21st Annual Statewide Convention
“Homeschooling on Purpose”
Key Note Speaker: Davis & Rachael Carman
June 17 & 18, 2011
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Last updated 20 June 11
Information will be forthcoming as it becomes available. Please check back for the latest.
We will be looking for any good, new or gently used homeschooling textbooks, reading books, educational games (with all the pieces), or other supplies for our Single Moms' workshop. They will be distributed first to our single moms, with the remainder offered to any homeschool families in need. All materials donated in past years were given to good homes with grateful parents. We appreciate the thoughtfulness of homeschoolers who have blessed many families with their books.
College Fair Friday 10am-12 noon
As has become traditional for the SCHEA Convention, we will be doing a college fair this year. Please keep checking the web site for names and links to those colleges that have verified they will be with us.
Great Opportunities for this Year
- Special Events for Leaders 1
- The first 250 families registered for the conference will receive a gift CD filled with $250+ free curriculum and coupons. To see descriptions of the items on the CD, click here
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- Thursday night: We will be offering three workshops, at 6:30 and 7pm – one for new homeschoolers, one for teaching high schoolers, and one on special needs. These are mini-workshops with some basic information in each of the three areas and are FREE for anyone interested.
- We will be offering outlines and/or handouts from every workshop this year. These book MUST be pre-ordered on your pre-registration form. Cost is $3.00.
THE FINE PRINT
1 Special Events for Leaders
- First, we are offering free Convention entrance for two leaders per Support Group or Accountability Association who are on the actual Board of Directors/Steering Committee of a SCHEA member group. We are also offering one free Convention registration for non-SCHEA group Board members. Free entrance offer includes spouse of the leader, but not the children’s program. Simply pre-register by the pre-registration deadline, noting "Free--Leader of ___ Group" on the top of the pre-registration form. Your registration will be assured.
- Second, we are offering a Leaders' Brunch on Friday from 10:00-11:30 with our featured speaker, Mike and Ronda Marshall for two leaders and spouses (or four individual leaders) who are on the actual Board of Directors or Steering Committee from each SCHEA member support group and accountability association or one leader (and spouse) from a non-SCHEA group. Brunch will be provided by SCHEA, but you must pre-register by the pre-registration deadline. Other leaders from your group are also invited, but we are asking for $3.00 each to help cover their costs. The Marshalls have “been there, done that” and will offer you lots of encouragement for your leadership journey. You will not want to miss the timely gems of advice they offer, as well as the fellowship with other leaders
- Third, Saturday 12:00-1:00 is the Leaders' Lunch/Town Hall with the SCHEA board. Home school leaders of all types are invited to this lunch. Two leaders per Support Group or Accountability Association of a SCHEA member group are invited free. We are also offering one free lunch for non-SCHEA group members. You must pre-register so we will know how many lunches to order. Home school leaders of all types are invited to take part in this discussion of pertinent questions. Leaders have until May 25th to submit questions they want considered for discussion, so that agendas can be printed for dissemination at this meeting to maximize usefulness of the time. You may submit your questions to SCHEA at schea2@sc.rr.com.
Registered Vendors for 2011
(Links open in a new window)
Location
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Coming from Columbia Take the US-76/US-378/GRANERS FERRY RD exit, EXIT 9A, toward SUMTER. Turn RIGHT onto US-378/US-76/GARNERS FERRY RD. Continue to follow US-378 E/US-76 Turn RIGHT onto SC-120/ALICE DR. Turn LEFT onto MILLER RD. USC will be on your right.
Coming from Myrtle Beach areaTake HWY 378 , Exit Highway 15. Go right under over pass to light, go right again onto South Pike West (frontage road). Go about one mile (bear left at BP station). There is a traffic light at BP -- this is Miller Road. Follow Miller Road, past YMCA, to USC Sumter on right.
Coming from the Low Country Take I-95 to HWY 378 to Sumter. Take HWY 378 Exit Highway 15. Go right under over pass to light, go right again onto South Pike West (frontage road). Go about one mile (bear left at BP station). There is a traffic light at BP -- this is Miller Road. Follow Miller Road, past YMCA, to USC Sumter on right.
Coming from the Upstate Take I-385 to I-26 E towards Columbia. Merge onto I-77 N via EXIT 116 on the LEFT toward CHARLOTTE. Take the US-76/US-378/GRANERS FERRY RD exit, EXIT 9A, toward SUMTER. Turn RIGHT onto US-378/US-76/GARNERS FERRY RD. Continue to follow US-378 E/US-76 Turn RIGHT onto SC-120/ALICE DR. Turn LEFT onto MILLER RD. USC will be on your right.
