Greater Atlanta Voice Masters welcomes you
to our official web site!
For over 40 years we have been serving the needs of laryngectomees in the Atlanta area with support, information, training and fellowship. We meet on a regular basis in the Emory area. For over 40 years we have been serving the needs of laryngectomees in the Atlanta area with support, information, training and fellowship. More about: About Us
February 28, 201010 Year Anniversary
Ten years ago in February 2000, just two years after we moved in US I was diagnosed with throat cancer. Only someone who was touched with cancer through his own experience or has had a family member diagnosed with cancer know what it means. In addition we just moved here and we were far, far away from being settled on the new continent. I sat and spoke with my wife Ljerka and we figured out that we have a serious job to do. We were both scared, but I promised her that I will fight for my life, for us and our children. She promised to me that she will do everything to support me. More about: 10th Anniversary
January 30, 2010Web site redesign
We are working on the our website redesign. In the next few weeks we will have completely redesigned site with the new contests. By visiting our website you will be able to sent you send the questions about laryngectomy and speech rehabilitation after laryngectomy surgery to the Atlanta's medical professionals. On the new website beginning your questions will be answered by Dr. William Grist, Emory Otolaryngologist and Meryl Kaufman, Speech Language Pathologist.
Dr. Grist is specialized in Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery with more than 30 years of experience. Dr. Grist specialized in Bronchoesophagology (Breathing and Swallowing); Head and Neck Cancer (Head and Neck Neoplasm); Laryngology.
Meryl Kaufman of the the Emory Voice Center, Emory Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist with specialization in swallowing disorders and head and neck cancer.
January 9, 2010Atlanta Head and Neck Cancer Coalition, Inc.
We received a letter from the group of Atlanta volunteers dedicated to fight head and neck cancer. This is the same group of medical professionals and other volunteers which has been involved in the Yul Brynner Head and Neck cancer Foundation and The Georgia Chapter of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. The goal of Atlanta Head and Neck Cancer Coalition is prevention and early detection head and neck cancer. First big event will be The Screening Pit Stop on the Nascar Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 6th and 7th 2010.
More about:AHNCC
November 25, 2009The IAL Cookbook is now available
The IAL cookbooks have been published and some copies are available for purchase from the IAL office. We are selling the cookbooks for $10.00 each plus an additional $1.00 each for shipping and handling (if you are in the United States). If you would like us to ship the cookbooks to an address out of the United States, please send an e-mail with your shipping address. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we can send you a quote on the shipping and handling. The cookbooks would make a great hostess gift or holiday gift.
More about: IAL Cookbook
August 26 2009The Summer Story
First yellow and brown leaves are falling down from the trees and students are going back to school. This means that summer is almost over. GAVM summer break will also end soon and we will come together to our September meeting. I hope that everyone will bring good summer stories and nice pictures to share. I will do it too, but I can not wait until September to tell you my summer story. So, I'm using web guy privilege and posting my story here. But if you have interesting stories and pictures please e-mail it to me and I will post it for you. We have enough space for everybody.
More about: The Summer Story
August 13 2009Our new home is St. Joseph's Hospital
I am happy to inform all of you that I have secured a meeting room for us at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta. I feel this is going to be much more convenient place to meet for the majority of us. I am meeting with them next week to see the rooms and get all the information. St. Joe's does have a big Cancer Survivors' Network which I am excited to be partnering with them.
We will have our September Meeting at St. Joseph's on September 10th at 7:30.I will keep you all updated when I find out where the rooms are located. I do know that parking will be free for us so no worries there.
Best Regards,
Janice Hayes
August 1 2009GAVM is now homeless
Our president, Ms. Janice Hayes, received a fax from the Emory which said that we will not be able to use Budd Terrace Building, which was our usual meeting location, any more.
If you have idea about a new GAVM home please e-mail Janice.
Please visit us again and we will try to post new information about our new location and our next meeting schedule.
June 11 2009June 2009 Meeting
Our guest speaker at June 11th meeting was Eva Lukkonen from Emory. Eva is completing her fellowship at Emory and she will be staying in the Atlanta area. She works with Meryl Kaufman CCC SLP. Eva is also an opera singer and we hope she will join us for next GAVM party.
More about: June 2009 Meeting
May 16 2009E-mail from Virginia
Janice,
Patsy and myself got home here in Radford, Virginia about 8:00 last night.
