incoming DWU Board: Alana Beal, Sheli Barber, Brenda Schertz, Stephanie Summers, Keri Darling, Bethany Gehman, Ami Tsuji-Jones, Adele Ann Eberwein, and Shilpa Hanumantha

DWU Conference: Day Three

Gertz giving her closing presentation: Feminism and Deafhood: What is the Connection?

Terrylene giving her “On a White Napkin” performance

DWU Conference: Day Two

Getting ready to pose for the group picture at DiMillo’s

DWU Scholarship Recipients Katcher and Zhou sharing their happiness with the Big Lobster for their lobster feast!

Making new friends as they walk around Peaks Island

Celebrating the day with wine-tasting of Maine wine

DWU Conference: Day One

Deaf women socializing in the registration area

Board members all smiles for the conference

Christine “Coco” Roschaert performing

Board pampering the DWM conference committee with a party of wine and goodies.

Press Release – June 5, 2011

Deaf Women!!!

Now is the time to think about coming to the next Deaf Women United (DWU) national conference in beautiful and scenic Portland, Maine June 29-July 3, 2011! This conference is for all Deaf women in all walks of life, from young to old, professionals to stay-at-home moms, Deaf women leaders and followers and of all educational backgrounds. We will gather together to have FUN and to SUPPORT each other in our paths. The theme of the conference is Your Path: The Way Life Should Be! Come to meet other Deaf women, get inspired and to forge your own path!

Registration is $325 for DWU members including conference bag, workshops, entertainment, an afternoon outing to Peaks Island, and 10 meals including Saturday evening banquet. REGISTRATION DEADLINE has been extended to June 15, 2011!

Conference rate is $109 per night for 2 adults per room. Reserve early as only the first 100 rooms are eligible for this special discounted rate. Reserve room at hotel website: www.wyndham.com/groupeventsnew/pwmht_deafwomenunited/main.wnt Please see www.dwu.org for more information. This conference hotel has FREE shuttle from the airport!

Workshops and conference schedule is now posted at www.dwu.org. Arlene Blumenthal Kelly is our keynote presenter opening the conference with her talk, Navigating Our Paths and Genie Gertz will give our closing presentation, Feminism and Deafhood, What’s the Connection?

We have an exciting line up for entertainment! On Wednesday evening we will have Christine ‘Coco’ Roschaert telling stories about her experiences as a Deaf Blind person. On Thursday we will be in Old Port, then on Friday we will have Terrylene performing storytelling and ASL poetry with Evelina Gaina as the opening act. On Saturday night we will have Cake Auction with Evelina Gaina performing.

For our afternoon outing on Thursday we will be having lobsters (and chicken/vegetarian entrees) at the landmark restaurant DiMillios (http://www.dimillos.com/restaurant/index.html). Afterwards we will hop on a ferry to Peaks Island a popular vacation spot in Maine. Then we will go sightseeing at picturesque Old Port. Tourism information is at http://visitportland.com/.

We already have 146 Deaf women registered for the conference! We have a special offer—we are giving $100 off to the 200th conference registrant! Winner will be announced as soon as possible!! Send in your registration form! You could be our winner! For general information please contact us at dwu2011@gmail.com.

DeafNation is our media partner. We were at DeafNation Expos in Las Vegas, NV; Worcester, MA; Pleasanton, CA, Seattle, WA and Greensboro, NC and Austin, TX. For more details about DeafNation expo check their website at http://deafnation.com/dnexpo/. We had people stopping by our booth to learn about DWU. Check out Deaf Women United’s facebook page for photos. Purple, ZVRS, Sprint are our Silver Sponsors and Sorenson is our Gold Sponsor.

