Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Happy Holidays From NOSSA!!!


NOSSA - National Organization Of Short Statured Adults is wishing everyone a very happy holiday season and best wishes for a wonderful new year. Thank you for your support in 2010 and we look forward to 2011.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

NOSSA 2010 Annual Board Meeting

NOSSA Board of Directors at the 2010 annual meeting reaffirms commitment to oppose bullying, cosmetic hGH use, and height discrimination. For more information, please visit www.nossaonline.org

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Republican House candidate Sean Bielat

Massachusetts Republican House candidate Sean Bielat believes that men under 5 foot 2 do not have a right to serve in the United States military. Check out this article @ Click here. Contact Bielat @ http://www.seanbielat.org/

Monday, October 18, 2010

UC Berkeley Students Need Your Help!

Survey: Bus Safety & Accessibility

Dear NOSSA,

We are students at UC Berkeley taking a business course in new product development and working on a team semester project focused on bus transit safety and accessibility. The goal of our project is to develop a product that improves bus interiors for all passengers in particular riders of short stature.


We are currently doing a user needs assessment to understand the opportunity for a new product and we were wondering if it would be possible to ask for your experiences and perspectives as bus riders.



We have included a few survey questions below. Feel free to answer any or all of them.



Thank you in advance for your time. Your opinion is valuable to help us design our product.



Lynn, Hiroki, Jeni, & Kelly




Survey Questionnaire

First Name:
Age:

Gender:

Height:





How do you usually get around?



On what occasions do you take the public transit bus?



What do you like about taking the bus?



What about dislikes?



Where do you like to sit or stand when you’re taking the bus?



What do you do when it's crowded?



How do you feel public transit buses meet the needs of people of different heights?



How does that affect you?



Describe how you resolve or work around the difficulties you encounter on the bus.



How satisfied are you with these solutions?



What do you think would help your situation?



What are some other situations you find yourself in that are difficult because of your height?



How do you deal with those situations?



What was your worst experience on the bus? How did you react to that experience? (in bus and later) What do you hope bus company to do not to have similar experience again?



Any other comments:



Thank you!

To participate, send us your responses by clicking here.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

www.healthyworkplacebill.org

Please join NOSSA in supporting this outstanding grassroots organization @ www.healthyworkplacebill.org/ It is time our lawmakers took action to STOP all forms of workplace bullying!!!

LPA Declares October National Dwarfism Awareness Month

Little People of America has declared October, National Dwarfism Awareness Month. For more information, please click here!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Show your support for NOSSA

NOSSA is looking for volunteers who are willing to help us in our efforts to support short statured people. If you are interested in helping out, contact us @ www.nossaonline.org

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

NOSSA News

The annual board meeting is coming up. All NOSSA members are invited to attend. For more information regarding the meeting log-in to the members section on the NOSSA website.

The NOSSA documentary is currently in production. We expect it to be completed sometime in late 2011. The documentary will feature NOSSA and our work in support of short statured people.

Members in the NY/NJ area interested in attending a support group get in touch with us. Members in the NY/NJ area interested in joining our social group get in touch as well. This is a great way to connect with other people.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Jimmy Aus Trunk and Road Show -- July 19-21 in NYC

Designer Short Men's Clothing Collection Makes a Stop in New York City

Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under of Beverly Hills is having their first ever trunk and road show in New York City during men's fashion week.

Proudly, we will always be a short men's shop, but it would be an even greater honor to one day have a chain of stores for short men nationwide. Beverly Hills, CA
July 8, 2010

For three days only, from July 19 to the 21, Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under (www.JimmyAus.com) is holding their first ever East Coast trunk and road show featuring the nation's only designer clothing collection specifically developed for shorter men. Mr. Au seized the opportunity to have the trunk and road show in New York City when it was announced he would once again be honored by MR magazine at their Uptown Downtown Awards Reunion Banquet during Men's Fashion Week. Mr. Au and the store were one of the original recipients of the prestigious award its inaugural year for having catered exclusively to shorter men. Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under continues to remain the nation's only designer men's clothing store catering exclusively to men 5'8" or shorter.

