The opening session featured awarding two SLPs with the designation of “Master Clinician”—Zilpha Bosone, PhD, and Jim Shanks, PhD. Both have dedicated decades in service to the laryngectomee community in both clinical service and the training of SLPs. Dr. Shanks gave the keynote address where he took the audience through the history of the IAL and of central figures and events through the decades of laryngectomee rehabilitation.
A town hall meeting was held with IAL President Bob Herbst presiding. His PowerPoint presentation focused on challenges and opportunities facing the IAL including the failure to produce audits for 2007 and 2008 (caused in major part by personnel turnover and poor bookkeeping), and the by 3/4s of the organization’s net assets since 2004 (with the stock market being the major factor) along with the loss of interest and dividend income from that source. Previous cost-cutting measures and new ones were shared along with ideas for increasing income. The presentation concluded with a request for assistance in providing thoughts, suggestions, and concrete help.
The program lived up to its reputation for excellence with topics on every aspect of laryngectomee rehabilitation. A special emphasis was given this year to companions/caregivers. Mary Jane Renner presided over several; “Rap Sessions”, and a vendor sponsored a special breakfast.
The swimming and water activities demonstration was among the best and well attended in years. At least a dozen laryngectomees were in the pool at one time including four who had not ventured into the water following their becoming laryngectomees. Almost every participant swam or at least completely submerged while occluding their stomas. Their happiness and pride was evident to all. Two busloads of attendees took the tour to a famous old candy factory and then were off to famous Churchill Downs for an afternoon of horse racing.
The Delegates Meeting on Saturday was cordial and fairly brief considering the length of the agenda. It was felt that the town hall meeting on Thursday helped to answer questions about the IAL’s financial challenges ahead of time. Bylaw amendments to decrease the term of the offices of President and Vice President from three to two years and to increase the option for Board members to run for three terms instead of two passed easily. An amendment to decrease the size of the Board was easily defeated based on changes that have occurred since it was originally proposed including the Board reducing its costs.
All of those running for re-election to officer and Board positions won: Bob Herbst, President; Wade Hampton, Vice President; Joe Marasco, Treasurer; and Kay Allison, David Blevins, Sapp Funderburk as Directors. Elizabeth Finchem was nominated from the floor for Director and was also elected.
The annual banquet, auction and dance were very successful. Thanks go to the Hoosier Anamilo Club (Mary Jane Renner, President) which was the host club. They did an incredible job and the IAL had better support from the local tourism bureau than for any Meeting in anyone’s memory.
Many were delightfully surprised at the dance entertainment supplied by laryngectomee drummer Tony Talmich and Elvis impersonator Dave Morin. In addition to music from “The King” they provided lots of other oldies that got the group up and dancing. The graduate students (many from Board member Phil Doyle, PhD’s university) especially enjoyed the dancing.
The IAL is very thankful for our generous vendors without whom we could not put on the quality Annual Meeting and Voice Institute we have all come to expect: ATOS Medical, Ceredas, Fahl, Griffin Laboratories, Inhealth Technologies, Lauder Enterprises, Luminaud, Romet, and Servona/Servox.
It was announced that the AM/VI will be held in Kansas City at about the same dates as this year. Bob Herbst and Wade Hampton negotiated another outstanding contract with the headquarters hotel.
It was very difficult to find anyone who did not think this year’s meeting was a big success from the standpoint of attendees and their companions, vendors and members of the IAL leadership.
Many of those who attended this year are already looking forward to Kansas City in 2011. Mark your calendars now to join us next year!
The IAL cookbooks have been published and some copies are available for purchase from the IAL office. We are selling the cookbooks for $10.00 each plus an additional $1.00 each for shipping and handling (if you are in the United States). If you would like us to ship the cookbooks to an address out of the United States, please send an e-mail with your shipping address to 
