The National Structured Settlement Trade Association (NSSTA) held it 2005 Fall Regional Meeting in Washington, D.C. October 25-27. Highlights included:
- Appearances by Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Montana) to receive NSSTA's James Corman Award;
- Presentations by Nancy Starnes of the National Organization on Disability and Gwen Gillenwater of the American Association of People with Disabilities;
- A round table discussion featuring four (4) Congressional Chiefs of Staff.
In addition, Patrick Hindert introduced podcasting to NSSTA. The podcasting introduction included an audio video presentation featuring The Legal Broadcast Network.
NSSTA's organizational strengths include its political influence (especially in Washington, D.C.) and that political influence was featured at the NSSTA Fall Regional Meeting.
NSSTA's current leadership team appears to be among its best ever. President Jeff Bowers has recruited several strong committee chairpersons and added two new NSSTA committees: government benefits and asbestos. Bowers has also strengthened NSSTA political ties with disability organizations. In addition to Executive Vice President Randy Dyer and General Counsel Hogan & Hartson, NSSTA has added two important staff resources: Peter Arnold (Marketing) and Eric Vaughn (Federal Lobbying).
Although all structured settlement consultants and product providers benefit generally from NSSTA's objectives to grow the industry, NSSTA continues to favor the status quo on political issues like settlement tranfers, IRC Section 468B Funds, consumer rights and compensation disclosure. Their educational program would be stronger with more attention to and wider perspectives on these developing legal issues.
NSSTA 2006 Regional Meeting is scheduled for January 11-13 in Scottsdale, AZ.
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