March-April 2006

Cover Story

Flexibility and focus: Balancing presidential goals with the bar's overall plan By Robert J. Derocher

"What are your initiatives for the year?" is a question incoming bar presidents are often asked. But the bigger question may be, how can you balance a new leader's goals with the bar's strategic plan? And is it time to develop a new idea of what a leader's legacy should be?

Is your garden overgrown? Bars develop programs by design, not chance

By Amy Travison Jasiewicz

The presidential initiative that never dies. The committee that refuses to ride off into the sunset. The program whose purpose is long gone ... or forgotten. Sometimes, a bar gets so bogged down with all this "stuff," it's hard to focus on what's really important. Is prevention the best solution to "program overload?"

Tips for successful congressional visits

By Valerie Brown

If you're a bar leader headed to Washington for ABA Day, here are some tips to help you make the most of your time and get your message across.

An opportunity for real leadership

By David S. Houghton

Being a leader means quietly-and sometimes, courageously-stepping forward to make a difference. David S. Houghton, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, invites you to seize such opportunities-particularly when it comes to advancing diversity in the profession.