Thanks,

Brenda Schertz and Diane Poulin

DWU Conference Co-Chairpersons

DWU Booth at DeafNation Expo

http://deafnation.com/dnexpo/

February 5, 2011: Miami, Florida

April 2, 2011: Greensboro, North Carolina

April 16, 2011: Austin, Texas

October 8, 2011: Pleasanton, California

October 15, 2011: Portland, Oregon

Article for KISS-FIST Magazine

Photo by Adele Ann Eberwein

Deaf Women United—2 5 years old and still going strong!

Deaf Women United is an organization of, by, and for Deaf women. Founded in 1985, its goals are to provide tools, information, a system of communal support, and training in the areas of organizational management, personal growth, and empowerment. Prior to DWU’s birth in 1984, Marcella Meyer, then the Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness in California, and other individuals, formed a committee whose efforts resulted in the highly successful 1985 Deaf women’s conference, “Deaf Women United.” At this conference, the concept of a national Deaf women’s organization was born and the name, Deaf Women United, Inc. was adopted.

Over the years, DWU has evolved to meet the needs of its membership. A national conference is held every two years to bring Deaf women together for the purpose of networking and sharing resources through workshops and group activities. A mentorship program was developed to provide Deaf, Deaf-blind, hard of hearing and late-deafened women with the opportunity to pair up with an expert in the area where growth was desired. This mentor would provide support in the areas of professional development or personal goals (including tips for single or stay at home mothers) and help the mentee succeed.

In addition, DWU worked closely with Gallaudet Leadership Institute (GLI) to develop the first ever Deaf Women Leadership program, a successful and popular endeavor that continues today. This one-week program, taught by Deaf women who are current or past DWU officers and community leaders, provides participants with tools to enhance their leadership abilities in an environment that facilitates input from their peers as well as other experienced professional Deaf women.

Recognizing that Deaf women need to be acknowledged for their contributions to the community, two distinct awards were developed by DWU. Modeled after the National Women’s Hall of Fame in New York, DWU established the Deaf Women Wall of Fame. Anyone can be nominated to the Wall of Fame for $50 and receive a plaque with their name. Nominators can be anyone in the community as well. Wall of Fame nominations make great Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthday gifts from those who want to give the gift of recognition to a special Deaf woman who has contributed much to the community.

Deaf Women of Achievement (DWOA) is a lifetime recognition award given to a Deaf woman who has gone above and beyond to support and advocate for the empowerment needs of Deaf women. These awards are prestigious and only one Deaf woman is selected every two years. Past recipients include:

1999—Marie Philip, 2001—Mabs Holcomb, 2003—Sharon Kay Wood, 2005—Gertrude Galloway

2007—Vicki Hurwitz, and 2009—Damara Paris

Nominations are still being accepted for the DWOA award, so please contact DWU if you would like to nominate a Deaf woman for this award. You may contact Damara Paris, DWU Vice President at damara.paris@comcast.net.

DWU is proud of the current diversity within the DWU board officers. The backgrounds of these officers include an American Indian, Japanese-Canadian, Indian, Jewish-Italian, as well as working mothers, financial consultants, counselors, national managers in corporate positions, and educators. Board officers for the 2009-2011 years are: Stephanie Summers, President; Damara Paris, Vice-President; Adele Ann Eberwein, Secretary and Public Relations Officer; Shelley Oishi, Treasurer: Michele Barber, Public Relations Officer; Shilpa Hanumantha, Affiliate Coordinator; Peggy St. John-Wenger, Fund Raising Coordinator; and Brenda Schertz, DWU 2011 Conference Chair.

Recently, DWU held a 25th anniversary gala in Northern California to celebrate the organization’s accomplishments over the years. It was a wonderful event with many prominent Deaf women, including Marilyn Smith, Genie Gertz, Nathie Marbury, Ella Mae Lentz, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, and many more!

Our 2011 conference will be held in Portland, Maine from June 29-July 3, 2011. For more information about DWU, please go to www.dwu.org.

Feminism and Deafhood: What’s the Connection?

Presented by Dr. Genie Gertz and Ella Mae Lentz

November 5, 2010

Photos by Adele Ann Eberwein