It was a long trip for 2 days but I think Patsy and myself learned more in
the 3 hour Mini Voice than I learned in a long time.I don't know if we were
supposed to come there for your club meeting but I sure enjoyed it and
learned a lot.I wish there were more of these close by so more
people could benefit from them.Alma put a Lary Button in and I really like it
and I am going to check with the speech therapist I go to to change my prosthesis
and see if she can get a rep to come visit her and show her different things that is
offered to people like us.
I do want to thank you and Alma and the others that got this together because you
will never know what this has meant to me and my wife.I hope you pass this on to the
the other people and your club members of how much we appreciate you all letting us
come down.If in the future you all do another one I would love to attend again.
God bless all and thank you again,
Gary Sparks
Radford,Va
Dec 2003
May 14 2009Mini Voice Institute
The GAVM had the first Mini-Voice Institute and it was a huge success. Over 40 people were in attendance. I want to thank all the professionals that gave us their time and talent. So many new Laryngectomees had their voicing problems resolved whether they used an electrolarynx or TEP to speak.
More about: Mini Voice Institute
April 29 2009Mini Voice Institute Program
May 14th 2009 starting at 4:00 PM - at Wesley Woods Terrace (Emory Area)
4:00 - welcome by Janice Hayes, president GAVM
4:10 - introduction of speakers and program by Alma Owens speech pathologist
4:20 - Pulmonary Hygiene, Meryl Kaufman speech pathologist
4:35 - First workshop Artificial larynx. Kathleen Presgrove, speech pathologist, Gary Abbott, Scott Brooks
5:00 - Second workshop Esophageal Voice
5:15 - third workshop Tracheoesophageal voice and hands free speaking. J Trad Wadsworth MD, Inge Thomas PhD Speech Pathologist, Gary Abbott, Inhealth Technologies, Scott Brooks, ATOS Medical
6:15 - dinner and visit vendors
January 14 2009My first hospital visit
On January 14th, I was given the opportunity to visit a new member to the "Lary club." Being a relatively new member myself (have had my laryngectomy on October 31st 2008) I didn't hesitate to accept the invitation extended as I know, rather, WE know just how scary joining this club can be.
More about: First Visit
December 7 2008GAVM holiday party
The Christmas party went off without a hitch and was a lot of fun for
all who attended. We had one new couple attend and several of us old
ones. The new couple are Sharon and Craig Rhodes. Sharon has only been a
"Lary" for about three months at the time of the party.
More about: Xmas Party
November 18 2008"Lights, Camerca, RELAY!!!
With a kickoff celebration at the Claremont Presbyterian Church on November 18th the 2009 season of the DeKalb Adams Relay For Life has been opened.The Relay will be held at Adams Stadium on Friday, May 15 - Saturday, May 16 from 7 pm to 7 am.
More about: Relay for Life Kickoff
October 25 & 26 2008October Screening - big success!
The Georgia Chapter of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (formerly the Yul Brynner Foundation) once again implemented a huge free head and neck cancer screening at the Atlanta Motor Speedway during the NASCAR weekend of October 25-27, 2008.More about: Head and Neck Screening
May 11 2008Sunil Kaphai has passed away
Our active member Sunil Kaphai passed away on May 11th 2008. In the last few months Sunil fought again against cancer. A few weeks ago he just finished chemno therapy.
Sunil Kaphai was a very active Voicemasters member in the last few years. He was always ready to step out in front of the microphone and sing with an electrolarynx, or to show tricks with play cards at our parties, He enjoyed socializing with another club members a lot, and always participated in our Relay for Life team. We will all miss him a lot.
Sunil funeral is on Tuesday, May 13th at 4PM at Wages & Son, 1040 Main St, Stone Mountain. GA.
April 29 2008Relay for Life fundraising
Greater Atlanta Voice Masters participates in Relay for Life 2008. Our goal is to have ten team members and we have already six team members. Please join out team and help us to raise money for the American Cancer Society to fight back against cancer. If you want to make a donation go to our team's page and click on the name of our member which has invited you to join Greater Atlanta Voice Masters Relay For Life team.
We would like to invite you to join us and be a team member of the Greater Atlanta Voice Masters at the Adams Stadium, North Druid Hills Rd, on May 16, 2008. You will gain an unforgettable experience.
