June 1, 2006 China Ten

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In Attendance:

Debra Casebere, Melissa Banno, Rosalie Jacobi Hutchens, Dora Bumpass, Cheryl Stephenson, Peggi White, Ayoko Brewer, Donna Brander, Trudy Bowen, Charles Little, Tilly Little, Sheila Pridgen, Melissa Swain, Lisa Currin, Faye Watts.

Guest Speaker: Tim Saltuklaroglu, Ph.D., Speech Pathologist, speaking about the SpeechEasy device for stuttering.

President Debra Casebere opened the meeting by welcoming members and guests and asked everyone to introduce themselves.

May membership meeting minutes were reviewed, with a motion to accept without revisions by Charles Tilly, seconded by Peggi White.

Business of the evening
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Secretary - Cheryl Stephenson requested that announcements be submitted in writing to the secretary at meetings to assist with minutes.

Treasurer - Rosalie reported expenses since last report of $74.15 for membership certificates and $12.20 for webmaster's dinner before quarterly website review.

Membership - Melissa reported membership has increased by four new members. Refer to current updated list via website for networking and referring clients.

Communications/Vice President - Peggi White, no report.  FYI: Unfortunately, Peggi experienced a recent computer crash and lost all computer contacts.  Peggi has a new computer system, and is back on line. So let's communicate!

Health Fair Coordinator  Debra Casebere reported for Travis Reed.  All health fair information should be directed to Travis Reed. Only when members participate at health fair events will their personal marketing information be displayed on the HHP table. One proposed event is the 2nd annual Dash for Cash race on December 3, 2006.  Dash for Cash is a scholarship fundraiser in honor of Captain Chris Cash, our local hero, who died in Iraq.  HHP will donate all funds raised from donations for table massage at the event.  Please put this worthwhile event on your calendars.

Announcements:

1.  Invitation from Women Psychotherapy Group to summer social on Friday, June 9, at 7:00 pm, 1910 Sherwood Drive, Greenville. Please bring a dish to share, and BYOB or wine. Call Lauryn Sawyer, 752-1617, for more information.

2.  Next membership meeting Thursday, July 6, at 11:45 am, Greenville Country Club. Speaker will be Stephanie West-Puckett, ECU Women's Studies, speaking on holistic approaches to childbirth.

3.  Next board meeting is Tuesday, June 13, at 9:45-11:00 am, Port City Java, Red Banks Rd.

4.Sunday in the Park, a free concert every Sunday at 7:00 pm in June and July.  The Daily Reflector prints concert details from Friday-Sunday.  No alcohol allowed in the park.  THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL OF GREENVILLE, NC.

Nutrition Partners offers free food samples and recipes every Saturday through August, from 8 am  11 am, at the Pitt County Farmers Market on County Home Rd., Winterville.

Members' Announcements:

1.Cheryl Stephenson is presenting a workshop on Performance Wellness for Double Reed Players at the International Double Reed Conference in July in Muncie, IN.

2.Tilly Little has recently become certified in Reflexology.

3.Dora Bumpass has a new location for her practice inside of the Greenville Women's Clinic.  Come Visit!

4.Trudy Bowen will host Speaker Dr. Delia Garcia, a radiological Oncologist/Breast Specialist, who will speak about the relationship between nutrition & health on June 22nd at the Greenville Hilton. To register, call Trudy at 866-803-2941.

Melissa Banno introduced and welcomed Tim Saltuklaroglu, the speaker for the evening meeting.

Tim is a professor of speech therapy in Tennessee (formerly worked with Joseph Kalinowski, Ph.D. at ECU, and co-inventor of the SpeechEasy device) and has published a book, Stuttering, with Dr. Kalinowski.SpeechEasy is a device that aids in the inhibition and management of stuttering.  Tim explained that the majority of people afflicted with stuttering are males and and that stuttering usually begins between the ages of 2-6 years old.  80% of these children recover within 4 years.  Something in the brain (researchers don't know what the mechanism or trigger is yet) corrects itself.  Often, by the time the person is 8 years old, he or she has been through several kinds of therapy that may or may not work.  There is no concrete evidence that any of these therapies actually work.  Lots of therapy as a child brings frustration and feelings of irresponsibility when the speech does not improve, therefore affecting the person's whole life.  Sometimes the child will stop talking all together, being afraid of exposing oneself to the world.

What is known is that when a stutterer speaks in unison with another individual, such as in singing or praying together, the stuttering stops.  Through technology, trial and error, personal life experiences, along with lots of work, a new device was developed at ECU.  This device looks like a hearing aid, but it tricks the brain by diffusing your own voice (as if you are talking in unison).  This instant inner brain auditory feedback results in an end to the stuttering.  The main obstacle is to train the individual to get the speech sounds started and then the speech is free flowing.  Tim shared a video clip of a client using the SpeechEasy for the first time.  Medical insurance is beginning to pay for the SpeechEasy, which costs between $4000 and $5,000.Tim admits there is more research and work to be done but that it's a great start!