Fun and Educational Things to do in Sumter
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Speakers
Keynote Speakers
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Davis Carman is passionate about being a husband and father. He and the wife of his youth, Rachael, have been happily married since 1986. They live near Charlotte, North Carolina where they are raising their seven children. The kids range in age from 6 to 19 with two boys on one end, two boys on the other, and three girls tucked safely in the middle. The Carman family has been enjoying the adventures of the homeschool lifestyle since 1996 when God “got their attention.”
In June 2008, Davis purchased Apologia Educational Ministries - a leading publisher of creation-based science curricula, designed specifically for homeschoolers. Under Davis’ leadership, Apologia is expanding into other product lines including practical and inspirational books for the homeschool community (ApologiaPress). He introduced the ApologiaWorld™ e-newsletter in October 2008 and the first ApologiaLive™ conference event for homeschool moms in February 2009 in Baltimore. ApologiaAcademy started its first season in September 2009 with online courses in science, Bible, worldview, and apologetics. His ultimate goal, and the Apologia mission, is to help homeschool families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith.
Since 2002, Davis has served on the board of North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE), currently fulfilling the responsibilities of administrative vice president. He is also the North Carolina Ambassador for The Home School Foundation, which is a ministry dedicated to helping homeschool families in need. Davis is active in his local church having served in various capacities including Awana Commander, Sunday school teacher, deacon, and elder.
Rachael Carman is a wife and mother and she is passionate about both. Her journey into homeschooling included a bumpy start, but she is so grateful that God brought her to this place. She is thankful for the daily experience of His faithfulness and grace in this adventure of a lifetime.
Rachael has been on the board of North Carolinians for Home Education since 2002 where Davis serves as Administrative Vice President. A year later, she started Real Refreshment Retreats for homeschool moms. Rachael had the privilege to author a book for Focus on the Family in 2005 entitled Soundbites from Heaven – What God Wants Us to Hear When We Talk To Your Kids.
Rachael has enjoyed speaking and encouraging homeschool groups for over 10 years. It is her heart's desire to become all God has planned for her to be for His glory. She loves challenging others to dare living in reckless obedient faith. Rachael is quick to admit her many imperfections and share stories that highlight her shortcomings and the redemptive hand of Jesus Christ. Her humor will put you at ease, her honesty will surprise you, and her heart will inspire you to go deeper, stand firm, and be strong!
A Christian radio station manager had this to say about Davis and Rachael. “They have the unique ability of turning their personal experiences with homeschooling into encouraging lessons for all of us... and they are lessons that transcend homeschooling. They are about a life devoted to The Truth. God has used them to uplift, refocus, and teach many people, myself included."
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Featured Speakers
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Bob & Tina Farewell married in 1979 and began home educating with the birth of the first of their five children in 1983. Though they planned to do “school at home,” God intervened by rapidly growing their business, Lifetime Books and Gifts, allowing them to enjoy a lifestyle of learning and to travel, explore, read, think, and discover as a family.
After eighteen years of successful business and ministry, the Farewells sold their business to the Gus and Shirley Solis family to continue the Lifetime legacy. The Farewells continue with their calling and mission as speakers in the homeschool world and in other venues. They founded Bringing Dads Home, a business and ministry designed to help families succeed in their family, homeschooling, and entrepreneurial adventures.
Bob is passionate about not only his wife Tina, but about being in the woods, working with his hands, traveling, hunting, and fishing with his children; and about public speaking on many subjects.
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Misty Spinelli is a homeschool mother of six, ages 14, 12, 10, 6, 4 and 2. She and her husband Tony own Growing Scholars, in the Charlotte, NC area. She comes from a long line of educators and was herself a college professor of fine art and graphic design for over 8 years. Misty speaks at regional conferences, support group meetings, writes articles for newsletters and newspapers, and offers info meetings for beginning and potential homeschoolers every month.
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Fresh from a state tax audit to prove that yes, they're all ours, Hal and Melanie Young, authors of Raising Real Men, are parents of six real boys and two real girls. They have homeschooled through seven high-risk pregnancies, three re-locations, two decades, and 181 degrees of longitude. Hal and Melanie have published articles with Homeschooling Today, Homeschool Digest, the N.C. Family Policy Council, the John Locke Foundation, and the Heartland Institute. The Youngs live in noisy familial bliss in North Carolina. Hal and Melanie Young have been speaking about marriage, family, homeschooling, education policy, raising boys and much more for over ten years at events across the United States.
