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Our History

The Story of Us...

The Founding of ARID

The story of the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (ARID) began in 1981, driven by a dedicated group of founders who sought to professionalize and support the interpreting community within the state. The organization was officially established by its initial board and incorporators: Daniel Burch, Barbara Northup, Robert E. Parrish, II, C.E. Schmeckenbecher, and Tommy Walker.

On July 1, 1981, the first formal Board of Directors was elected to lead the new association, with Ken Musteen serving as the inaugural President. From its early years, ARID focused on building a structured foundation for interpreters, quickly evolving its leadership to include specialized roles for secretaries and treasurers to better serve its growing membership. Since that time, ARID has remained a vital pillar for Arkansas interpreters, fostering professional development and advocacy for the Deaf community.

1981

ARID is Founded

The 1981 Initial Board and Incorporators

Daniel Burch, Barbara Northup, Robert E. Parrish, II, C.E. Schmeckenbecher, Tommy Walker

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1981 (1981-1983)

President: Ken Musteen (81-83)

Vice President: Barbara Northup (81-83)

Secretary/Treasurer: Eddie Schmeckenbecher (81-83)

1981-1983

1983-1985

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1983 (1983-1985):

President: Myra Taff-Watson (83-85)

Vice President: Zania Musteen (83-85)

Secretary/Treasurer: Gloria Kemp (Wright) (83-84; resigned 84)

Board Change

The Secretary/Treasurer position became two positions:

Secretary: Linda Stauffer (84-85)

Treasurer: Shirley Herald (84-85)

1984

1985-1987

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1985 (1985-1987):

President: Myra Taff-Watson (85-87)

Vice President: Zania Musteen (85-87)

Secretary: Linda Stauffer (85-87)

Treasurer: Shirley Herald (85-86; resigned 86)

Member-at-Large: Nancy Fairchild (Quinn) - 1 yr. (85-86)

Member-at-Large: Ira Gerlis - 2 yrs (85-87)

Member-at-Large: Karin Krebs (Binko) - 3 yrs (85-88; resigned 87 running for President

Board Change

Appointed July, 1986 (resignation of Treasurer)

Treasurer: Rob Parrish (86-87)

Elected July 1, 1986:

Member-at-Large: Shirley Herald (86-88)

Member-at-Large: Laura Nodurfth (86-88)

1986

1987-1989

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1987 (1987-1989):

President: Karin Binko (87-89)

Vice President: Myra Taff-Watson (87-89)

Secretary: Linda Stauffer (87-89)

Treasurer: Rob Parrish (87-89; resigned 88)

Member-at-Large: Betty Steed (87-89)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Shirley Herald (87-88)

Member-at-Large: Laura Nodurfth (87-88)

Board Change

Appointed June 1988

Member-at-Large: Shirley Herald (88-89)

Elected July 1, 1988:

Member-at-Large: Rhonda Cunningham (88-90)

Member-at-Large: Laura Nodurfth (88-90)

1988

1989-1991

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1989 (1989-1991):

President: Karin Binko (89-91)

Vice President: Linda Stauffer (89-91)

Secretary: Myra Taff-Watson (89-91)

Treasurer: Shirley Herald (89-91)

Member-at-Large: Zania Musteen (89-91)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Rhonda Cunningham (89-90)

Member-at-Large: Laura Nodurfth (89-90)

Board Change

Elected July 1, 1990:

Member-at-Large: Ira Gerlis (90-92)

Member-at-Large: Laura Nodurfth (90-92)

1990

1991-1993

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1991 (1991-1993):

President: Jan Sturdivant (91-93)

Vice President: Barbara Northup (91-93)

Secretary: Sherry Willingham (Shaw) (91-93)

Treasurer: Karen Palmer (91-93)

Member-at-Large: Sharon Rankin (91-94; resigned 93)

Member-at-Large: Linda Stauffer (93)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Ira Gerlis (91-92)

Member-at-Large: Laura Nodurfth (91-92)

Board Change

Elected July 1, 1992:

Member-at-Large: Betty Steed (92-94)

Member-at-Large: Kristy Schwall (92-94; resigned 92)

Member-at-Large: James Virgilio (92-94)

1991

1993-1995

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1993 (1993-1995):

President: Linda Stauffer (93-95)

Vice President: Jami Hollingsworth (93-95)

Secretary: Carolyn Snyder (Jolley) (93-95)

Treasurer: Laura Nodurfth (93-95)

Member-at-Large: Pamela Taylor (93-95)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Betty Steed (93-94)

Member-at-Large: James Virgilio (93-94)

Board Change

Elected July 1, 1994:

Member-at-Large: Priscilla DePrato (Brown) (94-96)

Member-at-Large: James Virgilio (94-96)

1994

1995-1997

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1995 (1995-1997):

President: Ray James (95-97)

Vice President: Carolyn Snyder (Jolley) (95-97)

