President's Perspective
By Diane O'Steen
I am sure you all know that I have been in the "Bar" business for a very long time. My long tenure has allowed me the opportunity to know many wonderful people through the Atlanta Bar Association and the National Association of Bar Executives.
One of the retired Bar Executives, whom I love and respect more than words can describe, published "Handling a Hummingbird, the ABC’s of Bar Management" about the time he retired which is "a product of reflection rather than of research." This book has become my constant companion. It is what I take to read on planes, the only place in the world where I can really concentrate.
From this book comes this sage advice, "… no one of us is as smart as all of us. This is why we utilize committees, sections and forums — to give us the benefit of differing opinions. As someone said long ago, ‘the best decisions are those formed from consensus and compromise’."
Like our Bar Associations, NABE has plenty of committees, sections and forums and each is being led by talented Bar representatives. The success of the recent mid-year meeting in Philadelphia was the result of many months of planning and follow-through by members of the Program Committee, led this year by Rod Wegener. Rod and his committee members (Janice Ambruso, Susan Andres, Julie Armstrong, Tom Barletta, Cheryl Bruce, Sam Clinch, Trisha Graham, Tim Hazen, Susan Jacobs, Pat Kelley, Sherry King, Jeannine McCoy, and Julie Rowe) produced fabulous programs. Ken Shear and Dan Cirucci from the Philadelphia Bar Association were invaluable with all their help and threw the very best block party any of us have ever attended. To see and hear Fabian was a special treat — and no, he was not on a walker, he looked darn good to me! We all are indebted to John Norwine and the members of his sponsorship committee who raised an unbelievable $32,500 to help defray the cost for this entire meeting.
The new "Buddy" program was kicked off by Membership Committee chair KaLyn Laney and was more successful that we ever imagined. Be sure to sign up to be a Buddy for the annual meeting — you will have lots of fun and get to make a new NABE friend. All the Committees, Sections and Forums will be wrapping up this year’s activities in the next few months. Be sure to sign up for the committee of your choice when you receive information from Tom Tinder, our President-Elect. The committee will benefit from your opinions.
The author of Handling a Hummingbird, Xavier Onassis, also said, " We are truly never too old or too wise to learn." I look forward to learning with you at the next NABE-sponsored event. You are loved and missed Xavier!