Happy Holidays from the NAD!

[VIDEO] Happy holidays from all of us at the National Association of the Deaf!

We know lots of holiday greetings are exchanged at this time of year, but this video from our NAD President, Board and Staff is sure to put a smile on your face as you go about your holiday celebrations.

With your generous support in 2012, we accomplished a great deal! The NAD depends on your donations and support to fulfill our mission of preserving, protecting and promoting the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people. 

With your help, the NAD has been able to:

• Defend schools for the deaf
• Expand the right of deaf and hard of hearing people to drive with Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs)
• Promote the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in landmark court cases, such as against Netflix
• Protect the abilities of deaf and hard of hearing people to use traditional, text and video relay services
• Obtain captioning access in all areas including the Internet, television, airplanes, sports stadiums and facilities
• Host events like the NAD Conference (just this past summer in Louisville!) and our upcoming NTLC
• Shape young deaf and hard of hearing leaders of the future

Thank you for all that you do for the NAD and for your well-wishes as we close the chapter on 2012- and wow, what a great year it was! Looking forward to another wonderful year in 2013 with you! 

The National Association of the Deaf

P.S. Haven't had the time to find the perfect stocking-stuffer? A donation in someone's name to the NAD makes a great gift.
Get your gift now: http://www.nad.org/donate [2]

 

Thanks to Heather Grizzle, who commented on our Facebook page requesting a video description. The video description is as follows:

 

The video opens with a snowy appearance of the NAD logo and the words “Holiday Greetings” below it.

 

The NAD logo freezes over, and dissolves in a flurry of snow. The glittery gold words of "Holiday Greetings" fade away, and Chris Wagner, the President of the NAD, appears. In the bottom right corner, a NAD logo appears, and stays for the remainder of the video. Each Board Member appears with this NAD logo in the bottom right corner, with his or her name and Region in shiny gold letters to the left of the NAD logo. Chris Wagner signs: “Hello, I’m Chris Wagner, President of the NAD. On behalf of all the Board members and our families, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. The NAD will continue to advocate for your rights, and continue to support equal access for all. Again, Happy Holidays to you all!”

 

Melissa Draganac-Hawk, Vice President of the NAD appears in front of the LOVE sculpture in Philadelphia and signs: “Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!”

 

Kirsten Poston, Secretary of the NAD, appears and signs: “Hello, I’m Kirsten Poston, NAD Secretary. I’m wishing you happy holidays, and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!” and then waves the ILY sign in both hands.

 

Philippe Montalette, Treasurer of the NAD, appears in front of a Christmas Tree and signs: “Hello! My name is Philippe. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I want you to join the NAD – thank you!”

 

Margie English from Region I appears on an outdoor bench in D.C. wearing a silver coat and a NAD emblazoned scarf, and signs an ASL poem as follows: “Hands signing, hands flying through the air; Our hands are key to our culture and language; We must band together, one for all, all for one; To keep the hands moving, flying through the air; Our hands are key to our culture and language; We must band together, to preserve our language!”

 

Steve Lovi from Region I appears and signs: “Hi! I’m Steve Lovi, from Region I, wishing you a very Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all of you from us at the NAD.”

 

Richard McCowin from Region II appears with a santa cap and a NAD sweater, and signs: “Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!”

 

Michael Berger from Region II appears wearing a Santa cap and a NAD sweater, drinking from a white mug that has a black-and-white NAD logo on it with a black handle, then puts the mug down, and signs: “Hi! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!” Then he picks up the mug again, as if making a toast to the audience.

 

Christopher Patterson from Region III appears in front of a colorful Christmas tree and signs: “Hello! I want to wish all of you Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!”

 

Larry Evans from Region III then appears on the left side of the screen in a Texas-style cowboy hat and a red and green plaid shirt, signs: “Hello! My name is Larry Evans. We at the NAD wish you a Texas-sized holiday with your family and friends!” Then he tips his cowboy hat to the audience.

 

Julie Rems-Smario from Region IV is sitting in front of a Christmas tree and signs: “Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!” Then she waves the ILY sign in both hands and blows a kiss.

 

David O. Reynolds from Region IV stands in front of a Christmas tree in a black dress shirt and signs: “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!”

 

Tawny Holmes, Appointed Member, appears wearing a black NAD fleece sweater, slightly to the right of a Christmas tree and signs: “Happy Holidays!”

 

Joshua Beckman, Appointed Member, sporting a black NAD fleece sweater to the left of a Christmas tree, signs: “Hello! I’m Joshua Beckman. Happy Holidays!”

 

The screen fades to black, then the gold letters "THE NAD STAFF" appear to the left of the NAD logo in the bottom right corner.

 

Soon after, the screen shows NAD staff members gathered in front of a stone fireplace, including from left to right: Jerry Sears, Howard Rosenblum, Claudia Sussman, Andrew Phillips, Debra Patkin, Marc Charmatz, Donna Morris, Michael Pearlman, Shane Feldman, Tom Wells, Caroline Jackson, and Allie Rice, and they sign together: “Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from the NAD!”

 

Video ends with the NAD logo on a blue background, with the words "National Association of the Deaf" and the URL "www.nad.org" on the blue background.