Mr. Au's client base in New York City is the largest outside of Southern California. While many customers do fly out to Los Angeles to shop in their Beverly Hills boutique, some cannot and instead, rely on the store's special "goodie" package system that entails a range of requests along with appropriate fashion suggestions to complement their choices. The trunk and road show would allow customers to view a larger portion of the collection in person and also to try on various items in adjacent sizes to get the best fit. For potential new made-to-measure buyers, it would be a chance to have their measurements personally taken by Mr. Au himself.

The trunk and road show will feature clothing designed by Jimmy Au himself, along with fashion essentials procured by Mr. Au that pass his strict quality standard of fit, fabrication and design. The collection available for viewing include suits, sport coats, leather jackets, casual jackets, dress pants, dress shirts, casual pants, premium denim jeans, sport shirts, polo shirts and shoes. The collection is the largest of its kind.

Alan Au, the owner's son and client relations manager says "The trunk show provides an opportunity for potential customers to see and feel what its like to have clothes that fit properly. The frustration of not finding clothes that fit can affect your psyche and overall attitude. Men eventually stop looking and accept their fashion fate. We hope to offer a solution to the savvy shopper that cares about the way he looks."

He also says. "We can't make a man taller, but we can make him look taller. That's our secret. Whether you're 5'2" or 6'2" all men seem to want to look taller. Perceived height is very powerful. It creates confidence, increases self esteem and allows others to focus on you and not your height. The goal sometimes isn't even to look taller, but to make height a non-issue by looking proportionate; something we achieve with the design of our clothes. It's why we've provided wardrobe on over 30 prime time shows in the last 4 years. It's also why we're on the list in Forbes Top Ten Clothing Stores for Men."

It's also why they're being honored by MR magazine, the menswear industry's leading trade publication. Mr. Au and the store are being recognized for its pursuit of designer clothing for shorter men, Au's own short men's clothing collection, exceptional depth and breadth of inventory, and customized shopping experience. Jimmy Au only designs clothing for short men, and Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under is the nation's only short men's designer clothing store.

MR magazine's annual Uptown Downtown Awards only recognizes the very best menswear retailers in the United States and Canada who have demonstrated achievement in innovative store concepts and are doing exceptional things in different aspects of selection, style and service as chosen by a panel of industry veterans and MR magazine. As the title suggests, some winners are classic stores (Uptown), some winners are contemporary stores (Downtown), and some are retailers who are successful at combining both (Uptown Downtown). Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under was awarded for being able to achieve both classic and contemporary styles within their unique retail strategy in their highly specialized niche.

When asked for the main reason the store was chosen, Karen Alberg Grossman, MR's editor-in-chief, said "The store is unique among its peers with an unusually large amount of merchandise manufactured specifically for the store and its customers, rather than chosen from the market."

The small, independently owned Beverly Hills-based boutique was nominated for several reasons including convincing and helping famous designer manufacturers like Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and DKNY to develop their clothing collections to include more sizes for short men. Jimmy Au now also has his own short men's clothing and sportswear collection. Au is also popular among other menswear stores for taking on hard to fit shorter men because his store boasts the largest size selection for short men in the country. Suits and sport coat sizes start at 34 extra short, short rise casual and dress pants start at a 28 waist, dress shirt sizes start at a 14" neck in a 30" sleeve and sportswear sizes start at an extra short/extra small. And if it weren't mysterious enough already, why there aren't more stores for short men, the customer service and shopping experience at Jimmy Au's feels unusually comfortable and inviting… if you're under 5'8". Perhaps it's because the entire store is scaled down, including the mannequins.

Grossman called Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under "an exciting store that manages to go above and beyond in terms of offering top quality clothing and outstanding service to men 5'8" and under. This store is very special and one of a kind; definitely different from all the rest. This is an often-neglected niche in the market, and by working with upscale vendors to properly scale down their sizing specifications Jimmy Au has done a service to the entire industry."

"I feel validated among my peers in the menswear industry. I'm very grateful to be here and honored to be included among such magnificent retailers," said Jimmy Au, owner and designer who began catering to short men in 1975. "Proudly, we will always be a short men's shop, but it would be an even greater honor to one day have a chain of stores for short men nationwide."

