|
 Our NSHA executive cabinet “met” Charlie in 2000, when we began working on a salary supplement for Nevada’s school-based speech pathologists. Our relationship and friendship with Charlie spanned six years and three legislative sessions.
Charlie was our “go to man” at ASHA. He had an answer for every question, proofread every piece of information we gathered and set out a framework upon which we built a solid case for our salary supplement legislation in Nevada. With Charlie’s knowledge, support and guidance, we were prepared for every meeting with our legislators, for each testimony we gave, and had the “fiscal impact” numbers or “bottom line figures” our legislators demanded.
Charlie’s encouragement for us never wavered. At one point in our legislative efforts, with four years of work and two failed bills pressing down on us, we questioned if we should try again. Knowing we would have another bill to draft and labor for two more years, Charlie helped us to push on and prepared us for our next legislative session. On the morning of June 6, 2005 when our bill passed, Charlie was the first one we notified. We know he was “hoopin and hollerin” with us!! That evening when a group of SLP’s gathered in Reno to celebrate, we turned east, raised our glasses, and paid tribute to Charlie! We would have never done it without him!
Over our six years of knowing Charlie, one special moment stands out….
On March 19, 2003, our bill was being heard before the members of the Assembly Education committee. Ours was the second one on the agenda, so our testimony began around 5:00 pm (PST), and lasted the better part of an hour. There were questions raised by Assembly members that we were unable to answer, but we gave them our word that we would gather the information and share it with them as soon as possible.
Later that evening I returned home to find an e-mail from Charlie…“Congratulations on a job well done!!” and the answers to the questions that were raised, plus suggestions on ways to present the information to our legislators!
Charlie had spent his evening listening to our testimony and gathering the information we needed. We were overcome with emotion.
Charlie was always there for us. He consoled us when we failed, supported us when our work appeared unending, and celebrated with us when our efforts were victorious.
When NSHA talks of “we” and “us”…this includes Charlie! He is our colleague, mentor, coach, friend and “guardian angel.”
We will miss you Charlie.
Warmly,
Nancy, Suzanne, Kathy, Chris, the NSHA Executive Cabinet and the members of NSHA.
(Nancy Kuhles, Suzanne Sawyer, Katherine Ross, Christine Verre)
|