Volume Forty, Number One, January 2017
MSHA Executive Board & Advisory Assembly 2016-2017
MSHA Executive Board:
President:
Laura E. Lenkey, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
President-Elect:
Natalie Douglas, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Past President:
Kathy Rigley-Rowell, M.A., CCC- SLP
Secretary:
Beth Economou, M.A., CCC-SLP
Treasurer:
Sherry Riedel, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Advocacy:
Kelli Pierce, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Audiology Services:
Angelique Boerst, M.A., CCC-A
VP for Membership:
Gordon Krainen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
VP for Professional Dev & Education:
Emmylou Garza-Prisby, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP Elect for Prof Dev & Education:
Terry Lange-Winkel, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for Public Relations:
Erica Barker, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for SLP/Healthcare:
Carolyn Doty, M.A., CCC-SLP
VP for SLP/Public Schools:
Lori Tavtigian, M.A., CCC-SLP
MSHA Advisory Assembly:
Audiology Practice:
Angelique Boerst, M.A., CCC-A
Communications and Networking:
Erica Barker, M.A., CCC-SLP
Continuing Education:
Rosalyn Davis, M.A., CCC-SLP
Ethics & Standards:
Michelle Bailey, M.A., CCC-SLP
SLP Healthcare:
Julie Kiefer Eaman, M.A., CCC-SLP
Student Affairs:
Greg Spray, M.A., CCC-SLP
MSHA Members-at-Large
N.W. Michigan:
Open
S.E. Michigan:
Karen O'Leary, M.A., CCC-SLP
S.W. Michigan:
Kirsten Haverberg, M.A., CCC-SLP
N.E. Michigan:
Ashley Gutowski, M.A., CCC-SLP
Upper Peninsula:
Elizabeth Curtis, M.A., CCC-SLP
Member-at-Large Representing Students:
Beth Westrate, Grand Valley State University
ASHA Advisory Councilors:SLP:
Karen Kurcz, M.A., CCC-SLP
AUD: Margot Beckerman, Au.D., CCC-A
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MSHA Scholarship Awards Sponsored by Prentke-Romich
MSHA is pleased to announce that two Scholarship Awards of $500 each will be given to MSHA Member Graduate Students in 2017 and will be presented at the MSHA Awards Luncheon, Friday, March 24, in Troy. Many thanks to the Prentke-Romich Company for providing these funds. For 50 years the Prentke Romich Company has been leading the way in giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
"Since our founding in 1966, PRC has paved the way in the development of speech-generating devices (SGDs) and continues to innovate in the field of augmentative and alternative communication" according to Trudi Blair, Consultant Network Operations Coordinator for the company. Prentke-Romich is also a pioneer in the field of language vocabulary development, giving children and adults with communication challenges the ability to participate in life. Trudi added that "we are an employee-owned company since 2004, we are committed fully to our motto, Everyone deserves a voice.”
To apply for the scholarships go to the MSHA website or follow this link: MSHA Student Scholarship Application
The MSHA Executive Board Advisory Committee wll conduct the selection process, and the deadline is February 15, 2017. University programs were sent the application forms as well.
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Ads and Exhibits for 2017
Jackie Gale, M.A., CCC-SLP Advertising spots in the MSHA Program Book and Reservations for Exhibit Tables are available for the 2017 MSHA Conference in Troy. All the necessary forms are available online at www.michiganspeechhearing.org or contact the MSHA Office at msha@att.net
Exhibiting at MS  HA allows for networking between those who sell products used by SLPs and AUDs, with those who wish to hire someone, or to be hired. Last year’s MSHA conference attendance was over 700 and all of these people are given the MSHA Program Book. It’s a great way to advertise if you’re in a private practice, or you’re looking to hire someone, or you wish to advertise your program or continuing education activities. It’s also a great way to support MSHA as the revenue helps defray the expense of the conference. The Exhibit Hall is also the place where we have all of our Poster Sessions on display and again, viewing four Poster Sessions can earn you .1 CEU. It’s the place to be at MSHA!
Exhibitors and Advertisers can find all the forms to register on our website or just contact the MSHA office at 517-332-5691.
Thank you - see you in Troy!
