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Read about SUFU's History by monthly summary updates. Each page contains monthly summaries covering a 3 year timeframe. Follow the links at the bottom of each page to read about different years.
1997 January: Leaders clamor for support at the Legislative Awareness Day in Augusta.
1997 Spring: Speaking Up For Us is unraveling. Without the appropriate support, members have taken shortcuts, trust has been lost and the Board is no longer meeting. The Maine DD Council, Maine Disability Rights Center and the Project for Supported Living work with Speaking Up For Us and their allies to begin to put together a plan to rebuild the group.
1997 July: The Board meets for the first time in over a year. Goals and objectives are identified; members are elected; and an action plan created to get back on track.
1997 Fall: A contract is signed for the Project for Supported Living to provide fiscal and administrative support to Speaking Up For Us.
1997 - 1998: The Board meets quarterly and the officers meet at least monthly throughout the year.
* By laws are rewritten and adopted.
* The group is reincorporated.
* The Board is rebuilt.
* Representatives attend the National TASH conference in Boston
* Eight representatives attend the National People First Conference in Anchorage Alaska.
* Maine presents at a TASH - New England conference on self determination in Newport, RI.
1998 June: The Board holds its annual retreat in Bangor. New goals and objectives are developed and an action plan put in place.
1998 September: Board representatives attend and volunteer at the Advocates in Action conference in RI.
1998 October: A Statewide conference ‘Tools for Taking Charge’ is once again held at Sunday River for over 250 self advocates and supporters.
1998 November: Self advocates hire a second advisor, part time, Gayna Cook
1998 Autumn: Speaking Up For Us representatives help form the SABE Regional Leadership network, which will meet twice a year to share ideas and brainstorm grassroots strategies.
1998 December: SUFU presents at TASH in Seattle about rebuilding our group.
1999 January: The Board holds a training for new members and a Board meeting in Bangor.
1999 Spring: SUFU representatives attend the SABE Regional Leadership Retreat.
1999 May: The Board holds an annual planning meeting to determine its goals for the coming year, which are incorporated into the 1999-2000 contract
1999 June: Region One host ‘We Want To Work’ Regional meeting hosting speakers from Social Security, Department of Labor, Personal Services of Aroostook, Job Coach Director, and Adult Education as well as self advocates from around the County
1999 August: Self advocacy leader Paige Barton Dies.
1999 September: BDS continues employment of Dixie Leavitt as liaison to SUFU for the Office of Consumer Affairs
1999 September: Representatives attend and present at the Advocacate in Action conference in Rhode Island.
1999 October: Over 250 people attend the annual SUFU conference ‘I’m talking are you listening’ at Sunday River. Participants come from all over New England. The first Paige Barton Award is given to Dixie Leavitt
1999 December: SUFU presents at the annual TASH conference in Chicago.
You are on the 1997 - 1999 Timeline, follow the links to read more