In the fall of 1950, Madie Landers, an experienced speech-language pathologist in the Alton Public Schools, observed an influx of recent graduates in speech-language pathology employed by several public schools in Madison County, Illinois. Until that time, Alton had the only public school speech-language program within the county. Speech-language pathology was a fledging profession in those days, still undergoing name changes. It was more often called speech correction or speech therapy and even the Illinois education bureaucracy those employed in the public schools as speech correctionists.

Ms. Landers had recently been awarded an M.A. in Speech Pathology from the University of Denver and took it upon herself to share information she had gained through both her education and public school experience – knowledge and details that she felt allowed her to provide more effective services. To that end, she invited all interested speech-language pathologist from neighboring school districts in both Madison and St. Clair Counties to meet in her home to discuss mutual concerns.

Ann Carey, Professor Emerita, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, was one of ten persons who attended that initial meeting. Dr. Carey later wrote in the Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Journal (Vol. 9, May 1976) that available records indicate this organization was the first professional group for speech-language pathologists and audiologists to be established in Illinois outside of Cook County. In a short time, the Association, a designation that stemmed from the name commonly applied to those in the geographic area comprised of the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area. They met several times each year and successfully maintained the organization in this informal manner for than fifteen years.

There were no officers of the group during the formative years. Instead, an individual would volunteer at the final spring meeting to secure hosts for meetings that would be held during the following year. That individual would usually host the first meeting of the year and work out a schedule for the entire year to be presented at that meeting. An additional duty that usually fell to the host of the first meeting was preparation of a mailing list of all speech-language pathologists in the area. All were eligible to attend. There were neither required fees nor dues. School districts or individuals provided paper and postage to notify those who might be interested in attending the meetings.

Programs often were related to an unusual or particularly difficult client. Information was presented in whatever manner the host felt was most appropriate and was followed by a brainstorming session to offer assistance in formulating and carrying out appropriate clinical procedures. Other programs provided information on medical and rehabilitation services available in the metropolitan area or on effective clinical strategies or tools that had become available. The East Side Therapists group that eventually evolved into the South Western Illinois Speech, Language & Hearing Association (SWISHA) was among the first local groups in Illinois to fulfill the objective of providing continuing education in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Ann Carey, who had been instrumental in forming the group originally and in maintaining it in a cohesive manner during its entire existence, was elected as the charter president in a unanimous vote and Ron Goldsmith would be the secretary-treasurer for the remainder of 1968 and both would later be re-elected to serve full terms the consecutive year.

The newly elected president established committees for periodic review of the newly adopted by-laws, to plan and schedule programs for the next year, prepare guidelines for increasing membership, and study the need for dues to meet financial needs of the group. Essentially the same individuals were carrying out the day to day operations of the organization with no major changes at this time. Ron Goldsmith, who had attended the organizational meeting of the Liaison Committee of Illinois Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ISHA) in the spring of 1964 and had continued to attend those meetings, remained as the SWISHA delegate to the ISHA Delegate Assembly.

Programs continued to be hosted primarily by local school districts, although growth of the training program at SIUE increased their participation by providing meeting space and speakers for programs. University faculty were frequent presenters and guest lecturers brought in by SIUE also were shared with SWISHA members. Eventually, a majority of the SWISHA membership would consist of graduates from the SIUE Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. As the membership grew and as the professions aged, new programs and services were discussed and brought to fruition. Included among them were a newsletter designed to keep members informed about professional issues and events, kits prepared for public education during May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, a series of honors for both members and the public, and a scholarship program to encourage students enrolled in programs for the study of communication disorders.

SWISHA OFFICERS

Prior to March 1968, a person was appointed Chair. The duty of the Chair was to arrange the first meeting of the next year. The first officers were elected by the membership in March 1968 at a meeting held in the East Alton-Wood River area. Many of the early records have been either lost or destroyed through the years. The following is a list of those officers who could be identified.

