The Sounds Sunsational convention in Orlando truly was the hot spot of the year for industry professionals.
Better than ever! Professionals from around the world gathered in Orlando August 25—29 for IHS’s 53rd Annual Convention and Exposition. 
This premier event carried the sounds of hearing health to the balmy lushness of Florida for a convention that ranks as one of our best. It was an industry-wide tribute to the important contributions made by both hearing instrument dispensers and manufacturers toward improved quality of life for the hearing impaired.
Neither wind nor rain…Hurricane Charley swept through Florida just days before the convention but, despite its devastating impact, the show went on as planned.
We’re listening. Based on suggestions from last year’s attendees and exhibitors, we modified the agenda to incorporate additional exhibit hall hours and to reposition some of the key events. As a result, the convention opened with a welcome reception in the exhibit hall and closed with the annual membership meeting.
This massive showcase of products and services represented the latest and greatest the industry has to offer. When the ribbon-cutting ceremony opened the way for entrance to the expo, hundreds of eager dispensers flooded the exhibit hall in search of the future of hearing healthcare. What they found were advancements in technology and service that provide new and innovative ways to operate their practices, enhance their profitability and, most importantly, better serve their patients.
The exhibit hall was open during a three-day stretch and there was plenty of activity to keep it humming the entire time. It opened with a beach party reception and closed with a flurry of last-second bidding at the Silent Auction. Prize drawings were held throughout the exhibition and we congratulate the lucky winners. Recipients of a complete registration package to the 2005 convention were Eugene Antonell, BC-HIS; Mary Lou Luebbe-Gearhart, AuD, BC-HIS, ACA; and Deborah Taylor, BC-HIS. Winners of a $50 cash prize were Ursula Fromm, BC-HIS; Kim Keller, BC-HIS; and Lloyd Musselman, BC-HIS, ACA. Michael Dehler, BC-HIS, was the big winner of $1,000 in cash.
The Silent Auction has an irresistible appeal for those savvy buyers who know how to shop for a good bargain. There are always unbelievable deals that make it one of the most popular attractions at every convention. Thanks to the many generous donations of items for auction, this year’s proceeds totaled $50,000. (This figure also includes monies from a live auction of MedRx equipment held during the membership meeting.) IHS President-Elect Neil Waingrow, BC-HIS, deserves special credit for his role in making this happen. His relentless efforts in soliciting donations and bidders bring this event to life year after year.
IHS has a long-standing reputation of excellence in education and this year’s seminars were no exception. Offering the very best in continuing education opportunities, the sessions covered a diverse range of topics of critical importance to the hearing healthcare professional. Taught by renowned experts, all seminars were carefully crafted to ensure a top-quality learning experience. For the first time ever, this year’s program was expanded to include a broader student population; new to the lineup were seminars designed specifically for the dispenser’s office staff.
The annual membership meeting is the official forum for discussing the issues of critical significance to the Society. It’s the place where members’ individual and collective opinions can be heard and addressed. Following are some of the agenda highlights.
In his farewell address, W. F. Samuel Hopmeier, BC-HIS, thanked the Board of Governors, IHS staff, the membership, his wife Pat and others for their support during his term of office.
Recapping highlights of his presidency, he cited his attendance at the graduation ceremonies for the inaugural class of Arkansas State University Mountain Home’s degree program in hearing healthcare and his visit with dispensers in Japan as among the most significant.
Hopmeier said he hopes his legacy will be the comprehensive volunteer committee structure he created. He reiterated his strong belief in the value of membership participation and that he had worked hard to ensure that members had a powerful voice in the Society’s activities. He noted that among the accomplishments of the respective committees were a revised Code of Ethics, extended ACA course availability, successful defense of the audioprosthologist title, adoption of a practice profile, the first president’s video for presentation to chapters and IHS’s first international convention scheduled for 2005.
IHS Washington Counsel Karen Sealander gave a comprehensive update on federal regulatory issues impacting hearing health. Her full report will be published in a future issue of The Hearing Professional, but following is a 12-item recap of the highlights.
ONE DOZEN POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN HEARING HEALTHCARE
On August 28, Harlan Cato, BC-HIS, took the oath of office to become the new IHS president. He had served as president-elect for the past two years.
Accepting the presidential gavel, Cato emphasized his availability to the membership and encouraged members to come forward with ideas and suggestions.
He briefly highlighted some of the goals for his two-year term. Listed among them are:
To raise funds for the Advocacy Alliance, President-Elect Waingrow conducted a live auction during the meeting. Many thanks to MedRx for donating the items for auction: one Ultra Vac, two DSM Pros and an AVANT. The winning bidders were Larry Taylor, BC-HIS; Denny Dingler, BC-HIS, ACA; Howard Hait, BC-HIS, ACA; and Howard Hait (again!) respectively. The total proceeds of $18,950 will be used toward IHS government relations activities.
The business meeting concluded in high style with a salute to Quebec City, the host locale for the 2005 convention. Festivities included drawings for $1,000 cash, donated anonymously, (won by Sharon Yordon, BC-HIS) and three nights’ complimentary lodging in Quebec City, donated by Starkey Canada, (won by Jeannette Hait, BC-HIS, ACA).
This kickoff provided an exhilarating preview of what to expect in Quebec and generated lots of excitement for next year. Quebec’s European charm makes it the perfect choice for a fantastic meeting experience. Be sure you’re a part of this history-making event, as “Sound Travels” across the border for our first truly international convention. Join us October 19—23, 2005 as we set off in a whole new direction!