December 15, 2007Our former member Peter Zecher has passed away
It is with great sadness that I have to report that long time Greater Atlanta Voice Masters member Peter Zecher passed away after a two year battle with cancer on December 14, 2007.
Peter moved to Florida about 5 years ago after he retired from Lockheed. Peter had been an engineer and worked on the L1011 and when they retired the L10ll, Peter decided that he would retire also.More about: Peter Zecher
December 7, 2007Free Cancer (Screening) at Atlanta Motor Speedway
The Georgia Chapter of the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation sponsored its third screening event at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday and Saturday October 26-27, 2007. Over 70 people made the trek south to Atlanta Motor Speedway to volunteer their time and efforts to screen the fans of the NASCAR Truck Race Series. 208 people took advantage of the opportunity to be screened for oral and head and neck cancers at this event.More about: Free Cancer Screening
August 3, 2007Our former president David Kilgo has passed away
Our former president and lovely member David Kilgo lost his last battle against cancer. He passed away on August 2rd 2007. Next day viewing was held at the Hastings Funeral Home in Jackson, GA. Hundreds of people came to say farewell to our David and give a hug to Barbara Kilgo, which is a survivor support hero. Just remember the 2003 IAL meeting in Atlanta.
David is greatly missed, not just by his family, but all that knew him.More about: David Kilgo
July 14, 2007Our Tina Long has been elected president of IAL
It is great honor for GAVM. On the IAL?s 56th Annual Meeting
In Burlington, VT our member Tina Long has been elected to the IAL president, and our president Janice Hayes has been elected to the IAL Board of Directors.
Tina Long has her laryngectomy in 1998, and after that her put in numerous hours speaking to schools, all age groups. Her participated in a "Health Day Seminar" for high school students each spring for 3 years, and met with laryngectomy patients pre-op and post-op since 1999.
For 9 years Tina has been involved with the Greater Atlanta Voice Masters, and she is currently the GAVM treasurer. She has also edited our Newletter Happy Talk from 2004 to 2006.
Congratulations Tina!!!
May 17, 2007Relay for life '07
The Relay for Life at Adams Stadium was a great time for our GAVM team this year. We had perfect weather. Our tent was decorated with hearts and our team motto was "Have the Heart of a Survivor." It was wonderful to have so many of our GAVM members at the Relay this year. More about: Relay for Life
May 10, 2007Yul Brynner Survivor's Banquet
The Yul Brynner Survivor Banquet on May 10th was a wonderful evening of fellowship and celebration. The head and neck cancer survivors who attended and the doctors, nurses and speech therapist all shared a delicious meal together. Alma Owens, Speech Pathologist at Emory, was the master of ceremonies. More about: Yul Brynner
March 23, 2007Relay for Life 2007
Greater Atlanta Voice Masters has completed team for Relay For Life 2007. We have ten team members and we have already raised $365.00.
If you want to make a donation go to our team page and click on the name of our member which has invited you to join Greater Atlanta Voice Masters Relay For Life team.
Thanks a lot!
March 17, 2007Yul Brynner's Head and Neck screening
Months of planning for the Yul Brynner Head and Neck cancer Foundation screening at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, was in full swing at the dark and cold dawn of March 17th. Board members from the Georgia chapter of the Yul Brynner Foundation planned the day under the direction from the Hapners. Edie Hapner, speech pathologist at the Emory Voice Center, and Howard, her husband, again arranged our tent. More about: Yul Nascar>
March 8, 2007Yul Brynners statement
Twenty two years ago, Yul Brynner, dying from lung cancer, made a television commercial that said, "Now that I'm gone, I tell you: Don't smoke, whatever you do, just don't smoke." Brynner was very much alive in January, 1985, when he made this statement on ABC's Good Morning America. But after he died in October of that year, he got his wish. The resulting public service announcement remains one of the most memorable antismoking statements ever made.
Watch the Yul Brynner PSA
March 8, 2007Laryn-Cowboy: You Don't Always Die from Tobacco
Greater Atlanta Voice Masters is active in educating young people about the dangers of smoking. Our members, which are cancer survivors, visit Metro Atlanta schools and talk to students. These events are always well attended with students sharing in the discussion.
Late last year the following video was uploaded to Youtube.