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Save the Dates: Upcoming MSHA Conferences
March 23-25, 2017, MSHA Conference: Detroit Marriott Troy
March 22-24, 2018, MSHA Conference Radisson Plaza Hotel, Kalamazoo
March 21-23, 2019, MSHA Conference, Kellogg Center, East Lansing
The next et cetera newsletter will be emailed to all MSHA members in Michigan in February.
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In Memoriam
 It is with sadness that we report the death of Carole Wood Gorenflo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who passed away on October 8, 2016 after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. An MSU graduate, Carole taught at Eastern Michigan University for 36 years and was a pioneer in the field of Augmentative Communication. She retired in 2014, and was awarded Emeritus Professorship. Carole was involved in MSHA for many years, served on the MSHA Board, and presented at past conferences. She is survived by her husband Daniel and daughters Anna and Caroline, as well as other family members. MSHA members and colleagues extend their condolences to Carole's family and many friends and fellow professionals.
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Updated FAQs Regarding your SLP License
Here are ANSWERS to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) that LARA has responded to!
Do I have to complete continuing education for renewal or relicensure?
Rule 338.627 adds the requirement of 20 continuous professional development credits (cpd) with at least 1 cpd credit in pain and symptom management in order to renew. Credit will need to be earned beginning with the 2016 renewal cycle.
Rules 338.621 and 338.623 add the requirement of acquiring not less than 20 cpd with at least 1 cpd credit in pain and symptom management within 2 years immediately preceding the date of application for relicensure for a full or limited license. This will be required for a relicensure application submitted on or after 10/1/2019.
Rule 338.629 lays out the acceptable cpd activities, requirements, and limitations.
When do I have to meet the requirements for the completion of training in identifying victims of human trafficking?
Rule 338.604 requires licensees to complete training in identifying victims of human trafficking beginning with the 2016 renewal cycle. This training requirement will need to be completed prior to the license renewal in 2018.
Applicants who apply for a license on or after March 16, 2021 will be required to have completed the required training in identifying victims of human trafficking.
How long are the Speech-Language Pathology licenses issued for? Can I renew my license early? How will I know when I need to renew?
Your initial Speech-Language Pathology license is only good until the next expiration date of your profession (anywhere from 4 months to 1 year). A fter your first renewal, your license will be valid for 2 years. You will receive renewal information 45-60 days prior to the expiration date of your license and it will state the renewal fee required.
You cannot renew your license early. Our system is not set up to receive renewal information until the renewal time for your profession. We will mail you renewal information approximately 45-60 days before the expiration date of your current license. Remember to notify the Department in writing of any address changes you have. It is your responsibility to renew your license on time. Failure to notify us of an address change does not exempt you from renewing your license on time. You can renew online at www.michigan.gov/elicense Online renewal payments require you to pay with a credit card.
The link to the new administrative rules for SLP from LARA is http://w3.lara.state.mi.us/orr/Files/AdminCode/1301_2013-103LR_AdminCode.pdf
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2017 ASHA Convention in Los Angeles
Coming Events
Hanen SPARK Communication Workshop
02/06/2017- 02/07/2017
8:30 am-4:30 pm
Jackson County ISD Krantz Education Center
6700 Browns Lake Rd. Room 215
Jackson, MI 49201
SPARK Communication™ workshop! This training is designed specifically for early intervention professionals who work with young children with language delays and their families. This is the perfect opportunity to have your whole team trained to use Hanen strategies.
SPARK Communication™ offers research-based responsive interaction strategies that have been shown to accelerate children's language use. You will also learn a coaching framework for helping parents apply these strategies during everyday interactions with their child. Receive a comprehensive set of resources to structure, plan and implement SPARK strategies with families (valued at over $100).
Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Annual Conference
03/23/2017- 03/25/2017
Detroit Marriott Hotel-Troy
200 W. Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, MI 48084
Facing the Future~Together!
Wayne State University Annual Kopp Lecture Series
04/21/2017
9:00 am-12:15 pm
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University presents the annual Kopp Lecture Series featuring Ruth Stoeckel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN. Dr. Stoeckel will be speaking on Motor Speech Disorders: Clinical Thinking About Treatment and Including Caregivers in Treatment. She will be discussing including caregivers in the treatment of Acquired Apraxia of Speech as well as Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
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From the President
By Laura E. Lenkey, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Hello MSHA Members
Happy New Year! Hard to believe 2017 has already rolled in! I was excited to reflect back on what a great year 2016 was for MSHA and our members. I am truly filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our professional association. I am in awe at what strength we have as an association, what powers we exercise to protect our consumers, ourselves and our professions, and the creativity we bring to the forefront to grow and secure our futures!
