February | 2017 | HLAA – Kansas City Chapter

Dear Chapter Members:
I am pleased to bring you some news!
Our wonderful Valerie Stafford-Mallis, director of chapter development, is entering the well-deserved world of retirement on March 31, 2017. She and her husband, Sam, are retiring from their careers on the same day and are starting their retirement life together in Florida where they live.
My selfish nature says “boo-hiss” because Valerie has brought a strong sense of professionalism and business sense to our chapter department as well as her willingness to assist and train our chapters in many positive ways. We sure do hate to lose her. But, how can we not be happy for her and Sam? Be sure to catch the article in the upcoming March/April issue of Hearing Loss Magazine where Valerie says her goodbyes and gives us some insight into what she will be doing. Congratulations and thank you to Valerie.
Valerie’s last day is March 31, but she and Erin Mirante (see below) will be traveling to the Pacific Northwest (March 4-5) and to St. Louis (March 11) for chapter development workshops before Valerie retires.
Welcome Erin Mirante!

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Knowing that Valerie was going to retire sometime in 2017-18, we hired Erin to work part-time in chapters and part-time in membership/data. Erin quickly showed a keen interest in chapters, especially as she began to interact with you. Our hope for Erin came true when she said she would LOVE to work with HLAA Chapters full time as our national chapter coordinator.
Erin is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland and has a degree in social work. She has been a volunteer herself throughout her college life (and before) and did an internship with a local adoption agency helping parents navigate the complicated process of adopting a child. Her compassion, warmth and intellect are immediately evident. She also understands what it’s like to be a volunteer and appreciates all of you who volunteer your time and talents for HLAA.
I am pleased to have Erin on staff to support chapters. For those of you going to Convention 2017, Erin is looking forward to meeting all of you. Please join me in welcoming Erin Mirante as the national chapter development coordinator! She is a lovely, young woman and we are all excited to have her and her passion on staff.
Leadership Training at HLAA2017: As always, there will be a room devoted to chapter workshops at the convention. On Wednesday, June 21, there will be a leadership workshop with a renowned presenter who has worked with companies like McDonald’s, Pampered Chef, H&R Block, Ericsson, and more. I wish I could sneak in myself, but I will at the HLAA Board of Trustees Meeting. We are thrilled to bring you this top-notch presentation, sponsored by CaptionCall.
We are all part of one HLAA. Without the national organization, there would be no Walk4Hearing, HLAA state organizations or chapters; and without the “boots on the ground” at the local and state levels, the awareness, mutual support, local/state advocacy, access, and much more, couldn’t happen. Thank you for the work you are all doing across the country.