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Dear Friends and Colleagues – a quick overview of bars, the ABA, the Section and el mundo, The role of bar associations in the life of lawyers is many-faceted. Obviously, bar associations exist primarily to provide services to their members, and logically, to their communities. In addition to providing continuing legal education and networking opportunities to its members, one of the ABA’s principal objectives is to help establish and promote legislation and rule-making relevant to law practice and issues of relevance to lawyers. Of equal importance, bars and bar associations serve the interests of society. The ABA House of Delegates has representatives from all State and local bars, judges, prosecutors, other government lawyers, corporate counsel, NGO lawyers, academics, large and medium-sized firms, small firms and solo practitioners, and law students. Thus, the ABA covers the full spectrum of the legal profession and the interests of our clients, across society as a whole. The ABA House of Delegates establishes the policy of the ABA in a deliberative process that frequently starts at the Section level, within committees. Sections are obviously critical in the evolution and development of official ABA policy, which frequently is presented to government agencies and legislatures - not only in the US, but abroad, as well. Foreign governments frequently look to the ABA for guidance and assistance with their proposed legislation, and with rule-making and the implementation of government policies. Through its regional committees and its highly specialized, substantive international committees, ABA International works in close cooperation with the other Sections, Divisions, Standing Committees and other ABA entities, such as the Center for Human Rights - to generate proposed Reports and Recommendations (R&R’s). ABA International’s prestigious Council reviews these R&R’s – not only those generated in our own committees – but those proposed by other Sections and entities within the ABA. These critical policy matters are then debated at the Section’s quarterly Council Meetings. Many matters reviewed at our Council ultimately are presented to the House of Delegates. When passed, the R&R’s are official ABA policy, representing the prevailing positions of the American legal community, and can be quoted as such in Congress, before Administrative agencies and with foreign governments. What does this mean for you, as members of the Section? Simply this: your involvement at the committee level can give you a real voice in the development of laws and their just implementation; not only in the US, but around the world. For 130 years, the ABA has been involved in analyzing, defining and establishing international law and policy, and for 130 years, the Section of International Law (ABA International) has been the glue that binds the diverse international interests of the ABA together in one place through its more than 60 substantive committees and dozens of task forces and other committees (more than 100 in all). Our history of cooperation with foreign governments and our close relationships with bar associations and bars around the world started in August, 1878. We have been instrumental in the creation of most of the world’s global, and many of its regional bar associations. On behalf of the ABA, as its “Gateway to International Practice”, we continue to make history in our Council and with our outreach to our partners throughout the world. This year, our committees have been vibrant sources for the establishment of international policy, working closely with our Chair-elect, Glenn Hendrix, and under the savvy leadership of Ron Cass, our Policy Officer. Our outreach to bars around the world is recognized and appreciated by our friends around the globe – for example, our series of programs with the Paris Bar and the Italian Bar, celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights held in New York, Paris and Rome was supported by well over 100 non-US bars and law societies. Our ABA Day at the UN, our ILEX delegations to the Hague, to India and to South America, our task forces and our committees’ amazing work on policy and on putting together fantastic programs, our publications – led by Mark Wojcik and Marilyn Kaman - all continue to be, in the words of Jeff Golden, “world class”. Our representation in the House of Delegates could not be better – Josh Markus and Mike Byowitz; and, our delegate from the Board of Governors, Mitch Orpett, has been super. In addition, our membership continued to increase this year, thanks to the hard work of Lisa Savitt, Membership Officer, and Angela Benson, our Membership Director. Adam Farlow has been a fantastic Technology Officer and words cannot express how much we appreciate Yee Wah Chin’s diligence as Programs Officer, always going the extra 1.6 kilometers. Andreea Vesa has been wonderful as our ILRC Director with the dedicated and cheerful assistance of Jacqueline Gichinga. Lelia Mooney has been a stand-out as our Rule of Law Officer. Ingrid Busson has taken on the very difficult job of Diversity Officer and has been extremely effective in that position. Staff like Christina Heid, Kristi Gaines, Tally White, Katie Van Geem, Aaron Madhavan, Duane Propst, Jenny Abreu, Adam Vogel, Annie Wanlund have made this year a big success. Thanks to all of them, and especially to Leanne Pfautz, our Section Executive Director, who is simply the greatest! Nothing we accomplished this year would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our committee leaders, our division chairs under Salli Swartz’ excellent leadership, ably assisted by Tally White, our Committees Coordinator, our outstanding Administration Committee, the distinguished members of our Council, and most of all, the work of Glenn, Salli, Mike Burke, Gabrielle Buckley and Bart Legum, the members of our Executive Committee. Our future chairs are the best: Glenn, Salli and Mike. But our recent former chairs continue to provide guidance and added leadership. Deborah, Mike, Josh, Jeff – all have continued to contribute despite having given so much in the past. Jim Silkenat, our Special Advisor, and Homer Moyer, both recipients of the Section’s Lifetime Achievement Award, keep giving their time and energy to the Section. Bob Lutz continues as a valuable leader in many capacities. Ken Reisenfeld has been a great ABA delegate to the IBA. Harry Inman provides help and is an inspiration for us. We had the pleasure of welcoming a dozen past chairs at our Former Chair’s Lunch this year. Lucinda Low, Don Wallace, Dan Magraw, Mark Joelson, Whitney Harris – all are distinguished former chairs whose continued involvement in the life of the Section help make ABA International what it is today. Other Section stalwarts include Eddie Dick, Ed Krauland and John Magnus, who also have been of great assistance this past year. Many other individuals deserve to be mentioned, and I apologize for running out of time and space and hope you will forgive me for not mentioning you specifically. ABA International is the sum of its parts, and each of you is an important part. The Section is proud of its history and role in the greater ABA. The ABA is more and more involved in international activities, and the next two ABA Presidents are international and true friends of ABA International. Carolyn Lamm served on our Council, and Steve Zack remains a member of our Council through this ABA Annual Meeting. We are extremely proud of them and of their commitment to the Section and to the ABA’s ongoing role internationally. I am proud of all of you. I thank you for your support this year. I look forward to continuing our important work together in the Section and in the ABA in the years to come. Aaron Schildhaus
At its Annual Business Meeting, the Section will be voting on Bylaw amendments and new Officers. The Section business meeting will take place on Friday, July 31st at 3:45 p.m. at the Intercontinental Chicago, Camelot Room 3rd Floor Congratulations to Nancy Matos, the winner of the 2009 Spring Meeting evaluation certificate. See you at the next meeting Nancy! On June 11th, Council Member Jonathan Granoff was presented with the 2009 Arthur E. Armitage Senior Distinguished Alumni Award from the Rutgers-Camden Law Alumni Association. Congratulations Jonathan! Congratulations to Beatriz Martorello who was elected First Vice President of the Inter-American Bar Association (IABA) on July 4th. Beatriz will be only the second woman president of IABA. Congratulations to Akin Akinbote who was elected Secretary General of the Pan African Lawyers Union this month.
Policy Developments:
For updates on programming and events, visit our Section calendar on-line at www.abanet.org/intlaw/calendar. July 28-30, 2009
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