The opportunity to work with Dawn and Kim, the “bones” of our association, our Executive Board, Advisory Assembly, Members-at-Large, our Lobbyist Noah Smith, and a host of other volunteers who contributed to make 2016 such a success, has been an honor. From launching our first online continuing education course to building our current membership it’s your support that makes this happen. As an active member you are the backbone of our association helping us to expand our reach and move us forward.
Our highlights this past year include our growth in membership; our well-attended and hosted statewide MSHA Meet and Greets; our successful use of new technology to include a multi-user conferencing platform and our first online CEU! And our MSHA Annual Conference grew in attendance by almost 20%!
Our MSHA Conference theme this year is so fitting: Facing the Future – Together! Is there any other way? It is with great pride I consider future opportunities for “teaming” up with colleagues and other professionals to provide outstanding clinical services, increase our investigative efforts and groom new clinicians to carry the torch forward. Our Association offers so many benefits for maintaining and growing our profession. Some of these benefits include personal services for continuing education opportunity, resources for networking, social activities, as well as professional services such as access to our directory, and updates on licensing issues.
Registration for the 2017 Annual Conference is open now! MSHA is offering an incredible line-up of speakers this year which you can see in the article below.
Our program hosts a number of amazing speakers, vendors and incredible events across the 3 days! Now is an excellent opportunity to renew your benefits, offer to serve your Association, bring your creativity to rocket us forward into 2017 – together! I look forward to meeting many of you at conference and I hope the opportunity arises to work with you in the very near future!!
Wishing you all the best in the New Year!
Laura E. Lenkey, Ph.D.,
MSHA President 2016-2017
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MSHA 2017 Conference Program
Emmylou Garza-Prisby, M.A., CCC-SLP Highlights for the MSHA Annual Conference,
March 23-25, 2017 Detroit Marriott Troy Hotel,
Troy, Michigan
â–² Natalie Douglas, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Central Michigan University will present two Short Courses, morning and afternoon: Context-Based Approaches to Person-Centered Aphasia Therapy.
â–² Stacey Lim, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, Central Michigan University, will present  an afternoon Short Course: Providing Support to Adolescents with Hearing Loss.
â–² Continuing the Conversation: Issues in Clinical Education an afternoon Short Course with speakers Katie Strong, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, CMU; Theresa Jones, M.S., CCC-SLP, CMU; Kristin Hicks, M.A., CCC-SLP, MSU; Jill Bates, M.S., CCC-SLP, Calvin College; Kathy Hillenbrand, M.A., CCC-SLP, WMU; Karen O’Leary, M.A., CCC-SLP, WSU.
â–² Maureen Staskowski, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Macomb ISD, will present an afternoon class: Look Who’s Talking? Macomb’s AAC Core Vocabulary Classroom Team Initiative.
â–²J ane White, M.A., Executive Director and Founder of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, a non-profit organization, Michigan State University, will present an evening class entitled: Human Trafficking: A Michigan Reality. This class satisfies the SLP License requirement for a class in Human Trafficking.
â–² Welcome Reception 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. Tasty munchies and a cash bar. Everyone welcome! Also the MSHF Silent Auction and 50/50 MSHA Raffle through Friday evening. 
â–² Beth A. D. Nolan, Ph.D., Positive Approach LLC, North Carolina, will present two Short Courses: Assessment and Treatment Strategies in Adults with Dementia.
â–² How ard Shane, M.D., MGH Institute of Health Professions, Charlestown, Massachusetts, will present two Short Courses: Visual Immersion System™ (VIS): Communication Enhancement for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
â–²Y. Scott Yaruss, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, Michigan State University, will present a morning Short Course: Practical Strategies for Treating Preschool Children Who Stutter.
â–² J anet Deppe, M.S., CCC-SLP, Director, State Advocacy, Govt. Relations and Public Policy, ASHA, will present a morning Panel Discussion for future and new SLP and AUD graduates embarking on their first job: Embarking on Your New Career – Understanding Resources, Licensure, and Issues Impacting the Professions.
â–² Noah Smith, B.A., Capitol Services, Inc., Legislative Advocate for MSHA will present the Keynote Address at the MSHA Awards Luncheon. MSHA Honors of the Association will be presented to Richard M. Merson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, followed by presentation of MSHA & MSHF Scholarship Awards.
