Christmas Party Update and January Meeting Information

Hello Everyone!

We had a great & fun meeting last night and missed those who could not come. Kyle Copeland of Copeland Family Magic provided some Christmas "magic" for us and he was great fun! He stopped our watches, tore a newspaper section into pieces and made it whole again, rearranged colored balls mysteriously in a tube, did some magical drawings, and had some AWESOME card tricks! He kept all of us well entertained and curious! I have asked him to come to our Christmas party next year!

We also had Nick Frantz with us from the Shopper News. He took pictures of our Christmas Party and gathered some information about our group. His article with pictures will be in the next edition of the Shopper News insert this Monday, December 15th and you will not want to miss it! The insert is in the Knoxville News Sentinel that is delivered in the West end of Knoxville. If you cannot locate the paper, you may view the article at their website at www.shoppernewsnow.com. Check it out!

Our next meeting will be January 8th, 2009, same time, same place. Mike Turner from GoAmerica will be speaking and demonstrating the new Mobile Video Phone (Purple MVP) that will make its debut in early 2009. You will not want to miss this! Transcribing services will be provided. Please mark your calendars and spread the word to others about this meeting. (I tried to change the date because it was so soon after the holidays but we'd have to get permission from the church, etc. so it is best to leave it as scheduled.)

Early registration for HLAA Convention 2009 in Nashville next June ends on December 31, 2008. If you have not experienced this convention, this is your chance. (You can still register after December 31st but the price will go up.) I look forward to it every year because it is so fun and informative and I am with "our people" - those who live with a hearing loss on a daily basis. Go to www.hearingloss.org and click on the Convention button on the LEFT for information and schedules. You can sign up for different packages, go for one day or all three. The registration does not include the hotel so you will want to keep that in consideration.

Again, thank you to all of you who are part of this group. I have some new ideas for 2009 so come prepared and ready! Have a great Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

HLAA Convention 2009

You are invited to:
Hearing Loss Association of America’s Convention 2009
June 18 - 21, 2009
Gaylord Opryland Resort
Nashville, TN

4 Great Reasons to attend HLAA
Convention 2009:

Education Program, including
workshops on Relationships &
Communication, Living and Working
with Hearing Loss, Advocacy and
Access, Hearing Technology, and
Young Adult Issues

Exhibit Hall Trade Show
**Free exhibit hall pass**

Research Symposium

Make new friends and get
reacquainted with old friends

For details, visit
www.hearing loss.org

Christmas Party Magic!

Hope this finds you all enjoying the holiday season with anticipation and HOPE! Our annual HLA of Knoxville Christmas party is next Thursday, December 11th at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1001 Ebenezer Road, Knoxville. I would like to start at 6:45 p.m. instead of our usual meeting time at 7 p.m. If you will be a little late, that is okay, too! Please bring a finger food or snack to share. 1st time guests will not be expected to bring anything - we just want them to come and feel comfortable! (If anyone can provide drinks or paper goods, please email Maureen Hinds or me at the email address on the top of this header.)

I also have some EXCITING NEWS! I have secured some special entertainment for the party and we will have a local magician perform a 30-minute show to give us some "magic" for the holidays! Kyle Copeland of Copeland Magic has graciously offered to do this for our group. He has a special heart for people with hearing loss. He worked as a lifeguard at a summer camp for deaf children during his high school and college years. He is currently the Vice President for the local chapter of magicians. If you would like more information about him, go here.

So, please bring your family and give him a warm welcome. Invite your friends to join us! And spread the word! He will start his show shortly after 7 p.m. and we will eat, drink, & be merry afterwards. :)

Laurie Pullins