President: Tim Lester
Vice President: Roberta Smith
Secretary: Adonis Parker
Treasurer: Lisa Sheppard
Membership Director: Maxine Thayer
Member at Large: Toni Good
ROBERTA SMITH President
My Mother and I moved to San Jacinto Valley in 2000 and have lived here ever since. My family has Waardensburg Syndrome, so of course we are a mixed bag. Some are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or fully Hearing. Actually I like to think of us as a marble cake. Since my Mother is Deaf but I am Hard of Hearing, it has always been our way that I would learn things and then teach it to Mother. This has been the traditional Deaf Way in our family going way back many generations. My Mother retired from her job and all her friends are very far away. Mother was so very sad but we met two other deaf ladies and started a Deaf Social. From Marybeth and Vicky’s friends, 20 Deaf folks showed up at our first Deaf Social and we once had 150 Deaf that came to one of our Deaf Social! For some odd reason, this group seemed to pick me as their mentor. I do not have any leadership background. I only graduated from our local college in 2006. When CAD first approached us to start a chapter in San Jacinto Valley, everyone was excited about it but none of us had a clue how to go about it. We were supposed to receive training but that never happened. We all rolled up our sleeves and have been learning as we go. Most of us have a strong Christian faith so our code of ethics has more or less been our guide. I travel quite a lot but folks can contact me at RobertaESmith@msn.com and I will get back with you as soon as I can. If it is urgent, please contact Maxine at mthayer56@tmail.com and she will pass on the information to where ever I am at the moment.
Blessings, Roberta Smith
MAXINE THAYER VICE PRESIDENT
My husband, Robert, and I moved to the San Jacinto Valley in 1980. When we first moved here there weren’t very many Deaf here, perhaps only 4. When I ran into my good friend, Marybeth, a deaf lady, she told me that San Jacinto Valley started a Pizza social. I had a chance to meet Marybeth’s friends, about 20 of them, and then I met more and more new Deaf folks in the valley because the local newspaper, The Chronicle, wrote an article about the Deaf Pizza social. It did not take long before there was standing room only! Everyone was gracious and gave up their seats after they ate so that the newcomers could have a place to sit and eat. We outgrew the first Pizza place and moved to a second Pizza place. We quickly outgrew the second Pizza place and moved to a third Pizza place. There are, perhaps, 200 or so Deaf folks now living in the San Jacinto Valley. We truly enjoy our Deaf Pizza social and feel blessed to be able to get together once a month. In 1992 my 2 friends, Cheryl and Don, asked Robert and me to volunteer at the Valley Restart program. While I worked in the office to help people that needed things—such as bus vouchers—Robert drove the van to take folks to the doctors, or drop folks off at the laundry mat and pick them up later, or just take them grocery shopping. We did this for almost 4 years when we transferred to the food bank program 11 years ago. Robert still works for the food bank and I help out at the Bread Basket to help feed low income people. My husband and I already were so very involved with the Deaf community here that it just seemed a natural progression to help CAD start up in the San Jacinto Valley. We have a strong faith in Christ and have been very blessed that we enjoy passing this blessing onto others.
Maxine Thayer Mthayer56@tmail.com
Toni Good Member at Large
My husband and I moved to San Jacinto Valley in September, 1999, before that we had been residents of San Diego County for many, many years. It was a pleasant change to come to this valley and the quiet living we experienced here. My husband, Gene is Hard of Hearing. We have been married for 21 years. I became involved with the Deaf community about 9 years ago when I was led to learn sign language. Being me, I jumped in with both feet and have not stopped since. I have attended Conferences for the Deaf in New Mexico, Arizona and California. I have served on the board for Pastor Leber’s Deaf Camp and now as a Member at Large on the Board of Directors for San Jacinto Valley’s CAD. I have taught Sign Language at my church for the past 7 years. It has been a very rewarding blessing. I have seen many students come and go and have seen many continue on to become involved with the Deaf Community, which is my goal. It makes me proud to be able to share what I know with others, to help bridge the gap so to speak. I became involved with CAD through our Deaf Pizza Social that I heard about from some of the deaf I had met. I have so enjoyed this opportunity through CAD to meet and set up community involvement for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Blessings, Toni Good
PAM MICHEL MEMBER AT LARGE
Pam Michel is a proud mother of 3 hearing boys, whom one is serving in the marine. One is in college; one is a junior in high school. Hemet, Calif. is where she has been residing since 1988 with her husband, Dave Michel. Currently she is a member of a Women’s Deaf club in southern California, Delta Alpha Sigma Sorority Alumni, NTID alumni, and this newly CAD San Jacinto Valley. Presently she enjoys the challenge of teaching American Sign Language at local colleges. In her spare time, fishing is what she enjoys. Distinguish Yourself Among the Deaf Supporters. (contact information needed)