Secretary: Dyna Pierce (95-97)

Treasurer: Penne Gailbraithe (95-97)

Member-at-Large: Paula Carpenter (95-97; resigned 9/95)

Member-at-Large: Lorette Mann-Dale (95-97)

Member-at-Large: James Virgilio (cont. 95-96)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Priscilla DePrato (Brown) (95-96)

Board Change

Elected May 1996:

Member-at-Large: James Virgilio (96-98; resigned 97)

Member-at-Large: Debbie Spiker (96-98)

1996

1997-1999

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1997 (1997-1999):

President: Jami Hollingsworth (97-99)

Vice President: Rebecca Leavell (97-99)

Secretary: Susie Williams (97-99)

Treasurer: Eddie Schmeckenbecher (97-99)

Member-at-Large: Julie Poe (97-99)

Member-at-Large: Dyna Pierce (97-99)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Debbie Spiker (continued 98-99)

Board Change

Elected July 1, 1998:

Member-at-Large: Shana Kirksey (Mile) (98-00)

Member-at-Large: Jim Barnes (98-00)

1998

1999-2001

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 1999 (1999-2001):

President: Susie Williams (99-01; resigned 00)

Vice President: Sharon Downs (99-01; moved to President position 2000)

Secretary: John West (99-01; moved to Vice President position 2000)

Treasurer: Jami Hollingsworth (99-01)

Member-at-Large: Lori Van Ornun (elected 99-01)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Shana Kirksey (Mile) (99-00; moved to Secretary position 2000)

Member-at-Large: Jim Barnes (99-00)

Board Change

Elected July 1, 2000:

Member-at-Large: Jim Barnes (00-02)

Member-at-Large: Jeanne Riggs (00-02)

Appointed October, 2000 (resignation of President):

President: Sharon Downs (00-01)

Vice President: John West (00-01)

Secretary: Shana Kirksey Mile (00-01)

2000

*Missing information from 2001-2003

2003-2005

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2003 (2003-2005):

President: Laura Walker-Arrington (03-05)

Vice President: William Gourm (03-05)

Secretary: Missy Mills (03-05)

Treasurer: Betsy Domingue (03-05)

Member-at-Large: Flint Fears (03-05)

Board Change

Elected July 1, 2004:

Member-at-Large: Karen Northup (04-05; resigned for VP position)

Member-at-Large: Sarah Wedaman (04-06)

2004

2005-2007

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2005 (2005-2007):

President: Debbie Woodroof (05-07; resigned 1/07)

Vice President: Karen Owens (Northup) (05-07; moved 1/07 to President position)

Secretary: Katie Becker (Gallaher) (05-07)

Treasurer: Amy Hebert (05-07)

Member-at-Large: Flint Fears (05-06; resigned 11/06)

Appointed July 1, 2005 (resignation of Member-at-Large)

Member-at-Large: Cheri Courtright (05-06)

Board Change

Elected July 1, 2006:

Member-at-Large: Gillian Swaim (06-08)

Member-at-Large: Cheri Courtright (06-08; resigned 01/07)

2006

2007

Board Change

Appointed January, 2007 (resignation of President and Member-at-Large):

President: Karen Owens (Northup) (07)

Vice President: Karin Binko (07)

Member-at-Large: Diane Hill (07; resigned 6/30)

Appointed March 2007

Member-at-Large: Pat Nickell (07-08)

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2007 (2007-2009):

President: Karin Binko (07-09)

Vice President: Raphael (Ray) James (07-09)

Secretary: Laney Yates (07-09)

Treasurer: Jami Hollingsworth (07-09)

Member-at-Large: Pamela Brannan (07-09)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Gillian Swaim (06-08)

Member-at-Large: Pat Nickell (07-08)

2007-2009

2008

Board Change

Elected July 1, 2008:

Member-at-Large: NeCol Wilson (08-10)

Member-at-Large: Pat Nickell (08-09)

Member-at-Large: Nikki Wentz Cherry (08-10)

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2009 (2009-2011):

President: Pat Nickell (09-11)

Vice President: Laney Yates (09-11)

Secretary: Jami Hollingsworth (09-11)

Treasurer: Elise Kirkpatrick (09-11)

Member-at-Large: Akeya Peoples (09-11)

*Continuing

Member-at-Large: Nikki Wentz Cherry (09-10)

Member-at-Large: NeCol Wilson (09-10)

2009-2011

2010

Board Change

Elected July 1, 2010:

Member-at-Large: Nikki Wentz Cherry (10-12; resigned 6/11 running for President)

Member-at-Large: NeCol Wilson (10-12)

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2011 (2011-2013):

President: Nikki Cherry (11-13)

Vice President: Laney Yates (11-13)

Secretary: Katie Becker (11-11; resigned 10/11)

Treasurer: Alvin-Bailon Zafe Haas (11-13)

