Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

May/June 2001

NADE Board Meets to Conduct MidYear Business

The annual MidYear Board meeting was held in Washington DC to conduct NADE business and to network with various officials and agencies on important disability issues.

Executive officers

President Sue Heflin reported that she and Marty Marshall drafted a letter to the Bush-Cheney Transition Team and that she was able to speak with Chuck Blauhouse, the Team’s Social Security Specialist. The focus was on adequate resources to do the job. An NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making) was published regarding the prototype process. NADE provided comments with an emphasis on the problem of insufficient resources. Sue will be attending Regional conferences and the SSA Forum in Chandler, AZ. She also reported that NADE has been in contact with NCDDD and Sue believes we are moving in the right direction to improve our relationships with DDS Directors. She reported that Larry Massanari has been named as new acting commissioner for SSA.

President-Elect Jeff Price reported that he was part of the executive NADE delegation that met with SSA Commissioner Ken Apfel to discuss concerns and raise questions about upcoming decisions. Another meeting with the Associate Commissioner and Deputy Associate Commissioner for Disability provided another opportunity to convey concerns and issues. NADE leaders met with the staff of the Social Security Advisory Board for a lengthy discussion about the disability program on October 24, 2000. Jeff prepared a written summary outlining the differences between the current disability program and the new disability claims process for the Maine Chapter. He was contacted by the President Bush’s Transition Team and drafted a response. US Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts introduced legislation that will incorporate elimination of the 5 month waiting period for cash benefits for Title 2 beneficiaries. (HR 344) Jeff has served as an advisor to the Texas Chapter regarding plans for the 2001 National Conference.

Past President Terri Spurgeon stated after the meeting with the Commissioner in November, she has been on family medical leave.

Secretary Shari Bratt announced she has NADE stationery available if it is needed by anyone. She had the minutes of the last several Board meetings with her if anyone cared to review them. After the MidYear meeting, minutes will be distributed to all Board members.

Treasurer Lyle Larson reported that we did not make our expected revenue for 2000, as we spent $13,929.29 more than we collected. The major expense was the National conference. NADE ended up with $276.50 in profits from the conference. Our main source of income is membership. We have not been able to get our membership over 2000. We may have to think about a raise in dues as there has not been an increase since 1996. The checkbook balance as of 3/16/00 is $15,810.72. There is a 13 month CD for $40,000 for a total of $55,810.72. If we decide not to raise dues this year, we will have to tighten our belts and think of ways to save money.

Regional Director Reports

Great Lakes-Terri Klubertanz indicated Michigan is heavily involved in the prototype process. The workloads are heavy and the morale is low. The region reiterates that it is essential for SSA to lend support to the states to upgrade positions. Membership in the region is now at 235. A Mid-Year Board meeting was held in Chicago in March. The GL Regional training conference will be held June 13-15, 2001 in Springfield, IL.

Great Plains-Sherry Sheely reported that the region is working on their Constitution and ByLaws to ring them into the 21st century. Iowa is working diligently to become an active chapter. The Colorado chapter is rewriting its bylaws. The Great Plains is co-hosting a Bi-Regional conference with the Pacific Region May 1-4, 2001 in Boise, ID. Various chapter activities and fund raising events were discussed.

Mid-Atlantic-Kay Welch reported membership recruitment and retention as well as fund-raising continue to be a focus. One of Kay’s priorities has been to visit as many members in the region as possible. The 2001 Bi-Regional Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Conference will be held in Charleston, WV May 30 - June 1. Other chapter activities were reported in terms of training, fund-raising and membership recruitment.

Northeast-Brenda Kaselis reported the regional membership is at 344. Chapter activities were reported. Chapters in the region continue to work on certification of their members. The Bi-Regional conference will be held with the Mid-Atlantic Region in Charleston, WV May 30 - June 1, 2001. There is concern among chapters about adjudicators looking for work elsewhere. There have been morale issues for various reasons.

Pacific-Ken Forbes stated the region has been battling to maintain membership and stimulate interest. The Pacific/Great Plains Bi-Regional Conference will be held in Boise, ID May 1-4, 2001. There will be a Leadership Development portion to the program. Ken stated the region favors changing any program with deliberate care. There is a new chapter in Sacramento.

Southeast-David Lovingood stated the Bi-Regional Training Conference will be held by the Southeast Region with the Tennessee Association of Disability Examiners and the Baton Rouge Association of Disability Examiners. It will be held May 15-18, 2001 at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel. A brief overview of chapter activities was provided.

