IHS's first convention outside the U.S. proves a rousing success

The International Hearing Society took a gamble when it decided to hold its 2005 Annual Convention and Expo in Quebec City, Quebec. After all, despite its name, IHS had not held any of its 53 previous conventions outside the United States, especially not in a city where English is a second language. What's more, since Quebec City is two or three flights from most places in the U.S., IHS had to worry about how many American members would skip this year's meeting. Of course, the organization's leaders also knew that Quebec City had a lot going for it. A charming and historic destination unlike any other, the capital of the Province of Quebec is the oldest city in the Americas north of Florida and the only walled one. Add to that, IHS's many active Canadian members, who could be expected to be drawn to the first meeting on their own soil, and there was reason to hope the gamble would pay off. Pay off it did. Turnout at the October 19–22 meeting was the largest in several years. But, even more striking were the palpably greater energy and excitement felt in the seminar classrooms, in the exhibit hall, and at the closing banquet, which featured a spectacular performance by Cirque de Québec. One member told The Hearing Journal, “This was the best IHS convention since I began attending in 1991. I spoke with many manufacturers, and each had a new outlook on IHS as a progressive association. One manufacturer told me, ‘IHS is back, loud and strong.’ He can't wait until next year's meeting in San Antonio.”Figure: During the closing night banquet, the Cirque de Québec presented an exciting showfeaturing acts like that by the daring trio shown at top right. Before the show, performers in the troupe mingled with IHS members, including Neoma Kenwood (cutting the rug at left). Note, most of the photos in this article appear courtesy of the International Hearing Society.FigureFigureCANADIANS DISPLAY STRONG SUPPORT As anticipated, the Canadians in IHS came out in exceptionally large numbers to take advantage of their long-awaited chance to host the event. More than 130 Canadian members from all 10 provinces descended on Quebec City, the largest turnout ever. But perhaps what added most to the attendance and to the spirit of the meeting were the more than 200 French-Canadian hearing professionals from the Province of Quebec. Very few belonged to IHS, at least when the meeting started. Rather, except for the students, they were members of l'Ordre des audioprothésistes du Québec, or, in English, the Order of Acousticians of Quebec, which had agreed to combine its annual meeting with IHS's. In the province, the only people permitted to dispense hearing aids are acousticians who have graduated from the demanding 3-year program at Rosemont College in Montreal. Practitioners are required to belong to the Order and to attend its annual meeting. Everywhere they went, including the exhibits, courses, and the banquet, the members of the Order and the students from Rosemont College stood out, and not just because they were speaking French. They also brought a youthful freshness to the proceedings, which enlivened it for all. All told, about 375—more than half—of the over 700 paying attendees were Canadian. Somewhat over 300 American members, about the usual number, made it to Quebec City. In addition, there were about 20 other internationals, most of them from the organization's Japanese chapter. The several hundred exhibitors, staff, and guests brought the total to about 1000. AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR It was more than the setting and the large Canadian attendance that made this year's IHS meeting a truly international event. For the first time ever, the educational program included courses given bilingually, once in English and once in French, by faculty from Quebec. During his presidential address, Harlan Cato, BC-HIS, said that one of his primary goals is membership development, including reaching beyond the United States and Canada. As was noted at the annual business meeting, IHS representatives have met with leaders of hearing healthcare organizations in several countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland. Awardees from around the world Some of the major awards presented at this year's meeting honored members from outside the U.S. The organization gave its prestigious International Empowerment Award to Haratsura Tanaka, whom Cato described as “an ambassador for spreading hearing care around the world.” Tanaka, a dispenser in Japan, attended his first IHS Convention in 1987 and has been at all but one since. He organized the first Japanese delegation to come to IHS, and was the founding father of the Japan Hearing Aid Society, the first IHS chapter outside North America.Figure: Kathy Harvey, BC-HIS, MA, and Jerry Goldstein, MD, signed books during the Meet the Authors session.Figure: Scott Austin, BC-HIS, former IHS president (left), with Tani and Bill Austin, the first couple of the Starkey Hearing Foundation and Starkey Labs.Figure: As usual, IHS's chapter in Japan was well represented at the convention, led by its president, Haratsura Tanaka, fourth from left.In accepting the honor, which had previously been awarded only to Jerome Goldstein, MD, Tanaka thanked “the people who gave me a lot of guidance and encouragement.” Canadians received both the annual awards presented by the industry trade journals. The Hearing Journal gave the Joel S. Wernick Award for Excellence in Dispenser Education to Ted Venema, PhD, of Kitchener, Ontario, a