President's_Message
We have “fertile” soil, and an amazing “gardening” staff lead by our new Executive Director C. Grace Whiting. We started the work this spring to assure healthy growth, with an Executive Committee retreat focused on our strategic direction, the welcoming of six new members to our Board of Directors, and of course, our first in-person annual conference since the COVID-19 pandemic. So, let’s think about what we need to do to help continue the growth and health of NAELA.
WE Need to Nurture the Old as Well as Cultivate the New
NAELA has a rich history of community — that is one of the parts of NAELA that makes us proud. One of our wise sages and past President Frank Johns, calls it our “kindred spirit.” We have a strong history of education at live conferences where we learn from the best of the best and enjoy networking with our NAELA family. Federal advocacy is an important part of our heritage, also. We do not want to lose these components as we grow as a community.
However, NAELA must nurture the new things of today as we recruit new and emerging attorneys in elder law and special needs planning. We have discovered new uses for technology and our future will be connected to that technology. As NAELA continues to grow, these advanced tools can provide new ways for our members to meet, collaborate, and network both in-person and online. Efforts for a new NAELA website are underway to improve our members’ experience when they come to our “office” for help and support. We are also exploring ways to modernize our communications — exploring the feasibility of new media models such as podcasts. Let us know if you have an idea.
WE Need the Seeds
Growth requires that we have the seeds of ideas. We will be developing a new strategic plan based on information we will receive from our membership. We need you! You will be receiving a focused survey, and I cannot encourage you enough to take a few minutes to let us know why you are a member and what would like to see in the future. NAELA needs everyone’s ideas, regardless of the past amount of involvement you have had with us. So please fill out the survey when you receive it.
WE Need Gardeners
Grace Whiting and our NAELA staff are the best, but they cannot do it alone. As a volunteer organization, we need volunteers to keep moving forward. Please know NAELA wants to develop a diverse volunteer base and will be developing a DEI policy to encourage diversity at every level. We need you! If you have been considering volunteering for a committee or section, now is a “fertile” time. You can of course contact the NAELA team at [email protected], or reach out to me directly at [email protected]. Send me a quick email and I would love to include you as we plant the seeds for this next phase of NAELA.