The Delegate Assembly approved the NADE Awards criteria revisions submitted by the Awards Committee. Also approved was the NADE re-certification for disability examiners. This program will start in 2005 and allows for NADE certified disability examiners to be re-certified every three years. The requirements include completion of 25 hours of training over a three-year period. Training can be obtained from state, regional, and national training conferences, DDS, local chapters, and SSA. The Long Range Plan as developed by the Long Range Planning Committee chaired by Dr. Steve Salmony was approved. Dr. Alan Cowles of Kansas submitted a resolution calling for the indexing of the Medical Listings by SSA. The Delegate Assembly approved this resolution. National conference updates were given for the 2002 conference in Portland, Oregon and the 2003 conference in Albany, New York.

The Sacramento, California Chapter proposed a resolution dealing with an additional exception to medical improvement be included for claimants that do not have a medically determinable impairment at the time of the CDR and the CDR folder and the original CPD documentation has been lost. This process often results in benefits being continued for a claimant with no medically determinable impairment. Specifically, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) should include an additional Group II exception (#5) as follows: “You do not have a medically determinable impairment if the current records show that you do not have an impairment(s) that can be shown by medically acceptable clinical or laboratory diagnostic techniques that could reasonably be expected to produce your pain or other symptoms. Accordingly, if there is no medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s), we will find that your disability has ended.” After much discussion by the Delegate Assembly, the voice vote was too close to determine. A roll call vote was taken and the resolution passed.

Two new NADE chapters were approved. Susan Hege from Iowa received a plaque from NADE President, Sue Heflin. The Iowa Chapter will be known as ADE-IA. Paula Christofoletti of New Hampshire also presented Susan with a bag of gifts to start the Iowa new chapter as the New Hampshire Chapter is now two years old and was familiar with the issues in starting a new chapter. Paula joked that her chapter is going through the terrible twos. Also approved was the Clarksville, West Virginia Chapter (CWVADE), who will receive their plaque by mail as members were unable to attend the Austin Conference.

The Delegate Assembly held an election of officers and those elected included: Ken Forbes, Oregon for President Elect, Shari Bratt, Nebraska for Secretary, and Lyle Larson, South Dakota for Treasurer. At the close of the conference, incoming President Jeff Price of North Carolina accepted the gavel from Sue Heflin, who will serve next year as Past President.