gifted teacher, speaker, and writer who has been prominent in IHS educational activities for many years. Venema recently became director of the new hearing instrument sciences program at Conestoga College (in Kitchener), which he helped get off the ground. John Letts, BC-HIS, of Saskatoon, Sask., received The Hearing Review's Professional Leadership Award. As governor for the Canada territory and secretary of IHS, Letts has effectively promoted the organization and hearing healthcare in Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Recently, he helped lead a cooperative effort by the Canadian Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons to publish a consumer guide to hearing loss. Letts also presented an honorary life membership in IHS to John Roberts of Edmonton, Alberta. Roberts, who was the Canadian governor for 9 years, spearheaded the initiative that led to creating the hearing instrument specialists program at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, the first such program in English. In accepting the award, Roberts said, “We owe a great debt to this organization.” Americans did capture one major honor, the Chapter of the Year Award, which went to the Hearing Healthcare Providers/California. The chapter then donated the $1000 that accompanies that honor to the Alliance Fund. The Alliance Fund was also the beneficiary of the annual auction, which raised about $45,000 and included bidding at the business meeting on high-tech equipment donated by MedRx. Washington report In keeping with the convention's setting, Karen Sealander, attorney with McDermott Will & Emery, IHS's long-time Washington counsel, began her report with several sentences in fluent French. Then, switching to English, she explained to listeners the importance of belonging to and supporting their organization.Figure: John Letts, left, received the Professional Leadership Award from Karl Strom, editor of The Hearing Review.Figure: Ted Venema, left, received the Wernick Award from Jerry Laux, publisher of The Hearing Journal.IHS, she said, “acts as your advocate, protects your profession, and fights for your right to practice.”Figure: IHS President Harlan Cato awarded the International Empowerment Award to Haratsura Tanaka.Figure: Among the key contributors to the successful convention were, from left, Cindy Helms, IHS executive director; Claude Forest, secretary of l'Ordre des Audioprothésistes du Québec; and Susan Stewart, IHS program manager.Figure: John Roberts, left, who was awarded lifetime membership in IHS, with John Letts.Sealander listed 12 positive developments that IHS had helped produce in recent years, starting with its success in persuading the Food and Drug Administration to give up its plans to rewrite the Hearing Aid Rule, which could have threatened the role of the hearing instrument specialist. Recognition asked for Clowers The business meeting offered a period during which members could raise any topic they wished. One who spoke was Kathy Harvey, BC-HIS, MA, a former president of IHS. She said she was “dismayed” that IHS had done nothing at its convention to honor Robin Clowers, BC-HIS, who was president and then executive director for 14 years until stepping down at the end of 2004 because of illness. “Robin dedicated her life to us and to our profession,” said Harvey. “Our society needs to do something to show adequate appreciation.” Cato said he would speak with the board about taking appropriate action, and asked all present to express their feelings in writing on large posters that would be given to IHS's former leader. HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR SAN ANTONIO The enthusiastic response to this year's convention came as a welcome change after some much less well-received recent meetings. Cindy Helms, who became executive director of IHS last January, told HJ, “The feedback has been incredible.” Even weeks after the convention was over, she said, “Kudos are still coming in. People are saying things like, ‘The best in 10 years’ and ‘the greatest convention I've ever attended.’” Now, she said, the challenge is to identify what made the 2005 meeting such a hit and do it again in 2006. Harlan Cato, the president, urged everyone in Quebec City to tell their friends and colleagues back home what they had missed. And he asked them to send the message that next year's meeting, to be held October 18–22 in San Antonio, will be just as great. PETER MECI REMEMBERED IHS took time during its annual business meeting to honor Peter Meci, BC-HIS, of Middletown, NY, a long-time leader of the organization, who had died of cancer just 9 days earlier. He served three terms as IHS governor and was treasurer for many years. He was also a former president of the New York State chapter. One of Meci's major contributions to the organization was starting the Advocacy Alliance, which raises money for advocacy and legal representation on issues of importance to IHS members. Samuel Hopmeier, BC-HIS, who led the tribute, recalled how Peter and Bette Meci, his wife, had conducted a laugh therapy session during the 2003 business meeting in St. Paul, MN. The Mecis believed strongly in the benefits of laughter and were certified laughter leaders. James Ogurek, BC-HIS, the current treasurer, described his predecessor as “a man of honor and enthusiasm,” while John Letts, BC-HIS, governor for Canada, remembered his “smile and helping hand.”

Fetched live from OpenAlex and de-inverted. Abstracts are not stored in this database: the inverted indexes are 8.6 GB of the frame’s 9.3 GB of text, and the host has 13 GB free.