Letter From the President

Greetings MNSHA Members!

What can be said about the most draining year many of us have had professionally? It’s important to begin by being honest. You are reading the introductory letter of a MNSHA president who truly wishes for a different kind of year. A kind of year that allows for togetherness, creativity and all the brilliance that can be seen in the speech-language pathologists and audiologists that are part of MNSHA. As a community and as a nation, we are struggling to find any extra ounce of energy to devote to our pursuits. This is why I feel so privileged to be writing a letter that was, frankly, difficult to compose. You are what provides me the hope and stamina to keep volunteering (along with a talented team of dedicated SLPs/AUDs). Without you in my world, I would just be taking a nap instead of thinking of how to connect with an audience that is, in all likelihood, exhausted.

As president, my goal is to continue striving for excellence, like the incredible volunteers who came before me, MNSHA is working tirelessly toward advancing our legislative agenda: licensing for SLPAs and joining the interstate compact are the top priorities. These initiatives will increase our capacity to do our jobs. This year, it’s easy to imagine SLPs who desperately need an SLPA to make their workload manageable. It’s easy to envision school districts and private practices filling their positions with tele-therapy options more easily by having a compact in place to make working across state lines simple. Our clients deserve to have professionals that are healthy and happy in their positions. The past few years have been especially hard for those we serve, and they are at the heart of what MNSHA is all about. Therefore, I’d like to continue the work towards deconstructing ableism, so that we may be better listeners and share insights with our colleagues that are rich, loving and challenging. How will MNSHA do this? By continuing to offer professional development, resources, collaborative opportunities and support at the drop of a phone call or email.

We are all suffering together through this current pandemic, but we are also held together with beauty and joy. Our profession brings so much compassion and heart to each and every session we engage in. There is a song I love by Cat Power, “We Can All Be Free,” that makes me think about what it means to me to be an SLP. There is a profound truth to the lyrics: “We can all be free. Maybe not with words. Maybe not with a look, but with your mind.”

Let’s all celebrate the freedom we have, together. You are part of MNSHA and you bring joy and hope to so many lives. We are stronger when we shine our combined lights on any issue. Thank you for being a part of the community that we all love so much.

With Joy and Love,
Stephanie Bordewick
MNSHA 2022 President