Northwest Indiana Deaf Organizations

Contact:

Northwest Indiana Deaf Club
P.O. Box 336
Griffith, Indiana 46319
dnwinews@sbcglobal.net

Black Oak Hearing Impaired Lions Club
2800 Fairbanks Street
Gary, Indiana 46406
BlackOakLions@aol.com

Signing Kids of Northwest Indiana
Sponsored by Northwest Indiana Deaf Club
nwisigningkids@yahoo.com

For membership information: see club history below.

NWI Deaf/Hard of Hearing Events


Events will be shown on the page at the link above.

History and Information

Northwest Indiana Deaf Club, Inc. (NWIDC) was formerly known as Hammond Deaf Club and founded by 7 people in 1947 and became incorporated as a non-for-profit organization in 1950. We will be celebrating our 60th year of existance in 2007.

NWIDC is an all around club, having business meetings, athletics, issue positions and monthly social events. The Social Events happen on the first Saturday of the month. From July-September, there will be no social events, due to holidays and athletic tournaments.

Over the years we have hosted bowling tournaments, basketball tournaments, softball tournaments and conferences. In the last few years, we have been extremely busy with hosting two consecutive regional softball tournaments (Central Athletic Association of the Deaf), in 2001 and 2002. We also had our softball team become CAAD champions in 2002. In 2003, We hosted our fifth Indiana Association of the Deaf Conference with Camelot Deaf Club.

We are on a slow pace after the years of activities, this does not mean that we are inactive when coming to our monthly Socal Events and Community Information. Our Business meetings are on the third Friday of each month.

We will not have our business meetings from June to August and December.

Our Social Events location is 3850 Howard Street in Hobart. Our doors open at 5:30 pm and admissons is for non-members: $3.00. Kids under 12 Free. There may be changes depending on events. See Deaf Events page.

Membership is $10 for new members, $20 for current and past members and $17 for senior citizens (age 60 and up).

NWIDC Officers: President Joanna Witulski, Vice President Scott Bradach, Secretary John Hess II , Treasurer Donald Witulski, Board Members - Jacob Hoogewerf & Dan Kriesel

Black Oak Hearing Impaired Lions Club, Inc. (BOLC) was established in 1986 and is an extended member of the Lions Club International organization.

Over the years we have hosted social events where we had presentations and invited deaf/hard of hearing technology companies to display equipment.

After a period of little activity, Black Oak Lions decided to reinvent their organization and place a new purpose and mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in Northwest Indiana.

More information will be coming.

Camelot Deaf Club, Inc. (CDC) was established in 1991 at Camelot Lanes in Hobart and became incorporated as a non-for-profit organization in 2000.

It is a sad note to inform you that CDC has officially dissolved in the first half of 2007. CDC has confronted the same problem that has been occuring nationally, lack of interested and active members. The number had grown smaller dispite our hosting large events that attracted people to the region. The CDC members had a goal that couldn't be realized due to the number of members. The recognized an issue that needed to be addressed - the deaf and hard of hearing youth. The funds from the club have been distributed to organizations that are committed to fostering youth and community development and leadership. The funds have gone to Deaf Olympics, Hoosier Bowling Classic, Northwest Indiana Deaf Club, Inc (for two specific areas) and Indiana Freedom, Access, Community, Empowerment and Support (F.A.C.E.S.). When we see the members of CDC, please thank them for the hard work they have done for bringing events to the area.

Over the years we have hosted bowling tournaments such as our Annual Classic, which is on the first Saturday of December and occaisionally the Hoosier Bowling Classic (HBC), which happens the weekend of Thanksgiving. In 2005, we hosted HBC in Stardust II on Route 30 in Merrillville.

We hosted our 11th Annual Camelot Deaf Club Classic on December 2, 2006. Northwest Indiana Deaf Club, Inc will continue hosting the Annual Classic. The Classic will remain titled as "Camelot Deaf Classic". Northwest Indiana Deaf Club, Inc., thanks CDC for the hard work they have done and for the effort to co-host the Indiana Association of the Deaf Conference in 2003.

We have hosted a regional tournament, Great Lakes Deaf Bowling Association, which draws approximately 450 bowlers every year, for the first time. The tournament was on April 15-17, 2005 and our headquarters were at the Radisson-Star Plaza in Merrillville. Men's bowling tourney was at Stardust II and Women's was at Plaza Lanes in Highland. Some folks asked us if we would be willing to host it again in 10 years! Thanks to our volunteers for helping us out!

In 2003, We hosted our first Indiana Association of the Deaf Conference with Northwest Indiana Deaf Club.