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Typically, as your new President of the Austin Bar Association, my first article would contain my portrait and answers to numerous questions. We run these articles so that you (if you’re so inclined) can get to know the person who will lead the Bar over the next term. That being said, I’m going to take my first executive privilege (assuming there is such a thing) to shake things up a bit (although there will be a little get-to-know-you at the end).
Fear not, you’ll see my smiling, bearded face with answers to curated questions in the next edition of the Austin Lawyer. I would like, however, to use this article to (as they say in the restaurant business) serve as a “soft opening.” I would also like this article to serve as a request for you to provide me with some questions that you’d like answered in the next article (or any feedback that you have concerning how we as a Bar association can improve and provide you with more value). You can send these questions/suggestions to president@austinbar.org.
As for the “soft opening” opening part, I wanted to introduce you to my overarching theme: remembering the past and moving into the future. Many hardworking and dedicated attorneys (and staff members!) have helped build this organization. And many have helped steward it through challenging times including establishing the association, purchasing/improving our current location, and navigating through a global pandemic. I intend to lean on their wisdom and experience while trying to use a more data-driven approach to discovering how to ensure that our current members feel welcomed and valued. I also would like to collect data (and input) to determine how to increase our membership, effectively support our sections, enhance our fundraising, and increase our visibility. Further, I would like to leverage their and your input to hold events that are fun and for everyone comprising our greater Austin legal community.
To collect some initial data, we’ll be emailing surveys. I know that we are all busy professionals who struggle to balance work with our personal lives (and that we receive more than enough emails every day). So, we will endeavor to send shorter surveys that will not take much time to complete. We will also look to create alternative channels wherein we can accept your feedback and ideas with an eye to implementing them.
I’m not a life-long attorney. In fact, among other things, I’m a former banker who worked for one of the largest banks in the world. In my professional banking career, the highest praise I ever received was that I made teams better and that I left situations better than I arrived.
I strive to do this over the next term. I will, however, need your help and more importantly your thoughts, ideas, and input to make this happen. Please help me remember the past and move the Austin Bar Association into the future.