March 1968	Ann Carey, President Ron Goldsmith, Secretary-Treasurer
1968-1969	Ann Carey, President Ron Goldsmith, Secretary-Treasurer
1969-1970	Joyce Wagley, President Ron Goldsmith, Secretary-Treasurer
1970-1971	Bonnie Lewis, President Burdette Thurman, Treasurer
1970-1972	Florence Brennan, President Burdette Thurman, Vice President
1972-1973	Burdette Thurman, President Howard Calvin, Vice President
1973-1974	Steve Balen, President (Note: Steve Balen was elected Vice President. He became President at the beginning of the 1973-1974 Membership Year because Howard Calvin moved from the area to Peoria.)
1974-1975	Joyce Taylor, President Pat Penelton, Vice President
1975-1976	Pat Penelton, President Dixie Engelman, Vice President
1976-1977	Dixie Engelman, President Norma Dean, Vice President
1977-1978	Norma Dean, President Gary Fowler, Vice President
1978-1979	Gary Fowler, President Peggy Nowland, Vice President
1979-1980	Peggy Nowland, President Marilyn Godar, Vice President
1980-1981	Marilyn Godar, President Judy Holtzscher, Vice President
1981-1982	Judy Holtzscher, President Dona Anderson, Vice President Cecelia Miller, Secretary
1982-1983	Dona Anderson, President Susan White, Vice President
1983-1984	Susan White, President Diane Fourdyce, Vice President
1984-1985	Diane Fourdyce, President Judi Schutzenhofer, Vice President
1985-1986	Judi Schutzenhofer, President Diane Murbarger, Vice President
1986-1987	Diane Murbarger, President Debra Hoge, Vice President
1987-1988	Peg Hotson, President Debra Hoge, Vice President Nancy Becher, Treasurer Jean Harrison, ISHA Representative Councilor Susan White, ISHA Representative Councilor
1988-1989	Debra Hoge, President Gail Tanner, Vice President Pam Bauer, Secretary Nancy Becher, Treasurer Jean Harrison, ISHA Representative Councilor Susan White, ISHA Representative Councilor
1989-1990	Gail Tanner, President Ron Goldsmith, Vice President Pam Bauer, Secretary Susan White, ISHA Representative Councilor Gail Tanner, ISHA Representative Councilor
1990-1991	Ron Goldsmith, President Bonnie Goldenberg, Vice President Robin Wheat-Crowe, Secretary Sue Pilson, Treasurer Gail Tanner, ISHA Representative Councilor Katy Harmon, ISHA Representative Councilor
1991-1992	Bonnie Goldenberg, President Jean Harrison, Vice President Sue Pilson, Secretary Diane Fourdyce, Treasurer Katy Harmon, ISHA Representative Councilor Ron Goldsmith, ISHA Representative Councilor
1992-1993	Jean Harrison, President Sue Pilson, Vice President Cheryl Siegel-Grieves, Secretary Diane Fourdyce, Treasurer Ron Goldsmith, ISHA Representative Councilor Peg Hotson, ISHA Representative Councilor
1993-1994	Sue Pilson, President Rosalie Wilke, Vice President Frances Justice, Secretary Cheryl Siegel-Grieves, Treasurer Peg Hotson, ISHA Representative Councilor Susan White, ISHA Representative Councilor
1994-1995	Sue Pilson, President Linda Gurr, Vice President Paula Baima, Secretary Cheryl Siegel-Grieves, Treasurer Susan White, ISHA Representative Councilor Allison Vinyard, ISHA Representative Councilor
1995-1996	Linda Gurr, President Michelle Mueller, Vice President Karyn Kitley, Secretary Bonnie Goldenberg, Treasurer Allison Vinyard, ISHA Representative Councilor Cheryl Newsome, ISHA Representative Councilor
1996-1997	Michelle Mueller, President Allison Vinyard, Vice President Theresa Sanders, Secretary Bonnie Goldenberg, Treasurer Cheryl Newsome, ISHA Representative Councilor Kathryn Cooprider, ISHA Representative Councilor
1997-1998	Allison Vinyard, President Theresa Sanders, Vice President Karyn Kitley, Secretary Kim McCausland, Treasurer Kathryn Cooprider, ISHA Representative Councilor Judy Johnson, ISHA Representative Councilor
