Opening Session

In the opening session, convention attendees were welcomed by Donald King, chair of the HDSA Board of Trustees. He thanked the convention planning committee, recognized those who were attending a national convention for the firsttime, and reviewed the history of what is today the HDSA and credited the vision and determination of Marjorie Guthrie. The HDSA currently has 31 chapters, 3 affiliates, numerous support groups, and 17 Centers of Excellence.

Dr.Jane Paulsen, chair of the program planning committee, reviewed the program. New this year is a hands on Caregivers Skills Lab and there has been an increase in programming for youth. The program is intended to reflect a balance between the goals of care and cure and reflects feedback provided by attendees at previous conventions.

Marty Vaughan, President of HDSA's Central Ohio Chapter, welcomed attendees to Columbus, Ohio. He noted that a plaque will be placed in Pomeroy, Ohio, to honor the work of Dr. George Huntington and also that the Ohio Senate has recognized the convention and the work of the HDSA.

Barbara Boyle, executive director of the HDSA, stated her hope that just as the 1990s have been declared the decade of the brain, this decade will be known as the time when the hope for a future free of HD was realized through research. In January, Discover magazine said that HD research was one of the top eleven areas of medical advances, so progress has been made. She urged participants to become involved in Team HOPE, a series of fundraising activities which will be held in HDSA's 35th year.

Future Updates

We will be posting session tracks and other information as time permits. The first one we have for you is:

• Research Updates