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This is the second in a pilot series of occasional ASHA Executive Director Update postings. Many thanks to those of you who provided feedback regarding the first one (2-27-04: overview of the ASHA National Office) and suggestions for future ED updates. This update focuses on the ASHA Action Center.
ASHA ACTION CENTER
This year the Action Center celebrates its 24th birthday. It originated in 1980 as a member benefit called Actionline through which ASHA and NSSLHA members contacted ASHA toll-free for information on ASHA's benefits and services. Today, ASHA's more than 114,000 speech-language pathologists, audiologists speech, language, and hearing scientists, as well as thousands of students, consumers, and related professionals use the Action Center as ASHA's toll-free port of entry. In one recent month, the Action Center received over 9,000 phone calls, and responded to over 2,000 e-mails and other correspondence.
Action Center's 11 staff members triage requests to either provide the information being sought or connect callers to the appropriate National Office staff member. They also provide real time processing of various requests and transactions, such as: - membership, certification, and certification maintenance status queries - name, address, or phone number changes - payment of dues, Continuing Education Registry fees, and Special Interest Division membership fees - access to practice policy documents and other resources in the members-only section of the ASHA Web site - information about member benefits - adding or changing journal selection(s) - registering for various ASHA-sponsored continuing education programs - ordering free products
Action Center staff assist consumers with referrals to ASHA-certified professionals who are listed in ProSearch (ASHA's Online Directory of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Programs), and send out brochures and other information on various communication disorders.
They assist students interested in the professions of audiology or speech-language pathology to receive free career-related information, and join or renew their membership with NSSLHA (National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association).
The Action Center is available toll-free: 800-498-2071 (members); 800-638-8255 (consumers) Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Eastern time; by fax: 240-333-4705; or by e-mail: actioncenter@asha.org. Bilingual Action Center Specialists are available to assist callers in Spanish.
NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF UPDATE
The following individuals are new to the ASHA staff since March 2004:
- Stephanie Austin - Administrative Assistant: Academic Affairs, Accreditation, Certification, and Ethical Issues unit
- Craig Cohill - Receiving Clerk: Facility Management unit
- Carrie Harris - Administrative Assistant: SLP & Audiology Professional Practices units
- Tiffany James - Product Sales Agent: Customer Service unit
- Ingrid Paradise - Travel & Scheduling Manager: Professional Education Service unit
- Beverly Wang - Research Assistant, Research Issues and Activities
Several staff have relocated or left ASHA for other opportunities since March 2004:
- Valerie Alexander - Director, Customer Service
- Mary M. Annett - Writer, ASHA Leader
- Pamela Miles - Brand Manager
- Kerry Stanley - Production Editor
- Brian Watkins - Accreditation Coordinator
Next Executive Director Update - the ASHA Website
Feedback please! Please let me know if such information is of interest to you and what other topics or information you'd like to see included in future Executive Director Updates.
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