With more than 20 educational sessions and seemingly endless networking opportunities, the 2017 Annual Conference was a success!
The 2017 NAELA Annual Conference was held in Boston, Massachusetts, April 27–29, 2017, and, by all accounts, it was a success. The Conference sold out for the first time in history. Excitement was in the air from the start, as members of the Conference Planning Committee and NAELA and MassNAELA Board members welcomed attendees into the ballroom for the Keynote kickoff with clappers and pom poms, with Metallica blasting on the speakers.
The Keynote was presented by Dennis Lally of Rendever, an MIT startup that developed virtual reality technology that provides positive benefits to people with dementia and other challenges. Lally’s presentation, “The Future of Aging,” focused on how advanced technologies such as robotics, virtual reality, 3D printing and genomics will change the way we age. Conference attendees were provided “cardboard goggles” to better understand how this VR technology is providing positive benefits to the populations we serve.
After the Keynote, the conference provided practitioners opportunities to stay current on a variety of issues impacting elder law and special needs planning with more than 20 educational sessions and seemingly endless networking opportunities. Some of the substantive highlights of the Conference, in addition to our keynote speaker, included:
• A panel of NAELA Past Presidents presented some of the most influential and compelling cases of the past year. Session materials provided to participants included summaries of more than 225 cases pertinent to the practice of elder law and special needs planning.
• NAELA’s Public Policy Steering Committee hosted a session, “Congressional Outlook: Health Reform and the Future of Elder Law and Special Needs Planning,” with a preview of what’s in store and how it may impact the profession.
• An update to the ABLE Act was the focus of a Friday afternoon session facilitated by Attorney Robert Brogan. This session provided information on what this law means to clients and when an ABLE account is or is not a suitable tool for clients.
• Attorney Katherine N. Barr presented a session, “Divorce and Practical Planning for the Special Needs Child.” This session addressed the nuts and bolts of minimizing loss of SSI and Medicaid when parents of a child on those programs divorce.
Historic Boston provided the perfect backdrop to highlight the role elder law attorneys play in ensuring individual freedoms are protected. Whether advocating for legislative changes to improve the quality of life for elders and people with special needs; assisting clients to live their best life through proper planning and advocacy for appropriate housing, services, and benefits; fighting the injustices of wrongful denials of coverage by Medicaid and other agencies; or litigating to ensure a client’s wishes are upheld, elder law attorneys are the present-day protectors of freedom.
The Conference offered seemingly endless opportunities for attendees to network and collaborate. The Thursday evening Welcome Reception was co-sponsored by the Massachusetts NAELA Chapter. Attendees enjoyed excellent food and drinks, while catching up with old friends and networking with new ones. The reception was capped off with the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to MassNAELA, with a special cake to commemorate the Massachusetts Chapter’s 25th anniversary. Many attendees continued the networking by participating in a lively team trivia contest after the reception.
During the NAELA Business Luncheon on Friday, the new NAELA Board of Directors was inducted, and MassNAELA’s own Hy Darling was inducted as the incoming President (and named a NAELA Fellow!), giving his MassNAELA colleagues even more to celebrate.
There were many special touches throughout the Conference due to the hard work of the dedicated Planning Committee. Conference co-chairs Judy Flynn and Margot Birke recruited local sponsors to underwrite optional networking events on Friday afternoon, including a historic Boston trolley tour with North End Pizza; Retro Bowling at King’s Bowl; and a group painting lesson at Paint Bar. MassNAELA provided attendees with 25th Anniversary gift bags filled with local snacks and products, and a 25th Anniversary Program celebrating the history and accomplishments of the Massachusetts Chapter. Judy and Margot wish to thank their local sponsors for making the networking and celebratory aspects of this conference possible. Networking continued Friday evening for those who attended the Red Sox/Chicago Cubs game at historic Fenway Park.
This year’s conference was full of excellent speakers with the breadth of topics appealing to a wide audience. In addition to great topics and speakers, the networking was fantastic.
Judy and Margot are grateful for the dedication and commitment of the Planning Committee, and for all of our volunteer speakers. We want to thank all of them for working together to make this a great conference. We are certain that the tradition of great Annual Conferences will continue next year in the legendary city of New Orleans on May 17–19, 2018. Mark your calendars now! We look forward to “letting the good times roll” in New Orleans.
About the Authors
Judith M. Flynn, Esq., and Margot G. Birke, Esq., are co-chairs of the 2017 Annual Conference.