â–² Morning and Afternoon Student Round Table classes for Undergraduate and Graduate Students to help with employment and licensure questions; graduate school and CFY issues; and an opportunity to talk to professionals in a variety of work settings.
â–² All-Day MSHF Silent Auction; Exhibitors’ Cocktail Party and Raffle; MSHA 50/50 Raffle.
â–²Praxis Trivia Quiz Bowl! Back by popular demand: Teams representing students from our Michigan Universities will compete for bragging rights – and a trophy! Faculty & Friends urged to cheer on their teams.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
â–² Nina A. Reardon-Reeves, M.S., CCC-SLP, Stuttering Therapy Resources, In c., McKinney, Texas,will present 2 Short Courses, morning and afternoon: School Age Stuttering Therapy: Practical Ideas for Success. Nina will also present at the Public School Forum Luncheon.
 â–² Leora R. Cherney, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, will present 2 Short Courses: morning: Aphasia Treatment: Addressing the Impairment Level; and afternoon: Aphasia Treatment: Addressing the Activity/Participation Level.
â–² Amanda Hopkins, M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, Listening and Language Connections, LLC, will present a morning class: Assessment for Children with Hearing Loss and How to Interpret the Results.
â–² Michael Rolnick, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Wm. Beaumont Hospital, will present: Building Programs in Speech-Language Pathology – Marketing
Other topics to be addressed in our Program include:
Practical Strategies for Dealing with Anxiety in the
Classroom and Therapy Room;
The Role of SLPs in Breastfeeding and High-Risk Populations;
Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Treatment; The Normal Swallow; Life Participation Approach to Aphasia; Core Vocabulary in the Classroom; Laryngectomy Patient Q & A;
The Five Systems of Dysphagia; Functional Treatment Strategies for TBI Rehab; Assessment and Treatment of Cleft Speech Errors;
and much more!
Troy Marriott Hotel Registration Info
Emmylou Garza-Prisby, M.A., CCC-SLP We hope our MSHA members will be pleased to gather at the Detroit Marriott Hotel in Troy for the 2017 MSHA Annual Conference March 23-25, 2017. This is the first time for us here, and we have high hopes for a great conference! The Marriott Hotel is located in the midst of shopping, restaurants, and is conveniently located off of I-75 in Troy. The Somerset Collection
 is just west of the hotel on 16 Mile Rd., and there are a wide variety of hotels, restaurants and shopping options all around. Here is the link to the Somerset Mall: https://www.thesomersetcollection.com/
Parking and WiFi are free for MSHA Conference attendees to stay at the hotel. Follow this link to make reservations at the Marriott Hotel for MSHA Members: http://www.marriott.com/meeting-event-hotels/group-corporate-travel/groupCorp.mi?resLinkData=MSHA%20Annual%20Conference%5EDTTTT%60MSHMSHA%60125.00%60USD%60false%604%603/23/17%603/26/17%603/2/17&app=resvlink&stop_mobi=yes Our code is: MSHMSHA. :
Or MSHA members can call toll free 1-877-757-7131, ask for Reservations, identify yourself as a MSHA member to receive our special group rate. Our code is: MSH
Check-in/out times: Check in: 3:00 PM Check out: 12:00 PM
Parking: Complimentary on-site parking. High-Speed Internet: Free wi-fi for hotel guests.
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Something for Everyone
Terry Lange-Winkel, M.A., CCC-SLP MSHA members will soon receive in the mail a flyer with all the details for the 2017 MSHA Annual Conference, March 23-25, 2017, at the Detroit Marriott Hotel, in Troy, Michigan. The flyer will contain the Preliminary Program as well as the Conference Registration Form. This mailing will look a little different than in past years, so be on the look-out for it in your mailbox.
Emmylou Garza-Prisby, M.A., CCC-SLP and the Professional Development committee have done a great job putting together a wonderful slate of speakers and topics to meet everyone’s needs (see article above or follow link here to entire Program).
Presentations on topics including autism, AAC and core vocabulary, fluency, and anxiety in the classroom are just a few of the topics that may interest school-based professionals. Those clinicians servicing patients in hospitals and clinics may be interested in sessions on aphasia, dementia, laryngectomy, and swallowing disorders. We continue to provide sessions geared toward our undergraduate and graduate students needs as they begin their career and offer sessions to those engaged in helping them through clinical supervision.
