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The Cleveland Chapter
Of the National Stuttering Association
"There is nothing of which we are more ashamed than of not being ourselves, there is nothing which brings us greater joy and happiness than to think, to feel or to say what is ours" -Erich Fromm
The Cleveland Chapter of the NSA has a group that meets on Cleveland's west side and another group that meets on the west side of Cleveland. Both groups have close ties with each other
The Cleveland Chapter of the NSA was organized in 1989 by Doug Havighurst. The chapter met in Doug's home for several years, and occasionally moved to other members' homes or churches. Several years later it met at the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center. In 1994 they hosted the NSP national convention and had the largest youth day ever!! In 1995 the chapter found a westside location and eastside location and started meeting at each location once a month to accommodate eastside/westside Clevelanders. Currently the westside location has about 12-18 active members who regularly attend chapter meetings and the eastside location has about 8-12 active members. Membership in both groups is growing.
We are a support group geared toward attracting new people. While many chapter members are undergoing or have completed formal speech therapy programs, the NSP is not a therapy group and talking is voluntary.
NSA meetings are a safe place to take risks; to try out new communiction
behaviors; share feelings, and be open about our speech and our lives as
people who stutter.
[NSA Convention 2000 in Chicago!]
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Hits since March 3, 1998
Last Revised: 2/21/2000
The westside location of the chapter meets the last Monday of each month, from 7:30 to 9 PM, at the Southwest General Hospital. in Middleburg Heights.
The eastside location of the chapter meets the second Monday of each month, from 7 to 9 PM at the Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights.
Meetings begin with an "icebreaker" consisting of optional introductions and sharing. After a short business meeting, we begin the monthly program.
The monthly program is led by a volunteer facilitator who selects an activity or topic for discussion. This can range from a video on stuttering or stuttering therapy, to a round robin discussion of a challenge stutterers share (for example, how to rise to the challenge of a job interview), to activities designed to get us talking.
The Cleveland Chapter has also hosted several NSA sponsored workshops. John Ahlbach John Harrison, Mary Wood, Tim Mackesay, and Russ Hicks have been featured speakers during previous workshops and there has also been a drama workshop.
Participation in NSA activities can complement a therapy program, serve as a social outlet, provide an opportunity to work on new speech behaviors, learn how to lead meetings, practice leadership skills, or just provide a safe place to share feelings about the challenges people who stutter face in a world where fluency is taken for granted
In short, membership in the NSA can do whatever you want it to. Many of our members find that regular attendance at NSA meetings is one of their most important learning and growth experiences. What do we learn? To accept ourselves and each other. To have courage and keep trying. To challenge ourselves when growth opportunities present themselves. To be patient with ourselves and be kind to ourselves. But the most important lesson we learn is that... "we are not alone".
Meetings are a safe place to take risks, try new behaviors, and be open about our stuttering.
Contact the NSA national office directly:
(800) 364-1677
or
NSAmail@aol.com
or
The National Stuttering Association
Attend one or more meetings. If you decide that the experience is worthwhile for you, and you want to join the local chapter, your name and address is sent to the National Stuttering Association main office in Anaheim Hills, California. They will contact you directly, sending a packet that includes additional information on the NSA and a membership application form.
You will also be sent information on the NSA publications and the annual
NSA conventions, both of which offer a wealth of information
on stuttering. The summer convention --which will be held this year in
Chicago--will be attended by over 500 people who stutter. It features inspiring
and educational workshops, informative speeches and presentations, and
a variety of social activities.
Here's a collage made from when the Cleveland
Chapter hosted the NSA convention in 1994
Annual dues in the NSA are $35 and include the monthly newsletter, special rates on NSA publications, and entry into a very special organization.
The Cleveland westside location of the chapter meets from 7:30 to 9 PM on the last Monday of each month at the Southwest General Hospital in Middleburg Heights. It is led by Ted Marsh. The Eastside location of the chapter meets from 7 to 9 PM at the Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. It is let by Doug Havighurst and Marilee Fini. You don't have to be invited - just show up!
For information contact Doug Havighurst or Ted Marsh.
You can also send email to Ted at xcelnet.net
or call him at (440) 237-7222
or Doug at (216) 381-6237
You can also write to either location at :
NSP Cleveland Chapter
PO Box 525
Gates Mills, OH 44040
Contact the NSA national office directly by calling their hotline at
1-800-364-1677, sending email to NSAmail@aol.com,
visiting the website at http://www.nsastutter.org/
or writing them at 5100 E. LaPalma Ave., Suite #208, Anaheim Hills, CA
92807.
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