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I like to fly. Not only
does a small plane take me to my destination quickly,
it provides a challenge to physical and mental abilities.
And what a reward it is to land at the destination
as planned. Each flight, from the takeoff, the climb,
the cruise and the landing, is pure joy to one who
likes to fly as much as I do.
The next twelve months
will be much like a flight. From my employment by
former Bar President, James B. Sharp, in 1973, I have
been preparing for this year. There is a destination
in mind, things I hope we can achieve together. And
as we take off, each of us can enjoy our work for
the Arkansas Bar Association. So, where are we headed
on this flight? What's our destination?
This year, we will complete
our renovation of our Bar Center, complete our drive
to fund the renovation, and move. For the past several
years, our Bar Center has been the focus of much of
the volunteer and staff energy of our Association.
Various committees and many volunteers have worked
out the operating documents between the Association
and our Foundation, raised over $2.2 million in pledges,
implemented construction contracts and will now oversee
the construction that has begun on the building. This
fall, our efforts will shift to the acquisition of
furnishings, the move of the memorials to past donors
and the transition of all our staff and activities
to the new building. So, sometime in this year, we
will complete a project that has required our principal
focus, allowing us to use our resources and energies
on other important and meaningful projects for our
members.
This year, we will heighten
the efforts of the Arkansas Bar Commission on Diversity.
Our former President, Ron Harrison, challenged us
to address the issue of the needs of all our members
and helped us establish the ABCD. Now, led by Troy
Price and Jim Crouch, this Commission has been restructured
and a group of thirty of our members will address
the specific goals to achieve, the methods we can
use to attain those goals, and the implementation
of those methods. It is an exciting time for ABCD
and I look forward to their work.
This year, we will emphasize
the importance of our solo and small firm lawyers
and the benefits our Association provides to them.
Most of my legal work has been as a solo practitioner.
Sometimes, our solo or small firm lawyers in the country
get the impression our Association is a central Arkansas
association. Nothing could be further from the truth,
and I hope to demonstrate the importance of our Association
to folks like me. First, I will speak at any local
bar meeting or civic club you invite me to attend.
Second, there will be an "Office Day" each
week when I will be at the Bar Center available for
your calls, visits or formal meetings. And, third,
Annual Meeting Chair Brian Rosenthal and I are planning
a "Solo/Small Practitioner Day" at next
year's annual meeting, with a tract of CLE focused
on the needs of we country lawyers.
This year, we will advance
the legislative package of our Association during
the Legislative Session in 2007. Our House of Delegates
has adopted a package of important legislation which
our lobbyist, Jack McNulty, will pursue before the
Legislature. Our Legislation Committee, headed by
Jack Davis, stands ready to consider and act on any
proposed legislation that may affect our profession.
Our President-Elect, Rick Ramsay, and I are ready
to testify before committees when necessary to advance
our goals. Hopefully, each of you will take part by
joining the Legislative Action Network, standing ready
to contact legislators that you know to vocalize our
Association's position on bills as they arise. This
legislative session will be an important activity
for our Association this coming spring, and I believe
we are prepared.
The takeoff is now complete.
You know our destinations: completion of the Bar Center,
continuation of efforts of ABCD, emphasis on solo
and small firm lawyers, and success with the Legislative
Session in 2007. Now we need your help. Please communicate
with me, invite me to your local bar meetings and
civic clubs. Help me address these goals in your community.
You know the folks in your community that could benefit,
that need to hear our story, so please help me identify
them and get before them to address issues you believe
to be important.
Working together, this
flight of ours will be fun, and successful!•
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