His son, Alan, who initiated the recent move to Beverly Hills, further added, "It feels great to see my dad be recognized by his peers among such innovative and established retailers. This award is a testament to what my dad has been developing and expanding since I was a kid. It's great to see his work get acknowledged by the menswear industry. He's worked very hard to create and develop better fitting menswear for shorter men that taller men have long taken for granted."

Media Contact: levine communications office Shannon Donnelly 310-300-0950 x245

About MR Magazine Uptown Downtown Awards:

90+ retailers will be honored at this year's 5 year reunion event including 14 lifetime achievement winners in Mario Bisio of Mario's, Dick Braeger of Garys, Izzy Ezrailson of Up Against the Wall, David Fisher of Bloomingdales, Cliff Grodd of Paul Stuart, Gerald Gushner and Kent Gushner of Boyds, Tom Kalenderian of Barneys, Saul Korman of Korrys, Jack Mitchell and Bill Mitchell of Mitchells/Richards/Marshs, Harry Rosen and Larry Rosen of Harry Rosen, Wilkes Bashford of Wilkes Bashford. Honorees include AK Rikks, Akira, American Rag, Andrisen Morton, Ascot Shop, Atrium, Barneys, Base, Bauman's, Beecroft and Bull, Bergdorf Goodman, Boyds Philadelphia, Butch Blum, Caruso Caruso, Circa 2000, Clubman, Coffman's, Cuffs, Darien Sport Shop, Duggers, Elton's, Garage, Garmany, Garys, Gene Hiller, George Greene, Gorsuch Ltd., Gotstyle, H. Men, Halls, Harley's Texas, Harolds in the Heights, Harrods, Harry Rosen, Holt Renfrew, Hub, Hubert White, James Davis, Jeffrey, Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8" and Under, John Craig, Khaki's of Carmel, Kilgore Trout, Lansky Bros., Larrimor's, LASC, Levy's, Lisa Kline, Louis Boston, M. Penner, Malouf's, Mario's, Mark Shale, Mitchells/Richards/Marshs, N, Oak Hall, Odin, Oslo's, Over the Rainbow, Patrick James, Peter Elliot, Pockets, Relish, Riccardi, Robert R. Bailey, Rodes, Ron Herman, Rosey Jekes, Rothman's, Rubensteins, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sams New Jersey, Scoop Men, Sebastian's Closet, Shaia's, Stanley Korshak, Sy Devore, Syd Jerome, Taylor Richards & Conger, The Closet, The Clotherie, The Met, Theodore, Traffic, United Arrows, Vinnie's Styles, and Von Maur.

About Alan and Jimmy Au:

Jimmy and his son Alan have been featured on NBC's Today Show, TLC's Ten Years Younger, TLC's The Little Couple, TLC's What Not to Wear and E! Entertainment News. For an informative and entertaining interview on how shorter men can dress better or to receive an invitation to the trunk and road show to view the collection, please call Shannon Donnelly at (310) 300-0950 ext 245. The trunk and road show will be held July 19-21, 2010 at the Double Tree Hotel, New York City - Chelsea, 128 West 29th St., New York City, NY, 10001

Monday, June 07, 2010

NOSSA Interviews Comedian Noe Gonzalez


5'2" Comedian Noe Gonzalez recently spoke with us for the Ramblings of a short guy from Long Guyland podcast. Please have a listen and pick up one of his t-shirts @ NOE Tees.com

Friday, May 28, 2010

Tough year for short celebrities


I just found out Gary Coleman has passed away. On May 16th, the world lost Heavy Metal music icon Ronnie James Dio to stomach cancer.

Gary was about 4'8" tall and Ronnie was about 5'4" tall. Many short statured people find inspiration in these two extraordinary individuals. Gary faced tremendous adversity in his life. Yet he has left his indelible mark on the world. His legacy as a gifted actor will continue on for years to come. Ronnie was a musical powerhouse who stood out as one of the most talented rock singers of all time.