One session that will meet all of our needs, especially for the new licensing requirement, is on Thursday evening entitled Human Trafficking: A Michigan Reality. This class will satisfy the SLP license requirement for a class in Human Trafficking, and we will provide certificates to all those who sign up and attend. The presenter, Jane White, is the Executive Director and Founder of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force. This includes over 135 agencies as members whose purpose is to collaborate in the identification, prosecution, and support for victims of human trafficking. Come and hear Jane speak on this important topic impacting our communities and our workplaces.
Finally, in the last newsletter, Emmylou described the role of the Vice President for Professional Development along with the committee’s responsibilities in planning the conference. We continue to seek volunteers to serve on this committee and learn the ropes of conference planning. Please contact the MSHA office if you are interested.
See you in Troy in March!
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Call for Student Poster Sessions at MSHA
Dawn Kutney, Editor  The deadline for Student Poster Sessions is January 20, 2017. We had so many great Student Posters last year in Grand Rapids and we hope you participate again in Troy in 2017! (Claire Meconi, B.A., MSU, pictured right). Our Call for Paper is online at www.michiganspeechhearing.org
(Stephanie Carlson, B.A., WSU, pictured left)
Congratulations to Erika Squires, B.A.A., the 2016 Student Poster Award winner, for her poster entitled Knowledge of Hearing Loss Among Students Pursuing Careers in Healthcare, co-authored with Lori Pakulski, Ph.D., CCC-A (pictured below, l-r, Erika and Lori). Erika is a graduate student at the University of Toledo, and she receives the award of $250, which is sponsored by Psi Iota Xi, Michigan chapters Eta Sigma, Zeta Theta, Theta Tau, and Eta Omicron. Thanks to our Michigan colleague Char Holcomb, and others, for continuing to support our stude  nts in this manner. The Psi Iota Xi national philanthropic organization is dedicated to helping others, especially in the fields of speech and hearing. Char and several members of the Grand Rapids chapter of Psi Iota Xi attended the conference this year, and we hope they were as impressed as we were, at the number and excellent quality of our Student Poster Sessions.
 (Pictured here right are l-r: Allison Sadro and Rakel Osentoski, CMU)
Thanks to all the students who submitted Posters for MSHA in 2016.
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Silent Auction Donations Being Collected
Heather Balog, Ph.D., CCC-SLP The Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation’s annual Silent Auction will be held once again at the MSHA Annual Conference in Troy, Michigan, March 23-25, 2017! This is the Foundation’s major fundraiser for the year. It is a great chance to bid on fun items, a chance to meet Board Members, and find out what the Foundation is planning for the future. You might even consider joining the Board! We need you!
But, we cannot do it without YOU! Your generous donations to the Silent Auction are essential to making the auction a continued success. Please contact Heather Balog (734-658-6150 or heather.balog@heather.balog@balogspeechlang.com) to make arrangements for a donation. All proceeds will go to the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation to support scholarships for students pursuing graduate degrees in speech-language pathology and/or audiology.
 Thanks to all of you who donated wonderful items to the MSHA Foundation's Silent Auction this past MSHA Conference in Grand Rapids. Thanks to all of you who bid on and bought those wonderful items! We raised over $4000, and this will go a long way helping fund our next Student Scholarship Awards to be given out in 2017 and acknowledged at the March Annual Conference in  Troy. Check out our website at www.msha-foundation.org
The Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation was established on March 13, 2006. The foundation is separate from, although affiliated with MSHA. In 2009, the foundation began awarding merit-based scholarships for students pursuing education, at the graduate level, in the field of communication sciences and disorders and/or education of the hearing impaired within Michigan with the intent to practice in Michigan. To date we have distributed $19,000 in scholarships. We award two scholarships, of $250 each, to each state supported university program. This year, we have awarded scholarships to students at 6 universities.
In 2016 we were pleased to award scholarships to the following  students with the support of their respective departments. Congratulations to these students!