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Mike and Ronda Marshall are the homeschooling parents of six (ages eight to twenty-five) in Asheville, NC. They are completing their 16th year of homeschooling. Mike is an electrical engineer, working as an engineering consultant to the electric utility industry. Together they serve on the board of North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE), and have established and coordinated local homeschool support groups, e-mail groups, co-ops and conferences in their area. Ronda also has taught in co-ops and currently teaches in a homeschool tutorial program. She is the director of Biltmore Baptist Church Homeschool Ministry that serves over 200 families in western NC. Over the past few years they have had the privilege of speaking at various support groups and state homeschool conferences.
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Angie Bryant is a veteran homeschool mom and grandmother with over 25 years of experience. Her three boys are grown and graduated, but she is still homeschooling her 15 year old daughter. Angie and her husband were board members of North Carolinians for Home Education for 12 years and she leads a local support near Asheville, NC. As a trained Orton-Gillingham multisensory language tutor, Angie deals with many aspects of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, auditory processing disorders, and attention issues.
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Dr. David Powers began his career as a military paramedic but now works in counseling and the area of traumatic stress. He regularly conducts seminars and consults with both agencies and individuals on balancing the various aspects of life. He has written eight books and over 500 articles for newspapers and magazines.
He has travelled to almost a dozen countries in search of good coffee. While searching he has made it a goal to climb highpoints, especially the seven summits. Notable recent expeditions include Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa and Mt. Kosciuszko, Australia. Dr. Powers is professionally known as The Coffee Scholar, a business designed to create “authentic” coffee drinkers by introducing people to the experience as well as the taste of good coffee. He is also informally known as “the Indiana Jones of Coffee” because of his wide range of experiences and travels finding good coffee experiences all over the world.
He is a decorated veteran of both the Marine Corps and Army, and a founding member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Powers is also a certified genius and member of the Mensa Society. He is married and the proud father of three feral boys.
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Special Speakers
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Janette Babcock, a Certified Personality Trainer, enjoys teaching people to see the pluses in everyone's personality. She is married to her best friend, Rick. The Babcocks have homeschooled their daughter for 5 years.
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Deena C. Bouknight writes for national and international consumer and trade home furnishings, architecture, and decorating magazines, as well as for general interest and regional magazines. Locally, she writes for The State newspaper, Columbia Metropolitan magazine, and Reach Out Columbia.
She has completed two literary novels, Broken Shells and Playing Guy, both of which are represented by a literary agent. Deena has published one children’s book, Our Wintry Day Walk (Trafford), and was a contributor for Portraits of Grace: North Carolina Churches (Our State Books), Humor for a Sister’s Heart (Howard Publishing), and The Big Book of Christmas Joy (Howard Publishing).
She resides in Columbia, S.C., with her husband, Gary, adopted daughter, Madeline, and adopted son, Justin. She is the writing and literature instructor at Excelsior Academy and teaches and tutors privately in her home.
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Steven Cote is an admissions counselor at Francis Marion University. Steven is an energetic speaker and enjoys helping students successfully transition to the university life.
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Elizabeth Hartley is a scholarship coach and former scholarship judge. Using the same techniques covered in the book, she won scholarships that covered all expenses of her undergraduate and graduate education, travel abroad and summer internships. She lives with her husband and three children in upstate South Carolina. In addition to writing, Elizabeth teaches students how to find, apply and compete for scholarships through group seminars and personal coaching.
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Stacy Hill lives in Columbia, SC and has been married for 18 years to Jim. They have 3 children ranging from 10-16 years old. Her background is in education and she has been homeschooling for the past 11 years as well as handling the accounting for the family business. Over the past several years Stacy has been speaking to homeschool groups and women's groups on a variety of topics.
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Cynde Morgan has served as the Director of Academic & Disability Services (ADS) at Columbia International University since 2005. ADS provides academic support services for the student body and accommodations for students with all types of disabilities. She has worked at all levels of education in both public and private institutions as a counselor, school psychologist, coach, administrator, online course developer and cohort instructor. She has a B.S. in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and an M.S. and post graduate work in Counseling and School Psychology from Cal State University, Fullerton. She holds an active School Psychologist Credential in Virginia and consults with Christian schools in Europe and several other ministries in Vienna, Austria. She is married to Dr. Dennis Morgan and together they have two college aged children, Andrew and Heather, who they homeschooled K-12. Heather is currently a junior at Lee University majoring in Health Science, Fitness/Wellness emphasis and Andrew (Lee University, 2009, B.A. Humanities/Philosophy; NIU, 2011, M.A. Philosophy) will begin a Ph.D. in Philosophy at UVA in the fall of 2011.
