South Western Illinois Speech, Language & Hearing Association
History
SWISHA was founded in the Fall of 1950 by Madie Landers, an experienced speech-language pathologist who worked for Alton Public Schools. SWISHA was formed after Ms. Landers observed an influx of recent graduates in speech-language pathology being employed by several public schools in Madison County, Illinois. Until then, Alton had the only public school speech-language program within Madison County. Speech-language pathology was, in those days, a fledgling profession which was still undergoing name changes, and was more often called “speech correction” or “speech therapy”.
Ms. Landers had recently been award an M.A. in Speech Pathology from the University of, 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-langague pathologists from neighboring school districts in Madison and St. Clair Counties to meet in her home and discuss mutual concerns.
Ann Carey, Professor Emerita at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was one of the ten people who attended the initial meeting. Dr. Carey later wrote in the Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Journal (Vol. 9, May 1976) that available records indicated that this group was the first professional group for speech-language pathologists and audiologists to be established in Illinois outside of Cook County. The Association, a designation that stemmed from the name commonly applied to those in the geographic are of the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area, met several time each year and successfully maintained the organization in this informal manner for more than fifteen years.
During the early years of SWISHA, the association had no offices. 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 the preparation of a mailing list of all speech-language pathologists in the area. All were eligible to attend, and there were neither required fees nor dues. School districts or individuals provided paper and postage to notify others of these meetings.
Programs were usually related to an unusual or particularly difficult client. Information was presented in whatever manner the host felt was the 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 medial and rehabilitation services available in the area or on effective clinical strategies or tools that had become available. The East Side Therapists group that eventually evolved into SWISHA was among the first of the 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 an unanimous vote and Ron Goldsmith would be the first secretary-treasurer for the remainder of 1968 and both would later be re-elected to serve full terms in 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 the 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 the 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 (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.
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.
| Years | Officers |
| 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 |
| 1971 – 1972 | Florence Brennan, President Burdette Thurman, Vice President |
| 1972 – 1973 | Burdette Thurman, President Howard Calvin, Vice President |
| 1973 – 1974 | Steve Balen, President* |
| 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 |
| 2002 – 2003 | 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 |
| 2003 – 2004 | 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 |
| 2004 – 2005 | 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 |
| 2010 – 2011 | Cheryl Siegel-Grieves, President Messina Lenger, Vice President Mallory Welch, Secretary Karen Reinacher, Treasurer Kim McCausland, ISHA Representative Councilor Elizabeth Mueller, CE Coordinator |
| 2011 – 2012 | Messina Lenger, President Chelsi Fair, Secretary Karen Reinacher, Treasurer Kim McCausland, ISHA Representative Councilor Debra Kirsch, ISHA Representative Councilor Beth Mueller, CUE Coordinator |
*Steve Balen was elected as Vice President for the 1973 – 1974 term. He became president at the beginning of the term because Howard Calvin moved from the area to Peoria.
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 |