Southwest-Chuck Schimmels reported the Bi-Regional Conference will be in Nashville, TN May 15-18, 2001. A synopsis of Southwest chapter activities was given. The region has focused on communication and membership recruitment. There has been a slight increase in membership since Puerto Rico. Chuck has plans to visit chapters and continue to send out regular mailings.

Council Of Chapter Presidents Report-Dean Crawford reported that he has had contact with Sacramento regarding a chapter there. He is sending out Chapter Services Handbooks. There has been a mail-out with information on leadership. Dean is working on more in-depth conference planning guidelines with the help of Lisa Martin. We need to decide if we will buy a zip disc for each chapter. The CSH is now on zip disc. If not, the next CCP Chair will have to send out paper copies. The zip discs are $10 each. Dean concluded by stating he has a mailing going out when he returns to TX and needs to know about state conferences.

Appointed Directors Reports

Membership-Leola Meyer reported the March 2001 printout shows a total of 1939 members. The membership in September 2000 was 1764. A membership recruitment package was mailed to all chapter presidents in January, 2001. Each member was asked to recruit one new member. Membership recruitment and retention ideas were solicited. Welcome letters were sent to all new NADE members. Fourteen membership grants were requested. Leola will be working closely with NDPW Chair, Melissa Robertz to explore ideas for establishing the connection between membership and professionalism in NADE.

Publications-Donna Hilton stated NADE has been printing 2250-2300 of each issue of the Advocate. She has returned to mailing out of continental U.S. newsletters by first class mail due to mailing time delays. Expenses for the November/December and January/February issues were $7560.63. There have been several employment advertisements run in recent months. These have been included on the website for no additional charge. Discussion is needed on the issue of charging for advertising on the website.

Major motions:

Revision to the Wording of the President’s Award. It was concluded that the award criteria for the President’s Award should read as follows:

Criteria for eligibility A) Any organized NADE Chapter which has demonstrated; B) Outstanding achievement toward improving service to the claimant through training for DDS staff, community outreach programs and promotion of harmonious working relationships within and between the DDS and SSA communities. These activities could include, but are not limited to, panel presentations, ongoing medical training, speeches, outreach newsletters, articles in community publications, or any activity that serves to improve the quality of service provided to the claimant; C) This chapter’s activities have enhanced working relationships among its professional communities. These activities could include, but are not limited to, membership recruitment and retention activities, publication of a chapter newsletter, or submission of an article to the Advocate; D) Any Chapter whose activities have benefited members of the community not associated with DDS or SSA, such as charitable contributions, volunteer activities, etc. This change will take affect in 2002.

Motion to publish a membership insert with updated emphasis. Passed.

Advertising charges for web site and Advocate – motion to charge the price of a full page Advocate ad for ads that are put only on the web site. Passed.

Membership processing contract – contract is up. The board decided to put the contract out for bid. Motion to put contract out for bid and appoint a subcommittee of Membership Director, Publications Director and President-Elect to advertise contract open for bid through appropriate channels. Adopted.

Salary upgrades – Motion to establish an ad hoc committee to gather historical information and to create a packet which can be distributed to the states. Adopted.

Use & purpose of the Advocate - Motion to instruct the Advocate editor to write and publish an article describing the creation of a letters to the editor page with a specific word limit. - Passed. Motion to revise the disclaimer and include it in each issue. Passed.

Corporate member renewal date – corporate memberships expire at various times during the year and a motion was made to make theirs an annual date at the same time as the other members. Motion denied.

NADE camera and tape recorder – moved to purchase a new camera and tape recorder. (Secretary and Publications Director have been using their own equipment, which have worn out.) Motion passed.

National Conference Updates

Austin Texas: “2001-A NADE Odyessy, Examining our Future.” Board meetings start Saturday October 27 and the conference begins on Monday October 29. Single/Double rate is $132 + $25 for any additional person. Parking is not free; it will be $5 per day. The host chapter plans to invite President Bush and the new commissioner. No shuttle from airport anymore but Supershuttle will deliver you for about $28 (round trip). Registration fees for the conference will be NADE members $100 before October 1, and $110 after that date.

Portland, Oregon: 2002 - Ken Forbes stated there is no conference theme yet. There will be a bus tour of microbreweries in the area and other tour possibilities include the Pacific Ocean area, Mt. Hood Railway etc. Room rates are $107-single and $126-double. There is a complementary van from the airport, which is 30 miles away. There is free parking at the hotel. The hotel is owned by Doubletree. The hotel is on the Columbia River. The river cruise docks there. Conference dates are September 21-28, 2002.

Albany, New York: 2003 - Brenda Kaselis stated the conference will offer continuing education credits. It will be held at the Holiday Inn on Wolfe Road. The official airline is Southwest Airlines. The program chair is working on the program and activities.