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Board Speakers
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David Graham is SCHEA's current President. David is the husband of our secretary Leslie Graham, a father of five, grandfather of four and has been a home school parent for 18 years—the last 12 of which while in Columbia, South Carolina. David has functioned as a member of the SCHEA home school convention staff, in various capacities, for the past four years. David is the Southern District Manager for The Metro Group, Inc., a regional water treatment chemical manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Long Island City, New York.
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Lia Maltry is a homeschooling mother of three beautiful daughters 20, 15 and 11. She has taught public middle school, high school and community college classes. A veteran homeschooler of 16 years, Lia enjoys encouraging and equipping homeschool parents to be successful home educators. She is a SCHEA board member, Palmetto Education Cooperative director and leads the CAKE homeschool high school support group in Lexington SC.
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Karen Replogle and her husband, Chester, began their three sons’ formal education at home in Florida in 1997. Since then, they have taught them in Virginia, Arkansas, Germany, and, since 2005, South Carolina. Their eldest son is a freshman at Lander University. Outside the home, Karen has taught at various levels including undergraduate and graduate. She has served on the board of various local support groups, and been a convention speaker for SCHEA and in Germany. She holds a Masters’ in Human Resource Management from SUNY-Binghamton. Her hobbies include reading, writing, travel, and coaching soccer.
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Rachel Ward began home schooling her three children in 1990. She joined Sumter Area Family Educators and SCHEA that year and has been a member ever since. She has held offices in the Sumter Area Family Educators support group of Coordinator, Testing Coordinator, Field Trip Coordinator and Newsletter Editor. In 1996 she began Homeward Education Association, a third-option accountability association. HEA became a member group of SCHEA in 2004. Also in 2004 she became a board member of SCHEA. Rachel and her husband Phil live in Sumter and have one child still being home schooled. Rachel is SCHEA’s Building and Grounds coordinator for our annual state convention. She assembles information packets to give to legislators at Homeschool Day at the Capitol. Rachel also does workshops around the state, writes for the newsletter, and helps out at all SCHEA events.
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Schedule and Tickets
Schedule & Registration
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Friday |
| 9:30 AM | Registration begins and Vendor Hall opens |
| 10:00-12:00 | College Fair |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | Workshop 1 |
| 11:15 – 12:00 | Workshop 2 |
| 12:00-1:30 | Lunch (on your own or Food Court) and Shopping |
| 1:30 – 2:30 | Workshop 3 |
| 3:00 – 4:00 | Workshop 4 |
| 4:15 – 5:00 | Workshop 5 |
| 4:30-6:45 | Supper (on your own) and Shopping |
| Vendor Hall closes at 7:00 PM |
| 7:00 – 9:00pm | Key Note |
| Foyer Booths open until 10:00 PM |
Saturday |
| 9:00 AM | Registration begins and Vendor Hall opens |
| 9:15 – 10:00 | Workshop 6 |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Keynote |
| 12:00 – 1:00 | Leader’s Lunch |
| 12:00-2:00 | Lunch (on your own or Food Court) and Shopping |
| 1:30 – 2:30 | Workshop 7 |
| 3:00 - 4:00 | Workshop 8 |
| 5:00 | Vendor Hall closes, Convention ends |
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Preregistered Cost
per family
$40.00 -- Non SCHEA members per family
$15.00 -- SCHEA member per family
$15.00 -- Vendor hall only per family
Cost At the door
per family
$45.00 -- Non SCHEA member per family
$20.00 -- SCHEA member per family
$20.00 -- Vendor hall only per family
Children's Program (ages 5-12)
$10/child, max $25/family Must Pre-register
Volunteerswith 4 hours of work $15 off admission (does not apply to children's programs)
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Hotels
a/o 3 May 10
| Best Western | 1050 Broad Street, Sumter, SC, 29150 | (803) 773-8110 | Two Queens: $66.00 King: $66.00 |
Comfort Suites | 2500 Broad Street, Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 469-0200 | Two Queens: $95.99 King: $89.99 |
Days Inn Sumter | 2430 Broad Street, Sumter, SC | (803) 469-8400 | Two Queens: $70.00 King: $70.00 |
Econo-Lodge | 226 North Washington Street, Sumter, SC | (803) 775-2323 | Two Queens: $59.00 King: $59.00 |
Hampton Inn Sumter | 1370 Broad Street Ext., Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 469-2222 | Two Queens: $104.00 King: $104.00 |
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites | 2490 Broad Street Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 469-4444 | Two Queens: $107.00 King: $107.00 |
Quality Inn | 2390 Broad Street, Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 469-9001 | Two Queens: $85.00 King: $85.00 |
