DWNE Brief Herstory

During 1970s and 1980s, several staff from Gallaudet University Regional Center at Northern Essex Community College informally had hosted one day conference in Worchester, MA. to invite deaf women from New England for several workshops about women related issues such as fashion show, career change, self esteem, so forth.

Later in the decade of 1990s, Deaf Women of United, Inc. (DWU) had encouraged each state to establish its own chapter. There were only two chapters being incorporated by two New England states, MA and CT. However, DWU had decided to dissolve the state chapter due to federal tax exemption issue. At this present, there are some new and existing organizations changed their names from state chapters.

In past two states had hosted Northeast rather than New England regional conferences because there were some women attending from other areas in the Northeast region such as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Included are the MidAtlantic region such as Maryland and Virginia.

That is how the evolution of the New England Deaf Women's organizations had arrived at this point where the seed had been planted and grew over the past years. There is a consensus by Deaf women of New England to continue their next turn to host the regional conference upon their bid. The list of previous conferences are as follows:

March 21 - 23, 1997: Theme: "Deaf Women of the 90's Celebrate and Value our Diversity" at Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill, MA Co- Chairs: Stephanie Clark and Karla Beauty Key Speaker: MJ Bienvenu, "Deaf Women Versus ISMs" Entertainment: Eileen Forestal
April 9 - 11, 1999: Theme: "Woman's Passage to Wisdom" at Holiday Inn Select, Stamford, CT Co- Chairs: Cassandra Boryslawskyj & Alice Bianco Key Speaker: MJ Bienvenu, DWU President Entertainment: "The Reflection of A Black Deaf Woman" by Michelle Banks
	November 1 - 3, 2002: Theme: "Celebrating Accomplishments of Deaf Women" at Holiday Inn, Holyoke, MA Co- Chairs: Missy Boothroyd, Ruth Moore & Dennise Scott Key Speaker: Ivy Velez Entertainment: Performances by Deaf Women
October 29 - 31, 2004: Theme: "Love, Life, Laugher, Sharing the Wisdom of Our Experience" at The Inn at Mill Falls, Meredith, NH Co- Chairs: Connie Clanton & Linda O'Connell Key Speaker: Janis Cole, "Tapping Into Our Extraordinary Side" Entertainment: "The Unseen with" by Rosa Lee Gallimore
November 3 - 5, 2006: Theme: "Heart, Strength and Soul of Deaf Women" at Cliff House Resort & Spa, Ogunquit, ME Co- Chairs: Abby Bouchard, Diane Poulin & Brenda Schertz Keynote Speaker: Debra Cole, "Self Empowerment: Witnessed Around the World" Entertainment: "Menstruation Monologues!" by Loretta Roult, Joette Paulone & Pauline Spanbauer
	November 14 - 16, 2008: Theme: "Honoring Mother Earth, Cherishing Our Future" at Sheration Conference Center, Burington, VT Chair: Keri Ogrizovich Keynote Speaker: Shira Grabelsky Entertainment: "Deaf Night Life!" by Regan Thibodeau
November 5, 6 & 7, 2010: Theme: "The Sweet Getaway" at Heritage Hotel, Southbury, CT DWC Dream Team Keynote Speaker: Dr. Suzette Garay, "Discovering the New Your and Lovin It!" Entertainment: "Nutritarian" by CM Boryslawskyj & Alice Bianco	(Click on the above Program book for PDF)