The story of these two men reveal the truth. Short stature is not an inferior trait. These men will live on in the hearts and minds of their fans. Thank you for blessing all of us with your talent...

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

NOSSA receives complaint re: school bus service

NOSSA - National Organization Of Short Statured Adults, Inc. is in receipt of a complaint regarding a school bus service in Tacoma, Washington.

The complaint alleges:

On March 31,2010 I was hired for a school bus driving position for a school bus service in Tacoma, Wa. I reported for training April 1st and took my D.O.T. physical and passed on Friday, April 2nd. I continued on with my training on April 5th. By April 8th, after driving for two days, the Supervisor in charge was made aware that the seat belt on 'some' of the buses would not fit me properly. The reason the seat belt would not fit was because of my height of 4'9" (4'10" with sneakers). I had to move the seat far forward on this particular bus, and the seat belt would not extend. The Supervisor told me that since the seat belts on some buses would not extend, she could not hire me. I suggested a seat belt extender. She said it was unacceptable and against policy.

I have been a bus driver for almost 10 years (6 of those years driving a school bus), I know a seat belt extender is not a safety infraction nor are they against the law. Many over weight drivers use them.

When you're first hired as a Bus Driver with a big company, you start out on 'stand by'. When a driver is on stand by, they are never assigned the same bus. It is my opinon, this supervisor did not want to do her homework. If a seat belt extender is against policy, she would have to check every bus to see if the belt extended far enough. It was easier to let me go.


NOSSA is contacting the company in hopes of receiving an explanation regarding this situation. We will post a response if one is issued from the company.

*** UPDATE *** NOSSA received the following response from the bus service:

Dear Mr. Hamre, the safety of the children we transport is our top priority. The person in question was not employed by us. While they did attend training for two days, we cannot comment on the decision to not hire them. Respectfully,
General Manager

Monday, May 03, 2010

Apathy

One of my favorite quotes was made by stand-up comic Bill Maher, when he said, (paraphrasing here) "I am angry about alot of things. I'll tell you what I'm mostly pissed off about. I'm mostly pissed off that not enough people are pissed off."

I think that really sums up the frustration of the heightism activist. Most people simply don't care. People just want to go on about living their lives. They want to make the most of the time they have and not sit around dwelling on the fact that they are short and the challenges that they face because of it.

Why bother joining NOSSA? What good will it do? At the end of the day I'll still be short and nothing will have changed.

We've compiled a list of some of the benefits of uniting together with NOSSA. You can review the list by clicking here.

I think it's very important to not allow yourself to have a negative and/or apathetic attitude when it comes to these types of issues.

Change starts from within and can certainly work it's way throughout society like a wildfire. But only if you let it. Only if you abandon the apathy and take action....

Sunday, April 04, 2010

We will not forget John Carmichael


13 year old John Carmichael of Joshua, Texas will not be forgotten. Bullying smaller kids must stop. How many more children will we let die?

http://www.truecrimereport.com/2010/03/jon_carmichael_13_hangs_himsel.php

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Support NOSSA to help make a change

If you feel that heightism is wrong - please support NOSSA - National Organization Of Short Statured Adults

by joining the organization or


donating to the organization


and becoming active with the members by participating on the NOSSA Forums or attending events. NOSSA is YOUR organization if you are a short statured adult. So take part and make a difference!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

President Hamre testifies in support of height/weight bill

NOSSA - National Organization Of Short Statured Adults, President Christopher Hamre testified for the 2nd time in Boston, Massachusetts in support of H1850 an act proposed by Rep. Byron Rushing prohibiting height/weight discrimination in the state of Massachusetts. Contact the elected reps in Massachusetts and tell them you support this bill. http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm

Saturday, January 02, 2010

NOSSA Announces new Board of Directors

The new Board of Directors for NOSSA - National Organization Of Short Statured Adults is:

Term 2010 - 2013

Board of Directors (Term expires 01/14/2014)

Chairman/President - Christopher Hamre
Vice-Chairman/Vice-President - Deborah Burris-Kitchen, PhD.
Secretary - Brian Peterson
Treasurer - Matthew Campisi

Please join us in welcoming our new board!
 

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