Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

July/August, 1998

Tenacious Tennessee Reaps Rewards From Professionals Week!!!
by Sharon Summers, TADE President

THE TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF DISABILITY Examiners has had numerous fund-raisers in the last year to prepare for NATIONAL DISABILITY PROFESSIONALS WEEK. We were determined to make this a memorable event for the agency. We also wanted to go beyond the routine coffee and donuts event. Since we were a newly reorganized chapter and had a small membership, we had a big job on our hands. We realized that in order to gain respect and to generate interest, we were going to have to do an efficient job, too. We prepared the agency by gently reminding them in memos all through the year that we were going to do this. Two weeks before, we sent out a memo giving them a sketch of what to expect for the week. One week before, we sent out a detailed schedule of the events of the week. The Friday before, we put up large banners in the elevator lobbies and had gained permission to use the Department of Human Services bulletin board in one of the main entrances. The bulletin board was decorated with appropriate artwork and displayed various Social Security Pamphlets and NADE Advocate issues including the one with Commissioner Apfel’s picture. We took everything into consideration, such as timing and even the color of the paper for the memos. We were complemented by many on our plans to bring recognition to our professionals.

The events of the week began with honoring our SUPPORT STAFF units with a beautifully decorated tin of Imported Danish Cookies and a decorated tag to wear on Monday. I was invited to speak to the Management Team that morning, also, about the events of the week at the request of my director, Mr. Carroll Moore.

On Tuesday, we had our Quarterly Meeting which was open to the agency. The highlight of the meeting was the very timely and appropriate message of our Deputy Commissioner, Ed Davis, who spoke on THE MEANING OF PROFESSIONALISM. Also in attendance was our Assistant Commissioner, Carl Brown, who gave us much applause and commendations for our efforts. We gave away a $25.00 door prize. I presented the recent NADE Southeast Regional awards from Raleigh to the following recipients: Tom Johns, Staff Person of the Year and Carroll Moore, Regional Service Award. The attendance was better than ever!

On Wednesday, we had our formal ADJUDICATORS’ RECEPTION. It was the first time ever that our professionals had been recognized and honored in this way. We decorated a large conference room with floral arrangements borrowed from different people in the agency. One person even made a large fresh floral arrangement for the reception table. We hung our chapter banner and a special banner about PROFESSIONALS WEEK over the reception table. We used many candles around the room. We had light, lively background dinner music playing. We had the entry decorated with a registration table which contained membership information, certification forms, a door prize basket, candles, floral arrangements, all the plaques that the chapter had won over the years, and a table displaying my gavel and my NADE membership certificate. There was also a “TOGETHER” banner displayed. As the guests arrived, I greeted them with a handshake and congratulated them on Professionals Week. We served vegetable pasta salad, cold cuts, assorted breads, gourmet spreads, sweetcakes, coffee and tea. We gave away 30 door prizes! Our Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner found time out of their busy schedule to join us again and they were so complimentary of our efforts. We had over 125 guests from the agency to attend. We were elated!!!

On Thursday, we had been given permission to grant a VERY SPECIAL CASUAL DAY just for the examiner level and above. This was a welcomed perk after such a busy week.

On Friday, we had our regular casual day, but we encouraged individual unit celebrations as deemed appropriate by regional coordinators and supervisors.

Since Professionals Week, we have received numerous compliments and letters commending our efforts including those of our Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner. Additionally, we have learned that our Deputy Commissioner used the $25.00 gift certificate we gave him to donate a book to the DHS Library in our honor. We also are anxiously awaiting the tally of new members as a result of our recruiting efforts. It is our hope that this experience will prepare us to one day host a Regional conference and then, a National conference. We also feel that we have made history for the chapter and have made significant strides toward a more respected, more dedicated, and more professional group of people.