About the Association of VA Audiologists

The Association of VA Audiologists (AVAA) is an employee organization that was established in 2001 to address the professional needs and concerns of audiologists within the Veterans Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The goal is to achieve and maintain the highest quality of patient care, training, and research by individual audiologists and the programs in which they are housed. It is also the purpose of the AVAA to promote Audiology within the VA and outside the VA at regional, state and national levels and to establish professional and working ties with other related governmental and/or professional groups.

AVAA By-Laws
Association of VA Audiologists By-Laws and Constitution
Amended March 3, 2011

The AVAA supports its members by:

1. providing educational opportunities for its members to keep them abreast of advances in technological developments affecting Audiology and its practice and to help meet CEU requirements,
2. providing a conduit for information on programs and policies instituted on a national level that may have local ramifications,
3. seeking consensus on significant professional issues,
4. recognizing outstanding achievement of its members.

The AVAA is one of three nonprofit organizations, along with the Association of VA Speech Language Pathologists (AVASLP) and the Military Audiology Association (MAA), that constitute the membership of the umbrella organization, the Academy of Federal Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (AFASLP).

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Frequently Asked Questions about Membership in the AVAA

WHY COLLECT VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP DUES?

BENEFITS OF PAYING VOLUNTARY DUES (or What's in it for me?)

WHY DO YOU WANT A NON-VA E-MAIL ADDRESS?

WHY JOIN NOW?

WHO ARE THE CURRENT AVAA OFFICERS?

WHO ARE THE PAST AVAA OFFICERS?

WHY COLLECT VOLUNTARY DUES?

Although the Officers and Committee Members of the AVAA are non-paid volunteers who contribute their time in running and guiding the organization, there are expenses incurred by the Association's activities. Various sponsors underwrite much of the cost of the annual meetings, however, other expenses such as legal fees, income tax filing fees (although AVAA is a non-profit organization, tax returns reporting income and disbursements still need to be filed), and website hosting fees are incurred in order for the Association to be able to pursue these educational activities. The voluntary dues will be used for these types of expenses that are incidental to the Association's primary activity of providing educational opportunities.

A second reason to collect dues is how the IRS views associations such as ours. As a 501(c)6 organization, our non-profit tax status depends on, among other things, demonstrated interest in, and support for the organization by the membership. One way membership interest in the organization is demonstrated is by the attendance at the annual meeting. Howeveranother way the IRS looks for membership support is in the willingness of members to contribute dues to the organization.

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BENEFITS OF VOLUNTARILY CONTRIBUTING DUES TO AVAA.

1) Knowledge that the contribution will be used to benefit an organization dedicated to the concerns of VA Audiologists.

2) While the voluntarily contributed membership dues are not deductible as a charitable contribution, they may bedeductible as a business expense. Please consult your tax advisor for further information.

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WHY DO YOU WANT MY HOME E-MAIL ADDRESS?

As an employee organization, we have limited use of government resources, therefore an alternate, non-governmentmethod of communicating with the membership is needed.

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WHY JOIN NOW?

Will there be a better time to show your support for Audiology in the VA?

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Current Officers

AVAA Leadership 2010 to 2011
	Jennifer Nalley, Au.D President, June 1st, 2011 – June 1st, 2012 Canandaigua VAMC Rochester OPC 465 Westfall Road Rochester, NY 14620 585-463-2600 ext 32567 E mail: Jennifer.Nalley@va.gov
	Chad Gladden, AuD/CCC-A Member at Large,  June 1st, 2011 – June 1st, 2012 William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital  2500 Overlook Terrace Madison, WI 53705 608-256-1901 ext 17788 E mail: chad.gladden2@va.gov
	Scott C. Forbes, Au.D., CCC-A, COHC Clinical and Rehabilitative Audiologist President-Elect, June 1st, 2011 – June 1st, 2012 Michael E. DeBakey VAMC 2002 Holcombe Blvd (126) Houston TX 77030 (713) 794-7112 E mail: Scott.Forbes1@va.gov
	Sherri Smith, AuD/PhD Past-President, October 2010 – September 2011 Mountain Home Audiology-126 PO Box 4000 Mountain Home, TN 37684-4000 423-926-1171, ext. 7569 E mail: Sherri.Smith@VA.GOV
	Sarah Draplin, AuD Secretary, October 2009 – June 1st, 2012 Ann Arbor VA Medical Center 2215 Fuller Road Audiology (126) Ann Arbor, MI 48105 E mail: Sarah.Draplin@VA.GOV
	Nancy Duran, AuD Treasurer, October 2009 – June 1st, 2012 Miami VA Healthcare System 1201 NW 16th Street Miami, FL 33125 E mail: Nancy.Duran@VA.GOV

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Past Officers

	President	Secretary	Treasurer
2009 - 2010	Rachel McArdle
2008-2009	Michael Valerio	Karen Stewart
2007-2008	Colleen Noe	Karen Stewart
2006-2007	Charles Martinez	Karen Stewart
2005-2006	Judy Schafer	Kimberly Barry
2004-2005	Robert Dunlop	Kimberly Barry
2003-2004	Denis Moore	Kimberly Barry
2002-2003	David Miller	Kimberly Barry
2001-2002	Douglas Noffsinger	David Miller
2000-2001	Gene Bratt

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