NAELA_NEWS_june 07_v3.indd - National Academy of Elder Law ...

NAELA ROCKS!NAELA Rocks! 2007 Symposium Wrap-upEdwin M. Boyer, Esq.The Cleveland 2007 Symposium steering committee andI would like to thank all of the presenters and nearly 300attendees who helped “NAELA Rocks” in Cleveland, May3–6 2007. Many of the presentations will certainly becomepart of the “Best of NAELA” tapes. If you were unable toattend you can still order the session audio recordings in CD orMP3 format to add to your professional library by visiting theNAELA store on-line at www.naela.org/applications/store/.We opened the Symposium with our first ever NAELA ElderLeadership Award Presentation sponsored by AARP, and GrandMagazine. This award, a long time dream of President DonnaBashaw, CELA, was designed to encourage and promoteactivism and involvement by elders for the betterment oflives of others. Our keynote speaker on Thursday was formerUnited States Senator (D-GA), and the youngest administratorever of the Veteran’s Administration, Joseph “Max” MaxwellCleland. In his speech titled “The Moral Test of Government,”Senator Cleland inspired us with the challenge to protect theinterests of the forgotten and most vulnerable of our citizens,our children, those with disabilities and the elderly.The Symposium also featured the ever-popular andinformative case law update by Robert Fleming, CELAand Professor Rebecca Morgan. The rock music andflower arrangements were a new creative addition totheir presentation.Our keynote speaker for Saturday was Senator SherrodBrown (D-OH). Senator Brown shared with us his insightson the new Congress, and his vision for the future, withparticularly focus on issues of great import to NAELA.Saturday’s general session was filled to capacity for anexcellent presentation by Bill Browning, CELA and FrankJohns, CELA on cases and strategies in estate recoveryissues. A highlight of the afternoon breakout sessions was thepresentation by Professor Rebecca Morgan and Mary AliceJackson, Esq. on “Sex, Wards, and Rock n’ Roll.”At Sunday’s closing session, a stellar panel of medicalprofessionals and attorneys gave a marvelous and well-preparedpresentation on the workings of hospital medical ethicscommittees and the importance of attorney involvement.At our business meeting, we welcomed this year’s newFellows, Fay Blix, CELA, Professor Lawrence Frolik andShirley Whitenack, Esq. Donna Bashaw’s President’s awardwent to Stu Zimring, Esq. for his continuing contributionsto NAELA. The 2007 John J. Regan writing award waspresented to Kathryn L. Tucker, Esq, for her NAELA Journalarticle “Oregon’s Landmark Death with Dignity Law.” At alater session, the “Theresa Award” was presented to Emily S.Starr, CELA, for her endless dedication to people with specialneeds. We congratulate all new Fellows and award recipientsfor their achievements.Thursday evening, over 90 members enjoyed dinner anddancing on the Goodtime III dinner cruise, a fund raisingevent sponsored by the NAELA SR-PAC. The luxury shiptoured the lakefront and explored the winding the CuyahogaRiver. Sunset over the Cleveland skyline was beautiful.Friday evening was our farewell appreciation dinner forNAELA’s Managing Director, since 1992, Debbie Barnett.A hilarious but often poignant program was coordinated byNAELA Past Presidents and Staff. Debbie has always been anintegral part of the NAELA family, and we wished her well onher retirement.A special thanks goes to the dedicated group whovolunteered for the traditional NAELA community serviceproject. We repackaged a full pallet of breakfast cereal at theCleveland Food Bank, and presented them with a check forover $1,000 representing contributions from our members.The Cleveland Food Bank has distributed over 19 millionpounds of food for over 450 member programs, and itsupplies a majority of the food used in local soup kitchens,shelters, and food pantries in northeast Ohio. The Food Banksaves an estimated $800,000 a year by using volunteers to dovarious jobs at the Food Bank.The steering committee responsible for the Symposiumdeserves a huge thank you. The very talented committeeincluded Linda Anderson, CELA, Betsy Angevine, Esq.,Bob Brogan, CELA, Bill Browning, CELA, Frank Dana,CELA, Greg French, CELA, Rachel Kabb-Effron, CELA,Professor Rebecca Morgan, Dennis Sandoval, CELA, andKristi Vetri, Esq. Thanks also to our track committee chairs,Professor Rebecca Morgan and Bill Browning, CELA(Advocacy Litigation Track), Bob Brogan, CELA and KristiVetri, Esq. (Practice Management/Practice Development),and Rachel Kabb Effron, CELA (Special Needs DisabilitiesTrack). Brian Lindberg was instrumental in maintainingour focus on hot topics, and Greg French, CELA helped usinclude ethical issues in our presentations. Thanks also to ourSIG Chairs, Shirley Whitenack, Esq. (Advocacy/ Litigation),Ed Zetlin, Esq. (Guardianship/Capacity), Tim Crawford,CELA (Practice Development/Practice Management andTax), Mary T. Berthelot, Esq. (Health Care), and RichardCourtney, CELA (Trust and Special Needs Trust).12