Central Michigan University:
Ellen Foltz (AUD)
Laura Kobylczyk (SLP)
Eastern Michigan University:
Arista May (SLP)
Annette Shiley (SLP)
Grand Valley State University:
Shelby Garbini (SLP)
Julie Marcel (SLP)
Michigan State University:
Alyssa Webster (SLP)
Rachel Nordbeck (SLP)
Wayne State University:
Angela Piccinato (AUD)
Shelby Swafford (SLP)
Western Michigan University:
Thomas Beebe (AUD)
Karen Muraswski (SLP)
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A Toast to the New Year
Gordon Krainen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP  You did it, you really did! You got through the holidays! All that food: turkey, stuffing, ham, pie, corn, cranberries, bread, pie, potatoes and gravy. Did I mention pie? Oh man, then the family dramas and presents and bills. I hope you had a good time though. Look at the positive side, the election is over. Oops, sorry I had to remind you of that. Anyway, it’s a new year and we KNOW there will be some interesting times ahead.
In honor of the new year, let’s make some resolutions. Well, of course everyone talks about going on a diet, so we can go there. Then there’s the push to do more exercise - great - we all know that is really important for our health. We can all go out and hug a dietitian and personal trainer. Sounds like a good plan so far.
Next, we need something to look forward to. I know, in less than three short months will be our MSHA Annual Conference! Now that is something grand to be excited about. In this time of uncertainty, it’s good to know there is a place you can go that is consistently great, exciting, and even good for you. That place this year will be the Troy Marriott Hotel. When you arrive there you will be amazed at how wonderful the presenters are, how great it is to see your old friends and colleagues and such a deal to get reasonable CEUs. You won’t believe it until you experience it for yourselves! So do yourself a big favor, head north or south, east, or west to get to Troy on March 23rd. Bring your friends, invite them to join MSHA, and make this a great professional year for you.
Gordon Krainen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
V-P Membership
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MSHA Conference Q & A: From Your Evaluations
Dawn Kutney, B.A., Editor Last year in Grand Rapids we had over 700 of you attend our MSHA Annual Conference and many of you filled out the evaluation sheets - thank you! We have read through them all and will answer several of your questions here. Thank you for your input and suggestions! It is so very helpful to our Conference Program Committee.
Q: Why can't we have coffee all day?
A: Because it costs so much. At over $40/gallon you can imagine how much it would add up. We do provide it all 3 mornings and after lunch on all 3 days and during the snack break on Friday.
Q: Why doesn't MSHA have conferences up north? Traverse City or Mt. Pleasant?
A: MSHA used to have a conference every so many years in Traverse City. But the last time we were there we lost money. Why? Because driving up north in March is just too risky for many of our members - the majority of whom live in the Detroit metro area and lower part of the state. We will continue to consider Traverse City if we meet in April. However, many of you commented that you wanted MSHA to remain in March due to scheduling issues in your work settings. As for Mt. Pleasant, we also used to meet at Soaring Eagle, but our participants complained about the smoke from the casino which seemed to permeate our meeting rooms. Maybe we should try again?
Q: Why can't you schedule 10 minute breaks between classes?
A: We do try to schedule breaks in between classes where possible. However, if we did it for each class, we would whittle away part of the day which is now being used to accrue CEUs. According to our members, obtaining CEUs is the main reason they come to MSHA, and the more the better. That is also why we offer classes on Thursday evening. Many of you work during the day on Thursday and then come to the MSHA Conference after work and want to be able to get a class Thursday night. So that option is for them. Although we welcome anyone even if they've been in classes all day - you can always just say no!
Q: Why can't we have free parking?
A: Many hotels will not negotiate this partly because the host city may own the parking site. And let's face it - this is how cities make money. However, we will have free parking in Troy in 2017, Kalamazoo in 2018, and in East Lansing in 2019. And we know you value free parking and free wifi, and we keep this in mind when we negotiate.
Q: Why can't we have a separate room for Exhibits?
A: Most times we do - it depends on the hotel. Our exhibitors want to see people - they want traffic! We want the exhibit hall to be the hub of things - it helps our exhibitors and it helps MSHA Registration.
For more on this topic follow link to Ever Wonder Where Your Money Goes?
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Photos from the 2016 MSHA Annual Conference
Some Scenes from MSHA in Grand Rapids  The recent MSHA Conference in Grand Rapids saw a record crowd with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm for our wonderful speakers and topics, and for the future of MSHA! Click on the link below to see a photo album. Many thanks to all of our sponsors, attendees, and exhibitors.
To see more photos from the 2016 MSHA Conference in Grand Rapids, click here: MSHA Conference 2016 Photos
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