Grand Opening of the Apache ASL Trails
November 16, 2011
Tempe, Arizona — Tom Posedly, ADSCC Board Chairman, was the first speaker of 9 speakers at the Grand Opening of the Apache ASL Trails retirement building today and here is his speech:
"Looking back sixteen years ago, ADSCC with first President, Yita Harrison hosted a successful national conference for deaf seniors in Phoenix. Arizona is on the map! Thirteen years ago, I was elected chairman. I had black hair, now it's white. We met Erich Schwenker of Cardinal Capital Management seven years ago. ADSCC worked with Erich, Katie Voss and Judy Leiterman for the last six years from an idea to reality-this building.
Katie gave us a motto "No Meeting, No House". AZ Team still meets every month and emails the minutes to CCM. Together we survived the 2008 Great Recession with another motto: "I Can, I Can" like little choo-choo train story for children.
ADSCC's formal motto: "Banish Extreme Loneliness" is the main reason for this building. Without the use of American Sign Language (ASL) an easy two-way communication between the Deaf and Hearing with or without disabilities is impossible. Now this is history because this is the first time in Arizona's history that we, the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-blind seniors are the majority here in this very special building. For too long time the Deaf seniors were moved to other elderly facilities. Most of time it is one deaf with 200-400 hearing tenants. Here we have about 100 Deaf, HH, DB tenants with about 10 Hearing tenants. We are happy to teach the hearing tenants ASL.
Oooh, its nice to be a majority. Our manager can sign. Employees can sign. A doctor and 1-2 nurses can sign. We achieved the U.S. Consititution's "Pursuit of Happiness" for last years of our lives. Tenants tell me they are very happy here.
Ah, talk about money. I have folders for those who want to donate $100, $1,000, $10,000 or $100,000. Your donations will help us build a new 4-story Cooperative next door to East. This Phase 2 will have swimming pool and Jacuzzi plus all things we see and use here. All investors are welcome! Kudos to all involved from an idea to reality---this building. Thank you all!!"
Other speakers included: Dr. Atif Farooqi of Vista Medical Group, Deaf John Dickinson, Consulting Architect of Winter and Associates, City of Tempe Former Mayor Hugh Hallman, Ciity of Tempe Councilman Corey Woods, Jim Stabler, Vice-President of State Compensation Fund of Arizona, Randy Hale, AAT resident, Sherri Collins, Director. Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Michael Trailor, Arizona Department of Housing.
The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Erich Schwenker, President of Cardinal Capital Management of Wisconsin. He recognized building Architect of record, Paul Mickelberg AIA with Katherine Dibone, both of WSM Architects, Tucson, AZ.