As my term as president approaches its conclusion, I am reminded of song lyrics that Taylor Swift did not write (sorry, Lily). “This is the end, my only friend, the end.” How many of you know which artist wrote those lyrics? Years ago, this would have been an easy question to answer. But not as much nowadays. That’s because things that were relevant before have a way of fading with time. With that in mind, I’m going to reach back to my first column as a neophyte president and reflect on our bar year. I’m also going to look into the crystal ball as we move into the future.
As good a segue as any other, the previous two sentences touch upon the theme of this year’s bar term: remembering the past and moving into the future. I introduced the theme in my first column. I also expressed my intent to lean on the wisdom of those who helped build the Austin Bar Association and use a more data-driven approach to determine how to improve it. Lastly, I stated that I would strive to make our team (the board, officers, and others who help run the organization) better and leave the bar in a better position than when we began this term.
There is a saying about best-laid plans. However, I believe that we have largely fulfilled the goals that I identified this term. We are fortunate to have many architects of this organization who still participate. To lean on their wisdom, I had numerous conversations and tried to embed myself within our History and Traditions Committee. I also formed a subcommittee to our Membership Committee to collect data and operate as a think tank to conjure up solutions to membership obstacles and to discover more ways to spark broader participation. That think-tank-like subcommittee has already polled the membership through a survey and is collecting data through focus groups and individual interviews.
As for making our team better, I carefully considered who to ask to lead the committees and our other activities. My goal was to identify those who possessed strengths and attributes that would help ensure success while also asking them to do things that would stretch them as leaders. I also tried to lead in a supportive manner and in a way where all of our voices were heard. While these were my individual goals, they would go unfulfilled without the talent, hard work, and dedication of those who helped make this term successful.
The same people can, and should, be proud of our successes. While the following is not exhaustive, we have accomplished many things that have left the bar in a better position than when we began. First, we have successfully held key events that benefit our organization, the Austin Bar Foundation, and other charitable organizations (including those who help provide access to justice). From the golf tournament to the Gala, we have exceeded our past financial results and provided our members with well-received events. This is despite Mother Nature’s repeated efforts to derail them. We also worked hard to keep our membership at levels that other local bars are struggling to maintain. Moreover, we have continued to help the community through our clinics like CANLaw that provide free services for those who need them.
There is more to do, however, and more future successes to celebrate. Unlike the Doors song, this is not the end. I foresee us gathering more data, forming more conclusions regarding the same, and utilizing it in our membership efforts and in our efforts to improve the bar association. In the short term, my able successor, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, is going to lead some strategic planning using the data that we’ve already collected and institute her own ideas to benefit the bar association. We should all look forward to the successes that we will experience under her leadership.
As we transition into the new term, I have one more request to help us “break on through to the other side.” Please let us know if you have any suggestions concerning our direction as a bar association and how we could provide you with more value. With that, I bid you thanks. I appreciate you allowing me to lead this organization and for your continued participation. You have made this a memorable bar term.
