New Maine Hearing Loss Support Chapter Wins National Award
The national organization Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) has awarded the Downeast Chapter of Maine the “Up and Coming HLAA Chapter of the Year.” The announcement was made on March 10, with the official award presentation occurred at the HLAA National Convention in Indianapolis this past June. Margaret Myatt accepted the award.
HLAA Downeast was founded in 2021 after Margaret Myatt and Pat Dobbs connected during a national HLAA convention. Sharing a vision for a support network for Mainers with hearing loss, they crafted a mission statement, built a website, and established key connections. Their vision became reality in 2022, when the chapter was officially formed and received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Since launching remote meetings in May 2022, HLAA DownEast has expanded to host in-person meetings and events across the state, including Kennebunkport, Portland, Augusta, Ellsworth, Bucksport, and Bridgton.
