A Brief History of the CSS
The CSS was founded in Spring of 1992 by Melanie and Connie, who met through National Stuttering Project (NSP) members and self-help group founders Herb Goldberg and Jim McClure. Their first meeting was held April 1992. They chose Ravenswood Hospital because of its proximity to both their residences, and because of its easy accesibility to anyone in the Chicago area. Melanie was inspired to start the group by her growing interest in social work, and a general feeling that such a group was truly needed in Chicago. She and Connie believe, "Self-help is not a substitute for speech therapy but can compliment it." Indeed, they soon found that, "many participants had not had speech therapy, and those that had experienced therapy had done so via a wide variety of techniques." The CSS believes in cooperating with the NSP (as well as the National Council on Stuttering, Stuttering Foundation of America and other such organizations), but has always considered itself an independent group. Six years later, the CSS remains a dynamic, friendly presence in a now thriving self-help community. We maintain a core membership of a few faithful stalwarts, as well as many occasional friends and always-welcome new faces. Some Member Bios...
As a means of introducing visitors to the CSS' diversity in age, occupations and general backgrounds, here are some brief member biographies.
Connie (cofacilitator); age, 50s; occupation, speech language pathologist (CCC-SLP). Connie, one of the founding members of our group, lives on the north side of Chicago and works at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also currently involved in the highly lauded Head Start program where she focuses on helping kids with speech problems. She enjoys painting and spending time with her husband and two sons (oh, and their cats!). Connie says, "The CSS is a wonderful group of people. We have fun and get stronger all the time."
Melanie (cofacilitator); age, 30s; occupation, social worker/journalist. Melanie, another founding member, lives on the north side. She earned her MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996. She also has a BA in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana, which she completed in 1991. She enjoys cooking, exercising, music, and spending time with her 2 active and artistic cats. Melanie says, "Speech is only one part of your life. Live for the other parts as well!"
Ron; age, 60s; occupation, retired scientist. Ron, a long-time member and great resource for the group, lives on the north side of Chicago and is a retired microbiologist. Currently, he volunteers teaching computer skills to older people as well as assisting seniors for the Illinois Department on Aging. He is also seasonally employed as a tax preparation expert. He enjoys travelling, fishing and playing guitar. Ron says, "Question everything! For example, 'Is CSS to stuttering as the Eighth Street Bowling League is to bowling?'"
Dave; age, 30s; occupation, writer/editor. Dave, a member of the group since 1994, lives on the north side. He is currently Senior Editor at a marketing services firm in downtown Chicago. He earned his MA in English from Northern Illinois University in 1995. He enjoys books, writing, music, songwriting and very slowly learning how to create a Web site. Dave says, "The CSS has helped me learn about stuttering and offered me many invaluable opportunities to develop my social skills and even contribute writing and creative ideas."
Garth; occupation, attorney. Garth has worked in disability and elder Law in Chicago. He is an alum of DePaul University (undergrad) and the University of Illinois (law school). Before attending law school, Garth taught English for three years with the Peace Corps in Cameroon. His interests include geography, travel, sports (especially running, soccer, and golf), and literature.
Don; age, 60s; occupation, photographer. Don specialized in promotional
stills for feature films. His claim to fame is the shot of Macaulay Caulkin
screaming with his hands on his face in the hit film "Home Alone." Don also shot travel photography, primarily in the Middle East and Japan, and lived in American Samoa for two years. He holds an MFA in Film from UCLA. Currently, Don is trying to master PhotoShop on his new Mac and greatly enjoys photographing his first grandson and four cats!
Ed; age, 30s; occupation, computer engineer/consultant, entreprenuer. A member since 1998, Ed earned his BSEE in Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science from U of I at Chicago in 1989. He loves science, math, physics, programming and classic sci-fi. Ed also enjoys anime, table tennis and RC modeling. Quoth Ed: "We are not alone... CSS provides a community for the exchange of ideas as we struggle to remain fluent." 2003 New Year's Hopes and Resolutions
This year, we expanded our usual resolution request to include members' hopes. Here are the responses we received:
Ed says he resolves to continue working on his shop. He finally got the washroom finished down there - all in Railroad motif. And our daughters did a faux paint job on it so it looks like the walls were papered with old blue jeans. ~ Ed Korn (as relayed by his wife, Thelma Korn)
1) Hope and Dream: That Melanie and Dave will let me take care of their baby when they go out to dinner. I'm afraid this will only happen if we maintain absolute secrecy with regard to Gloria and Moe or they will use the grandparent trump and I'll never, ever get the chance (even though they are essentially very generous individuals). 2) My goal: Finish illustrating that bear book for preschoolers who stutter or give it up and move on to procrastinating about something else. ~ Connie Dugan
To focus on the here and now, and not worry about everything else. To enjoy life and my daughter! ~ Melanie Amin
I resolve to make the first year of my daughter’s life the best it can possibly be and to not lose sight of the ideas and techniques I learned in speech therapy now that I'm no longer in it. ~ Dave Miller
My resolution for the New Year is to get more exercise (how boring, right?)and to have more fun. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in everyday life that we forget to have fun! ~ Mary Close
When I encounter people I see and greet on a regular basis and don't know their name, I will ask them their name. ~ Ron Brown
1) Worry less about things over which I have no control. There's a Zen
saying that's sort of along the same lines and goes something like: "Change the things that can be changed, aceept those that cannot, and have the
wisdom to know the difference." 2) Be more assertive, particularly with speaking situations. 3) Practice regularly the techiniques I learned in speech therapy. 4) Be less critical of others (execept those in the Bush administration). 5) Volunteer some of my time for those in need. ~ Garth Lewis
1) To cut the fat in my diet, as my doctor recommends; 2 To lose 10 pounds; 3 To keep my house cleaner; 4)To improve my handwriting; 5) One or two others I can't share; 6) To make no %#@&! New Year's resolutions in the future. ~ Richard Stein
Well I hope to accomplish a lot of things. I think my #1 resolution will be to learn to relax. ~ Tim Gambacorta
