DIVERSE DEAF CLUB OF NJ, INC
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History
DIVERSE DEAF CLUB OF NEW JERSEY, INC.
ORIGINATED IN MARCH 7, 1998
INCORPORATED IN MARCH 9, 2000
The purpose of this non-profit organization is to raise charitable funds – especially for deaf and hard of hearing people and to support organizations that help them, such as Deaf-Blind League of NJ, Senior Citizens Needs, NJ Deaf/Hard of Hearing Awareness Week and National Captioning Institute, at the time qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Revenue Code of 1954.
Alice Dionisio and Kathy Kady-Hopkins were the DDCNJ Founders.
Alice is deaf and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her work was primarily within the inner cities educating and setting up programs to meet the needs of the Deaf individuals who lived in poverty, were uneducated and without jobs. She was responsible for setting up much needed programs in mental health, job training, employment and educating hearing agencies on the local and state level. She received several recognition awards for her hard work and efforts.
Kathy Kady-Hopkins is hard of hearing. Her dream came true after challenged and prepared her entrepreneurship to establishing a business with her mother, Christine Sherwood, which would help Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals which is now called ASL Interpreter Referral Service, Inc., in Somerset. The ASL Interpreter Referral Service continues to grow and dedicated to explore new services and technologies that will continue to help the business to reach their deaf and hard of hearing community. She was nominated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2008 from the State of New Jersey and was recognized by President Bush in Washington, D.C., for Outstanding Management and Customer Service. Go to: www.aslirs.com
Why did the Founders form this club?
About in March 1998 Alice and Kathy are friends, saw the need of an organization that would draw many deaf and hard of hearing people in that area and neighbor towns for the purpose such as: get together to enjoy and meet new and old friends; learning any new programs in job training, employment and educate them; help other clubs or organizations; as well as playing games through the words of hands had been spread to the deaf and hard of hearing community. It then became meeting steadier; gathering monthly and we as the deaf people started formed it into an organization and elected our own officers.
How did DINGO game started?
Laura Schultz attended the Silent Oriole Club in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. She brought the game to get this club started with monthly event.
History of Presidents
1998-2002 Edward Chapland
2002-2006 Herbert "Bob" Burns
2006-2008 Dominick Figaro, Jr.
2008-2014 Jacqueline Ortolano
2014- Kevin Munn
2012-2014 DDCNJ Board Members
Jacqueline Ortolano, President
Kevin Munn, Vice President
Laura Schultz, Secretary
Barbara Prusak, Treasurer - June to August 2012
Michelle Busanic, Assistant Treasurer - June to August 2012
Michelle Busanic, Treasurer - September 2012
Victoria Bogdanski, Member-at-Large
Joseph Black, Member-at-Large
Philip DiMaio, Member-at-Large
Tim Golden, Member-at-Large
2014-2016 DDCNJ Board Members
Kevin Munn, President
Herbert Burns, Vice President
Paul Romano, Secretary
Michelle Busanic, Treasurer
Barbara Prusak, Assistant Treasurer
Victoria Bogdanski, Member-at-Large
Phil DiMaio, Member-at-Large
Tim Golden, Member-at-Large
Laura Muchnick, Member-at-Large
2016-2018 DDCNJ Board Members
Kevin Munn, President
Phil DiMaio, Vice President
Paul Romano, Secretary
Michelle Busanic, Treasurer
Barbara Prusak, Assistant Treasurer
Victoria Bogdanski, Member-at-Large
Mildred Burdge, Member-at-Large
Harry Herbert, Member-at-Large
Antonio Busanic, Member-at-Large
2018-2020 DDCNJ Board Members
Kevin Munn, President
Joseph Telese, Vice President
Paul Romano, Secretary
Michelle Busanic, Treasurer
Barbara Prusak, Assistant Treasurer
Antonio Busanic, Member-at-Large
Linda Telese, Member-at-Large
Joseph Musitano, Member-at-Large
Thomas Munn, Member-at-Large - June 2018 to July 2019
Phil DiMaio, Member-at-Large - July 2019 to June 2020