Member-at-Large: NeCol Wilson (10-12; resigned 8/11)

Member-at-Large: Akeya Peoples (11-11; resigned 9/11)

Member-at-Large: Jamie Lane-Ross (11-13; resigned 1/12)

2011-2013

2011

Board Change

Appointed August, 2011 (resignation of Member-at-Large):

Member-at-Large: Sebrena Westcott (11-13)

Board Change

Appointed January, 2012

(resignation of Members-at-Large):

Secretary: Katelyn Wilson (11-13)

Member-at-Large: Wesley Porter (12-13)

Elected July 1, 2012:

Member-at-Large: Darlene Bagley (12-13)

Resigned September 2012:

Member-at-Large: Wesley Porter

(12-13; resigned for VP position)

Appointed September 2012:

Vice President: Wesley Porter (12-13)

Member-at-Large: Amanda Firth (12-13; fulfill vacated MAL)

2012

2013-2015

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2013 (2013-2015):

President: Cheryl Thomas (13-15)

Vice President: Anna Litchfield (13-15)

Secretary: Katelyn Wilson (13-15)

Treasurer: Alvin-Bailon Haas (13-15)

Member-at-Large: Glenn Anderson (13-15)

Member-at-Large: Jen Andrews Powers (13-14; resigned 2014)

Member-at-Large: Darlene Bagley (13-14; resigned 2014)

Board Change

Appointed December 2014

(resignation of Member-at-Large):

Member-at-Large: Chrystal Honorable (14-15)

Elected July 1, 2014:

Member-at-Large: Tironica Hamilton (14-15)

2014

2015-2017

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2015 (2015-2017):

President: Clint Brockway (15-17)

Vice President: Debbie Pearce (15-17)

Secretary: Chrystal Honorable (15-17)

Treasurer: Ashley Beaty (15-17)

Member-at-Large: Kari Houtchens (15-17)

Member-at-Large: Nelvia Agnew (15-16; resigned 2016)

Member-at-Large: Haleigh Herring (15-17)

Board Change

Appointed July 1, 2016

(resignation of Member-at-Large):

Member-at-Large:Michael McMahon (16-17)

2016

2017-2019

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2017 (2017-2019):

President: Katelyn Wilson (17-19)

Vice President: Cheri Courtright (17-19)

Secretary: Gwenyth Sutphin (17-19)

Treasurer: Nicholas Winchell (17-19)

Member-at-Large: Kari Houtchens (17-18; resigned 2018)

Member-at-Large: Ashley Beaty (17-19)

Appointed March 2017:

Member-at-Large: Michael McMahon (17-18; resigned 2018)

Board Change

Elected Sept. 15, 2018:

Member-at-Large: Mary Adams (18-19)

Member-at-Large: NeCol (Wilson) Whitehead (18-19)

*In 2018 removed the staggered terms of Members-At-Large (MAL) and changed to the election of all MALs to occur at the same time as the officers of the ARID Board of Directors.

2018

2019-2021

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2019 (2019-2021):

President: Meagan Beaty (19-21)

Vice President: Bobbie Ann Walker (19-21)

Secretary: Savannah Nellis (19; resigned Aug 2019)

Treasurer: Nicholas Winchell (19-21)

Member-at-Large: NeCol Whitehead (19-21)

Member-at-Large: Rhonda Read (19-21)

Member-at-Large: Bea Hogan (19-21)

Appointed September 1, 2019 (resignation of Secretary):

Secretary: Beth Smith (19-20; resigned 9/27/20)

Board Change

Appointed September 1, 2020 (resignation of Secretary):

Secretary: Ashley Beaty (20-21)

2020

2021-2023

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2021 (2021-2023):

President: Nicholas Winchell (21-23)

Vice President: Chrystal Honorable (21-23)

Secretary: Melina Rivera (21-23)

Treasurer: NeCol Whitehead (21-23)

Member-at-Large: Stephanie Ott (21-23)

Member-at-Large: Rhonda Read (21-23)

Member-at-Large: Aaron Johnson (21-23)

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2023 (2023-2025):

President: Nicholas Winchell (23-24; resigned 12/31/24)

Vice President: Nikki Cherry (23-24; resigned 12/8/24)

Secretary: Rhonda Read (23-25)

Treasurer: Donna Gibson (23-25)

Member-at-Large: Kyra Hawkins (23-25)

Member-at-Large: Jamie Lane-Ross (23-25)

Member-at-Large: Aaron Johnson (23-25)

2023-2025

2025

Board Change

Appointed January 1, 2025 (resignation of President):

Interim President: Sebrena Westcott (25)

Board of Directors Elected

Elected July 1, 2025 (2025-2027):

President: Karen Owens (25-27)

Vice President: Laura Arrington (25-27)

Secretary: Jami Hollingsworth (25-27)

Treasurer:

Member-at-Large:

2025-2027

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