Sleep Inn | 2510 Broad Street, Sumter, SC 29150 | (803) 469-0500 | Two Queens: $85.49 King: NA |
Travelers Inn & Suites | 1210 Old Camden Rd, Sumter, SC | (803) 469-9210 | Two Queens: $90.00 King: $90.00 |
Workshops
2011 Workshop Descriptions (pdf)
Children's Program
Friday
9:45-12:15
1:15-5:15
6:45-9:15
Saturday
9:15-12:15
1:15-4:15
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Ages 5-12
Current Student Ministries is excited to provide the children’s programming at the SCHEA conference. Led by Barry Russell, youth pastor at East Lake Community Church in Irmo, SC, you can be assured that your children will be in a secure, encouraging, energetic and engaging environment. Barry and the Current youth leadership team will reinforce the teaching that children receive at home through high energy presentations of God’s Word, exciting music, team building games, and positive mentoring by dynamic young people. All that boils down to this; we want to show Jesus to the kids that attend our program and encourage them to do the same in every aspect of their lives. The CURRENT team will be using the proceeds from the children’s program to travel to Alabama and help rebuild the communities impacted by the Spring tornadoes. By signing your children up for the children’s program, you’ll have fun, they’ll have fun and you’ll help Current student ministries impact the lives of those in need.
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Teen Program
Although the teens will not be having their own separate program this year, there are special workshops during each session just for them.
- Why Don’t People Get Me? Janette Babcock – Possessing a keen understanding of your personality type is a good indicator of what makes you tick. This workshop will teach you how to identify your personality traits, your flaws, and your fortes. Knowing your personality traits helps you identify areas where you excel naturally and areas where you may need to compromise to reach your goals and communicate effectively. Janette is one of our special speakers.
- Doing Real Things, Hal & Melanie Young - Our culture tells teens that they are still children, but the Word of God and history show us otherwise. Why wait until you are 18 or 22 or even 25 and done with your education to start doing things that matter? Ready to be an adult? There is no reason teens can’t begin to impact their world just as young adults did throughout history. Come get real life examples and lots of ideas to help you resist the low expectations our society has of your generation and do real things for God and your world. Hal and Melanie are one of our featured couple speakers.
- Secrets to a Successful College Experience, Steven Cote – Getting into college is one step to a successful future. The next step is successfully completing your degree. Come learn what skills you need to start your college journey on the right foot and finish strong. Steven is one of our special speakers.
- Don’t Die While Learning to Live, Dr. David Powers - We all face turning points in our lives but never quite so many as during the teen years. Once we get older, there are so many paths that are set and only need minor course corrections as we move along. As teens though, small, seemingly insignificant at the time, decisions can have major ramifications. What if teens could be presented with a plan, a guideline of sorts to measure decisions by? What if they could learn to evaluate their choices with an eye on the future and not just the present? This presentation is intended to help teen attendees not only see the importance of the future, but the critical nature of living life with the end in mind. Dr. Powers is one of our featured speakers. Dr. Powers is one of our featured speakers.
- Internet Safety for Teens, Darlene Dellinger – Do you really know all the people on your facebook page? How do you know that email you received is safe to respond to? Could someone find where you live just by a picture you’ve posted online? Learn how to stay safe while having fun online. Darlene is one of our special speakers.
- You Can Transition to College Successfully, Cynde Morgan - This workshop will discuss the challenges of transitioning to college from a home school environment for both the general student population and students with special needs. We will discuss the importance of character in college success. We will discuss the resources that are available on most college campuses and how to advocate for those services. If you are a student who has or suspects yourself of having any kind of challenge, physical, emotional, learning, ADHD, we will discuss common accommodations that are available and how to qualify for those services. This workshop is intended for any interested high school student, not just juniors and seniors. Cynde is one of our special speakers.
- Writing Worries? Ten ‘No Sweat’ Tips for Teens, Deena Bouknigh - Deena is one of our special speakers.
- Miracle on the Hudson, David Graham – David is the current president of SCHEA. He is a survivor of US Airways flight 1549 that landed in the Hudson River, January 15, 2009. Come hear David’s story of this memorable day in his life.
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