1998-1999	Theresa Sanders, President Karyn Kitley, Vice President Donna Horstmann, Secretary Kim McCausland, Treasurer Elizabeth Vinson, ISHA Representative Councilor Kim Stewart, ISHA Representative Councilor Bonnie Goldenberg, ISBE Liaison Ron Goldsmith, Historian
1999-2000	Karyn Kitley, President Donna Horstmann, Vice President Christina Lawrence, Secretary Kathryn Cooprider Gass, Treasurer Kim Stewart, ISHA Representative Councilor Elizabeth Vinson, ISHA Representative Councilor Bonnie Goldenberg, ISBE Liaison Allison Vinyard, Historian
2000-2001	Donna Horstmann, President Kathryn Gass, Vice President Ann Marie Mayhall, Secretary Michelle Garris, Treasurer Elizabeth Vinson, ISHA Representative Councilor Christina Lawrence, ISHA Representative Councilor Bonnie Goldenberg, ISBE Liaison Allison Vinyard, Historian Theresa Sanders, CE Coordinator
2001-2002	Kathryn Gass, President Kelly Berning, Vice President Ann Marie Mayhall, Secretary Michelle Garris, Treasurer Christina Lawrence, ISHA Representative Councilor Crista Stroud, ISHA Representative Councilor Bonnie Goldenberg, ISBE Liaison Allison Vinyard, Historian Theresa Sanders, CE Coordinator
2003-2004	Kelly Berning, President Ann Marie Mayhall, Vice President Amy Nollman, Secretary Michelle Garris, Treasurer Crista Stroud, ISHA Representative Councilor Karen Reinacher, ISHA Representative Councilor Bonnie Goldenberg, ISBE Liaison Allison Vinyard, Historian Theresa Sanders, CE Coordinator
2004-2005	Ann Marie Mayhall, President Elizabeth Mueller, Vice President Cheryl Newsome, Secretary Amy Nollman, Treasurer Karen Reinacher, ISHA Representative Councilor Randi Horst, ISHA Representative Councilor Bonnie Goldenberg, ISBE Liaison Allison Vinyard, Historian Theresa Sanders, CE Coordinator
2005-2006	Elizabeth Mueller, President Karyn Kitley, Vice President Pamela Brezger, Secretary Amy Perez, Treasurer Randi Horst, ISHA Representative Councilor Laura Marzluf, ISHA Representative Councilor Allison Vinyard, Historian
2005-2006	Karyn Kitley, President Pamela Brezger, Vice President Angela Stevens, Secretary Sara Beer, Treasurer Laura Marzluf, ISHA Representative Councilor Allison Vinyard, Historian
2006-2007	Pamela Brezger, President Laura Marzluf, Vice President Angela Stevens, Secretary Sara Beer, Treasurer Laura Marzluf, ISHA Representative Councilor Amy Bruce, ISHA Representative Councilor Elizabeth Mueller, CE Coordinator
2007-2008	Laura Marzluf, President Michelle Jones, Vice President Bonnie Goldenberg, Secretary Ann Marie Mayhall, Treasurer Amy Bruce, ISHA Representative Councilor Elizabeth Mueller, CE Coordinator
2008-2009	Michelle Jones, President Stacey Egan, Vice President Mallory Welch, Secretary Ann Marie Mayhall, Treasurer Amy Bruce, ISHA Representative Councilor Beth Vinson, CE Coordinator
2009-2010	Stacey Egan, President Cheryl Siegel-Grieves, Vice President Mallory Welch, Secretary Karen Reinacher, Treasurer Kim McCausland, ISHA Representative Councilor Elizabeth Mueller, CE Coordinator

SWISHA HONORS

Honors of the Association	Ann L. Carey Ronald Goldsmith
Distinguished Service Award	Marieann Hankla Susan White
1993 College of Fellows	Dona Anderson Shirley Birmingham Ann Carey Dixie Engelman Diane Fourdyce Marilyn Godar Bonnie Goldenberg Ronald Goldsmith Marieann Hankla Judy Holtzscher Peg Hotson Diane Murbarger Judy Schutzenhofer Susan White
1998 College of Fellows	Jean Harrison Susan Pilson
Life Members of SWISHA	Eleanor Betz Shirley Birmingham Ann Carey Marieann Hankla Judy Holtzscher Ronald Goldsmith Judy Plassmeyer
Founders Award	Madie Landers
Honorary Life Members	Bonnie Lewis Gregory Clarence Haege Ann Ulm Hillmer Madie Landers Millard Landers Lloyd Mosley June Branding Mussay Bessie Reid Dorothy Stickels Burdette Thurman Duane Weber
Special Commendations	Tom Pilson Gary Harmon Honorable Richard J. Durbin Illinois State Police